Olympics Opening Ceremony

[Bogstandard]

Did any of you watch the event? I got the whole four hours, even though I don't like watching the sporting events, no amateur status any more.

I thought the I.K.Brunel sequence for the industrial revolution was really superbly executed, and the finale of it, with the cast and forged together rings was outstanding. Everything had a good story to tell.

Although not up to the Bejing Olympics for pure size and effects, for such a small island, with only 60 million population, we did it rather well as far as I was concerned. At least we didn't have any mimed music or singing as has happened with few in the recent past, plus it also showed our weird sense of humour, Mr Bean being one of my favourite bits. We also got a glimpse of one of my favourite sportmen, Muhammad Ali, which, in all honesty, I don't think he will be at the next one, sad endings.

Let the games begin.

I just wish well for all competitors from around the world. As they say, it is not the winning, but the taking part in peace and friendship that counts.

John

[modeng2000]

We watched all of the ceremony and thought most of it was excellent. However the Mr Bean sketch would have been better replaced with something else, our British humour is a bit weird at times but to throw a used tissue away like that was typical of what a lot of people do now and does not set a good example.

The chimney raising was very impressive and I haven't worked out how it was done. But most impressive of all was the way the Olympic beacon came together, totally unexpected and very ingenious, just like the inventions we have been capable of in the past.

John

[BillTodd]

Yes, watched it all  and enjoyed it. Like Bogs, the highlights for me were the rings, QEII jump and cauldron. It seemed incredibly well organised and, to me, glitch free.

Well Done Danny Boyle*

I am/was interested in what the US contingent would make of it, when I checked the NY Times site last night, I discovered that NBC had not taken the event live (1 hour delay) and had inserted adverts and a motor-mouth commentary, much to the disgust of many bloggers.



*How much better to have a single creative mind than the embarrassing fiasco produced by the Millennium committee.

[Stuart]

We watched all of the ceremony and thought most of it was excellent. However the Mr Bean sketch would have been better replaced with something else, our British humour is a bit weird at times but to throw a used tissue away like that was typical of what a lot of people do now and does not set a good example.

The chimney raising was very impressive and I haven't worked out how it was done. But most impressive of all was the way the Olympic beacon came together, totally unexpected and very ingenious, just like the inventions we have been capable of in the past.

John

Cloth tube collapsed into a container and hoisted up with a rope you could see the four strap and hook on one of them

still pretty good  as has been posted it was very British in content and humour , hope over seas commentators explained things as how many would have twigged on to IKB

Stuart

[Lew Hartswick]

I watched it (on NBC) pretty impressive. Don't care for the "music". Was a little disturbed at the
Queens countenance, it had a "I'd rather be home in bed" sort of look.  She isn't that much older
than me. :-)
   ...lew...

[zeeprogrammer]

I watched it all and enjoyed it.

I've been to the U.K. many times (was in Wales recently when the runner came through) and have many friends from there due to my company having an office in Winnersh. Pretty familiar with the brand of humour and have watched Rowan from the early days as well as many other TV series. (Good Neighbors come foremost to my mind.)

I liked the theme...agriculture to the industrial age and on. I was impressed with the chimneys but don't forget the waterwheel. Proud heritage there.

I have to say though, I thought the bit with Bond and The Queen was a little inappropriate. As for Bean, also a little inappropriate...took away from a great tune and movie and too much attention on a particular individual.

I worried about Paul, somewhat in the vein (too much on the individual) but I thought it turned out well.

That's just me. Overall the opening was impressive and reminded people where many things started from.

The Olympics is a great program. It's good to remind people that the world is made up of many different, diverse, beautiful peoples and cultures and that yes...common ground for friendship and understanding can be found.

[Captain Jerry]

The "Opening Ceremony" has turned into a competition, and I guess that's OK, but to me the best part is the Parade of Athletes.  It is so good to see the bright smiling faces of people from all around the world.  Young people at the peak of health, showing pride in themselves and their heritage and the joy of the circumstances.  It is going to be a great show for the next few weeks.

Jerry

[Alan Haisley]

Yes, watched it all  and enjoyed it. Like Bogs, the highlights for me were the rings, QEII jump and cauldron. It seemed incredibly well organised and, to me, glitch free.

Well Done Danny Boyle*

I am/was interested in what the US contingent would make of it, when I checked the NY Times site last night, I discovered that NBC had not taken the event live (1 hour delay) and had inserted adverts and a motor-mouth commentary, much to the disgust of many bloggers.

*How much better to have a single creative mind than the embarrassing fiasco produced by the Millennium committee.

U.S. broadcasting companies have assumed for years that the audience is too stupid to understand sound and pictures and so hires people to repeat to us what was just said - as if hearing something twice makes it understandable when hearing it once does not.


They are also so full of themselves that they feel that a broadcast event is incomplete without their people being inserted into the middle of it.


Very sad.


Alan

[Troutsqueezer]

My wife and I watched it and enjoyed almost every part of it. Sure, some things were a bit silly but that's all part of the fun. We liked the James Bond part too. This was a good reminder of how much the U.K. has contributed to the developing world. Was that a steam engine I saw there? All the costume changes and the choreography must have taken an enormous amount of planning and practice and it paid off.

As for the delayed U.S. version with the advertisements, I would venture to say that a great many of us have migrated to Tivo or some sort of DVR and when it comes to viewing programs that contain commercials, they are just fleeting images that wisk by in a matter of seconds. Commercials are so obnoxious that when the opportunity presents itself to do away with them, people jump on it.

Didn't care much for the marching around the track afterwards with everybody filming everybody else. Too much talk, too little action. But really the only low point for us was when the rap artist came on. We are not big fans of rap which doesn't even resemble music nor does it take any talent.   

Oh, and Mr. Bean is a very funny fellow and was one of my favorite parts of the program.  I believe he qualifies as a national treasure and was rightly showcased.

[doubletop]

We watched it down here as well and enjoyed what we saw. I did wonder what those bits of copper the person next to the flag bearer was carrying. It all came clear in the end as each team collaborated in the construction of the Olympic caldron, very symbolic.

It must have been time shifted in NZ but getting up at 7:00am on a Saturday morning isn't going to happen, Olympics or not. It was still going at midday Saturday, which would have been 1:00am in the UK and the tube would have stopped running by then. 80 thousand people stuck in East London on Friday night/Saturday morning would have been a problem. Apparently they removed 25mins of the ceremony so that didn't occur.

Has anybody any idea how Paul McCartney manages to be the the last act of everything? He must think he is so important now that he has it written in his contract or he isn't going to turn up. (edit; and he was crap)
Pete

[tel]

I saw most of the opening, and enjoyed it. And will probably watch the closing as well. Pity about the 12 days in between.

[Bogstandard]

My sentiments exactly Tel.

At one time, even a sniff of non amateur status and you were out.
Nowadays, it seems, the more money you can pump into it, the more medals you win.

A sorry state of affairs for those small teams that even have trouble getting together their air fairs. Those are the people who still follow the Olympic dream.

Like everything else, and a reason I watch very little television nowadays, money has taken over everything, from pure raw ability to even singing and dancing, someone wants to make money off the backs of others.
 
Almost every sport or recreation activity has been taken over by big business trying to squeeze out another buck in profits or advertising.

John

[Troutsqueezer]

I saw most of the opening, and enjoyed it. And will probably watch the closing as well. Pity about the 12 days in between.

Two words: Women's volleyball. 

[chuck foster]

trout, you might be on to something here 

john i never watch pro sports anymore, nowadays if i need a sports fix i go to the local sports fields and see guys and girls that just love to play their respective sport.
there is some great moments and some very comical ones. i just watched a soccer game played by some very young kids and most of the time they didn't know what way to run and they scored on their own net. lots of fun.

chuck

[mklotz]

I saw most of the opening, and enjoyed it. And will probably watch the closing as well. Pity about the 12 days in between.

Two words: Women's volleyball. 

Three words: Bikinis, women's volleyball.

Los Angeles may be where idiocy was invented perfected but I live a five minute drive from the beach where they hold amateur tournaments all summer long.  My favorite bar has a verandah overlooking the beach.  Life is good.

[sbwhart]

I saw most of the opening, and enjoyed it. And will probably watch the closing as well. Pity about the 12 days in between.

Two words: Women's volleyball. 

Three words: Bikinis, women's volleyball.

Los Angeles may be where idiocy was invented perfected but I live a five minute drive from the beach where they hold amateur tournaments all summer long.  My favorite bar has a verandah overlooking the beach.  Life is good.

A friend atteneded the women's vollyball on Saturday night it was getting a bit chilly and when the Ausi team came on wearing tracky bottoms to play in the got cat whistles:- mostly from their own suporters I may add, the Brits are far too sporting for that even though they were disapointed about the lack of leg on show.

      

Great show by the way.

Stew

[Jo]

I enjoyed the opening Ceremony especially the inclusion of the industrial revolution but decided it went on far too late and at my age I need my beauty sleep so abandoned it just before the teams started marching.

I am now looking forward to the next two weeks in my workshop as I can't stand 24/7 sport or the constant repeats of anything which I may have otherwise found slightly interesting.

Jo

[Lew Hartswick]

Talk about clueless, I think NBC must not have any help that knows ANYTHING about gymnastics on
the staff.  I watched the "women's" (girl kids) floor exercise last night. no scoring info but one or two
mentions of a number with no help on the reasons.  By the way what happened to the "perfect 10"
that Nadia Comenich (Sp?) in Canada ? The whole scoring system must have been changed since
I use to follow gymnastics. I saw numbers like 15.333 or such ?????   If the rest of "sports" events
are as screwed up as that I won't bother with any of it. :-(
   ...Lew...

[DaveH]

Hi,
Not wanting to be left out here?s my bit:

Just watched a bit of the closing ceremony ? not sure which I thought was the worst, the opening or the closing. 
The only other part of the Olympics I can?t stand is the synchronised swimming and  synchronised diving    ? I ask you what next  synchronised  hurdles what about synchronised  ?catching? the javelin.

Most of the events in between I enjoyed watching.  The opening and closing ceremonies  can be done away with 
 
DaveH

[BillTodd]

Oh come on!  Where else are you going to get Eric Idle lifted aloft by Indian dancers while singing  "life's a piece of shit, when you look at it..."

Bill

[Farmboy]

Oh come on!  Where else are you going to get Eric Idle lifted aloft by Indian dancers while singing  "life's a piece of shit, when you look at it..."

Bill

I have to admit that was the highlight of the closing ceremony for me.   

I actually enjoyed the opening ceremony, against all expectations, but the closing one was sadly lacking in talent except for the odd video clip of some no longer with us: John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, etc. and a 10 second medley of David Bowie classics 

Mike.

[Maryak]

Just think.............only 4 more years before the TV networks and all the hangers on in committees various can say once more..................

LET THE GAINS BEGIN.

Best Regards
Bob

[Jo]

My biggest regret is that there may now be something worth watching on TV again, 2 weeks of going without TV has helped my workshop time no end.

Jo

[Bogstandard]

You've got to admit though, GB, for it's size of population, really did very well for medals when compared to other countries with populations ten times as large.

One thing I have never seen before in any Olympics is how the crowds got behind the competitors, and not just the ones from their own countries, I think all the athletes and spectators enjoyed it immensely, which is what sport should be about, forget the money and just enjoy the taking part.

Dave H, how could you criticise the closing ceremony when you only saw the first tiny bit of it?
I started watching it as soon as I read your post, and I had about a further 1.5 hours at least of enjoyment.

John

[b.lindsey]

All in all I thought it was a great Olympics...kudos to the UK not only for the performance of their athletes, but for staging a successful Olympiad without any significant security issues, despite all the hoopla about that prior to the opening. I watched it nightly (even though delayed) and though I enjoy some events more than others, it was all still a nice diversion from the usual summer rerun fair.  So as our Aussie members are fond of saying...."good onya!"

Bill

[zeeprogrammer]

All in all I thought it was a great Olympics...kudos to the UK not only for the performance of their athletes, but for staging a successful Olympiad without any significant security issues, despite all the hoopla about that prior to the opening. I watched it nightly (even though delayed) and though I enjoy some events more than others, it was all still a nice diversion from the usual summer rerun fair.

My sentiments exactly. Well said.

My only issue is Idle's 'Always look on the bright side'...

It's been in my head all day. My only recourse may be to play some Ozark Mountain Daredevils but I fear I'd be swapping one tune for another. Wouldn't help anyway. Wife has it stuck too and has been humming it all day. I'd just skip tracks again.

[mklotz]

It's just not right without the original scene from whence it cometh:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoaktW-Lu38" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoaktW-Lu38</a>

It's just so damn cheery...

For life is quite absurd and death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin, give the audience a grin
Enjoy it it's your last chance anyhow

[zeeprogrammer]

Drat. I just got the pause button to work then someone pressed play.
Thanks Marv.