London 2012 blog

Comments for this post:

• 25 Aug 2008, 10:19AM, carnoch said:

  I was ashamed to watch the hand over. The whole London 2012 thing is cheap, tackey and so inappropriate. Imagine a rock concert with Punk Rockers outside Buck Palace! Imagine a London Mayor, tie askew, hands in pocket at the Birdsnest. God help us, we will be the laughing stock of the world.

• 25 Aug 2008, 12:03PM, strangelad said:

  Oh dear, I'm all for encouraging people to try new things but couldn't we have got some professionals in to put together a package that would sit well on the London stage? This is pitiful.

• 25 Aug 2008, 02:14PM, DWMH said:

  Whilst I agree that The Mayor should have paid a little more attention to his appearance and the protocol of a grand international occasion!!!!! I cannot agree that the London 2012 segment was unprofessional. We cannot and should not try to compete with the spectacular but regimented [and authoritarian] displays put on by the Chinese. We have promised to put on a games that will appeal to and make sport more accessible and achievable for the young of the world, not put on a display of giant proportions.
  
  Our segment was fresh, edgy and low key but should appeal to more youngsters than the huge and vastly costly displays put on in Beijing. We MUST concentrate on making OUR games accessible to all the people not just the elite and I believe our introduction did just that.

• 25 Aug 2008, 02:15PM, leorusso said:

  i thought the bus thing was cool, but leona lewis with jimmy page just was horrific. i do not think we will be a laughing stock if the great people of the united kingdom work together.

• 25 Aug 2008, 02:33PM, tipy99 said:

  I feel that the handover ceremony was great! for once we did something right. It said London!. I was proud we did so well. However I knew it would be only minutes before some people started to knock it. And I was right. Luckily for us we live in a free country and can make these comments..could we in China??

• 25 Aug 2008, 03:31PM, Robbiee said:

  What is with everyone?That animation wass cooool! It was different I know but it really did target the youth which is what the London 2012 games are about! And I should know because I am the youth :) Great job guys!

• 25 Aug 2008, 04:17PM, Tomtangle said:

  I thought it was a good display to promote 2012, very theatrical, and far from pitiful! And did you expect the bus to transform? Anyone who decides to criticize the display should ask themselves, what exactly did you expect to see? The Queen breakdancing to the national anthem? It reflected London well, and it was only 8mins, a taster of what is to come, not the entire opening ceremony! And where exactly is Buck Palace? I think you mean Buckingham Palace.

• 25 Aug 2008, 05:01PM, DeanUK29 said:

  How embarrassing! What a poor effort to represent London 2012. I was cringing in my seat when I saw the London Mayor, with his scruffy appearance and blazer almost falling off his shoulders, step up to take the flag! Then was a shambles the 8 minutes segment was! What was the significance of the little girl getting off the bus to collect a football??!! What was the significance of the old guy on guitar? What was the significance of the song that was chosen for Leonna Lewis to perform?? What was the significance of the bus queue? I'm lost for words, absoloutely lost for words. It was quite an embarrassment to our nation and our athletes, and I sincerely hope London pulls out all the stops to match, hopefully better, the Bejing Olympics when it comes around to 2012. I agree with the above, PITYFUL :(

• 25 Aug 2008, 05:06PM, Stevo said:

  I Thought that the handover ceremony was awesome, it showed the world that we are British and proud to be. I was born and reaised in Plaistow, East London about an hour away from the where Stadium is being built, I thought that handover really showed what London is all about. I am PROUD to be a Londoner by birth and to be British. Bring on the games.

• 25 Aug 2008, 05:17PM, jammy_harrison-k said:

  Well I for one think that this animation is absolutely FANTASTIC! The music, the images, everything...this video totally sums up how I see London, a mix of old and new. The handover was also fantastic, I'm so proud of you all at LOCOG. Ignore the whingers...keep doing the UK proud!

• 25 Aug 2008, 06:12PM, woodland15 said:

  The animation was indeed fantastic and showcased London as it is a great city. It's a shame this did not follow through to the live event in the stadium!

• 25 Aug 2008, 06:34PM, bigg3469 said:

  One word about the hand over video prelude from us "yyanks" across the pond, AWESOME!!! Good Luck in 2012!! Make Britian & the World proud!

• 25 Aug 2008, 07:18PM, N.MEHTA said:

  Well I must say the handover ceremony was a complete disgrace. It really seemed like some nursery panto compared to the no expense West End show which was done by the people of Beijing. Absolutely no idea how to market London

• 25 Aug 2008, 07:58PM, ANDY72 said:

  Its coming home, its coming home, its coming, wiff waff,s coming home!! Nice one Boris!!!!

• 25 Aug 2008, 07:58PM, Dave from London said:

  I am amazed that the the British Olympic Managers approved this PR and style disaster. Boris was scuffy, commuters littering the streets with their newspapers, Leona could not be heard, and what was the young girl walking on the backs of the oppressed workers all about? Compare this to the Chinese presentation of real quality! This was not a snapshot of what is to come, it demeans the enthusiasm we in London have for the games and portrays us in a very poor light, ready for the 'economic' games.

• 25 Aug 2008, 08:11PM, Vic88 said:

  For starters, your website looks drab. The colour scheme is totally unappealing. Like it or not, everyone will be conparing you with the Chinese, and already you are way behind.

• 25 Aug 2008, 08:11PM, goran said:

  AWESOME, so creative and diffrent!!!!!

• 25 Aug 2008, 08:15PM, Chris said:

  I'm not british (i'm from chile) but i'll be waiting with the same anxiety as you for the olimpics. I'm very happy because you remembered put the Beatles crossing "Abbey Road" in the spot and the ceremony with a little girls (Brit & Chinese) in Beijing last sunday.

• 25 Aug 2008, 09:28PM, willowblondes said:

  It was terrible. Leona looked so uncomfortable, sang to the floor and did not address the crowd once. If it was about youth why did we use a song few people under 30 would recognise? And the fact that a dancer in a wheelchair got out of the chair and climbed the bus? What is that all about? A load of precocious, performing arts students sprawling around-surely London has more to offer? Take a look at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo-thats what we do best so why not stick to it? The Red Arrows were fabulous, whats wrong with a bit of patriotism?

• 25 Aug 2008, 10:09PM, mattparnell said:

  I thought the whole Idea was to be different, the GB presentation was excellent, edgy, modern and artistic. The music was great too. Remember it was only a presentation not an opening ceremony. As for Boris I though his Excentric look was a breath of fresh air against the carefully controlled , but excellent Chineese offering. Remember we dont want too much spin. I can see London rockin' in 2012.

• 25 Aug 2008, 10:59PM, Phill said:

  I (an American) loved everyone moment of the handover. I spent a lot of my childhood visiting family in GB and for me being in London was the only "consistent" thing I had as a child. Seeing the bus driving just sent me back to being a kid. The modern feel to it all was great. We've seen with Sydney, Athens, and Beijing such a strong presentation of the past and then try to explain that what's important is the children (the future). It's refreshing to see a presentation with children with a MODERN feel. I'll be there to watch in 2012!

• 26 Aug 2008, 02:44AM, Pascal said:

  Ok, this video may not be as representative of the Great-Britain as it should, but as a Canadian, this little one and a half minute of video has grew the interest I bear for London 2012. I think it's light, modern and artistic, to use words from a person above, and that it succeed in saying hello to the world, from those who will organize the next games. I don't think that the presentation should've been a perfect reflect of the actual Great-Britain nor a teasing of the overture ceremony of 2012, but what it's been, something that opens the eyes of the viewers. However, I agree that Jimmy Page and the singer wasn't a so much good idea. Apart that moment, I liked the whole presentation, including the part with the live bus and the dancers. Believe me, I like very much the Great-Britain as a country, and this video has just showed me that you can be as innovative and different as ever, and that your overture ceremony will be yes, different from Beijing, yes not the same as others, but something unique and, let's hope, grandiose. Voilà!P.S.: I apologize if my English has been a little harsh, but I'm a teenager living in Quebec, so I principally speak French and haven't developed much my English skills for now. Yet, I had to write this message... Sorry.

• 26 Aug 2008, 09:17AM, Metal Mickey said:

  No matter how much everyone bickers, Boris is and always be Boris, I can't see him changing.However, the promotional opening animation regarding London was abismal! What have we got to show case for London? According to that sequence, Low Cost High Rise housing and Graffiti; Bus Queues and Litter Bugs.Wether we like it or not, we life in a diverse and Multicultural Society. This is what should be embraced and bring unity to the Games.

• 26 Aug 2008, 09:37AM, PDW said:

  I look forward to 2012 and enjoyed our presentation in the Bird's Nest - with 8 minutes you can't please everyone - surely there was lots of discussion about what to leave out - you can't reflect a country like ours in 8 mins - and I agree with mattparnell. I think it was a shame that Leona's microphone did not appear to be working properly but that's life. I look forward to being a part of London 2012 not to knock it but to celebrate something that I think, with the successes of 2008, has a real danger of bringing the country together!

• 26 Aug 2008, 09:57AM, savs said:

  I am all for it. I thought the animation was good (although I didn't like the choice of a punk rocker on it), and I thought the 8 minute segment was also a breath of fresh air from the cold (albeit wonderful) Chinese segments. It was a shame the acoustics were so poor but I guess that is more down to the Bird's nest. The dance troop was great and the London bus a great idea. I though it might well be embarrassing, however I thought it was quite pleasing.

• 26 Aug 2008, 10:02AM, Shaun said:

  Well to you GB people, you were bloody lucky to beat Australia at this games. Our probem was obviously that our boys & girls had eaten too much & our pockets were not deep enough to appropriately train all in the team. It is the case that our top administrator is now talking to your top man, & so Australia is now going to have a HUGE lottery to see who can beat the bloody Poms (much laughter).No, well done to the GB team for it was good to see for it is good for sport & the communities of your county. Your Cycle Team is just awesome. Great power. Yes, the race is now on for you good people so tidy up your town, take pride in your preparation & you all will have a great time when the games arrive in 2012. Our place is still buzzing a bit from Sydney 2000.Cheers & remember we'll be watching you all.Shaun of the land of AUS.

• 26 Aug 2008, 10:42AM, Julie said:

  I have to agree that I was slightly embarrassed as Mr Johnson stood waving the Olympic flag but as Metal Mickey says, ‘Boris is Boris’.Once the presentation started however, I was impressed. The video used iconic visuals to show a fast paced, modern city, the dance segment pulled together characters from London society and presented them through a well choreographed piece of modern dance and the music pulled in the London soundscape in a really interesting way. I was thrilled to hear snatches of This is London, the radio pips and Jerusalem along with the Top of the Pops theme, which I have been informed was a Led Zeppelin 'tune'. Leona Lewis is purported to be our biggest current musical export (?) and although I may not fully agree with the choice I can understand it.I think we need to remember that the target for this piece was not the Londoners/English/British viewers but the billions that were watching from around the world. Without being too stereotypical how would you demonstrate the modern city in such a vibrant way and in only 8 minutes?

• 26 Aug 2008, 11:05AM, skuyser said:

  Our hand over segment was marred by not being centre stage and very poor lighting. It appeared that the lighting was still all about the Chinese show with it fluctuating over the crowds. It was a shame because it was a tight little piece and wasted by being in the shadows.Please can we not have the dreadful solos at the end of our closing ceremony - they have marred the last three Olympics. Just give 'em a good bit of house music to dance their socks off to.

• 26 Aug 2008, 11:38AM, Tokeltel said:

  I loved the handover myself. It was more creative than the Beijing 2004 but it did seem like it could of been bigger or scaled up a bit to fill up more of the stadium. Anyway, everyone was saying London 2012 would do rubbish before anything happened. This may seem rubbish to people in the UK but to people outside the UK who aren't used to this style, it was good! Remember Australia and their dismal performance, but in 2000 they had the best olympics ever!I think also the organisers were presuming that the world knew more about the UK and London at this point than what the world know about China in 2004.Also, it wasn't safe, which i admire. It challenged the Disney idea of old posh London where only banking and education happens (with the odd mary poppins about) - i was suprised that people actually thought that this is what London was like, a london with no creativity!!!

• 26 Aug 2008, 11:44AM, dustygravy said:

  I missed the London segment of the closing ceremony and have tried in vain to locate a clip on the net. Maybe this is a good thing but it shows it must have been a let down if no one (including london2012.com) will upload it.To be honest I am dubious as to whether or not this whole thing will go ahead anyway. What with the UK's painful bureaucratic approach to everything. I can just see the headline now..."London 2012 cancelled due to high risk of injury to competitors"Oh you got to love British pessimism.

• 26 Aug 2008, 11:55AM, LiangNan said:

  I was rather intrigued by the innovative ideas that London has to offer. However, i was quite unimpressed by the casualness of Boris' appearance. it seemed too informal, and rather lazy. If this is the man who is Mayor of our city, then can you imagine what the rest of the world will think of us! On the other hand, I did like the London Bus. I just wished it had been the RouteMaster, a far more symbolic representation of London!

• 26 Aug 2008, 12:03PM, andy_beeson said:

  I believe our little segment in the handover ceremony was inspired and very original and I personally enjoyed it. To all people who moan in this blog about it and say it was rubbish then i say I would like to have seen you all do better, but i suppose you are living up to the 'british moaning stereotype'. The people involved im sure worked very hard and I find it well rude that we can criticise such a clever piece as this handover. The animation and the live act shows exactly what london, and the UK is about and we should not be ashamed of where we have come from and where we are going. Yes it would be great if some things could change for the better, but unfortunately we dont live in a perfect world, and if we did it would be very boring. I say bring on London 2012, lets stop moaning so we can enjoy it and make the most of a once in a lifetime event.

• 26 Aug 2008, 01:02PM, tmancktelow said:

  i was at the handover party on Sunday and must admit it turned out to be a bit of a shambles.a gourp of us were watching from the screen behind the stage and half of the time there wasnt even anything on! we were expecting it to broadcast the closing ceremony but we must have seen all 5 minutes of it and didnt even get to see the full extent of the handover, which ended up getting a lot of us frustrated and bored. we had to basically wait an hr until the music started.the worst of it was the 'montage' of the medal winners at the end. you would have thought someone would at least put some effort into this to inspire the public and make us truly proud of our achievments but in the end it was some ridiculous picture slideshow! we are not in the 80s! surely a video montage must have crossed someones mind? the slideshow wasnt even in tune with the music! did some work experience person do this to save money?in the end all of these things ended up making the whole experience a huge let down. simple things like the medal winners montage would have made a huge difference, but in the end it left a lot (if not all) deflated.we dont mean to sound negative, but if we cant even get basics right, how are we meant to make ourselves worthy of hosting one of the greatest events on earth?

• 26 Aug 2008, 01:06PM, Tokeltel said:

  Also, just noticed it said 'This Is London' when the video started. The Sound Quality must of been really bad in the stadium. The lighting was bad as well.

• 26 Aug 2008, 02:21PM, said:

  As soon as I saw Boris walking out I cringed!! what a scruff, and yes Boris is Boris but the whole world was watching and that was what they all saw first! a right scruff!! I didn't like the presentation , why oh why can't we do what we do best "tradition" and please we do not need Boris at the helm.Jinny

• 26 Aug 2008, 02:34PM, ruthandersuk said:

  I liked the animation very much and the transforming bus was great. Glad David Beckham was part of it, he really is a well known face of GB. Thought the song Leona sang was poor and the girl walking across the peoples backs was wrong - what did that show the world? We can be walked all over? Surely we could have thought of something better to do. As for Boris, our London Mayor - well he looked horrendous and scruffy. He looked out of place standing there to collect the flag - everyone else looked ashamed to be standing with him. Was there no-one who could have helped him look smarter - he was on show to millions!?!But on a better note, i am so looking forward to 2012, and will help in any way I can.

• 26 Aug 2008, 03:14PM, sneakiefeline said:

  Mixed feelings about the handover ceromony really as I dont know how much time and space we were allowed by Beijing and how much was in our hands.It was a section that represented what London is now but whether this is what we should be publicizing is another matter!I hope that the London 2012 organizers are going to remember the older generation and yes it is so important for the youth of the country to feel part of an experience that will not ever happen again in their lifetime, and so this is true for those of us who are older and have dreamt about an Olympic Games coming to the UK all our lives.I also want to feel part of the dream and not on the outside looking in. Lets make London 2012 something that all of us can be proud of not just the younger generation.

• 27 Aug 2008, 05:30AM, Catweazle said:

  Well ! I'm OK with it. It was different, Vibrant, Youthful, Colourful, Up-Beat and Down - to - earth on a Human level. Unlike the Beijing setup, which was good but SO STARCHY and robotic. It didn't connect with the Human Factor. Lighten up people!!!!!!!!!!!

• 27 Aug 2008, 05:30AM, Mikey B said:

  It would have been a hoot if at the handover ceremony in Beijing, a larger than life cartoon figure of Billy Cotton would have come and hovvered over Boris and shouted ..."WAKEY WAKEY" whereupon Boris would have buttoned up his suit jacket. Now that would have really been great. But of course it could never have happened, unless they did a "reprise" outside the London Bus or something. Mayor Boris needed to recognize the need for dignity, composure and a sense of occasion all by himself.Being in Canada, I am wishing to learn what the press is saying about all this on the home front. This is my second letter, and I feel like a hog, but just have to add that as a born and Bred Brit..in fact a Brummy I am still really passionate about and joining in with the feeling that I just know is permeating GB over the 2012 Olympics. It seems to be an opportunity that millions of Brits world wide are hungry for. Judging by the terific performance of Team Great Britain in Beijing, and it was a huge resurgeance, the country is "up for it" and will come through. Please someone assure me, though, that the planners, right up to and including Lord (Sebastian) Coe, will read and benefit from the comments and criticisms found in the dialogues within this website, and learn. There really is a common thread with many of the letters. Please, please, NOT a constant emphasis on loud, punky rock...may be a bit of it is part of the scene, but there is So SO much that is diametrically different from that and I feel those things should be given their place in the Opening and closing Ceremonies.May be an "excerpt" from a military tattoo (Edinburgh or whatever) would be a bit too far into the now not fashionable might is right direction, but surely some reflection of that kind of skill in putting on a marvellous "parade" IS appropriate. AND The Royal Family has such a part of the British image which is both a gift to and a thing received in our Culture somehow, at least for many many people, including lots of none British people as they watch us. The ikonic message of London. "London Pride has been handed down to us" (even Brummies admit it's there sometimes!) . What has been "handed down to us", should not and must not be ignored, much less poo-pooed and "Looked Down on BY us"

• 27 Aug 2008, 05:33AM, caradee said:

  i thought the animation was quite good, modern and upbeat, but there it ends, Boris looked so scruffy with his coat hanging open, surely a man in such a high office representing London and the rest of the UK would know how to dress for the occasion!! and as for the rest of the presentation?? i think Leona has a good voice but what on earth was that all about? does anyone really think that, that poor showing was a representation of London? i hope not. i couldn't believe what i was watching. if the powers that be don't buck up thier ideas, we will be a laughing stock.p.s i still haven't got over the logo yet, another nightmare!!

• 27 Aug 2008, 12:17PM, chris.tolmie-k said:

  I saw the ceremony from the screens at the London 2012 Handover Party and felt proud (I am normally sceptical of these things!). Britain has a great history, but we need to look to the future too - much of our history is from fantastic innovations in engineering, education and health - what great things can we create together in the next four years? As an employee of a London 2012 Games partner i am thrilled to be involved!

• 27 Aug 2008, 01:06PM, fionaSW16 said:

  Its never easy to statisy everyone but I hope that in regards to the Opening/Closing Ceromonies that the organizers take into account all the varying views that have been posted on this blog. A creative mix of traditional/pageantry with modern/diversity could make an amazing visual combination that would hopefully portray both London and Great Britains past,present and future and appeal to all generations and backgrounds!!!!!

• 27 Aug 2008, 04:58PM, mrs_jackson said:

  I think we should bear in mind that the Olympics will be seen by billions of people with vastly diffrent cultural backgrounds to us - many won't understand or appreciate 'edgy'. Many societies are much more socially conservative. To them, a graffiti artist is simply a lawbreaker - not something to be upheld as admirable. For all our constant statements on how multicultural London is, I wonder if we really can imagine how our portrayal of ourselves will be viewed by someone in, say, Indonesia or Burkina Faso.

• 27 Aug 2008, 06:44PM, Kaysam said:

  I was appalled and embarrassed for London at the Mayor Boris Johnson display of unprofessionalism in an international setting, nevertheless the handover showed promise of what London would offer at 2012. I was impressed although I was expecting more diversity in performance. And yes, of course Leona Lewis is famous enough!

• 27 Aug 2008, 08:05PM, iannoble-k said:

  If a mainstream event such as the Olympics embraces a counter-culture phenomenon such as Banksy and street/graffiti art, the graffiti art phenomenon instantly becomes mainstream by definition, and the reason for its inclusion in the 2012 campaign becomes pointless.The marketing for London 2012 reveals itself as short sighted and poorly planned every time it appears. The Olympics represents a pinnacle of achievement and timeless excellence. Beijing's Olympic image draped itself in Chinese heritage and tradition and did not 'disrespect' the Games in the same way London is doing. For the pride of my country, please, please, please Get It Right!

• 27 Aug 2008, 08:49PM, gilliatj said:

  It was dreadful. The dance group was weak and its modern dance routine was hopelessly inadequate looking messy, unprofessional, poorly co-ordinated and amateurish in all respects. And why was it necessary for them to use open umbrellas as their main motif? - we don't need such negative stereotyping of our British weather! Presumably modern dance was meant to look avant-garde, but merely looked messy, dated and pseudo-intellectual. It could never project well with a global audience. Poor effort.Jack Gilliat

• 27 Aug 2008, 08:56PM, Jane said:

  I would just like to say that I thought it was really poor performance and the only good thing was the red london bus. I expect the people that put this display together were paid a fortune and like all arty people all agreed together it was really cool!! It wasn't it was cheap and tacky. Using a punk rocker in the animation was a little old fashioned I would say, about 30 years too old!

• 28 Aug 2008, 03:30PM, ian nicholson said:

  Come on everybody On The Buses was one of our all time classics, I can see what the theme was can't you?I cant see why Mr Beckham had to get his face in it though, after all the fantastic heroics of the team, along comes an overpaid footballer to take the glory.Please try and get a bit more original and remember Britain is not just London and David Beckham.

• 29 Aug 2008, 03:01AM, AlasdairM said:

  To all of you who think the London 2012 "theme" is tacky or a shambles - stop moaning! I'm 22 and I for one think the overall image of the 2012 games is upbeat, positive, fun and friendly.Let's show the world a bit of attitude and do something a little daring for once. I'm sick of British meaning Boring.