Why wasn't Kerry Katona carrying the Iceland flag?

Joking and Twitter aside, it was obvious that the multicultural point was being pushed hard during the opening ceremony.

The Twitter comments will no doubt prompt a police investigation and then the CPS will spag loads of money up the wall on a failed prosecution. Nice to see Collymore responding to the comments, given his past history of misconduct in public life.

Overall I think it was excellent in parts and bizarre in others. Quite obviously some of the more interesting parts of our history left out, as not to cause offence

I liked this tweet, kinda brings it all into perspective@GT_Tips

At £27 million the opening ceremony still cost less than Andy Carroll[/i

I thought the bizarre bits helped make it excellent. Not sure what the non English speaking world made of it but I thought it was terrific.

rlThe New Yorker seemed impressedrl

Great show, especially the cauldron - that was impressive. But then after that wonderful moment Macca. That was truly awful. After the embarassment at the Jubilee someone (himself) ought to have cancelled the booking. Like poor old Muhammad Ali he has carried on too long. Poor old Macca is undermining his great legacy.

The New Yorker might have been impressed but Joe Public in their comments didn't seem to be!

I enjoyed the opening ceremony, except the music montage went on too long. I almost went to make a cuppa at that point. Shame really as up to then I'd been glued to the screen.

Favourite points were the rising of the chimneys/the smelting of the circle - that Pandemonium bit was great - and then of course James Bond and Queenie, Mr Bean and the lighting of the couldron, which I thought was terrific. I also liked the memorial to the 7/7 bombings.

An overall 8 out of 10 for me, not least for being as different from Bejing as could be imagined. I'm really glad we brought the planet back to earth.

I must say the Torygraph readers are easy to wind up.

The comments on the rlAiden Burley twitter storyrl are priceless. My e-mail inbox is full of responses from retired colonels and UKIP/EDL supporters

I have to agree, they have to stop parading Ali out at public occasions, its very cruel on the man and we need to stop doing this and just remember him as he was in his prime, probably the best in his sport, and arguably any sport, that there has ever been.

As for McCartney, I preferred the other McCartney who was singing the same song as him somewhere out in the stadium, but about two seconds faster - and PS Paul, stop dying your hair, it looks ridiculous.

He's stopped the facelifts anyway. He's been warned if he has another, his wizened old cock and wrinky ball-sac will be dangling from his chin

He wasn't helped by the other live musicians being absolutely note perfect, including the kid singing Jerusalem, the choir singing the national anthem and the best rendition of Abide With Me that I've heard.


Hilarious pictures of the cycling road race. Dozens of riders lined up by the bushes at the side of the road taking a leak. And a dog running backwards and forwards across the side of the road.

Overall, I thought it was very good.....Obviously, the introduction of the 200+ countries slowed down proceedings and made it overlong, but I guess that's the nature of these things.

I honestly think the only trick we missed was that we didn't use Macca properly.....For a ceremony that was showcasing the uniqueness and quirkiness of our country, whilst joining together all the nations of the world, surely Danny Boyle could have brought in some large dancing frogs and had everybody join in a final 'We All Stand Together'?


P.S....As for the Tory nobhead and his tweet, I must admit I doubted the authenticity of it all at first, but now he has admitted to it, I just find myself flabbergasted that in this day and age, a fool like this can find himself in the position as an MP.

All he really did is say something a little non PC.

He should have however realised that, in this day and age, that sort of comment will spark faux outrage.

Why 'faux outrage'?

Personally I find it genuinely disgusting... Perhaps your comment says more about your own world views than you realise?

FTR, despite all my cynicism, I felt the need to doff my metaphorical cap in the direction of Mr Doyle. I thought the music section was flawless, the NHS element was excellent, if not a little misplaced (Up you, USA..), the historical element was brilliantly visualised and the creation of the O****** rings were nothing short of inspired.

The parade was to be as expected, but I felt the hill of flags added something unique to the ceremony.


McCartney on the other hand..... The only good thing I can think of was that it wasn't Sir Cliff.