I was assuming that they'd just get a hoodie to lob a petrol bomb at a pile of windblown garbage in the middle of the half built stadium, before some shoddy concrete collapses and the entire Bulgarian delegation are crushed to death, simultaneously opening and closing the games.
I hadn't expected to be, but I was very impressed by the opening ceremony. I was thinking how shameful it is how little I know of Chinese history. I would struggle to name any pre 20th century Chinese historical figures other than Confucius.
I totally loved China's opening ceremony. I thought whoever the designer was/designers were, they did a fantastic job. There was so much history captured there, in such a (relatively) short time, but it all worked together. And it seemed honest, too, without being dressed up more than it deserved. Apart from the section on nature, I'm not going there! ETA: except to admit it looked good and took amazing skill.
We were speculating at work today. It will be a large contingent of Pearly Kings and Queens doing synchronised rhyming slang, with a musical accompaniment Dizzee Rascal and Coldplay. In the rain, obv.
I think 2012 Opening should Play to Our Strengths (tm).
First off, the 'olympic' and 'paralympic' budgets should be the same.
Second off, we should learn from China - a really wonderful arial display is what's needed, with just a few clips of dancing. So that's three spitfires (including one flown by a woman), some vulcans, the Red Arrows and a lot of paragliders. Probably not fireworks.
Or perhaps we should have nothing to see AT ALL. Just music/sound.
If it's going to be (positively) British, it should be a) funny. b) diverse. c) creative. d) eccentric
I'm not sure anyone's going to be able to top that. It was so good. The moveable type thing with the guys under the boxes! That was amazing. Could they even see each other in there? HOw did they do it?!
Not to mention the possible demise of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the single most brilliantly successful and cheap contribution to Britain's archaeological record since the war (or perhaps PPG16), and under threat because of stupid Olympics.
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Date: 2008-08-08 03:58 pm (UTC)If they don't at least do that, they'll have achieved a monumental fail.
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Date: 2008-08-08 07:48 pm (UTC)First off, the 'olympic' and 'paralympic' budgets should be the same.
Second off, we should learn from China - a really wonderful arial display is what's needed, with just a few clips of dancing. So that's three spitfires (including one flown by a woman), some vulcans, the Red Arrows and a lot of paragliders. Probably not fireworks.
Or perhaps we should have nothing to see AT ALL. Just music/sound.
If it's going to be (positively) British, it should be
a) funny.
b) diverse.
c) creative.
d) eccentric
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Date: 2008-08-09 09:52 am (UTC)a) funny.
b) diverse.
c) creative.
d) eccentric
I like that.
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Date: 2008-08-09 08:18 am (UTC)I wish Paris had won.
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Date: 2008-08-09 09:47 am (UTC)I think ours should involve costume drama. And men in wet poet shirts.
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Date: 2008-08-09 07:22 pm (UTC)