Might interest you to know that the official Olympic salute is like that but with the arm raised to the side. Because of the similarity, the US team make a different salute at the 1936 Berlin games.
I was very cynical at first, but thought that the whole ceremony was brilliant!! And in total keeping with us as a nation. Played on our heritage and achievements, but with style panache and a sense of humour. Particularly loved the forging of the Olympic rings the tribute to the nhs the cycling doves and the 204 petals forming the cauldron. Only low points were ban ki moon and shami chakrabati carrying the flag, and poor Paul mccartney where I nearly died from embarrassment. Arise sir Danny boyle
First caption, first mistake by the good old beeb. Information about Mark Cavendish was accompanied by what looked like an Aussie swimmer? Come on Auntie.
Ruthless perfection would have been boring, and would have left the moaners with nothing to talk about and blank front pages for the redtops.
My Canadian and American friends have all emailed to say it was brilliant. Just listened to a French reporter on Radio 5 and guess what? He didn't think much of it. Well no surprise there then.
That was brilliant. I pissed myself laughing when Rowan Atkinson aka Mr Bean was on - hilarious and completely unexpected!
CARNAVAL! Moro num paÃs tropical abençoado por Deus E bonito por natureza mas que beleza, em fevereiro, em fevereiro Tem carnaval, tem carnaval, tenho um fusca e um violão Sou Flamengo e tenho uma nega chamada Tereza Sambaby Sambaby sou um menino de mentalidade mediana Mas assim mesmo feliz da vida pois eu não devo nada a ninguém Pois sou feliz, muito feliz, comigo mesmo. Sambaby Sambaby eu posso não ser um band leader, pois é Mas lá em casa todos meus camaradas me respeitam, pois é E essa é a razão da simpatica de poder do algo mais e da alegria... [video=youtube;eoca1Jb33Ts]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoca1Jb33Tshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoca1Jb33Ts[/video]
After being bored of all the build up, I really enjoyed the show, fantastic. Considering that it had to appeal to the world, they still did a good job of essentially putting on a British show. Well done. I'm a little surprised that Boyle got the gig, quite bold really. On the subject of the Beatles, whilst I like them and appreciate their influence, I actually prefer the Kinks. Great social commentaries on Britishness. I also love the fact that they didn't really bother with America, as they refused to sort out their gappy teeth which would of (apparently) offended the american audience!
Like most of you, I wasn't looking forward to it at all, but was completely blown away. Last night I was genuinely proud to be British. For the first time in a long time.
Tell you what, it's a pretty damn slow news day when a newspaper has to find controversy in that. I've seen the video and the bloke is doing a long-distance and very showy wave. He's trying to make sure that the people he's waving to can see him, that's all. So is the woman next to him. If he'd have stood bolt upright, looking straight forward and slightly upward, and shot forward his right arm, at the same angle as his gaze, into a straight position, palm down and fingers extended... then we would have been performing a Nazi salute. This was an old German bloke waving.
