worst Opening Ceremony ever, bar none

[princerupe74]

one massive boring disappointment.

[maggiebee]

Wasn't going to watch at all - had to suffer Hannah Montana DVD until grandaughter went to bed. Tuned in to BBC1 when Peru entered the arena and watched the rest. Despite my scepticism I must say the lighting of the cauldron and the fireworks that followed were quite spectacular. So sad to see Muhammad Ali being held up, Parkinsons is such a cruel disease. Afraid I had to eat some of my words from earlier in the day - but..... Macca was dreadful.

[Jacko439]

Maybe we in this country understood what it was all about but I wonder what the rest of the world made of it, I doubt the rest of the world understood the message it was trying to portray.

[Zabadak]

To all those who found it a crashing bore: you had to turn your TV ON, guys. Or be at the stadium.

[Gromit]

A good round up of comments here

http://gulftoday.ae/p...74a-76d7ff8de2b3.aspx

[ladybirder]

It has been received very well worldwide in the main.

[eyethenkyew]

Agreed - apart from the interesting and brilliant first 20 minutes.

[gness]

I really don`t see why it should have been something the rest of the world could understand without having to think about it. What was wrong with saying....This is our Britain...our history....this is what made us.....share it with us and welcome to our Olympics?

[LazyGun]

@V-E

From Wiki
"Coubertin's initial vision of the Modern Olympics featured both athletic competitions and artistic achievements.[8] As the modern Olympics have evolved into a celebration of sport, it is in the opening ceremonies that one can see the most of Coubertin's ideal. The ceremonies typically start with the raising of the host country's flag and a performance of its national anthem.[5][6] The host nation then presents artistic displays of music, singing, dance, and theater representative of its culture, history, and the current Olympic game motto.[7] Since the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the artistic presentations have continued to grow in scale and complexity. The opening ceremony at the Beijing Games, for example, reportedly cost US$100 million (€75 million) with much of the cost incurred in the artistic portion of the ceremony.[9]"

So, it is expected that the host country offers a spectacle that reflects its culture, history, art, and future.There was a narrative to the ceremony last night, and for those watching from outside the UK, I am sure they will have plenty of help interpreting the imagery.

I cannot remember much of the Beijing opening ceremony, except for the precision and scale. I definitely cannot remember anything much at all from previous Olympics. I doubt I will forget Danny Boyles presentation any time soon. All in all, I thought it an excellent entertainment...

[sunny-dave]

I'm a bit of a sceptic about this sort of stuff - but actually I thought it was quintessentially British, bonkers as a box of frogs and overall very enjoyable.

The forging of the rings and the lighting of the cauldron of flame were brilliant.

[gness]

LazyGun..last para.....exactly!!!!!Something to make us think and remember. Rare these days.

[Frank97]

I couldn't agree less with the OP, having just watched the last hour or so again, I was half asleep last night, it was BRILLIANT!

[anneasquith]

very english and parochial, mr. bean ! dreadful, finale ! paul mccartney, dire. such an anticlimax,

[ludwig]

I thought it was stunningly good.

I suspect most of the people saying it was crap had decided it was crap long before they actually saw it.

[jackthehat]

As the games were awarded to the city, and are being held in London, I think there is every right for them to be a little 'England-heavy'.

I thought the spectacle was marvellous............apart from Sir PM.

[MoonRocker]

If you think that was rubbish then you have no soul.

[ladybirder]

Moonrocker, there are some people on here, no matter what we had done, would still say it was rubbish. They made their "minds" up long before the event.

[zebo]

Can't understand the unfavourable comparisons to Beijing, that robotic, souless show. Remember, the people in last night's event were there because they wanted to be there, they volunteered and they looked to be having a great time, the audience was engaged like never before. I was so jealous, even OH said he would have blown a few pence to be there, he's a Yorkshireman so that's praise indeed. The cauldron lighting was the finest I've ever seen, especially as it focused on the future.

[Ann]

Yes zebo - most of the the other country's opening ceremonies are so strange, we don't follow them at all, and especially the last one in 2008. Our lighting of the cauldron was the best idea EVER!

[pusskin]

me and O/H were in stratford all the afternoon and watched all the excitement outside the Stadium! There were crowds and crowds and the atmosphere was electric! That was after seeing all the massive big boats and ships in Docklands area. Fantastic build up to the events.

[MoonRocker]

yes ladybirder, so true, we are among ABAO royalty here!