To be disgusted at Danny Boyle for using live animals in the Olympic opening ceremony!

[balotelli]

According to reports on todays news live sheep will be used in the Olympic Opening ceremony. Its supposed to depict 'rural' England!

Poor sheep will be scared shitless. I am horrified that these poor sensitive creatures are being exploited for entertainment.

No animals should ever be used as entertainment.

Disgraceful.

I could talk the kids into it, Tufty. My DD needs a summer job.

"And some reputable organisation has had an input eg the RSPCA?"

And the prize for oxymoron of the century goes to gettingalifenow. balotelli, YANBU. Whoever considered that it was an acceptable idea to mix sheep with crowds of thousands and fireworks is a total asshole.

For Tufty

I think it is a Border Cheviot but don't quote me on that.

If the opening ceremony is being inspired by William Blake's view of Britain, will the Dark Satanic Mills feature?

H, for heaven's sake, these are not a flock of sheep that were grazing on the Brecon Beacons the day before!

I very much doubt that the dark Satanic mills will figure. Wish they would though.

As for dressing up as sheep, I'm a bit frightened by that adult lamb costume but will volunteer; the appeal of being able to piss on the Olympic grass is too strong!

The whole thing has an air of Spinal Tap dancing around a Stonehenge that hasn't been scaled up properly.

I am hoping assuming that the opening ceremony will consist of a bit more than some sheep standing around in the middle of the stadium and a few fireworks overhead.

I think it will be great actually but whatever happens there will be people who go on about how crap and embarrassing it is, as there always is.

I saw it on the news, the presenters were smirking, saying China had 2008 drummers, we're going to have 12 farm animals

it might be good though......

Linerunner, so if we use your DD and my DC and bunting. We can all wear the costume GentleOtter linked to. We need to learn how to be herded. Is it difficult?

Otter, apart from the Olympics, why would an adult want to dress up as a lamb? I'd be interested to know what their sales are like.

Actually, thinking about it, can I dress up as the <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=sheepdog+fancy+dress+costume&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=EyP&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=960&bih=1150&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=OXinNAc1_bZlzM:&imgrefurl=jn10.co.uk/fancy-dress-costumes/fancy-dress.php%3Fid%3D462663178%26p%3DSheepdog-Mascot%26c%3DAdult-Fancy-Dress-Costumes&docid=bNXgCOg50TG01M&imgurl=www.halloweenmart.com/media/core/RU69015_SHEEPDOG_MASCOT.jpg&w=400&h=391&ei=u1bYT8_OKInS0QWPvZGGBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=367&sig=100905212096207828663&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=155&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75&tx=72&ty=51" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sheepdog?

Are the lamb costumes for sheepshagging fantasy role-play? I would find that a tad disturbing, especially if we had to hire ones that had been previously worn.

They are sneaking in "one man and his dog", I just know it...

I think we've pretty much done Danny Boyle's work for him, especially with LadyClarice running around in that sheepdog outfit.

We''ve got opening ceremony tickets - i don't want sheep.

I want fireworks and lasers and people on stilts and space rockets - not All Creatures Great and fucking Small

Oh and I agree, they are not going to be kidnapping sheep from the Lake District for this.....

space rockets. class.

I think the sheep will be dyed and be herded to create a set of Olympic rings. THen when the crowd has oohed and ahhed they will all break out of formation and tap dance to the tune of the National Anthem. Hurrah!

OP - I take your point and I tend to agree about the 'entertainment' thing in general but I don't doubt they will be taken good care of and there will be vets and RSCPA inspectors around. I don't expect they have just been taken off the fells and herded into a van bound for London.

Maybe the sheep will have to sleep under London Bridge the night before.

If they sneak in One Man and his Dog, I hope they sneak in the bottom scooting dog from the Outtakes Archive...

Woof!

They won't be real sheep...they'll be made by the War Horse people, and have been trained to salute a la jubilee flotilla celebration.
Or they will all be called Dolly.

Tufty, I have no idea why adults would want to dress up as lambs of an evening but perhaps they feel the cold.

Herding is easy for sheep - just run in the opposite direction of the collie/ farmer. Be unpredictable and maybe hurdle the fence for effect to get to the flower display.
Stamp on a wellied foot and headbut the farmer.The crowd will go wild.

actually more details have emerged and it seems even worse...