What makes Britain mediocre?

So, the dust has settled and the expectancy over the Olympics ceremony opening is over. After seven years, we’ve all seen what Danny Boyle and co came up with, and I have to say I was underwhelmed. While there was much to admire – I liked the nod to Close of Encounters of the Third Kind with the Olympic rings – on the whole, the event was too fractured, too piecemeal. It’s no wonder people around the world were left baffled. What was missing was a unifying principle or theme.

The event didn’t really come alive until the musical episode – but this came too late and felt rushed. Would that the whole event had revolved around Britain’s rich musical heritage. After all, this is a nation that had produced some of the best songwriters and musicians in the world. Given the number of nations that are in turmoil around the world, it may have been an idea to organise at least part of the ceremony around protest songs, taking in the abolitionist and Suffragette movements, as well as the Miners’ Strike. Perhaps this would have been too political – even for Danny Boyle. But I would have liked to have seen the Gay Mens’ Chorus in there!

Overall, this was a backward-looking piece, flying the flag for Britain’s past glories. There seemed to be little to celebrate about this nation’s future – unless it’s about text messaging and raving. By far my favourite part of the ceremony was watching all the athletes filling the stadium near the end. Their joy and delight at being there. You can forget all the flag waving -  that to me is the true meaning of the Olympics.

As I write, Britain is fourth is the medals table. I’m still waiting for a sports journalist to write a piece about how athletes are chosen to represent the country. Now, that’s a story on a par with the MPs expenses scandal...