<p>I was just asking my DH the same question, shyanne. I hope someone has the answer.</p>
<p>I just googled it and found this from a CNN blog:
“Good question. The copper petals being carried by a child leading each delegation have that country’s name inscribed and they will all have a role in the ceremony later. So now you really can’t go anywhere, otherwise you’ll never find out.”</p>
<p>It looks a somewhat like a bowl?</p>
<p>I’m watching the parade of nations. It’s moving quickly and as a result is among the best I’ve ever seen. Yes, I hate the commercials.</p>
<p>I would have never had guessed that they would have a 100ft tall Voldemort… nor JK Rowling for that matter.</p>
<p>Motorized doves on bicycles. </p>
<p>Speechless.</p>
<p>Watching…for the love of God, what happened to the days when we just watched the athletes march in behind their flag??? THAT’S all I want to see. That’s what thrills me.</p>
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<p>Not all. Many, but not all.</p>
<p>Just read that this opening cost 41 million dollars. WHUH?</p>
<p>The ceremony was awful… absolutely dreadful…</p>
<p>Okay, shyanne, there are those copper leaves and they’re all being lit now. That, together with the fireworks was, IMO, the most impressive part of an otherwise boring ceremony.</p>
<p>Watching now from the west coast. Is this the Olympic Opening Ceremony or The Danny Boyle Show?
Matt and Meredith are mentioning his name every ten minutes.</p>
<p>The children’s choirs, the doves on bicycles, the Arctic Monkeys, the lighting of the cauldron, the cauldron itself, the fireworks all really good. I liked it better than Beijing which I found to be pompous and cold – this felt much more inclusive. I particularly liked the emphasis on generosity- a great theme and one which resonates across olympic history nicely.</p>
<p>I doubt that many in attendance at the opening ceremonies left feeling that they had had a boring evening. I too liked it better than that of Beijing.</p>
<p>I guess that sums it up: Na, na, naa, na- na- na- naaaa…</p>
<p>Poilers West coast folks-Love the cauldron. I loved the NHS highlights, dancing Mary Poppins saving the day and the beautiful girl with the amazing hair. Not too shabby. My favorite part of the entire night is the foul look on Queen Elizabeth’s face every time the camera catches her. The memes are already sprouting up.</p>
<p>
Yes - it’s Meredith Viera and IMO she’s awful on this show. She SHOULD clam up. I can’t believe she started to sing along with one of the songs. I also disliked both of them over-talking the performers, for example when the rapper was doing his performance and the two commentators were just babbling on adding nothing to it. It was really disappointing having the two of them jabbering during the show, especially Meredith.</p>
<p>I thought the LED lighting at each seat in the stadium allowing them to do lots of lighting effects was kind of cool.</p>
<p>[Queen</a> Elizabeth was picking her nails when Great Britain marched into Olympic Stadium (PHOTO)](<a href=“http://www.heraldextra.com/queen-elizabeth-was-picking-her-nails-when-great-britain-marched/article_276d1260-6a5a-5342-93ea-2b8bf41c0878.html]Queen”>http://www.heraldextra.com/queen-elizabeth-was-picking-her-nails-when-great-britain-marched/article_276d1260-6a5a-5342-93ea-2b8bf41c0878.html)</p>
<p>Riveted by the display?</p>
<p>[Best</a> and worst dressed of the London Opening Ceremony | Fourth-Place Medal - Yahoo! Sports](<a href=“Best and worst dressed of the London Opening Ceremony”>Best and worst dressed of the London Opening Ceremony)</p>
<p>Phew, we weren’t the ugliest. Still, it is not a good excuse for the sad, stale design. We could have done much better - check out what the Paraguay team wore. What makes me sad is that it is not like Ralph had to dress a bunch of fat old people to mask their imperfections under some shapeless outfits - he had athletic bodies to work with!</p>
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<p>Lol. She looks like a pink crab… with a lot of cash flow. Haven’t watched the Opening Ceremony so time to catch some highlights. Beijing was amazing though so probably no way it can compare.</p>
<p>I thought it was fantastic. So much <em>fab</em> music! The flag plaza on the grassy hill, and the cauldron, seem Britishly understated. The Mexican delegation had the best outfits, hands down. Paul McCartney was my very first celebrity crush back in 1964 and he’s still got it. I see why the British adore the Queen.</p>