Forum Topic

Seems not everyone was impressed by the Olympic opening ceremony

Perhaps they should have begun their historical journey with a sketch about the dinosaurs to make this guy feel more at home.http://tiny.cc/azf5hw

Phil Andrews ● 5211d48 Comments

Or, given his 'previous' - we should just have had a showing of Leni Riefenstahl's film of the 1936 Olympics. he seems to have a 'thing' for Nazi uniforms.

Mick Brent ● 5210d

I have to say I thought it was brilliant, with some lovely touches.

Vanessa Smith ● 5210d

As a visual spectacle it was superb, but I particularly liked the message it sent out about our country in 2012.It was patriotic without being xenophobic, and in particular it claimed such things as the NHS and social integration as the patriotic achievements that they are.It acknowledged the years of empire as historically important without glorifying colonialism and acknowledged the pivotal role of working people in shaping the nation.Plus, if you like that sort of thing, there was plenty of flag-waving and monarchy stuff - not really up my street but it was presented in such a way that was quite innocent, a bit of fun and didn't dominate the event.I'm sure that if one looked too deeply there were things to offend some - the Celtic nations in particular.  I also thought the playing of the Dambusters March and Enola Gay was spectacularly insensitive (I'm aware the latter doesn't glorify Hiroshima but it was still surely a provocation best avoided).  But all in all I was pleasantly surprised by the whole production.  Mr Burley though clearly didn't agree.

Phil Andrews ● 5210d

"Mr Burley though clearly didn't agree."The man is clearly a f***wit.

Vanessa Smith ● 5210d

What I saw, once I'd come to terms with the slight madness of it, was pretty impressive. I too thought Enola Gay was out of order but overall it was a graet success.Didn't reference English classical music enough or Shakespeare/Dickens and our great poets(John Clare could have got a shout in the pastoral section at the start) and two of the most influential men who ever lived,Newton and Darwin didn't get a mention.

Keith Iddon ● 5210d

Keith with our history you'd need a ceremony that lasted about a month to cram all our geniuses and history into it. Everyone will have their preferences but overall I think Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry did us proud, a good mix with some really lovely touches.

Vanessa Smith ● 5210d

I was shocked yesterday to hear an overseas visitor on the radio, asked what she thought of Britain, saying that she thought we were quite racist. While we may still have some way to go, I like to believe that we are one of the least racist countries in the developed world. Am I delusional?

Susan Kelly ● 5210d

I appreciate that Vanessa but Newton and Darwen are the 2 stand out figures in our history who both changed the way the world thinks and understands. Never mind,it was agreat ceremony.

Keith Iddon ● 5210d

No you are far from delusional Susan.The expression'quite racist' is about as vague as you can get and can be applied to any nation of people.Opinions are like rectums.Everyone has one and sometimes they don't smell too good.

Keith Iddon ● 5210d

"but Newton and Darwen are the 2 stand out figures in our history who both changed the way the world thinks and understands."Darwen?? Who was he?  Anyway I thought it was about London and Londoners? London won venue. Was Newton a Londoner?

Steve Taylor ● 5210d

Sorry typo...Darwin.Most of those people referenced were not Londoners Steve.Why do you think the Olympics is only about Londoners as many of the events are taking places miles from London?I suppose you think Dizzy Rascal has much more bearing on the history of Britain and the wotld as he is a Londoner.

Keith Iddon ● 5210d

Because LONDON is the host this year. The clue is in the name

Steve Taylor ● 5210d

London doesn't have the infrastructure or the facilities to host the Games without many events being held elsewhere.It may be news to you Steve but the Games almost invariably goES to a big city and that city is a representative of the country and in which it is held.That has been the situation for many a year. You seem to have a very narrow and parochial view of how this  global event should be presented.Whatever...

Keith Iddon ● 5209d

Ooh maybe because it's londoners who have had to pay for it for the last 6 years

Gill Hutchison ● 5209d

And are still paying for it with all the disruption

Gill Hutchison ● 5209d

And they've also had the jobs in construction, administration and what all else that has gone along with it.They will also get whatever benefits are reaped after it is over.Like the extra housing and sporting facilities.How has the disruption affected you btw? I have found it ok, much less than the usual endless round of roadworks.

Keith Iddon ● 5209d

By not being able to drive where I want during the cycle race yesterday and today.    By having to put up with traffic lights being rephrased in places that have no connection with the olympics

Gill Hutchison ● 5209d

Yeah...you're right.Having the Olympics is not worth you not being able to drive somewhere once in your lifetime.What were they thinking of when they put in the bid?

Keith Iddon ● 5209d

And that is just day three I and others have the rest of the games with disruption and still having to pay for it having no choice in the matter . Didn't agree with the bid 7 years ago haven't agreed with it since and hasn't watched any of it and can't wait for it to be over

Gill Hutchison ● 5209d

What would the world do without miseries? Forget that we can be happy? Keep the moaners, I say.I am beginning slowly to agree with you Keith, about Darwin. To be fair, we did see evolution happen before our eyes, but he would have underlined the messages to the few Dodos we have that we should strive to make the best of what we have in the future rather than be negative and shun change.Now that one of our greatest heroes, who sadly is not so widely known – Isambard Kingdom Brunel – has been given so much prominence, let us hope that the philistine thickos who manage Paddington station move his statue back into a place which has greater prominence.

George Knox ● 5209d

Indeed they should.Sheep that they are.

Keith Iddon ● 5209d

"You seem to have a very narrow and parochial view of how this global event should be presented."Not at all. The very simple point I try to make, but obviously can't get through, is that unless you wanted the opening ceremony to last a week you couldn't cover every British 'hero' so I am assuming they tried to stick with those who made a huge impact on LONDON  or those from London who have made a huge impact on the world.  Anyway....whatever.... I thought it was a great opening ceremony with the exception of McCartney, Arctic Monkeys and Dizzy.  I don't particularly care if it cost £27 million or £270 million. Its not my money.

Steve Taylor ● 5209d

Steve. Some of it is your money either directly or indirectly, unless you live abroad.Keith, wot's a sheep;-) ?

George Knox ● 5209d

George,  I know - but in the grand scheme of things they will take it from me anyway whether its to bail out the Banks, go to War,  pay our GP's fat pensions, pay our MP's fat pensions, etc etc.

Steve Taylor ● 5209d

Wot's a sheep?It's a cloud shaped animal with a leg at each corner.They have been known to wear fishnet stockings in Wales. Allegedly.

Keith Iddon ● 5209d

Stripes. Are you suggesting the management has been known to wear seamed fishnet stockings?

George Knox ● 5209d

Keith, I don't think you can make sweeping assumptions like that, did Londoners get "all the jobs in construction"? It's pretty doubtful that anyone over in East London will be able to afford any of the housing - that'll become a new trendy area for city types, as for the sports facilities, pound to a penny they'll be flogged off to private outfits and no sod will be able to afford to use them. I hooted with laughter at the complaints of some Tory MPs who thought Thatcher should have got a mention at the opening ceremony, yes, I'd go along with that - provided they'd had an effigy of the old cow and lowered it into the flames of the cauldron, a fitting end if you ask me!

Vanessa Smith ● 5209d

Maybe it should have gone to Paris after all.

Keith Iddon ● 5208d

It was a great event and what a great homage to socialism from the start, we even got the Sex Pistols I noticed they played only a part of God Save The Queen or only the first line the second line would of been good but we did get pretty vacant.

David Hughes ● 5208d

Matter of opinion.Perhaps to be more truthful about the nhs they could have shown how some people die of thirst in hospital and how many older people are left unfed and unattended for hours on end.And have shown a mile long waiting list for a gp appt.Or is that nit picking and 'off programme'?Socialism failed,btw.They could also have had a montage of last summers riots and let people make their own minds up about modern Britain.

Keith Iddon ● 5207d

My overall impression of the opening ceremony was negative, I felt it was all rather self-indulgent in a misguided way and I imagine many worldwide viewers hadn't got a clue what it was all about.  Hated the bit about the NHS, cringe worthy and embarrassing.

Adam Beamish ● 5207d

Why oh why oh why did they not portray things more accurately and more Britishly? Why did we not have a clear step by step walk through the great moments of British history - the civil war, the Raj, Churchill, Wellington, and Thatcher? Why did we not play some of the classics rather than the modern rubbish? What is wrong with the 'White Cliffs of Dover' for heavens sake? Why did we not re-enact the battles that Britain won - they could hve flooded the arena and re-run Trafalger!! And why the NHS - this is not Britain. Not today, we're trying to get rid of it. No, out of control capitalism and misselling is British!!! They could have shown lots of fat cats. None of this lefty, multi-cultural, modern rubbish.

Alan Clark ● 5207d

"And why the NHS - this is not Britain. Not today, we're trying to get rid of it. No, out of control capitalism and misselling is British!!! They could have shown lots of fat cats. None of this lefty, multi-cultural, modern rubbish."Because matey we cannot go on banging on about wars, as for your comments about our NHS you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself, with all its faults it is STILL the envy of many across the world and must be defended at all costs whatever right wing nutcases think. We are a multicultural country like it or not, get over it, and get over yourself.

Vanessa Smith ● 5206d

@AC. Did you really mean that? Sounds like a spoof.

George Knox ● 5206d

To me, a piece of advertising propaganda for the NHS has no place in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.  Nothing to do with the merits of the NHS, I just don't think it was appropriate - to me it's not a million miles away from, if the Games were held in North Korea, an opening ceremony based around paying homage to Kim Jong-Un.

Adam Beamish ● 5206d

Spoof? More like the rantings of a complete moron. Adam - You shouldn't be so cavalier about our NHS - you'd soon miss it if we allowed privatisation to run amok with it.

Vanessa Smith ● 5206d

Not for nothing is Alan known by his nearly friend as Captain Curmudgeon.   Dictionary definition = A curmudgeon's reputation for malevolence is undeserved. They're neither warped nor evil at heart. They don't hate mankind, just mankind's absurdities.Perfick!

Tony Wood ● 5206d

You're missing my point Vanessa, my point isn't about the merits or benefits of the NHS, it's about the appropriateness of it being promoted within the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Adam Beamish ● 5206d

Yes the NHS piece was completely unpredictable. It is the largest modern day institution of British life and it symbolizes one of our Great Freedoms. Totally irrelevant today as to which party established it. Another symbol of  Great Liberty was Shami Chakrabarti carrying the flag. Quite a lot of the ceremony to me was about the freedoms gradually acquired over time by the people of Great Britain. Even the Queen can be marched off and dropped from the heights of majesty by the people, but only to be accepted democratically by the people as their focal point leader and appointed to open the Games on their behalf, which are free to all. You and I et al have the freedom to say what we like. Whatever we might have been given would have prompted criticism, political posturing, and just recently Dodoism.It’s natural to invest our hopes in young people – in this case the Olympians – and all young audiences. Great Britain’s’ modern up to date freedoms were the best message we could show the world.

George Knox ● 5206d

I think Alan was being ironic.

Phil Andrews ● 5206d

It was quite proper and very to the point to me - it is one of this country's finest achievements, so what's to not like?

Vanessa Smith ● 5206d

He wasn't was he?  Swine!

Tony Wood ● 5206d

The clue Tony was in the words 'fat cats'.But you do wonder what that twit Burley would have advocated and how many like him would have wanted the history section to have had a more nationalistic twist.

George Knox ● 5206d

"But you do wonder what that twit Burley would have advocated and how many like him would have wanted the history section to have had a more nationalistic twist."  Probably not much different to Alans (spoof,ironic,curmudgeonly) proposals sadly.  For myself I quite surprisingly enjoyed the opening, barring some (to me) dodgy musical choices,live performances in particular. Still at least they didn't have that bloke who stands to attention whilst brushing his teeth,we're not safe yet though...he might be there at the closing ceremony belting out Congratulations!"The clue Tony was in the words 'fat cats'."  Yes I did get it as soon as I read it,Alans posts are always like that....thankfully.

Tony Wood ● 5206d

I thought he was just being a miserable old git

Patricia Nicholas ● 5206d

:0)  No I don't think so,maybe he will post and let us know,then again maybe he wont.

Tony Wood ● 5205d

vanessa wow

Robert A Field ● 5205d

Sorry?

Vanessa Smith ● 5204d