The Olympics opening ceremony - what did you think?

I started from the position of couldn't care less, as I'm not a huge sports fan. However I am very proud to be British and I do love it when we do things well, so I was very impressed with the opening ceremony. I think Danny Boyle has delivered something refreshingly different. So typically British in it's sense of humour. I didn't love every bit of it and I'm sure the Queen probably popped backstage for a small sherry while Dizzy Rascal and the Sex Pistols were on.

£27 million, for that I believe. Well, with over 29 million UK taxpayers, at under £1 per head, that's one bit of the Olympics that I certainly don't begrudge paying for.

(Dipak, seems you were wide awake during the 4 Sight on Thursday and just beat me to it, LOL)

Very well done and I must admit to being impressed by who they got involved. On the other hand Dizee Rascal - really? when the world is watching.

Started off being very negative about the Olympics but loved every minute. Watched it with the grandkids this morning and he was blown away that Mr Bean was in there.

Although it left me full national pride, I have to say the Queen was a massive let down. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere other than there. The one line she had to say sounded like she was opening a garden fete. I think she the let the side down

Right ... as you might have noticed, I'm not a fan of the way the olympics have turned into a huge money-maker.
If it was up to me I would hold it as a traditional Greek event where only amateurs compete and sponsorship is only open to relevant companies (ie - not the sugar and fat floggers) - but it's not up to me so the best I can do is moan on Twitter.

There were 2 ways the opening could have gone:
1, Cynical = "See, told you it was going to be crap"
2, Gob smacked = "One of the best pieces of theatre for years"

I really wanted to not have to go with option 1 and for everyone's sake it needed it to be awesome.
It wasn't awesome. It was better than that.

There were a few bits that were lost - Like, the lovers at the beginning - where did she get that phone from and how did he get her number?
What was the point of the mosh pit?
Elements like the suffragettes, the boat, etc seemed like a 'we need to put these in for history sake but we have no idea what to do with them'.
The NHS bit - Not sure why it was singled out and given such a big part. Political?
The birds at the end where pretty but, again, a bit lost.

I'd love to get thoughts from a non UK resident just to see if they 'got it'.

That said, from the moment it began to the moment the cauldron came together it was definitely a 'chin on the floor/ eyes wide open/ totally gob smacking' time.
Best parts:
- Volunteers
- Kids
- Cauldron
- The un-selfishness/ inclusiveness of it all.
- Stage management/ lighting

Worst parts:
- The queen - I've never seen such a miserable, selfish, ungrateful bint. The least she could have done was smile once or twice and for not even standing up and applauding, or even acknowledging, Team GB when they entered - disgraceful. Philip looked like he was asleep most of the time.
- Macca - What the eff was he doing singing off-key and taking the whole limelight. It was like he was the spoilt brat that threatened to take his ball away if he wasn't given a part so they shoved him in as an after thought.
- Seb and Roggue speeches - Were they written by Buzz Killington?

Also, I think the competitors walking around with cameras/ phones in the air all the time spoilt it - it seemed like a big advert for the iPhone.

Lighting the cauldron is always the highlight as it should have stopped there.

My only worry now is what the hell are they going to do for the closing ceremony?

The way the set changed from rural to industrial was one of the high points for me. Those huge chimneys rising out of the ground must have taken some doing (and at least we'll have a useable intercontinental balistic missile silo as a residual benefit after the games).

In fairness to the Queen she rarely seems to smile (I'm guessing that when she was younger it was deemed undignified) and I'm amazed Prince Philip is still up to appearances like that at his age, I was bloody knackered and ready for bed by the and of it and I've got nearly 40 years on him.  I do have to say I was amazed that she played her part in the spoof film and helicopter stunt and that's a whole lot more self depreciating humour than I'd have expected from a monarch of her age and generation.

Lee, I'm sort of reluctant to agree, but I have to McCartney's voice isn't what it was and whilst he should have featured in it to represent the Beatles, what was he singing before Hey Jude? Given the way they've linked the song to the games anyway, it might have been a better call to finish with Bowie singing Heroes.e talking about it for the rest of their lives. (though I wonder how the hell they all got home?)

But hey we can all criticise a bit here or there. At the end of the day they pulled off an amazing show and I bet those that were lucky enought to be there will b

I was not for all this, but I am very proud to be British and I hope we do well.

I must say I turned it on, and I thought I would turn it off after a short while.

I did not, we can all pick holes in it, but I must say it was much better than i thouht it would be and I watched it to the end.

I thought it was terrific, moments of poignancy, others of great humour.  

One thing left me puzzeled

The Beatles Yellow Submarine came on in the middle of the industrial section and was never seen again. Why did it come on then and not during the section on music?

I thought it was dull & boring and I am sick & tired of brand Beckham and his ability to get were the wind would not!!

These games will not financially benefit the economy over the long term and even in the short term due to the defecit on our balance of payments the money could have been better spent elsewere.

Brand beckham - agreed. Please go away.
Finances - Again, agreed. Apparently the country 'could' make something like £9b from the games. That's great but they've cost us around £20b. No wonder we're in such a mess with people being happy about that.

Where does the money come from? Is it all from taxes or does any of it come from the massive sponsorship deals? If not where does all that sponsorship money go?

I think it will turn a profit for the country in the long run, but I think it is a long run and not a quick profit

Do they ever make money.

Has proof been shown, not just words.

Why is the budget for the games so far out from where it started from.

Do I count?

Sorry to say I haven't seen even the slightest glimpse of the olympics! Contrary to popular belief, it isn't a "global" TV event. Although I get no less than 5 different cable sports channels, I have yet to see any of them covering the Olympics. That may have a lot to do with a) Time difference - the opening ceremony would have been 3am here and b) the fact that the Philippines has an Olympic Team of precisely 11 people - none of whom are genuinely expected to get a medal. TBH, most ordinary people here are unaware that the Olympics are going on right now!

Guess I'll just have to get onto iPlayer!

ps The good news is that I get every F1 race and every Premier Leaue game (many of them live) within my monthly cable subscription of £6, but they do put it up yo £7 if Pacquiao is on PPV!