Commonwealth Games opening ceremony: what do we think?

It’s not London Praise be!
Life doesn’t start and stop in London.
Birmingham should be proud of this event.
Well done to all the UK contestants!

Birmingham is a brilliant city which is very cultural and vibrant as well as diverse. I understand that the ceremony was produced by the wonderful Peaky Blinders producer? The red arrows were, as always, fantastic and the unfolding story of Birmingham as a city was well told. I especially liked the two airy figures appearing to take the helmet off the bull. Quite spiritual in concept. I was hoping for UB40 rather than Duran Duran but it worked out ok with all the fireworks etc. Birmingham has always been on the map and has now been highlighted!

Riverwalk

I would have preferred UB40 to Duran Duran!

Great to see the multi-ethnic teams, especially England.

Exactly what I've been saying Riverwalk

Maybe if a bigger fraction of money given to the event it would have been flashier but it was great! Love Brummies worked with a few over the years. Hope they honour the commitment made for legacies too, they've swindled the people of London out of 5000+ affordable housing at Queen Elizabeth park! National theatre and chums have muscled in and snapped up the valuable land for vanity projects-again the less affluent get stuffed by the greedy fatherless sons......

We're UB40 in it at all? I didn't watch all just highlights d always think of them as Birmingham's son's not Duran Duran I didn't know that they were Brummies at all!!?

They're semi Brummies Gabrielle. Two born in Birmingham, one Solihull and Simon Le Bon Hertfordshire I think. They were formed in Birmingham.

Loads better groups with roots in Brum in my view.

Spencer Davis
The Move
Wizard
Traffic

Though most of them will be past their peak now. As are Duran Duran.

I liked the Birmingham Bull but, other than that, it was a hot mess. Not a patch on the Olympic opening ceremony but its their games and they can do what they like.

Lucca - what has being rich got anything to do with looking good or the 'Commonwealth Games'?

And Franbern was not being rude. But you were claiming that the Duchess of Cornwall was looking good because she is rich.

It was me who commented that she's looking good because she's rich, not Lucca.

Loved the Bull - magical
Lenny Henry - ??

Thought the bull was a masterstroke of concept and construction. Wonderful. The car display was pretty ingenious too. I've been to Birminhgham often. Grand place.

I enjoyed it. So much so, missed programme I meant to watch! Have saved a link of kayaking round Birmingham’s canals, which may never do. But it sounds a great way to see the city. Have a good games Brum!

I thought it was great.
Congratulations to Birmingham!

Being a Brummie born and bred, i loved the opening ceremony.
No bull s..t just facts.
For those who have never visited Birminham,honestly its a lovely welcoming place to visit.
The museums and art galleries are a delight.
And a walk along the canals is a must.

On BBC breakfast this morning, Mike Bushell went inside the bull to see how it worked. He spoke to the creators of it, and they said that after an initial time in Birmingham, it will most probably be dismantled and melted down. Apparently not feasible to leave it out on display and to house it inside would mean it going to a museum that has hangar sized accommodation for it!! I would have thought that having it as a display in the centre, would mean the games would live on in people's minds..
Every comment I have seen about it has been very favourable as to its likeness and what it stands for, the people of Birmingham should have it as a constant reminder of the games.

I thought it was absolutely wonderful. Good on you Birmingham.

silvercollie

Lucca - what has being rich got anything to do with looking good or the 'Commonwealth Games'?

And Franbern was not being rude. But you were claiming that the Duchess of Cornwall was looking good because she is rich.

Excuse me I most certainly was not claiming that !

Franbern was telling us off for comments about Camilla clothes

I think you a) need to read the thread properly and b) apologise to me.

Slightly off piste.

Anyone on here who was born and bred in B’ham, what specific area do you come from? Handsworth Wood for me. My dear late mum, who had delusions of grandeur, told me always to say to folk I came from Handsworth Wood, which she thought was a few notches up from Handsworth. ?

I am about 30 miles south of Birmingham and I felt very proud of the Opening Ceremony. All the young people involved, volunteers, the artistry and choreography involved, welcoming the teams into the stadium, the red arrows display and not least the marvellous bull.
Enjoyed the storyline telling Birmingham’s history.
It is a wonderful, diverse city.

I have already posted that it was me and not Lucca who made that comment about Camilla. Why don't people read the posts?

NanKate we lived in Handsworth Wood when we got married. DH was born by the blues ground so a blues fan naturally. I was born in Solihull so considered posh by DH.

How interesting Monk08. I haven’t been back to my old home in Handsworth Wood since I was 11 and I’m 75 now ! I have looked up my old house though on Google Instant Streetview and felt very nostalgic. Yes Solihull is definitely up a notch or two/three/four ?. We moved to Stratford-upon Avon and I still return there occasionally. We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary there last October.

Born in Ladywood, which to any non Brummie sounds rather nice.
In fact, back in 1951 it was a warren of back to back houses interspersed with factories and bomb sites. It was one of the most deprived areas of the city, gradually becoming more gentrified now.
I can trace my family's Brummie roots back almost 300 years. Not a drop of blue blood. I come from a long line of hard working peasantry.
I enjoyed the opening ceremony very much. I'm not a fan of watching sport but I hope everyone who does enjoys the event.

We enjoyed it