General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAs much as I detest the commercialism of these games and the hyped up nationalism,
I must say that I'm watching four children, ages 5-10 watch their first Olympic opening ceremony. They are all soaking in the pre ceremony program info on the athletes and the scenes from the city of London. I'm hearing a chorus of "Grandma, can I watch (insert sport here)?" All the corruption and political claptrap aside, they are seeing young people working toward a goal of excellence. That is worth more than any posturing the adults can do.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)So...what has changed since our "Starry Eyes."
My daughter was a Figure Skater with Olympic Asperations....so...I've watched for DECADES.
Just so you know. They are NOT TODAY what the Olympics of YESTERDAY WERE.
Just saying....
Peace!
Journeyman
(15,043 posts)The Olympics of my "youth" featured 11 athletes slaughtered in cold blood. My "starry eyes" were most likely shock induced.
FrodosPet
(5,169 posts)"It's not Russia we are going to war with" in 1972.
I wish we could take countries out of the Olympics and just have the greatest athletes in the world showcase their talents in competition.
IcyPeas
(21,931 posts)we've become too jaded. I just watched some of the opening ceremony and I loved the British Music thru the decades and the fireworks at the end. jolly good show.
Hope the kids get to watch more of it.
liberal N proud
(60,352 posts)World might look like.
trof
(54,256 posts)Can't find it.
spanone
(135,921 posts)Suich
(10,642 posts)the first part was a bit odd but most of it was terrific, especially the lighting of the cauldron!!!
GCP
(8,166 posts)I went to university in Sheffield which was a BIG steel city (before Thatcher got her mouldy hands on the levers of power). Those depictions of a steelworks and the massive things they used to make was epic theatre at its best IMHO.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)so far it has been mesmerizing, cried like a baby at the WW1 tribute and the red poppies.
The parade of nations will do me in, I always cry.
trixicopper
(62 posts)My favorite moment of an Olympic ceremony was Atlanta 1996.
I was working as a bartender in a sports bar in the PacNW. The place was packed, we had all the TV's on for the opening ceremonies.
When the crowd realized it was Muhammad Ali lighting the cauldron the place went nuts! Standing ovation, people screaming their lungs out. It was something to see.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)to beat each other at sports, why can't the world come together to, I don't know, exchange eco-friendly technological developments?