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Amen to that... the ONLY part of Torino's opening that didn't come off that way was the bit with the giant rings being erected (I think it was called "passon of the Games" or similar) The ABSOLUTE worst part was the bit with people running around on the field in the shape of a skier going down the hill and taking off... they wore raincoats with head-mounted flashlights and plastic wrap... it was beyond 'tacky' or 'cheap' I am just praying for no rapping, beatboxing, or British hoodie-thug-grafitti-ASBO nonsense... As an American I can tell you that is NOT what the world wants to see of London and the UK and it would NOT serve the interests of the UK a a whole... it would be a major turn-off to viewers around the world and potential tourists... That crap at the Beijing handover was bad enough... the best part of the 2008 handover presentation was the singing of the UK Anthem by that young (20-somethings it looked like) choir...

ugh... assault on my ears...

I didn't necessarily mean JAZZ when I said 'jazz it up'... so much as the figurative sense of speed it up or embellish it a bit... and yes, whitney at the super bowl during the first Gulf War was by far the greatest rendition of the Star Spangled Banner EVER and there there ever will be...

Yes, I too really enjoyed the singing of the British anthem in the birds nest in Beijing... a simple anthem needs to be kept simple... now the version of O Canada performed by Inward Eye at the vancouver closing was great, whereas the opening version sung by Sara Yanvorski (sp?) was dreadful... if they wanted to jazz up God Save The queen a bit like vancouver did in their closing that would be one thing, it was energetic and positive, but not necessarily 'urban' or 'rock'

Total Agreement... one of the things I am looking forward to in this Opening Ceremony is a classic, timeless, and bombastic rendition of God Save the Queen for the ages... not some god-awful pop/rock/punk version of it... I have seen the American anthem BUTCHERED at so many sporting events, particularly NBA events that try and turn it into some sort of 'urban' rap/pop monstrosity... God Save the Queen is simply not suited to being 'hip' nor should it be... Britain ought to be able to embrace its classic pomp and circumstance while also being a modern, diverse, and inclusive society without pandering to the urban masses... Danny Boyle has an immense challenge in balancing the classic with the 'hip' and 'modern' in this ceremony but the Anthem should not be a point of compromise...

Wow... its like we have our own Rush Limbaugh of the olympiad on these forums...

Well, that is certainly a big bell... very Big indeed... I wonder just how booming it will be... As for the athletes being seated... I don't think it is some sort of wild change... it has been common in the winter games for some time now... I do wonder if perhaps the athletes will be entering somewhat earlier so that they too may enjoy the spectacle... It would make more sense to seat the athletes if they were entering the stadium earlier in the show... (and frankly, a bit 'fairer' to have them get to see the show that they are supposed to be the guests of honor for...)

I cannot understand why London is not extending tube service hours past 12:30... not only are late events an issue for visitors but also the nightlife and issues of hundreds of thousands of tourists wanting to go to bars, clubs, and other events at night during the games... I think it would make much more sense to extend hours to 2am during the games. Is this some type of issue in which the Tube workers union refuses to chip in and extra 90 minutes for 2 weeks?

I think the last time Americans saw a live Opening Ceremony was Salt Lake 2002 and Atlanta 1996 before that... I live in Arizona and we did not get Vancouver's Ceremony live...

Quaker, I was joking... trying to be subtle to not offend (too much...) Think about the Bravo network for a while...

If NBC wanted to effectively use its networks they would move gymnastics and diving to Bravo to appeal to that network's core audience...

Kim Kardashian? What is here reation of London 2012? Or is that a social commentary/joke on the ubiquitous omnipresence of the Kardashian Klan?