[Cliff]

Yes, a fantastic ceremony but was it a little left leaning perhaps?

While there is hardly anyone in Britain who is not proud of our NHS the hospital bed sequence, was (to use the current verb) quirky! And very long!
Who were we preaching too? Nearly all first world countries apart from one have a free or government supported health service. Did we invent the concept?
Would anyone else in the world know what it was all about?

I did love all the multicultural references by the way as that is how the country is now and that is not political IMO.

I see CND got a look in as part of our history? Was that something that changed the course of our country's history?

Why not bring things up to date and celebrate the City of London, the International centre for financial dealings?

[Steven]

Or perhaps as a result of your own political tendencies, you have added a meaning or interpretation to the ceremony that was not necessarily there?

Just take things at face value. Danny Boyle wanted to highlight one of the country's best achievements following WWII. It would be a misjudgement to politicise it: Aidan Burley MP tweet...

[Cliff]

Yes the tweet was pretty stupid.
But anyone on this particular sub forum has specially tuned antennae for political slant, where left or right.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by Cliff

Yes, a fantastic ceremony but was it a little left leaning perhaps?

I agree that it was, seemingly, a little left leaning. On face value I have no problem with such messages - whether left or right - but I think in an international event such as the Olympics it has the potentially to offend. For example, despite the bitter and extended healthcare fight over in the US, a message seemingly preaching the achievements of the NHS.

And the inclusion of CND seems even more absurd. At least the NHS has been an achievement. By contrast CND is an organisation that was clearly wrong, failed in its objective and has been sidelined politically and internationally.

All in all though it was a spectacular opening ceremony albeit it, I suspect, a little incomprehensible to many of those watching from outside the UK.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

For example, despite the bitter and extended healthcare fight over in the US, a message seemingly preaching the achievements of the NHS.

Why are you concerning yourself with what Americans think when their networks cut away from the 7/7 tribute to show Ryan Seacrest interviewing Phelps If foreign rights holders cut away from a tribute to 9/11 there would be a storm in the American media

Your points might be valid chaps but just think you are missing the pulse of the moment

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by Steven

Why are you concerning yourself with what Americans think when their networks cut away from the 7/7 tribute to show Ryan Seacrest interviewing Phelps If foreign rights holders cut away from a tribute to 9/11 there would be a storm in the American media

Your points might be valid chaps but just think you are missing the pulse of the moment

Perhaps your right - I just feel though that the opening ceremony should be all inclusive rather than alienate anyone via political messages.

[jwalsh82]

I thought the ceremony was fantastic. Blew Beijing away. The set pieces - the rings being forged in particular, to the music, to the cauldron - I thought it was brilliant!

[matrim]

I think the ceremony was excellent and really tried to show the world what Britain is today and where it came from. Well done Danny Boyle I say. I think sometimes people read too much into things and should just enjoy the spectacle!

[Cliff]

Originally Posted by matrim

I think the ceremony was excellent and really tried to show the world what Britain is today and where it came from. Well done Danny Boyle I say. I think sometimes people read too much into things and should just enjoy the spectacle!

100 % with you on the above- but I mentioned it because we are in the politics forum and not GC.

While watching the spectacle, and feeling proud etc, I wondered if any of the union leaders that were threatening strikes and the ruination of the games - and the bad publicity it brought around the world (witness Mitt Romney comments) had any pangs of guilt? No? thought not!

[Trollslayer]

Originally Posted by Steven

Or perhaps as a result of your own political tendencies, you have added a meaning or interpretation to the ceremony that was not necessarily there?

Just take things at face value. Danny Boyle wanted to highlight one of the country's best achievements following WWII. It would be a misjudgement to politicise it: Aidan Burley MP tweet...

Agreed, sometimes a spoon is just a spoon.
Now if the ceremony had been two weeks long then most of our history could have been included.

[sharger]

Originally Posted by Cliff

mitt Romney

face bothered.....

Now getting back to the ceremony it was a master class that stood second to none in my eyes

Boris thinks the leftie suggestion is nonsense too...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19029510


.

[neilios]

I didn't feel it was political,the forging of the rings was great ,but the rest was awful,soap operas,ps3,texting,boy meets girl and dizzee rascal not very cultural and a pointer to everything dysfunctional....

[Saldawop]

Originally Posted by neilios

I didn't feel it was political,the forging of the rings was great ,but the rest was awful,soap operas,ps3,texting,boy meets girl and dizzee rascal not very cultural and a pointer to everything dysfunctional....

Would agree with that. I really enjoyed it up until the end of the Industrial Revolution part.After that it went downhill IMO.
Once the athletes entered I must admit I got even more bored after 5 minutes and went to bed.
I watched the lighting of the cauldron this morning, that was very good, and the fireworks looked impressive, although I must admit I dont really care for fireworks.

[Ed Selley]

Originally Posted by neilios

I didn't feel it was political,the forging of the rings was great ,but the rest was awful,soap operas,ps3,texting,boy meets girl and dizzee rascal not very cultural and a pointer to everything dysfunctional....

To be honest, as I've posted elsewhere, I think the first 15-20 were so mind blowingly good (genuinely one of the best things I've seen in years) that the rest would always suffer by comparison.

[Alan CD]

Here's a political question:

How much of this comes out of the tax payers' pockets?

[Cliff]

Ken said it would only cost me 38p a week, which is the price of a Walnut Whip, on my council tax.
But this is for 12 years and I'd never eat that many Walnut Whips anyway!

[sidicks]

Originally Posted by Alan CD

Here's a political question:

How much of this comes out of the tax payers' pockets?

I think Labour estimated £2bn initially but the actual cost was closer to £12bn.....

[sharger]

Originally Posted by sidicks

I think Labour estimated £2bn initially but the actual cost was closer to £12bn.....

[sidicks]

Originally Posted by sharger

I'm sorry if you don't like me answering someone's question (or simply don't like the answer to that question) - the inconvenient truth, perhaps??

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by sidicks

I think Labour estimated £2bn initially but the actual cost was closer to £12bn.....

and worth every penny so far

[sidicks]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

and worth every penny so far

Hugely debatable!

However, I thought the vast majority of the opening ceremony was excellent.

Very emotive in places, and the creation and joining of the rings and the creation of the torch were amazing.

Sidicks

[Alan CD]

Originally Posted by sidicks

I think Labour estimated £2bn initially but the actual cost was closer to £12bn.....

OK. 12 billion pounds sterling 'invested' into the London Olympics.

When all the clapping, fireworks, fun and games are over and the athletes have gone home will the interest rates remain very low? Will the pensioners and savers continue to loose big money or will the interest rates start to rise?

House prices are still falling and banks are still in crisis mode. The economy is in deep trouble, QE and inflation is still being used to 'reduce' debts. What will happen to the future UK bond market?

Who will bail out the pound sterling when the proverbial hits the fan? The Euro zone? They have bailed out other Euro zone countries (Greece, Spain, Italy etc) but will they help the sterling? Will they bail out UK banks when they head into really deep trouble?

I think the fun and games will start when the fun and games are over. For the moment we are being distracted - but that is temporary. £12bn well spent.

[JamesP1701]

As much as I enjoyed the spectacular opening ceremony the moment Ethiopia's athletes walked on I couldn't help thinking how much food the money could have bought/funded etc

[dc8900]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

and worth every penny so far

Don't usually agree with you but +1 to that

[phil t]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

By contrast CND is an organisation that was clearly wrong, failed in its objective and has been sidelined politically and internationally.

Is Garelochhead still a popular holiday destination for them?

[travid]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

And the inclusion of CND seems even more absurd. At least the NHS has been an achievement. By contrast CND is an organisation that was clearly wrong, failed in its objective and has been sidelined politically and internationally.

I think CND's ideas were admirable and something we should all strive for.

People say they were naive, possibly true, but to rid the world of nuclear weapons? A wonderful idea!

Do we, the UK that is, need our own nuclear weapons, really?

Politically motivated? Not for me.

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by sidicks

I think Labour estimated £2bn initially but the actual cost was closer to £12bn.....

Does this include the ongoing legacy costs ? At first I had been under the impression that they had pretty much sold all the venues to private companies, but it seems they will just be taken over by councils and so naturally all of that cost will remain wholly with the tax payer including the ongoing day to day running costs. I wondered if that was a bit of creative accountancy ?

[karkus30]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

and worth every penny so far

Not to me, but then I have little interest in watching sport so it's somewhat wasted on me. I can think of far better uses for the money it cost.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by phil t

Is Garelochhead still a popular holiday destination for them?

The odd one or two still reside in that silly "peace camp" (in Summer only of course) - but these days there tends to be more Police than protestors. You can see from their annual attempt to 'lockdown' the Base they are losing steam. Even with the Trident renewal bubbling away, they are a spent force. Which IMHO is a very good thing for the country.

[krish]

I usually care little for what Glenda Jackson's son has to say, but for once I am in full agreement
- London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony: can the Aidan Burleys of this world not drop the politics for three hours? – Telegraph Blogs