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Jim Seida / NBC News
Olympic Stadium can be seen in the background as partygoers watch the opening ceremonies on a massive LCD screen in East London.
Updated at 8:45 p.m. ET: STRATFORD, East London – For billions of people watching around the world, Friday night’s 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony signaled the start of two weeks of sporting excitement.
But for nearby residents just outside the main Olympic Park — within earshot of the spectacular show, but separated by 11 miles of electric fence — the celebrations also marked the end of seven years of planning and redevelopment which has transformed the local area and made an impact on many lives.
Tens of thousands gathered in parks to watch the ceremony on giant screens, or hosted parties in apartments and backyards in the shadow of the stadium. Cheers erupted when British cycling hero Bradley Wiggins rang the bell to begin the display.
“For people living in this area, the Olympics isn’t just about these two weeks — they’ve been living with the anticipation and excitement for years — as well as the noise and disruption,” said Stephen McVeigh, deputy head of residential property at Genesis Housing, whose 700-home development includes a 43-story tower, Stratford Halo, under construction yards from the Games.
Brits rally around Games after Romney's Olympic gaffe
“It is incredible, but also a bit strange, to be so close to the excitement and the action, yet still watching on television.”
As McVeigh spoke to NBC News, the Royal Air Force display team — the Red Arrows — roared overhead, coating the urban skyline in red, white and blue trails that drew a huge cheer from nearby streets.
Although the tower is unfinished, workers and corporate guests gathered on the 38th floor from where the view included a section inside the stadium.
Jim Seida / NBC News
Workers and corporate guests watch the opening ceremonies from the 38th floor of Stratford Halo, a 43 story-housing tower still under development in Stratford, London, only a mile from Olympic Park.
Across the River Lea, southwest of the stadium in an industrial zone that has witnessed decades of decline, one local furniture factory decided to make the most of the event by clearing its workspace and yard and converting them into a giant temporary nightclub and bar complex called Fringe 2012.
Jim Seida / NBC News
A bartender pours a customer a glass of wine at one of the many bars in Fringe 2012, a factory turned nightclub just for the Games, on Friday in East London.
Inside, with the music from the ceremony drifting across the river, revelers who had paid up to 25 pounds ($39) cheered their favorite points in the ceremony — including the appearance of live cows and comic actor Rowan Atkinson (best known in America as Mr. Bean) — and joined the stadium crowd in singing the National Anthem, "God Save The Queen."
When the Olympics and politics collide: Is neutrality just a 'fairy tale'?
“We decided this was a better business plan so we applied for a (liquor) license and put a giant screen and turned it into a place for people to feel part of the Olympic experience even if they couldn’t be in the ceremony or get tickets for the events," said Steve Black, whose family has made sofas on the site for generations.
Jim Seida / NBC News
Partygoers watch the opening ceremonies on a massive LCD screen at Fringe 2012.
“Hopefully this will change the area for good — this all used to be factories but soon it will be bars, restaurants, galleries," he said. "It’s a celebration for the area as much as for the opening of the Olympic Games.”
London's 'East End': From haven for gangsters to Olympic showcase
Thousands packed into Victoria Park, about two miles west of the stadium, to watch the ceremony on big screens.
There was an ironic cheer when it began to rain, but the best reaction of the night came when a comedy skit depicted The Queen alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
A major part of the show was an homage to the U.K.’s National Health Service, with nurses dancing and hospital beds arranged to spell out NHS and GOSH, for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
There was applause as performers, many of whom work for the NHS, passed through Stratford subway station still dressed in their stylized uniforms.
Christalene Alaart, originally from South Africa but now living in London and working at the NHS Royal Free Hospital, told NBC News that it had been “quite exciting, knowing there’s 3 billion people whose eyes would be on us, and 80,000 in the stadium.”
She added that her mother had been to see a rehearsal. “She was in tears, overwhelmed with what she saw, also that fact she was there and part of it,” Alaart said.
New Zealander Carina Burgess, 26, an NHS pharmacist in London, said it was “pretty cool to be given that much credit, for a whole segment to be dedicated to the NHS.”
And Annmarie Badchkam, 36, a midwife at London’s Homerton Hospital, said “it was definitely amazing ... thanks to Danny Boyle, it was an amazing experience.”
Dikaia Chatziefstathiou, an academic and expert on the Olympics at Canterbury Christ Church University in England, was among the dancers for part of the show featuring music from the 1980s and 1990s.
“It was extraordinary experience,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or actually part of it.”
She said she regarded herself as a “critical friend” of the Olympics but said taking part in the ceremony had reminded her that the Games was a “big festival … a great festival.”
Professional opera singer Elinor Jane Moran, 31, from London, was among those dancing to current British hip hop music in the show – something she’d never done before and learned during the rehearsals.
She enthusiastically related how she had shaken hands with U.K. hip hop star Dizzee Rascal as he came on stage in an unscripted moment.
“I thought it was extraordinary,” she said of the show, “particularly the Industrial Revolution section and also the nurses were just wonderful.”
“The energy, the passion, was just extraordinary, I thought,” Moran added. “We’re very proud of it, very, very proud of it.”
Spectators were sporting flags from all over the world, from Australia to Brazil, Japan to Canada.
Yulia Semakima, 25, from Omsk, in Russia, who is studying law in London, was among those caught up in the mood of the moment.
“I’m not a big fan (of the Olympics), but now I feel like I’m becoming more and more enthusiastic about it,” she said, dressed in a Russia shirt and cap.
“I think we will be third (in the medal table) after China and then the U.S. I hope we can beat France and Germany,” she added.
Referring to a considerable amount of typically British moaning in the months ahead of the Games, she could not understand why Londoners did not seem “really to be impressed with this.”
One Briton who was definitely enjoying the Games was Lucy Chisholm, 44, from Twickenham, London, who was wearing British flags in her hair, on her T-shirt and had one painted on her cheek.
“I feel very patriotic at the moment. With everything that’s been going on in Britain, it’s been fantastic. We’ve had the (Queen’s) Jubilee and that really brought people together,” she said.
Chisholm said she hoped anyone who had complained about the Olympics “haven’t got tickets,” adding, “We’ve had so much moaning, but that’s what Britons do, isn’t it. Everybody should get together and embrace it.”
Jamaica supporter Richard Woodburn, 32, from London’s East End, was wearing a Jamaica sports shirt and proudly showed a picture on his cellphone of his house bedecked with Jamaican flags.
“They (Jamaica) are going to clean up in the athletics — 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 400 meters relay, men and women,” he said.
“The Games are here — just enjoy it. There’s so many people enjoying it,” he said gesturing to the crowd of thousands around him. “Just run with it.”
Mark Townsend, 46, who was born in Britain, grew up in Canada and whose wife Mariko is from Japan, was similarly upbeat, saying he hoped the Games slogan of “Inspire a Generation” would come true for his children, age 11 and 5.
“My 11-year-old daughter is going to play (soccer) for Canada, Japan or Britain,” he said.
Paul Meikle, a cub scout leader from Castle Rock, Northern Ireland, with a group of more than 40 cub scouts, explorers and adults, said the beginning of the Opening Ceremony was “really, really good” and “well put together.”
He welcomed the decision to start the ceremony with songs from the four parts of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales — saying it was “inclusive of everyone.”
“It’s really, really exciting to be here,” Meikle said. “We’ve come across to spend the first couple of days of the events here.”
He said the scouts planned to watch the cycling road race Saturday, with Britain’s Mark Cavendish among the favorites to win.
At Forman’s Smokehouse, a family-run fish processing company that was forced to relocate to make way for the Olympic Park, managers transformed the forecourt into a spectacular temporary beach-themed bar complete with beach volleyball court, palm trees and champagne counter.
Jim Seida / NBC News
Anna Celeste Walters, left, has a toast with her friends Amy Loudon, center, and Alex Sinclair. They were three of about a thousand people who celebrated the opening ceremonies at Forman's Smokehouse, a family-run fish processing company in East London.
When Sir Paul McCartney performed "Hey Jude," the crowd mirrored those inside the stadium by singing along with their hands in the air.
“London is so buzzing at the moment, and the atmosphere here is incredible,” said Amy Loudon, 25, who traveled across London with her friends Anna Celeste Walters and Alex Sinclair to party nearer the Olympic site. “People seem to be in a much better mood now, after all the moaning.”
Gary Bott, 31, a construction worker, traveled two hours from the city of Cambridge in order to celebrate in London. He was unable to get into the public screening at Victoria Park because it was too crowded.
“It’s much better to be closer to the action, even if we’re watching on a screen,” he said. “There ceremony made us really proud to be British.”
Paco Lima, a 35-year-old soldier from Mexico, was also soaking up the atmosphere at Forman’s — and cheering on his country when Mexican athletes joined the parade.
“The ceremony was great — like a Hollywood production,” he said.
Among those performing in the spectacular show was dance student Jack Ludwig, 22. He told NBC News before the ceremony began: “I don’t think I’ll ever get to do anything like this in my lifetime again, so to be part of it is incredible.
“During rehearsals I was looking up at various spots in the crowd and thinking ‘that’s where the Queen will be sitting, that’s where all the world leaders will be.'”
NBC News' Jim Seida contributed to this report.
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this may or may not have to do with the article, but i am disappointed that nbc has gone to such great lengths to block U.S. citizens the ability to view the opening ceremonies live. unfortunately, i can't view it this evening like others and was hoping to be able to get a live stream this afternoon. by doing so, i found that nbc was actively blocking the streams as they found them. i guess the U.S.A is closer to Cuba than originally thought. it's a shame we have such censorship.
I'm watching it now on NBC. This is the single worst opening to an Olympic Games that I have ever seen. I'm just dumbfounded at the ineptitude of the Brits.
We watched it on TSN earlier. Reading comments from some who tuned in to the ceremony (on a different news site) quite a few were not all that impressed.
I wouldn't go near the Olympics if you payed me.
This is a fore taste of a very ugly and sinister future. Millions in the UK are suffering terribly from effects of the bankers swindling the world's economy off a cliff in 2008 and the brutal austerity policies of the bankers servants like David Cameron, who is now spending 8 billion on this spectacle.
And yet this is the answer of the elites, don't worry every so often we'll throw a big party for the rich (many of the same people who wrecked the economy) and maybe you will get a few scraps off of their tables to tide you ever for a bit.
It's disgusting.
Here's more about the games from a perspective you won't see on MSNBC or the other mainstream media outlets:
"...The high price of the tickets brings home the reality that these games are an event primarily for the rich. The top price for a ticket to today’s opening ceremony is £2,012 pounds.
As a result of the cost, hundreds of thousands of tickets for Olympic events, including Olympic football tickets, remain unsold. Rather than reduce the price or give them to sports clubs and other interested parties, capacity at football grounds has instead been reduced by 500,000.
Other examples of the official prices: £300 for some of the athletics finals on August 3 and £725 for the men’s 100 metres final. A 40 percent markup on the black market is common and many other tickets are on sale at dramatically inflated prices, to include the cost of champagne receptions and other corporate treats.
Little wonder that the Telegraph, hardly known for its social sensitivity, warned that workers who have “footed the massive bill” will be angered “if the Olympics were hijacked by the demons of the recession—by the plutocrats whose ilk wrecked the economy and by the politicians who let them do it.”
Global elite descend on East London for Olympics
By Paul Stuart
27 July 2012
The Royal Dock complex, adjacent to London’s financial district at Canary Wharf, is hosting up to one hundred super yachts, including twenty of the world’s most opulent, as the Olympic Games begin.
Its transformation into a Monaco-style marina playground for the super rich is a telling rebuttal to all the official rhetoric about the “peoples’ games.”
East London’s Royal Docks, including the Royal Albert Dock, the Royal Victoria Dock and the King George V Dock, was once a centre of industry and trade employing hundreds of thousands of workers.
The games in general are dominated by the vast global social chasm. Buckingham Palace played host to an Olympic reception on Monday, where Queen Elizabeth and others received the Olympic committee. It is estimated the official functions alone will cost up to £100 million; in addition, numerous unofficial events will be held.
The global elite view staying in a hotel as passé, or “so Beijing” as one newspaper put it.
Accordingly, many have therefore brought their super yachts and will arrive at Olympic events in helicopters or speedboats along the Thames, which connects Windsor Castle and Hampton Court, the Bank of England, Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, and so on. Curator of the National Maritime Museum Robert Blyth made the telling comparison that “Historically, kings and queens would have travelled by river—the roads were rather uncomfortable and dangerous.”
Fully 30 miles of road lanes are reserved for Olympic VIPs and competitors. “Games Lanes” is their official title, but they have been dubbed Zil lanes—after the limousines used by Stalinist apparatchiks in Soviet Russia who travelled in lanes that were reserved for them.
To stray into one will cost a member of the public a £130 fine. In addition 1,300 sets of traffic lights will be changed to facilitate Olympic traffic.
The Olympic organisers and the government have bent over backwards to show sensitivity to the desire of the financial elite to avoid the general public, whose lives are already in a ruinous state in socially deprived areas of London.
As Camilla Storey, an executive for the co-ordinating of Olympic party events put it, “We will have the entire financial industry, everybody from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment, all coming together. That is a unique opportunity. Do these people want to be lost in the hubbub, immersed in the tourist crowds, or do they want to be watching it, waited on hand and foot, from the top of one of the world’s most exclusive yachts?”
The Economic Times wrote that Roman Abramovich’s “sumptuous 1-billion-dollar boat, which is the playground of billionaires, oligarchs and A-list celebs, will be arriving in London on Tuesday. At 557ft, the Russian tycoon’s Eclipse is the largest private yacht in the world. It has two swimming pools, two helipads, a dedicated disco hall, 30 cabins, a cinema, a mini-submarine, and even its own missile defence system.”
Another super yacht moored at the Royal Dock is Ilona, the property of Australian-Israeli billionaire Frank Lowy. Lowy co-founded the shopping mall group Westfield. His yacht is docked a short distance from the company’s new £1.45 billion retail complex that dominates Stratford shopping district, adjacent to the Olympic Park.
The Daily Mirror reported on the arrival of Octopus, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It boasts “two helipads, a swimming pool, nightclub, a basketball court, a cinema and two submarines. ... It has a 10-man submarine capable of two-week-long trips under the sea, as well as a smaller remote control-operated sub. ... The aft of the ship also contains hatches that can open to reveal a fully serviced spa, a bar area and access down to the sea to swim or to play with some of the yacht’s jetskis.”
The Mirror also reported “arriving soon will be Allen’s business partner, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 56, in his super yacht Gogypus. Another set to arrive over the next few days is The Maltese Falcon, owned by Greek millionairess Elena Ambrosiadou, 42.”
According to Time magazine, even these luxury vessels are to be superseded. “To help oligarchs and tax exiles keep pace in 2011, U.K.-based Yacht Island Design has dreamed up the ‘Streets of Monaco,’ a $1.1 billion super yacht modelled on Monte Carlo. ... The four-story liner, which will stretch for more than 500 feet, will include a casino, race track, go-kart circuit, multiple tennis courts, and pools with swim-in Jacuzzi bars. Rather than having decks the ship will have buildings, including a replica of Monaco’s famed Hotel de Paris. The lucky owners will be able to enjoy their champagne kisses and caviar dreams on a helipad, beside waterfalls and in a restaurant with underwater views.”…
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/olym-j27.shtml
YAAAAAAAAAAWNNNNN
Wow, what a waste of time. The most exciting part was watching Paul McCartney's jowls jiggling while he kept trying to sing.
What was with all the huge smokestacks polluting the atmosphere with all that pretend smoke? Where were all the global warming nut-cases? If I wanted to see that I could run down to the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit.
Even the commentators sounded bored.
And can the Queen crack a smile or is that considered too unroyal? Good God, she looked like she was at a wake!
I hope the games are better than the opening blahfest.
Now back to reality:
"….Despite the unprecedented economic collapse, a number of commentators and political figures pointed to the Olympic Games as the means for providing some temporary economic respite. Labour Party shadow chancellor Ed Balls commented, “Thank goodness the Olympics will give our economy a much-needed shot in the arm”.
The reality is there is no historic evidence for a substantial or even short-term reversal in economic fortunes as a result of the Olympics. Brian Dennehy, managing director of FundExpert.co.uk, stated that such was the contraction of the UK economy that any growth related to the Olympics would “definitely not be enough to get the UK out of recession”.
UK in double-dip recession
By Robert Stevens
28 July 2012
Britain is mired in its second official recession since the global financial meltdown of the autumn of 2008.
In May, the British economy entered a “double-dip” recession for the first since the 1970s.
Figures released by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the economy shrank by a larger-than-expected 0.7 percent in the second quarter of the year. This was the third successive quarter of negative economic growth and was far higher than the forecast drop of 0.2 percent. It follows a decline of 0.3 percent recorded in the first three months of 2012.
The ONS figures are a first estimate and will be revised but still confirm that the UK is in the longest double-dip recession since quarterly records began in 1955. It is also the longest period of recession since the Second World War.
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition immediately sought to play down the figures, which are a devastating indictment of its economic policies. Such has been the systematic wrecking of the UK economy that economic output is now 4.5 percent smaller than when the coalition government took office just two years ago.
Speaking in London at the Global Investment Conference, organised to coincide with Olympics Games, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “disappointed” with the figures, but added, “We’ve taken bold decisions to sort out our public finances and earn credibility with the markets”.
Referring to the government’s seven-year, £123 billion austerity programme, he said, “We will continue to take the tough decisions that are necessary for business leaders and investors to have confidence in the long-term future of the British economy”.
Michael Saunders, an economist at Citigroup, told the Financial Times that he questioned any analysis based on citing one-off factors: “There are always special effects. The big picture is that when a recession has gone on this long, we are in a depression”.
Earlier this year, Saunders declared that the UK economy was suffering “the deepest recession and weakest recovery for 100 years”.
The coalition’s October 2010 austerity programme was unveiled alongside government insistence that as public spending was drastically cut back, the basis would be laid for a “private-sector led recovery”. The opposite has occurred, with hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in the public sector combined with an unprecedented contraction of the private sector.
Other economists ruled out any recovery, let alone one based on the private sector. Gerard Lyons, chief economist at Standard Chartered, forecast a 1.3 percent fall in GDP this year, saying, “I think it’s inconceivable that there’ll be positive growth this year”.
Peter Dixon, economist at Commerzbank, said of the ONS statistics, “Terrible data. Frankly there’s nothing good that comes out of these numbers at all.... The economy looks to be badly holed below the water line at this stage. It’s a far worse period of activity than we’d expected”…
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/ukec-j28.shtml
I think the Opening Ceremonies were mildly entertaining, but suffered from a lack of judicious editing and droned on and on. Don't you think that many of the segments could have been shortened?
And NBC's inane commentators detracted from the festivities, rather than adding any insight or perspective. Please just show the Ceremony live, unedited!
What a shockingly inane opening ceremony.
1. The opening displays of Olympic Posters before the count down was missing the posters from 1936 (Germany), 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1996 (Atlanta). Quite odd.
2. The weird transformation from a lush crountyside to a pollution spewing city was also a tremendous waste of time, however the casting of the Olympic Rings was impressive.
3. The parachute "jump" by Queen Elizabeth could have been done much better. If not for the narration by the TV Anchors, I wouldn't have any idea what they were trying to do.
4. Not much in the program about England's history and Monarchy. Perhaps they're saving that for the Closing Ceremony.
5. Finally, the lighting of the Caldren was simply the worst lighting I've ever seen in the past 36 years of my watching the Olympics. The best? Barcelona with the flaming arrow, timed to perfection.
The best part of the Opening Ceremony was the Mr. Bean skit.
I found a live stream and I watched that first. I'm glad I did because NBC's coverage was terrible. They edited a lot out of it, including a memorial tribute to people who lost their lives as a result of terrorism.
The opening ceremony was much better when it was shown uninterrupted and without the excessive commentary. There was an actual story, which we in the States missed because NBC felt it was necessary to chop it up to air commercials and have announcers constantly talking over it. We're not stupid, NBC. You don't need to have your hosts constantly talking down at us. Many Americans do know quite a bit about Britain and British culture. I was embarrassed for any foreign person watching our coverage.
I was reminded why I quit watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade when I watched NBC's coverage of the opening ceremonies.
I thought it Cheeky that they devoted a segment to National Health Care!! What? You mean people actually get medical treatment without having to go bankrupt or fundraise?? You mean no one has to choose between cancer treatment or preserving their savings? You mean someone can actually get mental health treatment if they need it? You mean someone is still eligible for treatment even though they were born with a heart defect?
While here in the good old USA, we let health care profiteers take every last penny from hard-working Americans and they don't even have to justify why they are charging what they do. Does your doctor's office have a price list for its procedures? Can you go online and comparison shop?
No. You lose your job, lose your health care, and you lose everything you've ever worked for if you have a heart attack or appendicitis before you get another job. And then, of course, that illness between jobs will disqualify you from getting health insurance for the rest of your (short) life.
LOL Some of you people are absolutely a trip!!! I'm watching it on NBC, did you pay your electric bill? LOL
Exactly, over $3k US dollars for this bull@!$%#. I wrote about that yesterday, how a couple of damn fool friends I have are still paying off their credit cards from the last Olympics, but they had to go, it means SO much for them to rub shoulders with, I mean SEE, the rich and famous, those type people who don't know, and surely don't care if my friends live or die.
I agree - Matt, Meredith and Bob were the worst with their non-stop yapping. I
blame the producers for the broadcast mess. Notwithstanding the yammering, I
thought the opening ceremonies were wonderful and loved the story they told.
Including Mr. Bean in such a way was perfect. Not every opening Olympic
ceremony has to be a contest in laser extravagance - some can have a little
depth. This one was right for the time and right for the Brits. It does make me
wonder if Americans are really as dumb as our television personalities think we
are.
Thank you United Kingdom, London, and British citizens for hosting the olympics. I apologize for the rude and unjustified comments of my fellow Americans who have no idea what a wonderful country and gracious host the UK is. I for one appreciate your many contributions to humanity and your hospitality to the world. God bless the UK and God save the Queen!
These opening ceremonies dispel any myths about the British being boring! I am quite entertained! Lovely! I really like how the history and culture of the UK is integrated in the program.
Since the 6th grade I have been dreaming of going to the UK. Next year, I will study in England. After watching the ceremonies, I am even more excited!
Agree! Thought it was GREAT and the flaming Olympic Rings super. Historical aspect was very interesting, also and great fun w/the Queen and Bond.
(Lauer and Viera sounded jet-lagged, though.Hope they get some rest and are more lively if they have to be on again.)
It was extremely boring, thank God for Mr. Bean.
The live version from the BBC was just truly incredible. Unfortunately, the later taped version absolutely destroyed this experience with commercials and the voice-overs of Meredith and Matt. (The magnficent story arc was chopped into little pieces, and the musical feel was both obscured and interrupted endlessly.) These two talking heads helped absolutely desecrate and thoroughly destroy a really awesome theatrical performance. The original, unedited BBC version (if you can find it) was an incredible work of theatrical art.
P.S.
I was so mad at the re-broadcasted version with Matt and Meredith that I just wanted to tear all my hair out and scream, cry and maybe even projectile-vomit. It was like watching someone torch a roomfull of priceless paintings from the world's best art masters, while they yakked casually on cell phones. It was pure torture.
i agree. Matt Lauer has absolutely nothing interesting to say about anything. The comments were vapid, ignorant and ill informed. They sucked the life out the drama, voicing no enthusiasm or real interest in the wonderful theatre of the evening.
I was very moved by the show, and the use of all that fabulous British music was inspired. The children's choir singing 'God save the Queen' brought tears to my eyes. Kudos to Danny Boyle for his sensitivity and vision.
In the brief glimpse NBC gave of Michelle Obama... the look on her face made me wonder if all the flag waving by the American athletes disturbed her like it does in the USA! On the other hand the Romney's seemed to be enjoying themselves and were very excited when the American's entered the stadium!
I always like seeing the joy on all of the athletes during this march... despite the turmoil their countries may be having at the time! Good luck to all, with a special hope of success to the US athletes!
Nice job Brits!
I thought Obama want to London for the Opening Ceremony, but the only shot I saw was of Michelle Obama. Perhaps Barrack was busy at a fundraiser...
And yes, she certainly didn't seem excited to be there.
The BBC coverage didn't even show the Romneys and they also cut over to each dignitary present when their country's team was announced. It was pretty cool to see all these stuffy dignitaries cheering.
Yes, she did look ill, just as she does at other ceremonies where the flag is present. After the Memorial Day incident, hasn't one of her 37 assistants warned her about this when cameras are present??
Maybe they were all concerned that it wasn't the Queen and James Bond who jumped out of that helicopter but Batman and the Joker!
The British did a fabulous job of putting on a very entertaining and wonderful opening ceremony. The Brits also can joke and laugh about themselves too.
Unfortunately, from some of those that post to this database it's very apparent that they live a very narrow, darkened, frustrated life. Living defensively simply because they take a defensive doubtful attitude toward themselves and as a result toward life. What a pity for them that they can't see anything beyond themselves.
you need to take that corn cob outa your butt!!!
Yawn! On with the games!
Hey NBC... here is me not watching... climb aboard the boycott the games, restore sanity bus.
And not reading either... I saw the title and posted my boycott. It is long past time athletics be put in it's place... a waste of money.
It's entertaining and insightful reading reports and comments on here and other US sites. Britain and London has always been a melting pot and meeting place for different cultures and nationalities, and this was well represented last night. We've had our problems of course, riots and civil unrest just as any other major capital city, but when it matters Britain steps up, pushes its chest out, and shows its pride. It was a celebration of all things we sometimes take for granted, creativity, humour, and dedication. It was clear that many aspects would be lost on an international audience but do we care? not really. We live in a modern democracy where young people are able to express themselves unlike in Beijing where they had 2000 communist party members banging drums like robots. Come rain or shine we're having an Olympic party, you're all invited but leave your apathy at home.
Maybe its because I'm a Londoner that I Love London Town!
It's entertaining and insightful reading reports and comments on here and other US sites. Britain and London has always been a melting pot and meeting place for different cultures and nationalities, and this was well represented last night. We've had our problems of course, riots and civil unrest just as any other major capital city, but when it matters Britain steps up, pushes its chest out, and shows its pride. It was a celebration of all things we sometimes take for granted, creativity, humour, and dedication. It was clear that many aspects would be lost on an international audience but do we care? not really. We live in a modern democracy where young people are able to express themselves unlike in Beijing where they had 2000 communist party members banging drums like robots. Come rain or shine we're having an Olympic party, you're all invited but leave your apathy at home.
That was the worst opening ceremony ever! Please future directors of these ceremonies, if you are going to drop acid please make sure you wait until the effects wear off before you try to create!
That is a rude way to treat the hosts. Show some manners.
The Olympics used to be fun to watch but now that the corporations have got their hands in it I no longer watch. Also that USA Dream Team in basketball is pretty hard to stomach. Here's wishing they get their a.. kicked.
Reading through these ( out of interest in what people in the states Thought of it ) I'm amazed that there is such a range, for some totally boring , rubbish, the worst ever.
Yet for us a fabulous bit of theatrical art, a glorious pantomine , not hordes of robotic drilled automata. Even the Queen gets it !!
They Olympics are just a show for the worlds 1/2 of 1%ers paid for by the tax payers! THis opening was a show about labour socialist politics, globalization, and Olympic green politics. NHS! really? green? NOT! boring, hell yes! retreaded? absolutely! All they did was us a CD from the History of Britain BBC set and make it theatrical!
And talk about political upmanship with national health care, Cameron is just a puppet gopher for Obama! he was just waiting to setup Mitt, and poor mitt stepped into the trap!
this show rivaled what the 3rd Reich use to put on for poltical events and agendas!
The third reich has passed on, you are now looking at the Forth Reich
during and after WWII both the US and the UK secretly Included Nazis into organisations like THE CIA, THE FBI. MI6 they also brought nazi scientists those same ones committing experiments on prisoners. look up OPERATION PAPERCLIP
What arrogance to think that the inclusion of the NHS has ANYTHING to do with US politics! It's a public service in the UK that we are very proud of, and that's why it was included in a celebration of all things 'British'. You clearly have no idea of what David Cameron's politics are, either. And for the record, people who continually reference Nazis and conspiracy theories are feeble minded fools who find reality a far too complicated place to inhabit.
The 3rd Reich and leftist communists are all related, they are all propaganda smoke screens for control and dominance! this Olympic show was noting more than lefty aggrandizement!
And for the record yet again, people who continually reference Nazis and conspiracy theories are feeble minded fools who find reality a far too complicated place to inhabit.
No one here is disturbed about 11 miles of electric fence?
We need 1000 more miles, keeps cows in and trash out!
NBC should have live-streamed the opening ceremonies. They most likely refused because it's all about money. Think about how many dollars the network raked in last night? That's why no one in the states was allowed to watch it live online (or on tv).
Not only that, NBC proved once again that it just can't resist bringing politics into what is supposed to be a sporting event. They droned on and on about Gov. Romney's remarks about Britain's preparedness for the games. To be honest, I was thinking the same thing. I mean, come on - why would Britain go public with security flaws? That's just asking for trouble, esp. since it's been 40 years after Munich!
I hope that the 2016 Olympics will be given to another network. One that will NOT bring politics into the games and one that will allow viewers from the U.S. watch it live!
Not happy with NBCs coverage of this for a few reasons:
1) Matt and Meredith: SHUT UP.
2) So many commercials. I understand the need to generate money for this, but GOD DAMN.
3) YOU LEFT OUT THE TARDIS/DR WHO. I heard the sound during the Queen/70s sequence, it's unmistakably the Tardis. BUT THE TARDIS WAS NO WHERE TO BE SEEN.
I would have much rather viewed the BBC recording of this but unfortunately I live in the US and it was all blocked to me!
I was hoping that the Tardis would drop in and fall on top of the NBC broadcast booth. No such luck.
I sat watching with no commercials or commentary on the BBC for several hours couldn't even move. The issue with it for foreigners is that a lot of the cultural references are not that well known outside of the UK and if you didn't get the whole history concept as in I saw one comment asking what the chimneys were about then I agree it would have been confusing and boring. I've heard it described as Danny Boyles love letter to the UK which is as good a way as any to describe it.
It was disappointing, but after reading some comments about the live broadcast earlier, perhaps the editing made it difficult to watch. I have to admit, I didn't get much of it, especially the big baby, WT??? oh, well, I still had about 500 chanels to chose from, which I did.
Boring, boring, incredibly boring opening ceremonies. Looked forward to Sir Paul, and what does he play????? Hey, Jude, which goes on, and on, and on, and on, and on....... and at a slower pace than I remember the original being. More boring..... boring.... boring..........
Incredibly rude way to treat our hosts. Be polite.
From Beijing to Rio de Janeiro
Grandeur and spectacle - the two things that London Olympics Opening Ceremony has missed. An event that happens once in every four years, it got to be something unforgettable and historic. The stage looks cinematic to tube viewers but definitely appears chaotic to spectators in the stadium. The performance highlights the achievement of UK, such as womens' rights, industrial revolution, music and literature. However, the pacing is dragging that it fails to reach a point when viewers hold their breath in amazement. The actors are truly genuine in their expression but who cares about it when you are seated a hundred meters away. UK misses the power of number. For event like this, I believe in synchronized performance by thousands to create a spectacle. Thanks to Mr. Bean. His act is a big relief. I doubt that Queen Elizabeth's unprecedented jump from a chopper would even land in tabloid on the next day. Now I look forward to Rio de Janeiro.
My family and I were looking forward to the opening ceremony but I now wish we would have watched something else. I like Meredith and Matt, however I didn't like all of the political commentary that was inserted during the show. I couldn't tell who it was (Matt or Bob) bu they needed to be quiet when the athletes marched past. These people were excited to be part of the fun and the comments should have been only on the games at hand and not on politics at all. There were more commercials than show (the show itself was just strange.....).I'm with the lady who commented on why was the live feed from London blocked?
reading the negative comments on here, it's hard to understand why Americans are so unpopular internationally.
British peasants will never achieve wealth.Being paraded like human slaves.The cell phone thing was worse than a verizon commercial.why did they have to explain everything... NBC..capitalists win..haves and have nots was basically the theme..
One wonders whether Zarlee is familiar with the history of human civilization over last 3,000 years or so.
Having spent a fair amount of time in several countries, we note that the 'peasants' in England do not have it so bad, nor even those in Chile ... even those in Venezuela had it relatively well until they managed to elect Chavez.
The average human has had a very rough time of it for most of recorded history. There will always be 'haves' ... and we suspect that he is simply angry not at this fact, but rather because he is not one of them.
Good luck with that.
Reading the comments here .. we sigh. Such dark and lonely minds behind so many.
The wife got us to watch, and while it was all a bit long for us, the moments worth watching made it worth the rest .... we laughed out loud when Elizabeth and James Bond did their bit .... positively brilliant!
Also a big kudos for the designer of the Cauldron .. splendidly done.
Classy and well done on the outside Cameron....
But I am surprised this wasn't your opening ceremony to pay respects to the AntiChrist's delegation that lowered your nation into its most shameful position now bound by much of Western Europe -gutting your citizens most basic rights-to ensure one piece of @!$%# director doesn't get the death penalty for suppressing the most horrific war crimes known to man...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBIdcUxdgo0
Once it becomes a full blown unacknowledged military operation Mr. President against your own innocent citizens is there some calculation that the more brutal the eventual outcome becomes the tighter the military bubble holding it all together becomes with pure shame and deprivation being the best glue to hold it all together antiChrist since your no risk policy -of having me articulate how you were destroying my life and maintaining me in the sickest artificial sate imaginable while steering me from opportunity after opportunity with the hopes that what I said would destroy my character- since no government can be full of such trash- until the truth of what was driving it (to eliminate no risk) escaped my military bubble making your risk snowball to the point that the best no risk calculation once again was to use full blown torture to create the only documentation you have and create the nastiest and most repulsive outcome imaginable since pure and genuine shame becomes the best psychological glue to hold trash together...
I think it is a little known fact that more SS officers resigned before it became apparent they were engaged in the most sickening slaughter -with scale being the only difference-than after because the mind is a dangerous thing HU and none are worse than the trash we have here...
Interested in the eavesdropping greys too Cameron because I honestly have no idea what their agenda is but from the looks of it they are in charge of their planet's own version of comedy central monitoring the sorriest sacks of @!$%# in modern human history so remember that next time you pathetic @!$%#s toast one another...
Cheers...
You self censor your use of swearwords? So why, then, use them in the first place? And that is the only aspect of your post worthy of comment.......
Rich, there is a sound mind in there, so use it. When you depend on someone like the (long deceased) Rev. Cyrus I. Scofield to tell you what the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine means, you take a great risk.
Find the answers for yourself ... you are competent to do so, but it takes a significant effort. Here is a hint ... 666 was a Holy Number ... not an evil one. The secret lies in Ezekiel and in Numbers, if you are smart enough to needle it out. This is why an evil thing with a name of that number was reviled therein.
The second century Irenaeus knew the name ... but since the name was Λατεινος (Rome) the Roman Church was not so keen on it and rather brushed it under the rug.
Before you lecture us on such matters, inform yourself, please.