Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

[Phil B]

The Olympic Stadium will be transformed into the "British countryside" for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games on 27 July.

The set will feature meadows, fields and rivers, with families taking picnics, people playing sports on the village green and farmers tilling the soil.

Real farmyard animals will be grazing in the "countryside", with a menagerie of 30 sheep, 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese and three sheepdogs.



Oh dear. Sounds disastrous. Hope I am wrong.

Who said never work with animals and children?

[CJ]

well I think it sounds lovely and very different. we cannot hope to 'compete' with what the Chinese did, so let's be really different. Having been to the Olympic Park about a month ago, it will look stunning. The landscaping is amazing and once all the flowers are out and it's all colourful as well, it will be even better.

not sure where the flame is going to be.

All in all, I am looking forward to the whole thing.

[Kinoulton]

I trust there will be a sniper in place in case any Morris Dancers or Handbell Ringers turn up.

[BJ.]

I trust there will be a sniper in place in case any Morris Dancers or Handbell Ringers turn up.

I doubt it mate. I think they are all out in Poland and Ukraine from what I've seen over the past few days.

[Kinoulton]

I think it's to deter the East European fans from chanting racist abuse at our players.

Start that mullarkey and we'll do a mind numbingly tedious Morris Dance.

[Bill W (2)]

I think it's to deter the East European fans from chanting racist abuse at our players.

Start that mullarkey and we'll do a mind numbingly tedious Morris Dance.

Followed by a Mummers Play!!

[Tyzot]

I am sure that there will be a celebration of British culture with Bangra dancers and steel drums.

[Tigerbeat]

Beijing is a hard act to follow.!!!

[DickyP]

Beijing is a hard act to follow.!!!

Great what you can do when you don't care about the bill and the participants do what they are told - the latter not exactly a British trait!

I don't worry, however, because it's this muddle through and produce something which I love about my country. I have a number of German, Austrian, Cypriot and American/Canadian friends who all love 'England' (being foreign 'England' and 'Britain' are synonymous to them) just because we are low key and basically unstressed compared to their homes - we occasionally win things like world cups but once we done it that seems to be enough and we don't need to do it again. I always feel we annoy the Aussie more when we lose to them at cricket and don't get very upset than we do when we beat them and shout and cheer.

[Old Hob]

I am sure that there will be a celebration of British culture with Bangra dancers and steel drums.

Surely in the truly multi-cultural city of Leicester all these things are of equal value...

[fleabane]

Absolutely right, Old Hob! We are a multicultural city, and should be proud of the fact.

[Kinoulton]

Fields, rivers, animals, peace. Sounds great.

That's why I'll be walking my dogs in the countryside and not watching some lame ceremony.

I think the Chinese stuff was also lame. Ther was just a lot of it, that's all. Big deal.