I think the 8 mins was a nice little feature. I gotta admit I was wow'ed out of my chair during the whole closing ceremony but those 8 mins kinda stuck out in a nice way. I like that London was taking the mickey on itself with all the stiff upper lip, doubledecker, umbrellas and stuff,, humour like that was missing from the visually impressive opening and closing ceremony. Boris made a royal fool out of himself as usual,, unbuttoned jacket,, hands in his pockets and looking completely out of place,, very much lol.

I was hugely impressed by the whole show although a couple of the songs could have been left out. Can't belive that only 1 of the fullwheel bicycles crashed (into 3-4 of the dancing girls in the yellow suits,, kinda funny). I have tried a bike like that myself,, it's incredibly hard since you have to tilt your body from side to side to change direction,, all I want right now is one of those bikes though,, so funnylooking Congratulations Beijing,, now Samaranch is retired I don't mind taking over to say that those were the best games ever.

worked for me...

i thought the brits' little show was human in scale and provided a nice contrast to the Chinese grandeur. It was kind of a "warts and all" approach.

I was getting ready to cringe, but it was ok. The truth is, Britain is at a stage where it's quite difficult to project an image. Old style marches of guards and horses are linked to its imperialist past and the images would not be not well received. So it is doing the "we're a multi-ethnic and fun country" which is a little naff but a fair effort at a time when the nation is trying to find its identity and place in a world which has changed (and the empire has completely shrunk in size). Also it doesn't have so much to prove as China, so I agree that a relaxed theme and approach to the Olympics is the right one.

Brainfox I like your comments and have wondered the same thing myself, after seeing China showcase aspects of its long history in the opening ceremony. I thought, what will London do? Tea and crumpets?

As for the 8 minutes, who knows how much of that style will actually characterize 2012. But as China communicated (mostly) elegance and class in their ceremonies (opening more than closing), GBR added a touch of brash 21st century mishmash during their performance. 2008 was the kind of Games your wealthy, opera-attending aunt would put on. 2012 may be those of your 20-year-old, pink-haired rocker cousin.

i m seeing totally differently

these 8 london minutes were one grandiose moment of 5000y of chinese history like never seen before

realize that jiang zenmin, hu jintao, wen jiabao and the rest of the chinese top officials, this franquist money-driven samaranch and his puppet of rogge had to listen and watch the rendition of "whole lotta love", electric guitar, sexual tension and the hand on the crotch included

doesn t happen much around these days, especially in china

i lmfao for 10 mins
kudos to london

London's 8 minutes was such a relief to the horrid of what we already know China can do with thousands of people moving in unison. I got so tired of watching people float through the air in lighted football helmets, singers lip syncing, children with fake expression on, Rogge looking so corrupt, and NOT one view of American athletes. That proves China is a lot of things. I laughed at the bike helmets the guys had on which were tremendously tacky, then the bright red "working girl" outfits the Chinese girls had on and then hearing Jiang Zinmens mistress sing. London should not try to copy Beijing in any fashion because London is better in many ways and that's why the 8 minutes was different and very London(ish). Beijing is amazing in its self, but that's why London needs to do it differently.

copy China? I don't think they could even if they wanted to. well, they won't be that stupid to copy different culture. They have their own style and they are smart about it. I also believe that the whole world pretty much enjoys all beautiful differences except some people who are only familiar with 'working girl' stuff. well, Sorry for Chinese style having brought you so much pain.

I think all the theatrics with thousand of people reminds me of the depression era musicals.That kind of thing went out of style a long time ago.Plus it takes no real talent in many ways. The movements are simple and not intricate most of the time.I would rather see less people performing more difficult moves and thousands doing and the same simplistic things.

Not sure what to think of that comment,, my then gf used that route to work usualy about that time the bombs went off and I was out of the country that week. Spent 8 hours trying to get a hold of her while the phonelines were overloaded. Some of the most horrifying hours of my life.

its a nice show in 8 mins, pretty good. it shows UK's 'personality' that is small happiness. which is a different culture and way of doing things. cool.

just seemed to me that the city had developed a sense of humour about the whole thing... turning it into the basis for a musical number...

at least they were being honest about all that london has to offer olympic visitors...