Page 6 | Disappointed in people's critics of Paris OG ceremonies

Letti9 · 2024-08-12T06:54:29+00:00

I have been reading the disgusting comments about the opening and closing ceremony in Paris games and I am shocked but not surprised about the pathetic and ridiculous criticisms!!! British are so arrogant and always think they can do better...very disappointed with members of Mumsnet who I thought where a bit more open minded. I think it was amazing whether you agree or not!!!

AntheasAccessories · 14/08/2024 11:47

If anyone is interested these were the briefing notes issued before 2012. You can see that even where they wanted to keep a surprise, final inserts were issued at the start of the event. They’re a fascinating read and you can see a scene by scene description. You can view the whole document further down the web page https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/60858/media-guide-london-2012-olympic-games-opening-ceremony-the-london-organising-committee-of-the-olympi?lg=en-GB

Media guide : London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony / The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd

https://library.olympics.com/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/60858/media-guide-london-2012-olympic-games-opening-ceremony-the-london-organising-committee-of-the-olympi?_lg=en-GB

Rummly · 14/08/2024 11:50

RedToothBrush · 14/08/2024 11:35

Absolutely.

We joke about the British being shit and having shit weather but we'd have had an emergency gazebo to had especially given the forecast.

With regards to criticism of the BBC footage, the BBC had to use a feed supplied to them of the footage. They could cut in with audio but they didn't have editorial control over the visuals and didnt have an outside broadcast except for the commentary team. That will have affected what we saw and heard as it wasn't a normal BBC outside broadcast. They made a point of saying the briefing notes were minimal which meant they were on the back foot. I'm not sure we have an experienced outside broadcaster for live commentary who also knows french cultural references enough to get some of the points above. But if it wasn't going to be easily accessible to non french residents, then the briefing notes had to be explicit and extensive or the meaning would be completely lost. This isn't the fault of the BBC because the assumption would automatically be, if you aren't going to brief extensively then it's going to give thought to how it's widely understood outside France, so you wouldn't need to hire a French commentator. Tbh I think by the sound of it even Fred might not know some of it being resident in the UK (and he hasn't got experience in live commentary - which is different to simply live broadcast).

This wasn't hard to work out and foresee as an organiser. How do you make France and French culture accessible to others in a way that's either entertaining regardless, simple enough to not need translation or properly briefed so people can share in the meaning? Otherwise it's just an arrogant display of snobby french intellectualism which deliberately seeks to exclude outsiders.

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Sorry, trivial, but I’ve just hogged the username ‘EmergencyGazebo’.

That is a phrase from the top drawer. Thank you. 👍

BiscuityBoyle · 14/08/2024 12:06

mugglewump · 14/08/2024 09:15

I think the BBC coverage of the opening ceremony was bad and the whole thing was spoint by the rain. The comentators had either not read the briefing notes or had not been properly briefed, and because of this none of the context was explained so it's easy to see why people were underwhelmed - they didn't understand the significance of the various parts.

Take for example the Aya Nakamura section, no one explained that she was the top selling artist in France and had been slated by the far right for not using 'proper French' in her songs (two fingers up to the far right with this choice). And that she then went and inserted her version of an old Charles Aznavour song into her compilation (which was also spoilt by the BBC having the in situ sound turned down too low). This excert was all about using the language of Moliere (French Shakespeare equivalent) to express her feelings. All very clever, together with the juxtaposition of the French Guard providing the drumming showing the diversity of French society.

Also, the BBC comentators spoke extremely loudly over anything important being relayed so we couldn't hear it - would have been really nice for French speakers here to follow what was happening. Couldn't they have had automatic subtitles instead?

Such a shame I had to resort to TikTok to get the full benefit of the ceremony. It was brilliant but rubbished by the BBC. When can we get rid of the licence fee?

The commentators had been given no rehearsal and no information or notes. They had no translation of the speeches and poor Andrew Cotter was having to do it live. That was not the fault of the BBC but the fault of the organisers who refused rehearsals or notes.

BiscuityBoyle · 14/08/2024 12:11

And the BBC commentators were stood outside, not in some nice cozy studio. They had an umbrella but were asked to put it down by the organisers as it was blocking the view. So they were stood in the pissing rain trying to keep it going while there was some fashion show repeating forever, a horse running up the river for seemingly 20 minutes followed by a random selection of people on a boat for another 20 minutes interspersed with live translation of French. I think they did amazingly well all things considered.

notimagain · 14/08/2024 13:14

I guess a lot depends on how much spoon feeding the presenters expect to get…as @mugglewump has pointed out the controversy over Aya Nakamura performing was all over the media, even the English speaking media, days/weeks before the event.

As for the comment about the BBC presenters being outside and an umbrella….sounds like that one’s for the BBC to explain ..as I understand it most agencies including French TV were open air but were working from fixed structures or emergency pergolas and coped.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 14/08/2024 13:35

I really wanted to enjoy the opening ceremony. I have family in Paris and we were all excited. The idea to use the city as the backdrop for the games was brilliant. But to use the city as the backdrop for the opening ceremony was a mistake. It just didn't work. Most of the time all we had was a rain splattered screen to see what was going on. And we had no idea what was going on.

I was excited to see the fashion runway on the bridge, thinking we'd see a showcase of French fashion... Channel, Dior... but no... just a parade of people in drag and a naked man painted in blue singing about how great it was to be naked (and I only know that as a family member translated the song for me).

There was so much that could have been showcased. It all just missed a trick.

I tried again with the closing ceremony. Thank goodness it was in a stadium so there was some atmosphere... but a person dressed in gold strutting about and people dressed in grey (they looked like mummies) really didn't do it for me.

When Tom Cruise turned up, I actually wasn't sure it was him. WHAT has he done to his face?! After 2 weeks of wonderful, healthy, strong bodies, seeing his plastic face was really, really jarring!

The Olympics were great. I've been glued to the screen. The backdrops impressive, but the opening and closing ceremonies weren't good.

Rummly · 14/08/2024 13:42

notimagain · 14/08/2024 13:14

I guess a lot depends on how much spoon feeding the presenters expect to get…as @mugglewump has pointed out the controversy over Aya Nakamura performing was all over the media, even the English speaking media, days/weeks before the event.

As for the comment about the BBC presenters being outside and an umbrella….sounds like that one’s for the BBC to explain ..as I understand it most agencies including French TV were open air but were working from fixed structures or emergency pergolas and coped.

Wow, that’s defensive.

notimagain · 14/08/2024 14:00

Rummly · 14/08/2024 13:42

Wow, that’s defensive.

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Not half as defensive as some appear to be of the beloved BBC.

RedToothBrush · 14/08/2024 14:09

notimagain · 14/08/2024 14:00

Not half as defensive as some appear to be of the beloved BBC.

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Well everyone is blaming the BBC for the stream. Except the BBC didn't do the stream. And then everyone is saying the commentary was shit. But if the commentators were trying to wing it based on very little information and a lack of knowledge of the cultural references is it fair to be bitching about the BBC?

It's not about being defensive, it's about pointing out what the BBC could and couldn't do and whether it is fair to be critical or not.

Rummly · 14/08/2024 14:18

notimagain · 14/08/2024 14:00

Not half as defensive as some appear to be of the beloved BBC.

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The BBC covered the events. They didn’t stage them. And, apparently, the organisers went all secret squirrel on the broadcasters.

If the ceremonies were crap, don’t blame the BBC.

RedToothBrush · 14/08/2024 14:22

Rummly · 14/08/2024 14:18

The BBC covered the events. They didn’t stage them. And, apparently, the organisers went all secret squirrel on the broadcasters.

If the ceremonies were crap, don’t blame the BBC.

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Clearly it's the BBC's fault that the cameras they didnt operate and place, the ceremony they didn't organise, the notes for broadcaster's they didn't write and the weather they didn't create weren't great.

notimagain · 14/08/2024 14:32

I wasn’t a fan of all that went on during the opening ceremony by any means and if the broadcasters weren’t briefed on the content then that’s fair criticism but AFAIK everybody shared the live stream and coped, many without using umbrellas.

I guess what I find interesting that since then there’s been a highly successful games.

It’s generally considered the organiser’s were really clever in using the city’s architecture and some of it’s prime landmarks as a backdrop to many of the events…the breakdown in law and order and chaos that some forecast didn’t happen, there weren’t even any major scandals involving with the CRS and police.

I was in Paris for some of the games and the atmosphere in the bars and on the streets was phenomenal…

Yet despite all the above for some reason pretty much the only thread on the games still active on MN is a gripeathon about s ceremony that happened before most of the sporting events started….I guess if that’s the only major complaint the committee would take it as a win.

BiscuityBoyle · 14/08/2024 14:42

notimagain · 14/08/2024 14:00

Not half as defensive as some appear to be of the beloved BBC.

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I get the feeling some people would moan about the BBC no matter what they did.

Bignanna · 14/08/2024 14:50

I liked both!
The opening was inventive, original, quirky and colourful. Such a shame about the rain.
The closing was a bit slow at the start,but otherwise joyful.Tom Cruise but was fun and exciting.
perhaps I’m easily pleased.

NewName24 · 14/08/2024 15:04

very disappointed with members of Mumsnet who I thought where a bit more open minded

I can't get past this bit. Have you not been here long ?

TheMarzipanDildo · 14/08/2024 15:22

NewName24 · 14/08/2024 15:04

very disappointed with members of Mumsnet who I thought where a bit more open minded

I can't get past this bit. Have you not been here long ?

That sentence was pure genius.

Weatehonoured · 14/08/2024 22:32

SequoiaTree · 14/08/2024 11:39

I liked the opening ceremony so I'm glad I'm not grouped in with the firey bin pusher people 😁

😜🤣

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/08/2024 22:40

Letti9 · 12/08/2024 18:46

There is another disgusting comment hence my OP.....
I bet there are some of the woman who fell on her face while pushing the wellie bin toward police during the riot 🤣🤣

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At least I know it’s a wheelie bin, @Letti9.

A bit of advice - when seeking to show the plebeians how superior you are, do check your spelling, to avoid looking like a fool.

ForGreyKoala · 14/08/2024 23:12

It's only on MN that I have read all this criticism of the ceremonies. Most people in real life seemed to enjoy them. Mind you, I'm not in the UK so there was none of this 2012 being so much better nonsense!

Dulra · 14/08/2024 23:25

I didn't see the closing ceremony and only a small bit of opening but from what I saw and read it was fantastic. I am in Ireland and the negativity really appears to mainly come from England. The games have been reported as being one of the best and that it has taken the games in a new exciting direction truly taking it to the people. Their choice of venues was genius you really felt part of Paris and the feedback from some athletes is that it is the best they have been part of. Can't wait for the para Olympics to begin.

Original poster

Letti9 · 15/08/2024 00:14

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 14/08/2024 22:40

At least I know it’s a wheelie bin, @Letti9.

A bit of advice - when seeking to show the plebeians how superior you are, do check your spelling, to avoid looking like a fool.

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What about you get lost 🤔

OP posts:

SequoiaTree · 15/08/2024 00:25

Dulra · 14/08/2024 23:25

I didn't see the closing ceremony and only a small bit of opening but from what I saw and read it was fantastic. I am in Ireland and the negativity really appears to mainly come from England. The games have been reported as being one of the best and that it has taken the games in a new exciting direction truly taking it to the people. Their choice of venues was genius you really felt part of Paris and the feedback from some athletes is that it is the best they have been part of. Can't wait for the para Olympics to begin.

I take it you don't look at any international news if you think it's only England. A lot of English people liked it anyway including me. Not sure how you are in a position to comment if you only saw a small bit of the opening ceremony and none of the closing ceremony. That's what the thread is about!

HowIrresponsible · 15/08/2024 00:41

Letti9 · 15/08/2024 00:14

What about you get lost 🤔

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So you didn't flounce

😂👏

Dulra · 15/08/2024 07:49

SequoiaTree · 15/08/2024 00:25

I take it you don't look at any international news if you think it's only England. A lot of English people liked it anyway including me. Not sure how you are in a position to comment if you only saw a small bit of the opening ceremony and none of the closing ceremony. That's what the thread is about!

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Not sure how you are in a position to comment if you only saw a small bit of the opening ceremony and none of the closing ceremony. That's what the thread is about!

Well it had massively derailed to slagging off the French in general so not sure why you've an issue with my comment which at least sticks to the Paris Olympics

IcedPurple · 15/08/2024 07:59

Dulra · 14/08/2024 23:25

I didn't see the closing ceremony and only a small bit of opening but from what I saw and read it was fantastic. I am in Ireland and the negativity really appears to mainly come from England. The games have been reported as being one of the best and that it has taken the games in a new exciting direction truly taking it to the people. Their choice of venues was genius you really felt part of Paris and the feedback from some athletes is that it is the best they have been part of. Can't wait for the para Olympics to begin.

The games themselves were great. They usually are. No debate there.

But that's not what this thread is about. If you didn't see the closing ceremony at all and only a little of the opening ceremony then you're not really qualified to comment, are you?

And how are you measuring the provenance of this 'negativity'? From what I can see, the opening ceremony in particular got poor reviews the world over. And when you confine all this 'negativity' to 'England' how do you know who here, or anywhere else, is English or not?