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Original poster

London Olympics 2012 started 8years ago today

88 replies

Scarby9 · 17/07/2020 22:54

Good times!
And such different times.
I'm feeling a mix of anxiety (so many people all too close together!) and wistfulness watching the opening ceremony.

OP posts:
MinnieMousse · 18/07/2020 01:17

Is today the day that the Tokyo Games should have opened? I can't think of any other reason why they are re-showing the London ceremony now.

Watching it made me realise how much has changed since then. The crowds cheered when the Chinese team came out as of course they hosted the previous Olympics. Lots of bonkers stuff in the ceremony which somehow represented Britain perfectly. Now I just feel that even a few short years later the UK is viewed so differently in the world.

Also,had totally forgotten the Arctic Monkeys were a thing!

I went to the Olympic park during the Games when I was 7 months pregnant with DC2 and the staff kindly offered me a mobility scooter to get around on! I didn't take it as I had DC1 in a buggy but I was tempted.

titchy · 18/07/2020 01:19

@LadyGAgain

Oh *@titchy* are you ok? I know what you mean 100%.

@Adarajames - what part did you play? Can you please describe it all? Your feelings?

Yeah. Had too much wine. But, wasn't it good then? And so not now.

Have dh and dcs. We're all healthy with positive futures so can't complain. But what a difference.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 18/07/2020 02:28

DD was a baby and I was in the bliss of maternity leave. Best summer of my life in terms of how uplifting and life affirming it all felt.
It all went downhill from there....

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General sports
KoalasandRabbit · 18/07/2020 04:25

Seems like more than 8 years ago. I remember going to 2 events, rowing and ? maybe volleyball but brain is like a sieve now. My life was so busy then, prefer it now in a lot of ways.

BGirlBouillabaisse · 18/07/2020 05:30

Like @crunchymum, I was about 23 weeks pregnant with DS1, who now loves hearing about London 2012 and how he was 'there'. I watched the vast majority of it sat on my arse eating avocado toast and peanut butter bagels.

After the referendum in 2016, the thing I felt the saddest about was the fact that we'd been dazzling the world with the most spectacular Olympic Games ever a mere 4 years previously, and now we were retreating into ourselves Sad

TheAirbender · 18/07/2020 05:33

Living overseas at the time I was just so proud to be from such a fantastic, innovative and cool country. So much has changed. :(

maddiemookins16mum · 18/07/2020 06:46

It was wonderful, I remember the building excitement, the torch relay that came that came through our borough (we all lined the pavement outside the office), loved it all.

Norma27 · 18/07/2020 07:03

Definitely 27 July as it was my daughter's birthday. Something she still remembers.

motorcyclenumptiness · 18/07/2020 07:06

Wish it was 2012 again
This, for many reasons. It was such a positive time. Now everything's turned to shit.

RosieLemonade · 18/07/2020 07:11

Oh 2012. The best summer of my life. 21 and just started dating DH. It was the happiest time I can remember. I love the Olympics so much and obviously this one was incredibly special.

TheDoctorDances · 18/07/2020 08:14

I was in a packed bar (remember those?!) when Moe Farrah won. They turned off the music, put the sound on the tv and the whole bar went crazy clapping and cheering. It was a fantastic summer.

kevinbacone · 18/07/2020 08:15

I loved this. Our family was so happy at this time and the UK seemed like a fantastic place. I was so proud.

So much has gone wrong since then.

icebearforpresident · 18/07/2020 08:28

I saw this was on just as I was going to bed last night, my plans for today are to download it on iplayer! Even just the 5 minutes I saw last night brought me close to tears (the end of the opening section).

There’s an excellent video on YouTube, someone who was in the opening section was wearing a small camera so it’s their point of view, and instead of the sound we heard at home you get the audio they were getting in their ear of a producer giving them cues.

Original poster
Scarby9 · 18/07/2020 08:32

@Adarajames Tell us more!!
What part did you play?
What was it like?

OP posts:
icebearforpresident · 18/07/2020 08:33

Just went looking for it, here it is

.

It’s a really fascinating watch, if you have time I really recommend it.

Original poster
Scarby9 · 18/07/2020 08:33

Apologies for the inaccurate title. I must have misheard the announcer.

OP posts:
kevinbacone · 18/07/2020 08:46

Ooh thanks @icebearforpresident, that's one to keep for a rainy day!

heartsonacake · 18/07/2020 10:57

Oh it was such a magical time. I got married that summer as well so it was very special.

Feeling so proud, happy, excited. Watching the Olympic torch go passed in my town and everyone lining the pavements was a great feeling.

mencken · 18/07/2020 11:03

I remember. Nasty anti-science opening ceremony, around 3 times over budget and even then only worked thanks to huge numbers of volunteers. And just what did happen to the 'legacy', eh? £9billion spaffed, think what else that could have paid for.

paralympics ceremonies were good though.

WendyHoused · 18/07/2020 11:17

No it didn’t. It started on July 27th. I know because it’s our anniversary and we came home from the restaurant early to watch the opening ceremony.

How odd to move the date by 10 days.

heartsonacake · 18/07/2020 12:44

@mencken

I remember. Nasty anti-science opening ceremony, around 3 times over budget and even then only worked thanks to huge numbers of volunteers. And just what did happen to the 'legacy', eh? £9billion spaffed, think what else that could have paid for.

paralympics ceremonies were good though.

Anti science? What on Earth are you talking about? 😂😂
mornington2020 · 18/07/2020 12:44

I hope to live to see the Olympics in London again in my lifetime.

Many memories. Two stand out for me, the 800m mens final and meeting a former gold medallist.

blue25 · 18/07/2020 12:52

It was a brilliant opening ceremony and games & a great time to be living in London. I’ve got many happy memories from that summer.

ageingdisgracefully · 18/07/2020 12:53

I loved it. It was quirky and different. I'm usually underwhelmed by this kind of thing but this was ace; humorous as well.

Those volunteers and the commitment they made!

The games were just unforgettable as well. I went on the off chance to London on what turned out to be Super Saturday. We ended up seeing the Womens' Walk and missing the stadium action.

Fab day - won't forget it.

mencken · 18/07/2020 13:08

the opening ceremony started with 'green and pleasant land' and then went all 'capitalists in top hats producing nasty industrial stuff'. I think I switched off at that point. We need to celebrate science and industry, not pretend that art is more important.

closing ceremony was better but wasn't it just a Coldplay concert?

and the huge, huge budget overrun - they then publicised lies that the event was under budget. No it wasn't, it went 3 times and more over.

the overblown circus of the Olympics needs to stop. No sane country should host it and I hope we never do again. Jolly good if you were in London, no doubt - but a massive pain if you werent as the events blocked off access and work for those trying to continue their lives.