Where do these Games rank?

[Speedster]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

You're in for a shock when you experience modern British culture - they'll probably camp Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Lily Allen, Kerry Katona, Jordan and Peter Andre, Jodie Marsh, Dannii Minogue and Jade Goody into the centre of the arena, and have the worldwide TV audience vote one out every day

Agreed. It'll be as bad as our rubbish segment which ruined an otherwise excellent closing ceremony. It was very embarrassing to see GB represented by a useless dance group, a sweaty old rock star and a cheap karaoke act. We should be ashamed for inflicting that drivel on the world. ops:

First off Dannii Minogue and Peter Andre are true blue Australians! LOL! We'll have to take that shame... the UK can keep the rest.

Secondly I think China's amazing history and identity were captured by the opening and closing ceremony. Britain at the moment seems to struggle to form its modern identity, its a huge mixture of cultures and influences from past and present and all over, which results in its greatest strengths and its greatest weaknesses.

There was an interesting programme on the BBC last night about what it means to be British and i think the programme and the people interviewed struggled to find out what it meant.

The Australian portion of the closing ceremony in Atlanta was canned by everyone, yet four years later we managed to capture a slice of Australia, mixing history and modern influences into an amazing show. i wonder if we'll look back at this closing in Beijing and think the same?

(PS calling Leona Lewis a cheap Karaoke act is a little unfair, the girl has talent, I like to think of the X factor as the same as the US Track and Field Trials, cut throat and brutal and she survived it to win!)

[Flumpy]

Agreed. It'll be as bad as our rubbish segment which ruined an otherwise excellent closing ceremony. It was very embarrassing to see GB represented by a useless dance group, a sweaty old rock star and a cheap karaoke act. We should be ashamed for inflicting that drivel on the world. ops:

I thought it was GREAT!!!

The tone was absolutely right. Bus queues, umbrella's and Leona Lewis all perfectly represent London, in fact Leona lives only a copuple of miles away from the 2012 site. It was tongue in cheek and humorous.

I hope the Opening Ceremony is more of thye same. I don't want to see a single member of Cirque de Soliel poncing about when we coudl have Chas and Dave