Have to say that so far I'm also finding it pretty boring. Lady Gaga was okay (and for me unexpected as I'd not really read anything beforehand) but I'm finding the outside setting is detracting from the performances, rather than enhancing them. Plus the weather isn't being kind to them either, sadly.

 

 

 

edit - although the arrival of guitars has sparked my interest a bit more! (and in general this section is actually utilising the surroundings much better, rather than just being near the building)

Interesting approach with the outdoor setting but I'm not sure it's hitting as well. I think these things are actually better visually when it's dark.

That was a bit unnecessary.

 

I just don't see what is disrespectful about approaching the ceremony in a new way to warrant such a miserable post. It's fine to mess with tradition, and lord knows the French are the best at that.

 

Musical choices have been pretty good (Can Can and Les Mis), not everything has been great so far... the Gaga perf was a bit dull but mostly I'm enjoying it.

I think it's raining. :( They really should've watched our Jubilee River Pageant and taken it as a warning.

I think it's raining. :( They really should've watched our Jubilee River Pageant and taken it as a warning.

 

Weather forecast lied then, they were going on about how it was supposed to be dry for the evening. A risk with an outside ceremony of course.

 

meanwhile it's a lovely evening here just a few hundred miles away....

I just don't see what is disrespectful about approaching the ceremony in a new way to warrant such a miserable post. It's fine to mess with tradition, and lord knows the French are the best at that.

 

Musical choices have been pretty good (Can Can and Les Mis), not everything has been great so far... the Gaga perf was a bit dull but mostly I'm enjoying it.

 

Shoving loads of the countries on boats together rather than given them their individual moment of glory walking into a packed stadium as you normally get is pretty insulting to the most important people in the games - the athletes. If it's miserable to point that out then yes, I'm miserable.

 

There's something wrong with the sound on the musical pieces as well, an issue that would be easier to address in a stadium.

I'm feeling a bit nervous for these women bouncing around on the top of long poles.

Liked the part with the flame bearer triggering the fire(works) and it's interesting to have the most listened to French language singer (who I'm sad to say I don't know to namecheck properly)

Assassins creed with the torch running around

Certainly an interesting experiment of a ceremony here with the countries broken up and the setting, a shame the weather wasn't kind to them. I do miss the stadium visuals, but did really like the Revolutonary sequence and Gojira's performance.

I'm good with the 'parade of countries' being split up into sections - to be honest I can find it a little boring when you get the really long parade of everyone all at once so interspersing it with some of the dance sections isn't a bad thing for me

That water is getting quite choppy ….

Liked the part with the flame bearer triggering the fire(works) and it's interesting to have the most listened to French language singer (who I'm sad to say I don't know to namecheck properly)

That was Aya Nakamura, the most-streamed French-speaking artist in the world.

Rain kind of ruining it sadly

I think it's been a fun ceremony from what I've seen. Can't wait for the Athletics to start!

Nicky Doll getting her screen time :cheeseblock:

 

It's been a pretty fun ceremony! Can't lie, hard disagree with the comments about the boat parade being disrespectful. Much better way of breaking things up and making it more palatable while breaking from tradition and doing something new too! Everyone got their moment in the sun (or rain lol) whether the boat was shared or not.

Long Olympic day tomorrow with the first events - Badminton - kicking off at 7.30am BST. The women's surfing finishes at 3am.

The Olympic flame balloon is a stunning sight.

 

 

 

One of the most spectacular and ambitious opening ceremonies in a while in the end, the torch looked absolutely amazing and Celine, much as I'm not the biggest fan, sounded excellent.

 

I didn't expect them to reunite, but I thought at least one Daft Punk song would be used in the montage, hopes dashed </3

The balloon and Celine was a lovely way to end ^_^

 

The horse and rider galloping down the Seine was also well done, it must have looked great in the location