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Original Message
"BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Starshine on 07-26-12 at 04:42 PM
Spoiler: C'mon you were born knowing the dance!

Thankfully this is the only spoiler I have been exposed to, although apparently it is quite easy to find out what is going to happen. I really don't understand why people want to know what is going to happen, in Survivor it is a game with the producers and adds to the fun of watching the show, for the Olympic opening ceremony what does it add to know that at 1h53m Gary Glitter is going to perform I'm the Leader of the Gang? (for many, many reasons that is not going to happen)(Does that count as a spoiler? If so we have also arranged that the Martians are not going to land whilst the ceremony is on).

Now being smallish countries the flame has been close to most of us, as it happens it went past the end of my road, sadly being engrossed in work I only remembered a quarter of an hour after it had gone.

And one thing that I don't think has been spoiled is the question on who is going to light the Olympic Flame...

so for fun here are the contenders!

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson - may be our greatest Olympian ever, 11 golds, 4 silvers and a bronze in Athletics between 1992 and 2004, however I suspect that they will use an able bodied person

Sir Steve Redgrave - Fighting it out with Dame Tanni, five golds and one bronze in Rowing between 1984 and 2000, I went to a rowing school and almost all of us dropped it after one training session, these guys are tough.

Becks - Oh I do hope not, but being honest it wouldn't surprise me.

Lord Sebastian Coe - With a name like Sebastian you either learn to box or run, 2 golds, 2 silvers, loads of world records, however as he led the bid it would look a bit off for him to light the torch.

Sir Roger Bannister - Ran the first sub four minute mile, still a big thing over here, don't be surprised.

Some local child - In keeping with the main theme of Legacy a child from the local area. So long as this child is chosen for a valid reason and not because they are some teachers pet I think this is dam*ed good idea.

Sir Paul McCartney - Will be playing at the end of the opening ceremony (damn second spoiler) so could light the torch as a finale, unlikely though I think.

My suggestion. A random draw of all the sold seats, winner lights the flame.

Any ideas?

More to follow manana when the ceremony kicks off

Could have gone in the sports forum however as this is the show this seemed best

Table of contents
Messages in this discussion
"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Estee on 07-26-12 at 04:56 PM
I take delight in knowing that no matter how the ceremony comes off, the tabloids will claim it was horrific, embarrassed all parties concerned, and call for the deaths of everyone involved. At a minimum

(I've never felt this sorry for the athletes as a group. The local press will be recutting every picture and story to humiliate them in the sure knowledge that most of them will be leaving soon and the natives won't push things in court. This is going to be the Scandal Games if the press has to make it all up. And they will.)

I'd hope for Dame Grey-Thompson, settle for Bannister and, given the way the IOC works, expect Coe.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by AyaK on 07-26-12 at 06:13 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-26-12 AT 06:21 PM (EST)

I'm expecting it to be Bannister. As the chairman of the organizing committee, Coe is out. (If he had enough influence, it would probably be Daley Thompson, anyway.)

Even if Bannister wasn't a gold medalist, breaking the four-minute mile was a tremendous achievement at a time when British sporting heroes were few. And Bannister was a true amateur, who quit running in 1954 (the year he broke the 4-minute barrier) to take up his neurology practice. He's the closest modern equivalent to the Chariots of Fire peeps.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-26-12 at 06:34 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-26-12 AT 06:34 PM (EST)

Bannister and Jim Ryun (who took the silver medal in the 1500m at the '68 Mexico City Olympics, and the first U.S. high school runner to break four minutes for the mile in '64) were my childhood heroes when I was running 5 miles a day on an 1/8 of a mile track my dad built for me on the farm when I was 10 years old.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by AyaK on 07-26-12 at 06:49 PM
The US hasn't had a serious medal threat in the 1500 since Ryun.
"Daily Show Spoilers"
Posted by Snidget on 07-26-12 at 06:14 PM
and so how long will it be before they ban them in Britain again?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-july-24-2012/mind-the-crap

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by byoffer on 07-26-12 at 11:37 PM
I had heard the betting money was on Redgrave, but Bannister would be an excellent choice. I know that in Vancouver, where he and Landry ran the Miracle Mile, he was a legend.
"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Starshine on 07-27-12 at 05:18 AM
At the moment you can get

6/4 Bannister
6/4 Redgrave
6/4 The Queen
11/4 Any Royal family member (so why back the Queen?)
10/1 Becks
33/1 Bradley Wiggins
80/1 Tanni Grey-Thompson
500/1 Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards

http://www.oddschecker.com/olympics/specials/olympic-specials/to-light-olympic-flame

Eddie might be worth a punt, after all he does exemplify the Olympic spirit of pushing oneself as hard as one can go

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Starshine on 07-27-12 at 06:22 PM
Well so far so something

Actually I have enjoyed it so far, in the middle of the alphabet at the moment so am flagging on that (rimshot)

Those people dancing during the healthcare/Childrens literature bit were mainly real doctors and nurses!

Thought the Queen jumping out of an helicopter was quite cool, as was the forging of the rings.

Rather good really

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 06:35 PM
... forging of the rings.

I'd nominate JRR in a heartbeat as the torchbearer if he were still around.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:11 PM
And, hah, we see a bunch of hobbitses on the green hillses with the Tree of Lifeses at the top.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by PepeLePew13 on 07-28-12 at 10:44 AM
More on the Queen`s acting bit:

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/queen-did-olympic-sketch-one-110044637--oly.html

"Question"
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 06:44 PM
Why was someone who has been a permanent resident of Florida since she was 7 leading the Russian team into the ceremony?
"RE: Question"
Posted by Starshine on 07-27-12 at 06:50 PM
What did the Mexicans think they were wearing?

OMG! What do our lot think they are wearing?

"RE: Question"
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:04 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-27-12 AT 07:13 PM (EST)

The Mexicans were a mariachi band.

Lots of fireworks.

Now speeches. It's after midnight. Zzzzzz.

"RE: Question"
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:19 PM
It amazes me that Jacques Rogge, a man who defines the phrase "empty suit", repeated Sebastian Coe's line that London was the first city to hold three Olympics.

Because, see, Athens has held three, even though political pressure has caused the 1906 games to be reclassified after the fact as . . . what, exactly?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_Intercalated_Games

"The Queen speaks"
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:23 PM
Here's what folks in the stadium heard her say:

" . . . . . . . . . ."

Her mike wasn't working.

"RE: The Queen speaks"
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:27 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-27-12 AT 07:31 PM (EST)

Becks brought the torch across the river. Steve Redgrave then got it to take to the stadium.

"...and the torch goes to. . ."
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:36 PM
. . . take a couple of laps aroung the stadium, which leads to a bunch of torches being lit.

Danny Boyle said the ceremony would be done by 12:30. Another fail.

"RE: ...and the torch goes to. . ."
Posted by AyaK on 07-27-12 at 07:41 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-27-12 AT 07:42 PM (EST)

The bunch of torches merge into the Olympic flame. No person gets to light it. Snore. Then play the Beatles. Cue Sir Paul.

"RE: ...and the torch goes to. . ."
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:12 PM
It kinda makes you wonder how the bookies will pay this one out.
"Craft Beer for the occasion"
Posted by Snidget on 07-27-12 at 07:30 PM
http://beerstreetjournal.com/brewdogs-performance-enhancing-olympic-beer/

"RE: Craft Beer for the occasion"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:31 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-28-12 AT 03:19 PM (EST)

The beer is for sale online, and will hit Brewdog bars in the UK this weekend. $7 (US).

Give me a Guinness!

"Tubular bells has a different conotation for me"
Posted by Snidget on 07-27-12 at 08:36 PM
Somehow it doesn't lead me to child's lit or health care, but The Exorcist.
"RE: Tubular bells has a different conotation for me"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:44 PM
I was thinking WWI.
"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:36 PM
Mike Oldfield, cameo, still coolness.

GOSH? What's with the nurses and beds? I wish.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 09:50 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-27-12 AT 09:51 PM (EST)

You wish what? Personally I was moved to see that, with so many sick children, there is an overabundance of nurses trained in intricate video-ready choreography to entertain them.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 10:01 PM
Sorry to say, the NBC coverage of the OC is rather lacking, missing the actual themes intended by the organizers, which themselves are not clear to the average viewer. I understand what these historical and contemporary themes are, but how they are portrayed and broadcasted for this event leaves a lot to be desired. Pardon the sarcasm, intended solely for the producers.
"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 10:25 PM
Pardon the sarcasm, intended solely for the producers.

As was mine.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by cahaya on 07-28-12 at 08:02 AM
Yeah. Just watching it, there were times I couldn't quite figure out just what the meaning or theme was behind what we were being shown. After reading the reviews afterward (many of which were quite positive), more of it made sense. A lot of it was quite recognizable, covering British history, film and literature.
"Poppins"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:48 PM
Mary Poppins and the umbrellas.

Flights of fancy.

Sorry, Starshine, you better hope Mitt the Twit doesn't say anything about this show, because some of us might actually agree with him.

"Rowan Atkinson"
Posted by Snidget on 07-27-12 at 08:49 PM
LOL!!!
"RE: Rowan Atkinson"
Posted by cahaya on 07-27-12 at 08:52 PM
Mr Bean!
"RE: Rowan Atkinson"
Posted by newsomewayne on 07-27-12 at 09:24 PM
Hilarious!!!

So far I am enjoying the Opening Ceremony.

"The Parade of Nations subthresd"
Posted by newsomewayne on 07-27-12 at 09:25 PM
LAST EDITED ON 07-27-12 AT 09:25 PM (EST)

Comments and spit-takes about national costumes, etc., go here.

"Wait, did I hear this correctly?"
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 10:21 PM
For Kazakhstan, they played the fake national anthem created for "Borat"?
"RE: Wait, did I hear this correctly?"
Posted by Snidget on 07-28-12 at 06:53 AM
Yes, you did.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17491344

Kazakhstan's shooting team has been left stunned after a comedy national anthem from the film Borat was played at a medal ceremony at championships in Kuwait instead of the real one.

"Ooh, an ET bike ride aloft "
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 11:24 PM
to the the tune of "Come Together". Meaning that we should unite with extraterrestrials?
"The Queen"
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 11:29 PM
was just prevailed upon to say about seven words. Sadly, I didn't really hear one.
"The Torch Lighting..."
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 11:45 PM
COOL!
"Sir Paul sings "Hey Jude""
Posted by Brownroach on 07-27-12 at 11:51 PM
His voice did not start out well. He's warming up a bit now. Getting totally into the fadeout refrain.
"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by Starshine on 07-28-12 at 01:39 AM
OK reliving the show I have to say that I thought it was amazing, how Danny Boyle captured the country so well, and put on such a good show ... well I know he is supposed to wait until the new year bit give him his knighthood now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgcc5V9Hu3g

Was disappointed that they didn't focus on the deaf and hearing choir a bit more, but then there was a lot going on

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by kingfish on 07-28-12 at 08:00 AM
I agree. That was amazing, imaginative, and very well done. The fireworks were spectacular, and they were just a detail, icing on the cake as it were.

Well done London, well done Britishers, and well done Danny Boyle.

With all the commercials that NBC injected into the broadcast, it would have been fitting to have heard "Money" by Pink Floyd as a theme song.

Let the games begin.

"RE: BSTST - Olympic Opening Ceremony"
Posted by PepeLePew13 on 07-28-12 at 08:25 AM
We had the CTV feed and from what it sounds like here, it was quite different from other feeds. The commentators (Brian Williams and Lisa Laflamme) took time to update on what was happening with the theme - from my history studies, I recognized many of the things that were going on as well.

I thought it was well done (a bit dragged out, though) to go through historical moments and also to poke fun at a couple of British institutions (Bond, Mr. Bean, etc.).

I did see the deaf and hearing choir - it was more of an acting-out form of signing than actual sign language but that`s typical of groups that get together to sign a song for the sake of choreography and coordinating everyone`s movements as one.

"Baffled..."
Posted by PepeLePew13 on 07-28-12 at 10:36 AM
...by what went on during the opening ceremonies?

Have no fear. Here`s a breakdown:

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/anglophiles-delight-opening-ceremony-explainer-211125454--oly.html

"RE: Baffled..."
Posted by cahaya on 07-28-12 at 12:58 PM
So that explains the nurses (see baffled post# 23)!