Ban awful opening ceremonies says UK's Prince Philip

LONDON, May 27 (Reuters) Britain's Prince Philip says all opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympics should be banned.

''I am truly fed up with the opening and closing ceremonies.

They are a pain in the neck,'' said Queen Elizabeth's husband, renowned for his outspoken views and political gaffes.

Interviewed by today's Daily Telegraph, Philip said he hoped to do ''as little as possible'' during the London Olympics in 2012. He will then be 91 years old.

''Opening and closing ceremonies ought to be banned,'' he told the newspaper. ''Absolute bloody nuisances. I have been to one that was absolutely, appallingly awful.'' Recalling the 1972 Games, he said: ''I was suddenly told at Munich I think it was, that we couldn't have the main arena for show jumping because it had to be prepared for the closing ceremony.

''So I said 'What is the Olympics about? The competition or the closing ceremony?''' REUTERS PG BST1756