I only saw a little bit of the opening ceremony , but watching those boats going along was making me feel seasick!
I'm guessing they had the camera on a pontoon at the side and the wash from the boats was making it bob up and down, because from the wider shots it didn't look that choppy.
The game was developed by the French company Ubisoft.
Christ, the french are really getting desperate.
It’s been a theme of the last few opening ceremonies to try and appeal to all ages. Incorporating video games in 2024 will appeal to a large demographic (even if it’s not necessarily my one!)
So, I wanted that to be great, and I feel for them, the weather was about as bad as you could get in late July in Paris. That there were no mishaps, ( they scaled back the BMX stunts apparently, but everything else went ahead) is itself an achievement.
I’d read that they studied London 2012, especially the stunt with the Queen. After the first half-hour I got the feeling they’d secretly drafted Danny Boyle onto their team- but the difference was that whereas he needed to build sets, these dancers didnt need sets, they had Paris, and as the night drew in that started to count.
The other thing I realised, as a massive fan of London 2012, is that I didn’t need any help understanding the significance of anything then, because, FFS, I’m British. The Czechs and other foreigners around me said then it was really good, and still say it was one of the best, but they don’t go on about it like I do. And they didnt readily understand half of it either. I watched last night on BBC and I thought the commentary was poor in terms of explaining who is who and why, but who knows how well they were briefed. I’ve read though that the French media are acclaiming it as ours did in 2012.
Finally I think the best statement was putting the athletes centre stage and giving them the best seats in the house to watch the show. Usually the athletes parade is tedious, not least for them, as Michael Johnson confirmed.
Overall I’d still agree that London was better, it held together better and there were those moments of comic genius that the world remembers. But all in all, I liked it, a lot.
I missed the start but overall I enjoyed it. The weather did them no favours at all and it was a bit flabby in places. But that's a consequence of spreading the whole thing out over such a vast area and fair play to them for trying something different.
I think a lot of the critics knocking it would have being saying the same whatever the French did tbh.
London held together in parts, but those parts, Pandemonium, the Queen and This is for Everyone, were great visually, plus the music held London together as well, what Underworld did is massively under appreciated.
Paris was messy, and very French, but once at the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre they delivered, and it was beautiful. Still prefer London, Pandemonium is 15 minutes of genius from Boyle and Underworld
Our friends son, Finn Lynch, was on the boat. He's the other bearded one. They got drenched but he saw them in the crowd waving the tricolour. Thats a special moment don’t you think?
I didn’t watch it as there was too much sport on the other channels 🤷♀️😂😂
So, I wanted that to be great, and I feel for them, the weather was about as bad as you could get in late July in Paris. That there were no mishaps, ( they scaled back the BMX stunts apparently, but everything else went ahead) is itself an achievement.
I’d read that they studied London 2012, especially the stunt with the Queen. After the first half-hour I got the feeling they’d secretly drafted Danny Boyle onto their team- but the difference was that whereas he needed to build sets, these dancers didnt need sets, they had Paris, and as the night drew in that started to count.
The other thing I realised, as a massive fan of London 2012, is that I didn’t need any help understanding the significance of anything then, because, FFS, I’m British. The Czechs and other foreigners around me said then it was really good, and still say it was one of the best, but they don’t go on about it like I do. And they didnt readily understand half of it either. I watched last night on BBC and I thought the commentary was poor in terms of explaining who is who and why, but who knows how well they were briefed. I’ve read though that the French media are acclaiming it as ours did in 2012.
Finally I think the best statement was putting the athletes centre stage and giving them the best seats in the house to watch the show. Usually the athletes parade is tedious, not least for them, as Michael Johnson confirmed.
Overall I’d still agree that London was better, it held together better and there were those moments of comic genius that the world remembers. But all in all, I liked it, a lot.
With stadium ceremonies, there is a rehearsal so I imagine the commentators all get to watch that, whereas as there was no rehearsal this year I imagine the commentators were going in completely cold.
The other major difference is the order. Normally you have the flashy show in the stadium for an hour or so, then the athletes walking in (the "boring" bit), then the formal part, culminating in the lighting of the flame. So going back to London, you had the very rewatchable Danny Boyle show which worked as a total entity, whereas last night it was all chopped up, around footage of athletes on the river. Fine for social media clips, but I can't imagine too many people wanting to rewatch the section before the formal part, as it didn't flow.
As well as condoms, I hope they are stocked up on Night Nurse in the Olympic Village because last night's four hour marathon was a cold, wet trial for the athletes. They had to endure an office party boat trip up the Seine, (no proud marching at the head of the team for the flag holders), stand in the pouring rain for the overlong speeches and watch the flag raising (upside down!), oh and then miss the climax of the evening as a Spanish tennis player nicked the Olympic Flame and took it, grim faced, down river to a semi private ceremony where the Flame was raised over a park away from any sporting events (although Napoleon will appreciate it in his nearby tomb). All rather naff. Celine Dion was epic though.
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Rory said recently.
The decision was I'm going to play golf for the country or the nation that I've always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that's Ireland."
I think it’s just a branding thing, but I’m surprised we get away with it given that Great Britain isn’t actually a country. I would have assumed the IOC require nations to use their actual names.
I think it’s just a branding thing, but I’m surprised we get away with it given that Great Britain isn’t actually a country. I would have assumed the IOC require nations to use their actual names.
Isn’t it the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland?
Yes - the name of the country is the United Kingdom (or, the United Kingdom of GB & NI in full) but Great Britain is the name of an island(s), not a country.
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Most of them compete for Ireland due to reasons not associated with branding!
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Most of them compete for Ireland due to reasons not associated with branding!
I don’t know, getting branded a Fenian, could be a reason. 😂
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Most of them compete for Ireland due to reasons not associated with branding!
Northern Ireland competitors can choose to play for either GB or Ireland. Maybe UK would be considered misleading, considering Northern Ireland competitors wouldn't automatically compete for a "UK" team.
Because in 1999 Team GB was created as a rebranding exercise. Several Northern Ireland sportsmen have taken a dim view of the title and prefer to compete for the Irish Federation instead (Rory McIlroy is an example).
Most of them compete for Ireland due to reasons not associated with branding!
Northern Ireland competitors can choose to play for either GB or Ireland. Maybe UK would be considered misleading, considering Northern Ireland competitors wouldn't automatically compete for a "UK" team.
I’m not sure it would be confusing at all. If Team UK had as much cache as Team GB that would be the name we competed under.
Comments
I'm guessing they had the camera on a pontoon at the side and the wash from the boats was making it bob up and down, because from the wider shots it didn't look that choppy.
The other thing I realised, as a massive fan of London 2012, is that I didn’t need any help understanding the significance of anything then, because, FFS, I’m British. The Czechs and other foreigners around me said then it was really good, and still say it was one of the best, but they don’t go on about it like I do. And they didnt readily understand half of it either. I watched last night on BBC and I thought the commentary was poor in terms of explaining who is who and why, but who knows how well they were briefed. I’ve read though that the French media are acclaiming it as ours did in 2012.
Finally I think the best statement was putting the athletes centre stage and giving them the best seats in the house to watch the show. Usually the athletes parade is tedious, not least for them, as Michael Johnson confirmed.
I think a lot of the critics knocking it would have being saying the same whatever the French did tbh.
He's the other bearded one. They got drenched but he saw them in the crowd waving the tricolour.
Thats a special moment don’t you think?
I didn’t watch it as there was too much sport on the other channels 🤷♀️😂😂
The other major difference is the order. Normally you have the flashy show in the stadium for an hour or so, then the athletes walking in (the "boring" bit), then the formal part, culminating in the lighting of the flame. So going back to London, you had the very rewatchable Danny Boyle show which worked as a total entity, whereas last night it was all chopped up, around footage of athletes on the river. Fine for social media clips, but I can't imagine too many people wanting to rewatch the section before the formal part, as it didn't flow.
Bit of a controversial way to get the first gold medal
As well as condoms, I hope they are stocked up on Night Nurse in the Olympic Village because last night's four hour marathon was a cold, wet trial for the athletes. They had to endure an office party boat trip up the Seine, (no proud marching at the head of the team for the flag holders), stand in the pouring rain for the overlong speeches and watch the flag raising (upside down!), oh and then miss the climax of the evening as a Spanish tennis player nicked the Olympic Flame and took it, grim faced, down river to a semi private ceremony where the Flame was raised over a park away from any sporting events (although Napoleon will appreciate it in his nearby tomb). All rather naff. Celine Dion was epic though.
So glad discovery plus is free through Sky. BBC coverage is poor so far.
The decision was I'm going to play golf for the country or the nation that I've always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that's Ireland."