Posted on 08/12/2012 7:03:42 PM PDT by the scotsman
'The London 2012 Olympics have ended with a spectacular musical closing ceremony and the official handover to the next host city, Rio de Janeiro.
The three-hour show featured some of the biggest names of British pop from decades past, including the Spice Girls, George Michael and Elbow. Games chief Lord Coe said: "When our time came - Britain, we did it right."
The official Games flag was handed to the mayor of Rio before the flame at the Olympic Stadium was extinguished.
President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who declared the Games of the 30th Olympiad closed just before midnight, said: "We will never forget the smiles, the kindness and the support of the wonderful volunteers, the much-needed heroes of these Games. "You, the spectators and the public, provided the soundtrack for these Games. "Your enthusiastic cheers energised its competitors and brought a festive spirit to every Olympic venue."
At the close of the ceremony, watched in the stadium by the 10,000 athletes and 80,000 spectators, the flame was extinguished in dramatic fashion. Each nation will receive one of the cauldron's 204 petals.
As fireworks went off above the east London stadium, the Who performed My Generation and the venue became a sea of red, white and blue confetti.
The finale, which began with Big Ben chiming, paid tribute to UK music, fashion and culture.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Much better without the constant blabbering of NBC reporters to tell us sob stores about certain athletes.
May was terrific....started off with the intro he did for Brighton Rock in the 70’s...dude has barely missed a beat...as for the rest of it; i could care less about- was never a “We Will Rock You” fan...
It was still pollted with self-important Costas blabbing just to hear himself speak even while the Star Spangled Banner was starting.
This was the worst coverage I’ve ever seen. The incessant talking during the events got on my nerves. Events I enjoy were clipped, but we got a generous helping of basketball, volleyball and soccer. I was greatly disappointed.
It was lousy!
Spectacular? Well, there was some spectacle, and it didn’t have a big shout-out to their NHS, so that’s something. Really though, it was just... adequate. I’m betting that Rio’s opening/closing ceremonies will be incredible in 2016, though.
And now for something completely different.........
About 2 hours into it right now and it sucks.
Somewhat unlike the opening, the closing abounded in blasphemy. An effete, vain, sick society in its death throes?
The atheists' anthem. Couldn't have been a worse selection.
I only watched the “Wish you were here” cover, I really enjoyed it.
what the hell kind of ending was that NBC??? “we’ll be back in an hour with The Who...now here’s a full episode of Animal Hospital”...
they’re effing us, right???
btw- must say its insulting they (London) never did anything for the mighty Led Zeppelin, especially when you consider they sent Jimmy Page to the Bejing closing ceremonies to perform Whole Lotta Love...
agree, the coverage was just awful.
When I did want to see a certain sport it was on some Hispanic channel which I don;t get and even if I did I wouod not want to hear Spanish all the time.
agree, , it seemed to me that they celebrated the Indians moving in while making fun of the nuns
the song imagine, the making fun of Nuns etc, awful does not even describe it.
agree did you see the Nuns too?
I’m, not Catholic or even a church goer but have respect for Christianity and I;m also from England and I found this pathetic, PC and boring
The dancing nuns is a reference to the musical ‘Spamalot’ by Eric Idle, which is a musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Its not an attack on the Catholic Church.
Manc, I dont get your Indians ‘moving in’ remark. You have lost me.
The dancing nuns is a reference to the musical ‘Spamalot’ by Eric Idle, which is a musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Its not an attack on the Catholic Church.
Demonic?.
What are you on about?.
OH my gosh, people don’t know British culture! The nuns part was funny! Their British flag knickers.
Thank you. At least someone gets it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.