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Opening of the Commonwealth Games

(131 Posts)
Crow Wed 23-Jul-14 21:19:47

I would like to say that as a Scot, I am embarrassed by the opening of the Games. We are a cultured nation, not that one would know that from that awful opening.

12Michael Thu 24-Jul-14 06:57:45

Did watch it until about 11 last night, the athletes were acting like it was a closing ceremony.
Trying to copy London in away but further down the scale.
Looking forward to watching track cycling today seems BBC3 is best option for coverage.
Mick

Grannyknot Thu 24-Jul-14 09:32:03

I liked this rendition of "500 Miles", a highlight of the opening ceremony for me:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhKX3_XvUfo

harrigran Thu 24-Jul-14 10:47:28

TV stayed off last night tbgrin

Charleygirl Thu 24-Jul-14 11:11:35

I was ashamed to be Scottish last night! It was dire and the outfits abominable. I did like the dogs though, then I switched the TV off, I had had enough.

Nonu Thu 24-Jul-14 11:36:57

I didn't watch it , too busy with a movie, Mr n did and said he thought Old Rod"s voice was good !

tbgrin

kittylester Thu 24-Jul-14 11:39:44

GO I loved that too and the dancing that accompanied it!

annodomini Thu 24-Jul-14 11:42:40

I am willing to admit that watching the event on a small screen it was probably more chaotic than it really was. If I could have seen the totality as if I was watching from the stands, it might have been more coherent.

gma Thu 24-Jul-14 12:19:34

What was that opening ceremony all about.???? What a load of old tosh ! John Barrowman acting as if he was in panto, and writhing about on a purple blanket?? Dancing tea cakes, hmmmm....perhaps they deserve self rule and they can keep all that loony behaviour to themselves. If that is Scottish culture then they can hang on to it. Were they Trying to emulate the 2012 Olympics ?, well they failed on every count. Seen better productions at local primary school.
Glad that I have no Scottish blood in me!!!!

Marmight Thu 24-Jul-14 12:22:05

For the first 10 minutes I thought Barrowman (who is he?) was Tom Cruise and couldn't understand what on earth he was doing there! tbgrin

J52 Thu 24-Jul-14 12:27:28

Loved the reminders of the inventions made by Great Scottish people, that were displayed on the big screen. Also the really cute dogs!x

Frannygranny Thu 24-Jul-14 12:32:06

gma I find that remark offensive. I am proud to be Scots with some English blood. I was one of the participants in the colourful costumes and some of the remarks have been very hurtful. As performers we didn't see the opening but the atmosphere in the stadium was electric! The smiles and laughter on the faces of the athletes is one I'll treasure forever. We were all volunteers who had trained very hard for a month, unlike 2012 who had 4 months to train and bits of it were like a dog's dinner. The whole thing was meant to be a party and it really was!

whenim64 Thu 24-Jul-14 12:42:49

No need for that gma. I love Scotland and all the typical Scottish icons were great to see together in the ceremony. I'm glad they didn't go to extreme lengths - some opening ceremonies have felt like oneupmanship and posturing to other countries. This one was warm and welcoming. They didn't need the likes of Susan Boyle and Rod Stewart - Scotland has many amazing performers.

J52 Thu 24-Jul-14 12:51:01

Proud to be Scottish/ English - mixed cultures and homes in both lovely countries! As I said earlier there are many great Scots who have contributed to the lives we have today. X

Nonu Thu 24-Jul-14 12:55:16

Thought Susan Boyle is Scottish!

Not sure about Rod Stewart, he is a Maybe.

[tbhmmm]

gma Thu 24-Jul-14 13:10:53

Well, I thought my last post would get a bit of flak! We are all entitled to our own opinion frannygranny and whenim64!!!!!!!
General opinion seems to be 50-50 at the momentwink
And.......an English woman has won the first gold medal of the games!

whenim64 Thu 24-Jul-14 13:15:21

Glad you have no Scottish blood in you, gma? Why the insult? You could have said it wasn't your cup of tea without that, surely?

Elegran Thu 24-Jul-14 13:20:47

Susan Boyle lives in Bathgate - deepest West Lothian. As Scottish as they come!

gma Thu 24-Jul-14 13:22:22

Well, whenim64, I could have said that but I didn't !! grin

Nonu Thu 24-Jul-14 13:25:55

Thanks Elegran that's what I THOUGHT.

I have been reliably informed that Rodders is HALF Scottish "

tbsmile

Frannygranny Thu 24-Jul-14 13:28:32

gma why do you need to be like this? What have the Scots done to you to make you bitter against us? Or are you one of the minority of English people who TRY and put the Scots down at every opportunity? I know the Daily Te*****ph was scaremongering that the English athletes would be booed. Instead they we're given a huge cheer when they entered. I'm getting the feeling that the English/Scots rivalry is being perpetuated by a few English people. Maybe we should be glad you have no Scottish blood in you!

Frannygranny Thu 24-Jul-14 13:30:32

BTW John Barrowman was born in Glasgow before his family emigrated.

whenim64 Thu 24-Jul-14 13:35:13

Yes, I know Susan Boyle is Scottish, but I wouldn't put her in the category of amazing performer grin

Rod Stewart fits neither category!

I had hoped when they did 500 miles the Proclaimers would appear near the end. They're great in a stadium.

Nonu Thu 24-Jul-14 13:39:22

^ I think she is rather good actually^

Grannyknot Thu 24-Jul-14 14:19:56

Here's my tuppence worth: I don't understand why everything always has to be "slick" or "professional" in order to be judged as "good". I agree that parts of last night's opening ceremony were a bit iffy, but I agree with franny - that it is the spirit that counts. Sometimes in life things go a bit wonky, but so what?

Go Scotland! tbgrin

GadaboutGran Thu 24-Jul-14 14:38:42

I think it's always hard to judge a ceremony when you are not there & part of it, especially from watching TV. Whatever you thought of the evening's performances, the underlying exuberance, friendliness and party fun came over. I particularly like the way the public were included. Mr Gad has just said how sad it all made him feel to think that Scotland may decide to split from the UK as the Scottish heritage is also the heritage of all British people. I agree with him. I also wonder how many stop to think of how well the Empire has transformed into this amazing Commonwealth family (& like all families it has imperfections & tugs of 'love' from other alliances) from all corners of the world in a way that doesn't often happen with old Empires.