Olympic salute to Hitler defeat.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....opening-ceremony.html

I along with the rest are all for show of a little patriotism, but do you think it is appropriate for part of the opening ceremony to "MENTION THE WAR".

Paul McCartney is said to be taking part also, couldn't we do better, what would you wish to be included in the Opening Ceremony?

[rowanwitch]

An attempt on the shortest ceremony record

[emmie]

No it isn't. i hope they don't trundle out the usual suspects as they did at the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

[jno]

I can't imagine how an international sporting festival could be enhanced by the hosts banging on about wars they won 100 years ago. How truly weird.

But Paul should definitely be there. He's one of the people who means "Britain" to the rest of the world.

[emmie]

how about something that is associated with the capital over the centuries, we have an interesting history, incorporate Shakespeare, Dickens, Mary Quant, Biba, swinging London. There is so much one could do, but as far as i can see the organisers are pandering to the sponsors, like the relay of the torch, and not the unsung heroes of Britain

[craft1948]

Is Manuel taking part?

[emmie]

jno, he may be, but he isn't the only one. I am wondering whether the whole thing will be a gigantic mish mash, if the trailer at Beijing was anything to go by.

[jno]

I don't think it should be limited to London, em, even though the Games will be very Londoncentric. This is also the country that kicked off the industrial revolution, for instance, and railways (though I can't see how you'd get those into song and dance acts) and where the English language came from.

[TheNovice]

yet again the Mail making it up as it goes along. Can anyone point out where in that article any confirmation to what is in the opening ceremony is made, other than Paul McCartney who confirmed his inclusion last week. Total poppycock as we expect from our Daily Troublemaker (that's the paper not AOG!!!)

[emmie]

jno, agree for the most part, but our visitors mostly know London, from TV, films. I guess we will just have to see what they dream up. Hope it's not embarrassing.

[Sqad]

Why not go the whole hog and mention how we fought the Kikuyu....that should please the Kenyans, the battle for Rorkes's drift against the Zulus.

No ...mentioning World War 2 would be in bad taste......against the spirit of the Olympic Games.

[jno]

and the British triumph at the massacre of Amritsar, and the glorious loss of the American Colonies. All part of the rich pageant of history.

[emmie]

unless you want us to remind the Germans of their folly in bombing London, and other parts of Britain, or the Romans, those pesky ne'er do well Italians for daring to invade, or the Vikings pillaging. Come on for heaven sake, it's a ruddy sporting event, the matter of the last war should not play any part in this, as i am sure it won't.

[emmie]

jno, you know something the more i read of Britain role in past world events it's a wonder we ever got anything done, never mind the millions of people in Britain, breaking their backs in industry, coal, shipping, steel, not to mention trade and shipping.

[sp1814]

Opening ceremony to include a cast of British musical greats (who somehow got missed off on the Jubilee party):

Rolling Stones
Dizzee Rascal
David Bowie
Rolling Stones
Adele

Britain leads the world (yes, I'm including you America) in music. Imagine Adele teaming up with The Stones to perform 'Brown Sugar' or Dizzee and Bowie performing a dubstep version of 'Lets Dance'. It would be insanely great.

Then Diversity could do one of their full on dance routines, followed by something from the Royal Ballet.

Top that off with a giant hologram of Patrick Stewart doing that monologue from Henry V, a flypast from the Red Arrows and a massive fireworks show, and we pretty much have it nailed.

But we HAVE to get Bowie and the Stones.

[sp1814]

Yep - I've just noticed the Stones twice in my list. Wonder how that happened

Replace one of them with The Who.

Actually, you could also add Take That, Kate Bush and Eric Clapton to the list.

[Kromovaracun]

"railways (though I can't see how you'd get those into song and dance acts)"

Didn't the Chinese opening ceremony in 2008 have sections about printing and the compass? I'm sure it'd be possible.

[heathfield]

Why not mention the war? The Olympic torch run and opening ceremony was an idea dreamed up by Goebbels, Hitler's propoganda minister. But protesters beware - you may get a knock at your door...

http://www.thecourier...s-a-police-visit.html

[mushroom25]

heathfield, whilst Goebbels may have had executive responsibility for the 1936 games, it was Carl Diem who undertook much of the organisation, including the creation of the concept of the torch relay.

[heathfield]

You're right, Mushroom. Goebbels was just in charge as head honcho.