To say I loved the opening ceremony?

[scottishheather86]

I really enjoyed the show last night! It was bold and ambitious and all
Encompassing! It was a shame about the rain, but I think overall it was really great! But shocked how many utter miserable responses to it there have been!

I'm shocked that people are still complaining that there were trans people performing and a cheeky scene that insinuated a threesome! Love, passion and style are all big French themes! Can we get past the British stiff upper lip and just enjoy it for what it is?

Remember, we had David (not holier than thou) Beckham driving a boat up the Thames and loads of weird and quirky things at our opening ceremony, that would have gone over the heads of most of the rest of the world.

The ceremony is not the Olympics.

That the Olympics will come to an end in 20 years.

Thank you, you've hit the nail on the head.

Maybe the reason I hated it so much is because I really do love the Olympics.

I love seeing the competitors for the first time, picking out the names and faces from each country that I recognise. In Paris, we got a quick glimpse of a boat sailing past - there was no flag bearer leading their country out. A brief close-up of the boat, sometimes not even that. No way to look for the competitors.

Where was the electric atmosphere with crowds cheering? Where was the celebration of French sport? Lots of sports stars from the Eiffel Tower onwards were non-French - Carl
Lewis, Nadal, Serena Williams, etc. Also lots of non-French pop music used which feels like a missed opportunity.

Discussion of the ceremony has been distracted by the debate over the drag queens and sexualised content. Just setting that aside….

I can see why some people might have enjoyed each of the performance elements. Some bits were amazing. But when put together, did it really feel like a tribute to the Olympics? A big occasion that you’d remember forever if you attended? Or did it feel more like a TV show?

For me (and many others) it was the latter.

The thrill of Olympics is the crowds roaring, everyone on their feet, the exhilaration of seeing the competitors emerge…. That’s why previous countries use stadiums because with everyone together there’s something very special.

No, but it’s about the Olympics.

It’s a celebration of the host country, its successes, and an opportunity to introduce the Olympic competitors.

So yes, it absolutely is about the Olympics as well as the host country.

No one wants a crappy opening ceremony - we all want it to be good!!

For me, it was the lack of seeing the athletes. It's great to spot those you know and see them enjoying it. You barely saw them. 😟

That was my biggest gripe too tbh. I was really disappointed.

Mind you, there were apparently a couple of real gaffes too.

Apparently South Korea was introduced as North Korea, and they hung the Olympic flag upside down as well.

I didn’t spot either of those things but I may have been brain dead by that point 😂

Reread your final paragraph in the post I responded to. It very much suggests the ceremony means it’s a ‘shit Olympics’.

It’s a prediction based on the acknowledged truths that a) outside the US it’s unlikely that any country will be able to afford to host in the future, b) the IOC demands measures and guarantees that countries now quite rightly turn away from, c) nobody any longer thinks it’s genuine competition, and d) it’s a laughing stock.

Best thing about it was the utterly brilliant. MN thread ripping the piss out of it, I haven't laughed so much in ages!

I did re-read it before responding.

For me, the opening ceremony is part of the Olympics.

The point I was making is that people around the world aren’t hoping for any part of the Olympics, including the ceremony, to be shit. The press normally tries to be upbeat about reporting these things but the fact there’s been a fair amount of criticism supports the fact the ceremony wasn’t a resounding success.

Insert the word “ceremony” into my final paragraph if it helps.

The cancan dancers were terrible compared to the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.

I stopped watching when they started showing children and drag queens and that male dancer got his knob out.

https://x.com/radiogenoa/status/1817154323345793474?s=46&t=pmOAhiSHmmUhsEgr0GGQgw

That picture is absolutely hilarious!

I might print it out as a single image summary of the wankiness of the Olympics.

Nobody got their knob out. A classical dancer got a rip in his tights.

God, it was so boring.

I think they should circulate information and running order to the main broadcasters. I’ve heard some interesting explanations on the sections after here and on radio this morning. If the presenters were able to say that as it went along would have been bettter.

I love Paris so much!
It just made me want to visit again soon.

I think you’re wrong on all counts. Having a go at an opening ceremony does suggest you want billions thrown at it though. Totally unnecessary.

A) he didn’t ’get his knobout’. If it were his knob it’s clearly not intentional.
B) it’s not his knob. Look properly. It’s a hole in his tights. You are seeing slightly bulgy thigh.

I mean, if it is a testicle, he wants to see a doctor as a matter of urgency.

A) he didn’t ’get his knobout’. If it were his knob it’s clearly not intentional.
B) it’s not his knob. Look properly. It’s a hole in his tights. You are seeing slightly bulgy thigh.

Knob or no knob, the children and drag queens was enough to turn me off.

I mean, you are wrong but OK.

It was a tiny section. I’m a bit suspicious of this ‘children and drag queens’ hysteria. Sounds like you think they are all paedophiles.

Which part or parts am I wrong about?