How the unlikely Sweet Caroline became a stadium standby
Why has Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline become part of Hong Kong Sevens lore?
The idea came to stadium commentator David 'Willo' Williams three years ago. 'I think we first started in the World Cup year in 2005 because I saw it being used in a film about the Boston Red Sox's 2004 World Series win, their first in 86 years,' Willo said. 'I heard it being played during the seventh-inning stretch and it really seemed to get the crowd going.
'We usually play it around the time of the march past, after the Cup quarter-final games. The crowd knows it's getting close to the finals but at the same time the end of a great three days is also in sight.
'It just seems to fit the mood, literally 'good times never seemed so good'. It's also a great sing-a-long with a chance to stand up and get the arms going ('hands, touching hands'). It's a great moment when you hear everyone singing the chorus.'
Keeping the crowd informed of the play is a job for more than one person, as Willo acknowledged. 'The other announcers (who we call the A Team) are Richard Cooke, Phil Campbell, Graeme Thomson and Chung Chun-sang, who does the Cantonese commentary and is known as Siu Lung (Little Dragon). Phil Whelan has pulled out this year to concentrate on radio commentary.'
