Leaderboard

I'm pretty impressed with the arrangements of the anthems. Sounds like similar arrangements the New Japan Symphony Orchestra used in '04 but this time ours, at least, sound a little more powerful. Anyone know who is playing this years anthems?

I just realized, after watching a few of our medal ceremonies on NBCOlympics.com that they are using a few different renditions. O.K. - Canada has now won gold. Where is the Canadian Anthem? Of course, it is not on NBC. Couldn't find it on CBC.

Spot on. Los Angeles and Salt Lake are two of my favorites because it touched on American culture and my country. Do I think they were the best - yes. Were they? To some yes, to some no. Do I expect others to think they were? No. It just has a special place for me. This whole bashing Bejing's ceremonies is much ado about nothing. The embellishments they did are just upping the technology bar that started with probably Barcelona and has continued from there. I mean the drummers in Athens were not both live but it didn't take away from the ceremony and I really liked that part. As for the replacement of the little girl, that is a bit odd simply because lip synching is normally only done by the artist who actually sang it. But to turn it into a scandal is a bit much. P.S. - I love their torch and the torch lighting. And how creative to take Lillehammer's cauldron, Wrap it tightly in Atlanta's cauldron and attach the L.A. spout for the actual lighting!

Thanks for the info - I knew that - don't know why I put the New Japan thing! And thanks for the links - Germanys I thought sounded good. I'll look forward to hearing Canadas to see if they do it traditional or a little more like the rendition in Torino which I thought was good. And yes, once again God Save The Queen is soooo sloooowwwww!

I agree CAF that the medal should have the original dog in it! I like that medal, you shouldn't change it!

I loved just about every second of it. Probably my fav OC to date.

I enjoyed the opening with the drums and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Much better than Athens, but for me, Sydney still stands out.

I thought Athens was boring. I barely remember it at all. In fact I remember Sydney much more clearly.

I'm sleeping. Very boring, except two or three good parts. I look forward for the parade! Not a single breathing taking picture....

Face it...they didn't beat Athens, because Athens was different. Papaioannou mad an artistic performance that was continuous. China made a segment about enviroment, about the paper etc, that they are not connected. Technological, yes it was better, but we have already done it in 1997 in IAAF World Championships. Sorry, but the ceremony was boring, no spirit at all.