Why Oh Why

[weecalf]

Why do sporting events have to have such a costly opening /closing ceremony.Waste of time money and most of it has to be explained .id have none and the money saved could help to reduce the tickets so as those who enjoy sport might be able to afford .i did not watch it believe me I was actually watching paint dry as the fence was painted and I did not want any one getting their clothes ruined ,did I miss any thing .

[factor-fiction]

Maybe they want to sell the TV rights for the ceremony and need to have a good show to sell. Every holder of world cups/olympics/ commonwealth games wants to come close to or beat the standard of previous ones.
Maybe it would look disrespectful just to have a low key 2 minute introduction.
They do seem to go over the top to me though.
I'm not sure where to draw the line.

[weecalf]

When I went to sporting events ,you stood out side till the guy arrived with the plate .You paid your tanner and went in and had a chin wag till the away team arrived Watch and went home none of this long winded stuff .

[inksplotter]

Sadly you need quite a few tanners to get into these games.

[weecalf]

More than a pint in some bar in dublin I imagine

[Brinjal]

Some of the athletes that are competing the next day don't even attend.

[Zeuhl]

weecalf

the Games have an audience of millions - not buying tickets - watching on TV

That is where the real money is (tanners for goodness sake!)

and the TV formula expects a major production that is repaid by the sale of TV rights.

If you think it's a 'waste of time/money' i'm afraid you just don't understand the major events process

[Tizzi24]

I agree weecalf. I shan't watch any of it, bores me silly!

[Dodger666]

I haven't watched an opening/closing ceremony for decades, Olympic or Commonwealth. Boring, boring, boring.