[nutmeg]

Well, my son and I critique every opening and closing ceremony, and we thought this one was in the Top 5 for weirdness.

I agree. One of my favorites was the opening ceremony for the Lillehammer Olympics. As I remember it, it was very simple... the people of Lapland came in on sleds (with reindeer, I think), singing simple folk songs.

The best "lighting of the torch" was - hands down - the archer who lit the torch with his bow and arrow. Was that France or Spain?

[Miss Marple]

Barcelona. The all-time best torch lighting, ever!