"what in the world does "Hey Jude" have to do with the opening of the Summer Olympics, [...?]"

It was performed at the Olympics because it has come to be regarded as an anthem about people overcoming the common struggles and heartbreaks we share as humans and believing that by striving together we can lift each other up. It is about the comfort that can be found in communal support and the thought that we are not alone in our struggles and sorrows, and that we have the power to cope with and ultimately triumph over adversity. It seeks to celebrate our shared humanity.
The lyrics do more than hint at this, making a statement of optimism and personal condolence which is usually interpreted as a metaphor for the bigger social issue(s).
The core idea was symbolized by The Beatles' famous TV performance where the the distinctions between performer and audience was broken down as audience members joined them on-stage, clapping and singing along, demonstrating the ideal of shared support through community and our joint human-ness.

In that light, the piece seems very appropriate to the Olympics, at least as the Olympics' stated idealized purpose on the international scene would have it. The bit about "various nations coming together as fellow humans, striving for excellence, supporting each other and sharing in each other's efforts, successful or otherwise, despite nationalities" and so on. Not always achieved in reality--but that's why we call it an ideal.

Last Edited By: Ben Jul 30 12 4:25 PM. Edited 1 times.