<p>I thought the Argentine outfits were fine. Wonder what the article writer found so objectionable…</p>
<p>Agree that the Paraguay women’s outfits were very stylish…low cut, showing cleavage, fabulous!</p>
<p>The only reason Meredith shut up after a while was because her segment was over. She and Matt Lauer did the “show” part at the beginning, then Costas and the other guy took over for the parade of nations. They also talked way too much. I’m going to email NBC that, for the closing ceremony, their anchors need to just put a sock in it. </p>
<p>ETA – But a really wonderful thing: </p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-olympics-women-20120727,0,4535937.story[/url]”>http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-olympics-women-20120727,0,4535937.story</a></p>
<p>The opening ceremony entertained the Brits and that’s all I care about. I’d have been disappointed if they tried to make it very showy to appeal to foreigners, no - this is London’s games and we will do things our way. There were a lot of hilarious things there that you probably had to be British to understand.</p>
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<p>Why are you comparing it to the Beijing games? It was clear from the outset when London took part in the Beijing closing ceremony that the London games would be very different. The UK isn’t China; it doesn’t have the resources or the inclination to put on that type of show.</p>
<p>The eyes of the world were upon you and you decided it was time to remain provincial. Perhaps it did entertain the Brits, but the irrelevance of the show as far as a world event was overwhelming. Through the eyes of the clown who directed that disjointed and pointless extravaganza, London and Great Britain appeared as a toxic and soulless place. Smokestacks spewing sulfur and sick kids fighting nightmares…that is indeed what the Olympics are all about. But, of course, we must be too dense to understand the finer and well-hidden messages that locals did grasp. Just as we are too dumb to appreciate the soporific humor of Mr. Beans. </p>
<p>There are plenty of things the world, including the US, marvels at when looking at Great Britain. This cacophony and awful presentation of the past and future was simply not one of them. </p>
<p>Let us all hope that the next days will unveil a better present.</p>
<p>Provincial? What are you talking about, the opening ceremony was a chance to showcase Britain, its history, its achievements and its values - we achieved all of this. If you were expecting lots of gimmicks and expensive but irrelevant spectacles like in Beijing then you do not understand the British at all.</p>
<p>It seems you are in the minority, according to the Facebook 89% of people polled said the opening ceremony was amazing.</p>
<p>The opening ceremonies were exactly what one pollster stated: a chance to show-case the hosting nation’s culture, history and people! I guess this ceremony did just that! Like many British films, it was boring, unclear, and fragmented. Being different than China or U.S.A. or France doesn’t mean it must be the above. The best part of the show was what Britain ultimately does well: Rock & Roll. I now understand why the framers needed to get way: (besides the oppression and having to answer to a monarch many miles away) and that was to guarantee the “pursuit of happiness”! Obviously from this show the Brits aren’t very happy and have no idea how to allow their citizens to pursue happiness! Even their Queen looks miserable! I guess the ceremonies did portray what it means to be British.</p>
<p>I liked it and enjoyed it much more than Beijing - which I thought was too over the top for the occasion. Loved the bit with ER & DC, and Mr. Bean. </p>
<p>Matt & Meredith need to learn to ****. I can’t believe at one point she started singing! </p>
<p>Czech Republic gets my vote for worst dressed.</p>
<p>I really usually love
Paul McCartney. Last night I loved his showmanship, he is awesome on stage. But I did not love his singing.</p>
<p>I’ll admit that I was generally underwhelmed by the opening ceremonies. They were OK but not great. It was a bit disjointed and just not that exciting for most of it. I also think doing things like the boy meets girl part is hard to portray in such a big arena. For me, the best parts were the Olympic rings coming down from above, the queen skydiving in (ha), the song “Come Together” and the cycling doves, Paul McCartney’s segment, and the cauldron made up of “torches” representing all participating countries. I do enjoy seeing the athletes march in as that is what it is all about, though that was long. Some countries I have never heard of before. But that part of it and the cauldron and so on, is moving in the sense of the one time so many countries seem to be able to come together. I thought the queen looked dour through most of it and I could not understand why she doesn’t smile at such an event.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link on the best and worst uniforms, Bunsen. I loved Sweden’s bright rugby stripes with matching shoes, Canada’s easy-to-identify, and Germany’s pink and baby blue originality. Add me to the confused, not really liking it group. Mixing video with live performance was too distracting. The hospital bed scene was cute at the beginning. The house was weird. The girl who lost her cell phone was weird. As far as the commentators, my husband summed it up when he said, “How would you like to comment on that?”</p>
<p>At 86, facial muscles in many women sag in such a way that when their face is in repose they appear to be frowning. Considering that the Queen is 86 and has just been through at least of month Jubilee celebrations, it is not surprising that she looks that way. I thought she looked tired and old. Both of which I am guessing she is.</p>
<p>Edit to add: I know she’s old, but I am guessing she is tired. She’s had a busy month, it was late night for her, she’s 86.</p>
<p>It isn’t only the Brits that were entertained. I’ve read several positive articles this morning about the ceremonies from various Canadian and U.S. sites and papers. If some people can’t be entertained, and maybe even learn something, by a tour through British cultural heritage, then so be it.</p>
<p>I do have to admit that NBC did their best to ruin it with all the nattering of commentators and relentless commercial breaks. I hope for the sake of all who are not able to watch the Canadian coverage that NBC improves with the actual games coverage.</p>
<p>The remote is getting a workout this morning. Soccer, basketball, beach volleyball, cycling. Fun!</p>
<p>Missed the end. Fell asleep. Missed McCartney (though I think I woke up momentarily while it was still on) and missed the lighting of the cauldron.</p>
<p>Question- and please, no snarky responses. Why did they eliminate baseball from the olympics but keep badminton? Really? Was it too much of a challenge for the professional teams when the olympics came in the middle of baseball season, once professional players were allowed to participate? That would largely affect the US, yes?</p>
<p>One of my good friends described the “Come Together” segment (was that singer flat, or what???) with the cycling doves as “a Lunesta commercial with a Beatles soundtrack”. :)</p>
<p>I am sure it would have been thrilling to attend this. Apparently, though, NBC chose to omit at least one significant segment and instead air a random interview with Michael Phelps. What is up with that??</p>
<p>[Here’s</a> The Opening Ceremony Tribute To Terrorism Victims NBC Doesn’t Want You To See](<a href=“Here's The Opening Ceremony Tribute To Terrorism Victims NBC Doesn't Want You To See”>Here's The Opening Ceremony Tribute To Terrorism Victims NBC Doesn't Want You To See)</p>
<p>I went to bed early too, but have it recorded so I can speed it up. I thought it was great that they celebrated their national health service!</p>
<p>jym, two of the Canadian commetators were talking about that yesterday. I don’t know how factual this is but they said that when the vote was taken in 2005, the reasons given were 1) Not enough countries that could be competitive and 2) An agreement with MLB was not able to be reached. They also mentioned the fact that the U.S. never got out of regional qualifying in the previous year may have also had something to do with it.</p>
<p>I just do not understand the negativity from some people on this forum. This was an event on a relatively small budget (compared to Beijing anyway) and in the midst of a deep recession but people (mostly volunteers) still came together and put on a darn good show. This is Britain, not Beijing and certainly not Hollywood; those of you who didn’t like it just what were you expecting?</p>
<p>I can’t believe NBC didn’t show the tribute to the 7/7 bombings, that is disgusting!</p>
<p>I liked the ceremony overall, although some parts were definitely weak. The James Bond + Queen Elizabeth entrance was just stupid.</p>
<p>I’m a big gymnastics fan, so the Olympics is the most exciting thing that I could watch.</p>
<p>spoiler:
In men’s gymnastics, Great Britain qualified ahead of China.
end spoiler</p>
<p>The Chinese men are not looking very good. They lost one of their competitors to an injury and the replacement is not very good. </p>
<p>Qualification round for USA and Japan (the gold medal contender) will be in an hour or so. </p>
<p>Anyways, if anyone has gymnastics questions I’ll be able to answer them.</p>
<p>I also wasn’t that keen in mixing the video segments with the live show and would have preferred it to just be a live show. I think a lot of the show was meaningful in terms of Britain’s cultural heritage but a lot of it just did not wow me like I thought it would. But one wow factor is the sheer number of people involved and how they pull it off! And the volunteer aspect of it is neat.</p>
<p>Big upset in the first round match between Russia and China in women’s beach volleyball. Russia is the winner.</p>
<p>Women’s soccer starts in about a 1/2 hr!</p>