This Danny Boyle 3 hour Opening Olympics England love-fest thing...(warning may contain spoilers)

[Hassled]

I'm agog. I'm so agog I bought the Radio Times to read all about it.
There will be sheep, clouds (yes, clouds), maypoles and all manner of shit. Moshpits, apparently. Glastonbury Tor. Ploughs.

And 3 hours? What happens - we watch the clouds, then we watch the sheep? What are the billions of people involved going to be doing?

I cannot wait. Anyone have any further info?

Sounds like it will be quirky and eccentric, which are pretty much the right notes to hit as long as it isn't too offbeat. It pretty much HAS to be OTT too though.

Everyone who I have spoken to who has been to the dress rehearsals has been very conscious of spoilers and very.impressed by everyone who is taking part in the opening ceremony, so thank you those of you who are a part of it. I am a bit weary of the Boris announcements & can't really say I enjoy sport as such, but I do like a good celebration & I'm really looking forwards to seeing the doctor light the Olympic flame with his sonic screwdriver.

Ooh just seen the Olympic park on telly - the landscaping looks v pastoral- not the Danny Boyle bit the gaps between venues
[flower]

I don't know the exact reasons why the LSO are miming. I think that has been kept very quiet while the musicians union have been fighting to overturn the decision! But the idea that a symphony orchestra would not be loud enough is ridiculous - it is designed to make the biggest sound imaginable!

Hurrah for Tim Dowling! He's done an Opening Ceremony Bingo card for us.

Oooh, brilliant !

Come join in on the Olympic Opening Ceremony thread.

There needs to be a Harry Potter bit. Neeeeds to be .

I don't know. The size of the orchestra is tiny compared to the stadium though so maybe not so ridiculous. We willl just have to wait and see! :)

\link{http://www.unionversity.com/opening-ceremony-drinking-game\Opening Ceremony Drinking Game}

Thanks for the bingo card. Looking ike a good option. I have had dinner with Danny Boyle and he is indeed a lovely person to spend time with. :)

Can't wait for Monday. Absolutely can't wait -only four more sleeps to go. .....until we leave the country for two weeks to escape it.

Yay for bingo card. Have cut out for dh and dd et moi.
Really excited by the whole thing now after this thread

Glad they were handing out free water, whoever went yesterday. They took mine off me at security on Monday (which I knew they would, tbf), but then they ran out of bottled water inside. It was boiling hot on the tube home and I was absolutely parched. Glad they realised it was an issue and fixed it.

Thing is, you really do have to see it. I could sit here and describe everything I saw, but you really have to see it to understand why people found it amazing.

Hmf. McCartney and band recently played to 100,000 in south america I know cos his music manager is one of my friends. They are all phenomenal musicians and rock royalty. Look out for the man playing keyboards they never show him even though is is actually in charge of the show!! Wait till you hear 60000 people singing hey jude - is that's what's going to happen - I don't know it will but if so it will be memorable.
No I haven't got an effing ticket for that, or any of the Olympics despite subsidising it with my taxes in London and applying four times. My American cousin however has several events as he got them from there. Unfair!

I will be watching it on telly. I fully expect it to be a flop.

However I had one of the best mornings of my life when I woke up at the crack of dawn to see the torch arrive, with a kayak escort, on a quiet slow barge in Camden, to the sight and sound of children singing on the canal steps. I was moved to tears. Even more so because they let another barge in front with a huge and silly sign saying 'f*k the Olympics', which simply could not detract from the moment, indeed made it even more wonderfully English.

This was followed by an incredibly graceful water dance with 150 fountains, and Kathak and Indian classical dancers whirling in the sunlight. All the children played in the fountains afterwards, laughing and having the time of their lives.
Then there were Morris dancers, with an indian dancer on stilts dressed up as Krishna dancing the morris with Morris dancers. Then there was a fabulous ceilidh band, and clog dancing , all enjoyed sitting on bright yellow chairs with 'Kings Cross', a fabulous view of London, a cool morning breeze, and - yes, you guessed it, a Japanese breakfast for £3.00.

None of it was on TV. So much of this Olympics can only be experienced in person, and no telly will ever hope to convey more than a part of the spirit and fun.

I am going to see a blind archer today, at Lords, for free.

funnyperson

yes,there is nothing like the experience of being there. I know so many people who were unexpectedly moved at the sight of the torch. And that was the intention of the organisers - to invite as many people in as possible with the live events

I beg to differ about the opening ceremony. It won't be a flop. And it is very British in tone

It's today! It's today! Cannot articulate how excited I am.

It will be brilliant, and this time tomorrow you will all know it!

funnyperson - glad you were moved, and I hope you're seriously surprised by the stunning-ness of the Opening Ceremony.

I suspect I'm going to spend the next two weeks in tears at random moments - what was it about Big Ben chiming for three minutes that was so moving? Proud to be British, and proud of everyone who - despite all the moaners and negativity - have worked damned hard to pull together an event of this magnitude.

The greatest show on earth.

I am ridiculously excited about the opening ceremony. Its so silly...I can't usually be bothered, but this is different somehow! Until the flame passed through our town back in June, I wasn't really bothered. But the crowds were so fantastic, and it was all so exciting....I began to feel part of the bigger picture!

omg...why the hell does everything end with PAUL MCCARTNEY...WHYYYYYY?!!!!!!!!!!

rainy - how do you know it does?

'I suspect I'm going to spend the next two weeks in tears at random moments - what was it about Big Ben chiming for three minutes that was so moving? Proud to be British, and proud of everyone who - despite all the moaners and negativity - have worked damned hard to pull together an event of this magnitude.

The greatest show on earth.'

ajandjjmum - couldn't agree with you more. We are so excited about the whole thing. Some children from our son's school in N Wales are part of the guard of honour, our son was gutted not to be drawn from the hat as he is really sporty, wonder if we'll be able to spot them on tv tonight! The bits we've seen so far look fantastic - think we might have a drink during the ceremony and raise a glass to everyone, paid and volunteers, who's dreams will unfold over the next few weeks. Come on Team GB!!

I was at the full dress rehersal on Wednesday (got a free ticket as I am a volunteer) - it was amazing. I'm not the sort of person who usually says this, but I really was proud to be British. It was slightly bonkers, a bit quirky, not sure the rest of the world will quite get it, but very British. And definitely spectacular.

Also did my first volunteering shift yesterday (at the main press centre) - met BBC1 presenter / ex-Blue Peter Matt Baker and about a billion other people from international press teams.

Will be watching the ceremony tonight to see the bits (eg the lighting of the flame) they missed out of the rehersal!

OK OK OK OK OK

You have all convinced me it should be watched. I hate things like this normally, but I will watch. It sounds more interesting that those things normally are:)

Cava being put in the fridge as we type speak.

I hate opening ceremonies and similar, however watching it seems like a good excuse to invite the neighbours round and have a few and eat crisps, so I guess we should. If / When Macca appears though, I will be hiding behind the sofa in embarrassment.