Are you getting excited about the Olympics?

Yes, as I said, 24 and also in HD....

Yes I am getting excited. Wonder who will light the flame. I think it should be the Duke of Edinburgh, I know a strange choice but a sportsman. I am not really a sports person but it is great Britain is putting on this show and I even watched Women's Football yesterday from Wales. I hope the weather is good. What a wonderful year it has been for events. I know money is tight but enjoy what is on offer.

I can hear all those medals jangling now and I don't mean Olympic ones but OBEs, MBEs, Dames, Knights..............

D of Ed's daughter more worthy as she is actually a medallist. But both of them a bit on the old side?
I would like to see Kelly Holmes as a double track gold medal winner, or Rebecca Adlington who won all those swimming medals. Or even Tom Daley or maybe the adorable Bradley Wiggins, who won a gold last time!
It is after all about "the youth of the world" coming together, in peace, as in the official words of the closing ceremony:

I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in [name of host city] to celebrate the Games

Touching words and sentiments, sniff. But it would be a bit odd to have an older person.

After all the hard work the athletes have endured the least we can do is give them our support. They've got mine.

Ah well goldengirl that's another story.
But unlike some people, sportsmen and women are not in it for those. But you posted above that you enjoy being cynical. I too have that tendency but I struggle against over using it. In the end it is a strange form of enjoyment is it not?

I am dreading the Olympics. I have had a look at what TV programmes are on BBC1 over the next few weeks and there are no programmes except the Olympics and the Olympic News! I am definitely asking for a rebate on my TV Licence as they have failed to produce any alternative viewing for those of us who have no interest in sport. I will watch to see if our Andy Murray can get us a Gold Medal in tennis and that is it. Actually, after the blunder last night of showing the South Korean Flag instead of the North Korean one at Hampden in Glasgow, we may not have to watch any of the Olympics - there might be a missile on its way!

I do hope that we get some benefit from the £712million spent on 2,800 flats. That makes them approx £250,000 each for just 4 weeks, or £62.500 per week. What kind of luxury do athletes require?? Perhaps we'll all get a timeshare for a week's holiday in London every year - after all they do belong to us don't they?

Don't the flats get re-used? In which case they sound quite cheap for London.
I like the comedian who said something like, as we have paid for the olympics we may as well enjoy it and get our money's worth.
Surely there is some sport or other some of you would find entertaining on all those channels.... weight lifting ? show jumping? the gymnastics thing with the ribbons? and how could anyone resist the diving with Tom Daley or even.... well ... how often, really, do you get the opportunity to boggle your mind at synchronised swimming?

No!!!

The flats and houses used by athletes in the Olympic Village are all earmarked for social housing after the Games.

OK Girls - GO RING DEM BELLS! tomorrow 08.12 - 08.15

DDiL1 is an Olympic coach for women's athletics. We are incredibly proud of her, and know what she has done during her athletic career to get where she is. I had no idea of the dedication of sportspeople (never having dome anything like it in my life.)

(And the plus is that we get to look after littlest GDs while she is at the games!)

Have you seen the crowds throughout London today? Amazing support and enthusiasm!
You must be so proud Ariadne!
I'll be down in the village just after 8am to ring the bells!
I'm very excited.

Just watched the repeat of AbFab and really enjoyed it this time; think I was just too tired the other night . It's rather got me in the mood; pity about the football, though .

Well the opening ceremony is different. Quite enjoying it!

What on earth was McCartney on for. The opening was great but he spoiled the ending for me, and he can't sing any more he is too old. It was a very British show, not sure everyone round the world will have understood it.
Good night all.

Parts of it were excellent, the whole thing with the petals ending up in that magnificent torch was amazing. I agree with grandmanorm about "Macca". He should just go quietly, or at least go quiet, but it seems some of the old rock stars just won't give up the limelight.

Well despite my Bah Humbug attitute watched the ceremony and though it was delightfully bonkers. But who felt the need to wheel Paul McCartney on ...he was bad enough at the jubilee thingy...yes I get it hes part of the best pop group that ever lived but he just cant hold a basic note anymore and its embarrassing to watch....when we have so many wonderful perfermers nowadays who could have done us proud.

I wonder what he thinks when he sees reruns of his 'slot' or do old rock stars see everything through rose tinted spectacles. Also that old turkey of a song -Hey Jude. What on earth was that to do with anything? With that lovely emphasis on youth when they lit the cauldron, why did they have to then go back in time to finish the show? PM used to be an idol of mine but good grief that was nearly 50 years ago. Thank the Lord that nobody suggested Cliff Richards.
Nearly fell off the sofa when the Queen put in her two pennyworth. Expected it to be a look-a-like. Good on her,or is that HR.

The dedication of the athletes concerned must be admired. Watched a programme about Victoria Pendleton last week. She has practiced her cycling for six days a week for the last ten years - what a supreme effort - so I shall be looking out for her.
I also saw the opening ceremony last night, and agree with the comments about Paul McC - time to retire, surely? While the "show" was brilliant to look at, I was a little confused by some of the items e.g. the dancers in orange with a small boy at the end of their performance - who, why? I did love the fact that the people who had actually worked on building the arena were in the guard of honour for the torch. Also the young athletes who had been nominated to light the flame, what a great idea. The final sequence was breathtaking. Daughter watched the earlier part in Swindon Town Centre where they had set up comfortable seating, a bar and have an enormous screen in situ. She and her husband watched until the teams began to walk on, then hot-footed it home - imagine her chagrin when she turned on her television to see that they had only reached Denmark!
I did feel proud of our country and the brilliant minds that have been working so hard to put this event together, together with the sporting endeavours, too. We are too quick to criticise (I'm guilty here, too) so it's nice to feel really positive for a change.

What did everyone think about the opening ceremony? I just watched it in wonder from beginning to end. I know I'm near the general drooling stage but thought that Danny Boyle did a remarkable job.

It was so vibrant, lively, busy and, well, British that it really set the scene for the Games themselves. Felt quite emotional most of the way through (aided by a dwindling bottle of Pinot Grigio) although amazed at the number of countries I'd never heard of beginning with S and T.

Steeped in watching swimming, badminton and table tennis today and feeling patriotic and envious of all those wonderful sporty bodies. The Olympics always makes me want to get in better shape - think I'll have to join WeightWatchers and work on my backhand reverse spin serve for TT. Or I might finish the rest of the bottle - join me anyone?

People have been talking about it here GrandmaAnge. On the whole people seem to have enjoyed it.

I did!

Wrong thread! Sorry. this one

And there is this one!