[God luvs America]

for the record- the Brits ragged on Johnson for the way he showed up at the flag handover ceremony at the close of the 2008 games:

“Britons proud of their athletes’ achievements have vented their frustrations at being left “the laughing stock of the world” by the show, which featured rocker Jimmy Page, X-Factor winner Leona Lewis and footballer David Beckham.
British dancers perform as a double-decker bus arrives during the closing ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

British dancers perform as a double-decker bus arrives during the closing ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

The routine, which also included a performance by urban dance troupe ZooNation and the use of a red London bus, was meant to showcase the capital as the new host city of the Games.

But many have objected to its informality - and the scruffy state of Mayor Boris Johnson waving the flag - compared to the neat choreography of the Chinese display.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/2631439/London-Olympics-Tacky-2012-handover-show-attacked-by-British-bloggers.html

[colorado tanker]

I have a feeling this opening ceremony is not going to compare well with what the Chinese did.

So far, the venues are not nearly as attractive, either.