You guys don't seem that excited...

[RogerM]

I've been very excited. Amazing performances and results.
But I have a sense of foreboding.
The closing ceremony / party. I fear a big turnout of the usual suspects - the 20th Century old farts (they know who they are), topped off by bloody Macca... again. As one press said: 'Let it be, Paul.'
I want to see a celebration of young talent - that has been the theme and was a part of what won us the bid in the first place. If I have to tolerate McCartney, a squealing Lennox and the back end of Queen... etc again, I shall be upset.

It could have been worse. I expected Cliff to come out and do a croaky performance of "Summer Holiday". Let's hope he's not being held over for the closing ceremony. Someone like Adele would have been far more appropriate - but I guess that as she's within a couple of weeks of dropping her sprog she had a good excuse.

Actually, I'm not sure how much we do at the closing ceremony. We were responsible for a significant part of the closing ceremony in Beijing, so perhaps Rio will give us a splash of noise and colour this time?

 

[whiskywill]

How about an austerity closing ceremony?

Gather up all the inevitable litter, particularly MacDonalds' wrapping, chuck it all on the flame and save on fireworks. The fire engines could make fountains with their hoses whilst on standby.

 

[newt]

I've been very excited. Amazing performances and results.
But I have a sense of foreboding.
The closing ceremony / party. I fear a big turnout of the usual suspects - the 20th Century old farts (they know who they are), topped off by bloody Macca... again. As one press said: 'Let it be, Paul.'
I want to see a celebration of young talent - that has been the theme and was a part of what won us the bid in the first place. If I have to tolerate McCartney, a squealing Lennox and the back end of Queen... etc again, I shall be upset.

+1

 

[RogerM]

The Irish sailing commentary is worth a view. It's already been pulled from YouTube so watch it whilst you can.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=510_1344196881

 

[newt]

The Irish sailing commentary is worth a view. It's already been pulled from YouTube so watch it whilst you can.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=510_1344196881

:mrgreen:

 

[woodbloke]

I've been very excited. Amazing performances and results.
But I have a sense of foreboding.
The closing ceremony / party. I fear a big turnout of the usual suspects - the 20th Century old farts (they know who they are), topped off by bloody Macca... again. As one press said: 'Let it be, Paul.'
I want to see a celebration of young talent - that has been the theme and was a part of what won us the bid in the first place. If I have to tolerate McCartney, a squealing Lennox and the back end of Queen... etc again, I shall be upset.

+1

+2...you forgot the Spice Girls - Rob

 

[condeesteso]

Roger - the Irish take on the Laser race was brilliant, thanks for the link =D> =D>
I was finding the UK commentator on the sailing just a bit annoying...' that's the right hand when you are standing at the back of the boat...' and all that helpful stuff.

 

[Noel]

 

[RogerS]

Gold medal for levitation?

 

[Mike.C]

Gold medal for levitation?

Gold medal for being the very best, and as they should be Ireland are proud of the fantastic display of the noble art she showed us all.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Mike.C]

Steve, we agree on too many other things to fall out over this one. Shall we agree to differ?

No.



:lol:



I mean, Yes.

Oh Steve you are awful :lola:

 

[studders]

But I like you........ Shove.






Now the whippersnappers will be going.. eh???

 

[Noel]

Some mad spectators watching the marathon this morning. Bad enough sitting on the edge of a multi story building, but hey, bring the kids too, a fun day for all the family............:

 

[RogerM]

I've been very excited. Amazing performances and results.
But I have a sense of foreboding.
The closing ceremony / party. I fear a big turnout of the usual suspects - the 20th Century old farts (they know who they are), topped off by bloody Macca... again. As one press said: 'Let it be, Paul.'
I want to see a celebration of young talent - that has been the theme and was a part of what won us the bid in the first place. If I have to tolerate McCartney, a squealing Lennox and the back end of Queen... etc again, I shall be upset.

Well - you were right. After about 40 mins my comment to SWMBO was that I was completely underwhelmed. George Michaels "dirge" - what was that all about? I can forgive Ray Davies - Waterloo Sunset is an iconic piece of music about London - although I prefer Cathy Dennis's cover. Where was Cold Play or Adele or Kate Bush - all tipped as performing? Why weren't the Kaiser Chiefs performing some of their more well known pieces? Modern doesn't necessarily mean better tho' - witness Jessie J destroying "We will rock you". I'm surprised that Brian May and Roger Taylor agreed to go along with that. John Deacon clearly doesn't want to know, and just to remember how it should be you just need to revisit the 1985 Live Aid performance by Queen. Ed Sheeran's cover of "Wish You Were Here" was quite reasonable.

Ah well. Overall it's been a great 2 weeks that's played havoc with my work productivity. Might get something done now!

 

[RogerP]

I've been very excited. Amazing performances and results.
But I have a sense of foreboding.
The closing ceremony / party. I fear a big turnout of the usual suspects - the 20th Century old farts (they know who they are), topped off by bloody Macca... again. As one press said: 'Let it be, Paul.'
I want to see a celebration of young talent - that has been the theme and was a part of what won us the bid in the first place. If I have to tolerate McCartney, a squealing Lennox and the back end of Queen... etc again, I shall be upset.

Well - you were right. After about 40 mins my comment to SWMBO was that I was completely underwhelmed. George Michaels "dirge" - what was that all about? I can forgive Ray Davies - Waterloo Sunset is an iconic piece of music about London - although I prefer Cathy Dennis's cover. Where was Cold Play or Adele or Kate Bush - all tipped as performing? Why weren't the Kaiser chiefs performing some of their more well known pieces? Modern doesn't necessarily mean better tho' - witness Jessie J destroying "We will rock you". I'm surprised that Brian May and Roger Taylor agreed to go along with that. John Deacon clearly doesn't want to know, and just to remember how it should be you just need to revisit the 1985 Live Aid performance by Queen. Ed Sheeran's cover of "Wish You Were Here" was quite reasonable.

Ah well. Overall it's been a great 2 weeks that's played havoc with my work productivity. Might get something done now!

Yes it's been a great couple of weeks. I've only watch bits here and there (the events I'm interested in) but greatly enjoyed it. I can't comment on closing ceremony as I went to bed - but I only recognise a couple of the names you mention - never been into rock/pop and anyway must be getting old

 

[cutting42]

witness Jessie J destroying "We will rock you". I'm surprised that Brian May and Roger Taylor agreed to go along with that. John Deacon clearly doesn't want to know,

I thought Jessie did OK actually, she can hold a tune well and has the drama and power to carry it off. No it wasn't Freddie and nothing can ever be but not as bad as I feared when I first saw her step out.

BTW, John Deacon gave up playing many years ago long before the Olympics, before they toured with Paul Rodgers.

 

[acewoodturner]

I was very impressed about the individual athletes performances from all over the world , not just the British winners. They have trained for years, made all sorts of sacrifices, led a healthy lifestyle, eaten the right foods in moderation etc. These are the kind of people that are the iconic role models that our young people should aspire to be. The Government should be putting billions of pounds into sport and supporting people of all abilities. All sport should be free and sports facilities should be built or modernised everywhere in my opinion. If even from only an accountant's viewpoint in the cost of reduced crime, property damage, criminal justice system costs etc it would be well worth it. If you then add in the benefits of the long term fitness, NHS costs being reduced, personal family tragedies due to relatives dying young because of health related illnesses due to obesity, this country would be in a far better state in 20 years time than if it was by employing thousands of extra doctors and nurses due to obesity/heart disease etc.
It was ironic that in the opening ceremony that there was a pledge by the athletes representative about fairness and anti drugs. Who pops along but George Michael, that well known drug user with several convictions. Also starring last night were quite a few so called stick insect thin, fashion models some of whom also have convictions for using illegal drugs. Most of them looked like they could do with a good feed and I would guarantee that they probably think a balanced diet consists of a joint in each hand!
BTW I was a full time youth worker for 20 years working in areas of multiple deprevation and my views on this have been formed on this by working at the sharp end and not by reading the Daily Mail.

Mike

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Sorry to be pedantic - they weren't depreved. Were they deprived or depraved?

 

[beech1948]

I was very inspired by the athletes, the volunteers, the simpler things.

I was completely turned off by LOCOG, the legalistic bulls**t that prevented many form using the olympic symbol etc etc, the commercialism and the old, old stars of yester year.

Seb Coe did well if a bit unprofessional sounding in his speech which made it all the more attractive.

I think its time to scrap the IoC.
I think its time to stop the global tour of the Olympics
I think its time to return the |Olympics to Athens as a permanent fixture.
I think its time to keep it simple and less commercial

Managed to avoid 90% of it all though except for the few highlights.

Al

 

[Jacob]

I was very impressed about the individual athletes performances from all over the world , not just the British winners. They have trained for years, made all sorts of sacrifices, led a healthy lifestyle, eaten the right foods in moderation etc. These are the kind of people that are the iconic role models that our young people should aspire to be. The Government should be putting billions of pounds into sport and supporting people of all abilities.

Agree.
And the same with education as a whole, instead of privatising it by stealth and adding debt burdens as a deterrent.

my views on this have been formed on this by working at the sharp end and not by reading the Daily Mail.

:lol: =D>