Aifey: Both can nt b compared 4any 1 tht realy watched it. Beijin was spectacular n intrestin. I even slept off wtchin london clueless movie.

I slept off watching Beijin computer game display in 2008, there was nothing original about it, is like Apple launching the latest gadget.

safeLove: Sentiments aside. Boyle did a good job with his script/idea as displayed at the opening ceremony of London 2012 olympics. But, let's be honest,if he translates the same script to a motion picture movie,how many of you would spend your hard earned cash to watch some boring british history movie. I'd rather watch titanic again,at least I'll shed some tears and get my money's worth.
Many of those saying the Brit did a good job have some sentimental attachment to UK. I don't have any attachment (or weave on) to either UK or China,but I give it to Beijin any day. And yes,I know Naija can't do any better but I still love my country even with all its drama.

+1000

I was really looking forward to the ceremony. Thought it'd be a combination of the proms, royal processions, football spirit, the classic British culture, with lots of talking points. While it wasn't bad, I was deeply disappointed. Not much to remember about this. They went down the well worn road of just providing some boring historical drama (which is what the North Africans and some European countries usually do). No great unique thing to tell the kids about in 20 years' time (apart from the torch lighting sequence).

London's opening ceremony was a boring spectacle to say the least. I give it to Beijing. Except for the lighting of the cauldron, I'd say London was a total failure.

Manchester 2002 was for the commonwealth games! Commonwealth games! And it was waaay better. I can tell my kids about the way the Queen was brought into the stadium, the royal salute, the little girl that accompanied David Beckham (although the Queen really should have spoken to her) and so on.

This is Britain we are talking about.

Why couldn't they get the red arrows to stage a fly past? Imagine if they had sung Rule Brittania and gotten the crowd involved (just like L.A '84 did with the flashlight segment)or even Oasis to sing Wonder Wall (what a talking point that would have been)? Imagine if the Queen came into the stadium in a procession? There were just too many pre-taped segments! I actually had more fun watching the opening ceremony of Rivers 2011 (National Sports Festival). Thank God for the torch lighting sequence. It saved the day.

justwise:

. . .and many saying Beijin is better don't have sentiment attached to China and a proven ant-west squad?

Well I'm not anti anything..west,east,north or south.
Every country has its own history no matter how insignificant.Both London and Beijing told their stories,Beijing just did it better IMO.
And if showcasing all the major stars from UK was part of the UK culture,I wonder how rich US culture would have looked in Atlanta '96..

London Olympics opening was all over the place. So what history and culture were they presenting? And what exactly was the theme? Teenagers social networking? Dancers prancing all over the place, totally out of synch with one another? Beijing gave us the Birds nest as a theme. What exactly did the Brits do?

A culture of Rock Stars? If people wanted to watch Rock concerts, they wont need to wait for four years to do so. There are rock concerts going on everytime.

There is nothing there to compare!!!The difference is crystal clear.
Beijing is far better than London's opening ceremony.
I have downloaded both country's opening ceremony and Beijing is TOTALLY MIND BLOWING!!!
What i really enjoyed in the London's opening ceremony is their classical music and the revolutionary industrial age.
No spectacular calisthenics self.
Mr Bean also added colour to the event.
The Queen didn't jump of the plan on parachute, if not, it would have been wonderful.
The culture of the British...is it pressing of game boy
Please everyone should watch the Beijing opening ceremony to fully understand what i mean.

Apart from Mr. Bean the British did nothing again. I could not understand what they were doing. It was colorless without fun. I wonder what hospital bed was doing in the opening ceremony.

Damn!

Iyk i rote earlier on;
beijing waz da BUMBA 2 BUMBA
wen it cumz 2 KULTURE & HISTORI,giv it 2 d CHINKO$ eni day eni tym

Comparing Beijing to London Olympics is like comparing a sane and beautiful woman with a mad woman. The Beijing ceremony was a breakthrough in modern technology. It was cultural but still had the feel of the 21st century megatone. Synchronisation was given birth to by the thousands who drummed. Fireworks was digitised, hence, eliminating accidental carelessness. Heros were represented in form of art, and story was told using ancient scroll. It was a masterpiece.

The London ceremony was the worst ever opening ceremony in the history of the competition. It was chaos from the start. Children weren't taught property; they were all over the place. Synchronisation was missing and story to depict history wasn't original. Danny Boyle tried too hard to showcase Britain as a true multi-cultural country where opportunities are parallel amongst the ethnic groups. It is however obvious to the world that aren't true. The Americans calls the ceremony " a fake and untrue depiction of a country known to harbour hatred and racism towards minority". The English are very subtle when it comes to cynicism and racism, they are very hidden and often institutionalise.

Hackney and the whole of East London worked tirelessly to secure London2012, but after this, they were abandoned and left to wonder. The Black and Ethnic Minority Association for Equal Opportunity then rose and demanded that minorities be given a fair share of the opening ceremony, hence you seeing blacks playing the major roles. But major roles went to the extreme by including Dizzy Rascals and the so-called love birds. The queens role was also seen by some as an attempt to impose the monarch on the world. The whole thing was a shamble, and the British media were just patriotic but unconvinced about the whole thing. A Kenyan journalist tweeted " where are the slaves, the money you stole and the people you killed to acquire your wealth?". NHS was depicted as the best in the world which by the way is known for its notorious carelessness in handling complex cases.

This is evidence of the disorganization we are talking about.

How the hell does a Random person get close enough to the Athletes to join them in their march.







Waving too


The Indian Delegation is so upset. . .as they rightfully should, that could have been someone with sinister motives.

coogar:

that is because you did not understand what they were doing. after the towers came the nhs(gosh). rubbing it in the faces of america and others that health is wealth, health is free. then boyle was at his brilliant best when he played alll the tv programmes from the dark ages till now.......then the "abide with me" rendition at the end? what's not to like about the ceremony?

Dude, will you please S.T.F.U and stop condemning people's opinions like a bird of ill omen, it makes you look idiotic not intelligent.
@OP: Head and shoulders, it has to be Beijing.

I didnt watch both but watched a BBC presenter say the Brits were not trying to outdo Beijing.

Doesnt that answer the question?

merengue:

Dude, will you please S.T.F.U and stop condemning people's opinions like a bird of ill omen, it makes you look idiotic not intelligent.
@OP: Head and shoulders, it has to be Beijing.

why don't you buy yourself a strong rope and find a beam to tie it to? if my comment irks you so badly, exterminate yourself instead of ranting like a ruminant animal undergoing a manual castration!

Beijing, by a long shot.

Btw, this should be a poll.

#Just thinking out aloud# I am pretty sure Naija's opening ceremony will beat Benjing's hands down.... # giggling mischeiviously#


_{That's if we ever host the olympics}

Opening ceremony of Manchester 2002 vs opening ceremony of London 2012. No contest, Manchester wins hands down.

The London 2012 olympic ceremony was very boring to me! I slept almost throughout whereas 2008 was more fun, I remember watching it from start to finish!

History is a boring subject to be honest and the world has bn digitalized our kids no longer pay attention unless its on XBox360, and ipad or and App running.

its a shame really...

There was nothing really inspiring. The whole "history of the country" thing has been done too many times. Nothing unique and original. Break dancing Victorians looked weird, even bizarre. Britain has so much history and culture to draw on, they could have done much better. Hope they improve before the closing ceremonies.

(One of the key determinants of a good opening ceremony is the ability to keep the audience entertained and awake. To accomplish this you need a lot of unique and exciting sequences in your show. London failed to deliver on that. Educate by all means, show your history, but you need to keep the [international] audience awake for them to see it)

I met an American in my travels who never knew about September 11 Bombimng... Ther are so detached...ver detached....

Dude, no need to exaggerate to make a point abeg.

Even people living in a cave knew something happened.

Who on dis earth will choose beijing,london was d best,luk at bond,mr bean nd d display of d rings o boi na die

jaykaylegend: Who on dis earth will choose beijing,london was d best,luk at bond,mr bean nd d display of d rings o boi na die

Mtchww.. So dats wat interested u?

I can only compare Beijing 2008 with Barcelona 92. Pple shuld try watch barcelona 92 and see artistry and great harmony by the performers. London 2012 is a big flop. No difference frm Coja 2003 hosted in abuja.

Sisi_Kill:
Dude, no need to exaggerate to make a point abeg.

Even people living in a cave knew something happened.

Check online there a loads of stories relating to this....

Most Americans know nothing outside their domain


http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-04/travel/americans.travel.domestically_1_western-hemisphere-travel-initiative-passports-tourism-industries?_s=PM:TRAVEL


http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/02/04/americans.travel.domestically/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Ah! Barcelona '92. How often I wish and dream I was this man.

I dream of a similar ceremony in Nigeria and J.J Okocha kicking the ultimate free-kick; a fiery ball into the cauldron.

Nothing @ the ceremony on friday night inspired me as much as this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSA9xUUXj6E