When members of the UF Fightin’ Gator Marching Band hopped the pond Monday, they didn’t know their tour of London would include a surprise performance Friday.
The band will perform at the U.S. ambassador’s house in London for first lady Michelle Obama, about 1,000 American military children and American and British students at Let’s Move!, a program created by the first lady in May to combat childhood obesity.
Marching band members were told they’d be performing after they arrived in London for security reasons.
“The Secret Service asked us to keep that information limited until Tuesday morning,” said Steve Johnson, senior producer of special projects at UF.
The event is being co-sponsored by Nickelodeon’s The Big Help campaign and the U.S. Department of State. It will feature sport stations, performances and members of the U.S. delegation, the 2012 U.S. Track and Field Team and Olympic and Paralympic legends.
The band’s performance will precede the Let’s Move! Olympic Fun Day Meetups which begin July 28, the first day of Olympic competition in London.
The first lady hopes the campaign will encourage Americans to participate in Olympic-inspired games.
Johnson, who is traveling with the band, said the marching band members’ anticipation to perform had grown since their first rehearsal in London.
“They are beyond excited to be a part of something that’s larger than our average football game,” he said.
