[Straker]

Originally Posted by DFI

So the secondhand misunderstandings of the News Editor, putting words in the mouth of the DG that he may or may not ever have said, count as "fact" now?

Thompson’s tenure at the BBC is coming to a close so there’s nothing they can do to him anyway whereas the News Director, Boaden has no reason to issue such a memo if she wasn’t passing on Thompson’s wishes. The memo exists, that is the “fact”.

Your faith in Mark Thompson is touching. This is a man who filed expenses claims for 50p parking tickets but I’m sure he’s thrilled that you think him incapable of further shortcomings whilst at the BBC.

[Straker]

Originally Posted by Dirtyhippy

Well I enjoyed it, it was a party after all. Too many miserable hyper critical professional moaners who could not organise a piss up in a brewery are trying to bring down a great show.

“Great Show”? Did I miss another closing ceremony because the one I watched was a shambles but then I didn’t have my Union Jack spectacles on so that probably explains it.

Some folk here are having serious trouble seperating out the tatty, has-been stuffed closing ceremony from the achievements of the athletes over the past 16 days. I’m not having that problem.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by DFI

So the secondhand misunderstandings of the News Editor, putting words in the mouth of the DG that he may or may not ever have said, count as "fact" now?



Feel free to believe what you want, just as I will.

But your belief in something being the case should be a long way from justifying stating that "it's a fact that..."

Whether it happened or not isn't certain. It's not a fact that he issued any such edict

So on the one hand there is a memo from the news editor (a senior job in a profession where comprehending the meaning of others is vital) stating in extremely clear words that they have been given clear and urgent direction by the DG on the matter. On the other we have your unfounded opinion that they wrote that memo due to utterly misunderstanding the instruction.

I have no beef with the closing ceremony coverage of athletes. There was a balance. But I'm not sure why it is beyond belief that the DG may have asked the team to broaden the exposure. The preference to focus on GB competitors at the expense of others was something we had noticed throughout the fortnight. It was a bit OTT.

[anotherlongers]

Originally Posted by Straker

“Great Show”? Did I miss another closing ceremony because the one I watched was a shambles but then I didn’t have my Union Jack spectacles on so that probably explains it.

Some folk here are having serious trouble seperating out the tatty, has-been stuffed closing ceremony from the achievements of the athletes over the past 16 days. I’m not having that problem.

And some people here have a serious agenda that blights everything they watch.

[Vericacious]

I was very disappointed with the closing ceremony.

As others have put, it lacked creativity, but it also had a general sense of mean-spiritedness and 'seen it all before', which detracted from what had been a very festive fortnight, a celebration of excellence. Too often, pop/rock artists (some of whom mimed!) appeared without those that they have usually been associated, so we had Take That without Robbie Williams, Annie Lennox without Dave Stewart, Queen without John Deacon, Liam Gallagher with his new band rather than with Oasis/Noel, Ray Davies on his own...while other some artists were covered (eg Bowie), but did not appear and where were Led Zeppelin? Jimmy Page was in Beijing at their closing ceremony - why wasn't he in London to 'complete the circle'? Also, if you're going to do an Only Fools and Horses scene, shouldn't you get David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst to do it or are these people too important to turn up for such a short section?...

I know people fall out with each other (and some may be ill), but this was the Olympic Games, for goodness sake, in those people's own country - couldn't there have been more effort?

Otherwise, Eric Idle was a highlight amid the general po-facedness, but I doubt he would have been had the rest been done in the right spirit. I think I fell asleep at one point (and had a nightmare about Russell Brand appearing as Willy Wonka, murdering the song 'Pure Imagination', then miming to 'I am the Walrus' through a megaphone), so I may have missed something, but, overall, it was just too half-hearted.

[Iphigenia]

A bit bitty, and overlong but I enjoyed it, mostly.
Loved Eric Idle.
Missed Status Quo.
Had to look up why Gary Barlow was called brave (and all credit to him)
Thought the ballet looked like an unnecessary add-on.
Got pssd off at "Imagine" - the atheists' hymn, basically. No, I don't think a Christian song would have been right, as respect to those of other faiths and of none; but was disappointed that the atheists' hymn was so highly lauded (iconic sound of my childhood though it is)
Just glad and relieved beyond measure that it all went well, especially the security thereof.

[Straker]

Originally Posted by anotherlongers

And some people here have a serious agenda that blights everything they watch.

And pray tell what that is....?

On tenterhooks here...

Genuinely.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

The latest 'star' that the BBC have fallen in love with and so put her on endlessly. However, though her second song was rather lovely. Too much Jessie J (who is it who likes this woman), George Michael looking raddled and miming a song we didn't know was an odd decision, and that awful dirge from Muse - whoever they are.

The BBC had nothing to do with the selection of acts at the ceremonies.

[Richard1960]

Originally Posted by Dirtyhippy

Well I enjoyed it, it was a party after all. Too many miserable hyper critical professional moaners who could not organise a piss up in a brewery are trying to bring down a great show.

Yep was there it was a fantastic night.

[Voynich]

For those who enjoy that kind of thing, I'm glad they liked it.

[DFI]

Originally Posted by Straker

Thompson’s tenure at the BBC is coming to a close so there’s nothing they can do to him anyway whereas the News Director, Boaden has no reason to issue such a memo if she wasn’t passing on Thompson’s wishes. The memo exists, that is the “fact”.

Your faith in Mark Thompson is touching. This is a man who filed expenses claims for 50p parking tickets but I’m sure he’s thrilled that you think him incapable of further shortcomings whilst at the BBC.

Total waste of time trying to have a discussion about anything with some with your level of reading comprehension.

[DFI]

Originally Posted by nebogipfel

So on the one hand there is a memo from the news editor (a senior job in a profession where comprehending the meaning of others is vital) stating in extremely clear words that they have been given clear and urgent direction by the DG on the matter

I hadn't realised that you were privy to the verbatim contents of the memo.

[anotherlongers]

I really enjoyed it. There were a few toe-curling moments, Russell Brand for example, but on the whole it was a breath of fresh air compared to previous games with their stilt-walkers and tumblers.

Well done to all concerned.

[zoepaulpenny]

does anyone know, what they covered the track with.before the ceremony started
seemed to be a whit sheet covering the orange running track!

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by DFI

I hadn't realised that you were privy to the verbatim contents of the memo.

We all are. It's been published. Now, would you like to let us know how you know for a fact that the DG gave no instruction of the sort and reprimanded Boaden for issuing a memo that bore no relation to his intent? I suspect you can't.

I'm surprised this is a big deal. In the view of many people (not just Daily Mail readers and the usual anti-BBC crowd), the focus on GB competitors did often feel a bit overwhelming. I'm not surprised the DG asked them to balance it up a bit. You don't have to hate the BBC to think so.

And I'm not surprised the DG denied it either. routine response to this kind of thing.

[Nesta Robbins]

Originally Posted by anotherlongers

I really enjoyed it. There were a few toe-curling moments, Russell Brand for example, but on the whole it was a breath of fresh air compared to previous games with their stilt-walkers and tumblers.

Well done to all concerned.

I thought Russell did a pretty good job with "I am the Walrus" the dreariest, least tuneful song in the world to sing. I have the George Martin compilation, with "celebs" singing the Beatles - you should hear Jim Carey's version!

[Terry Wigon]

I was a real cynic regarding the olympics but I have really enjoyed most of the events I've seen. I thought the closing ceremony wasn't as bad as has been reported. Eric Idle and Russell Brand were good. I liked the quirkiness!

[anotherlongers]

Originally Posted by Nesta Robbins

I thought Russell did a pretty good job with "I am the Walrus" the dreariest, least tuneful song in the world to sing. I have the George Martin compilation, with "celebs" singing the Beatles - you should hear Jim Carey's version!

Can't be as bad as William Shatner's version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!

I suppose Russell tried his best, but I'd have preferred a better singer/actor to have had a go.

[DFI]

Originally Posted by nebogipfel

We all are. It's been published. Now, would you like to let us know how you know for a fact that the DG gave no instruction of the sort and reprimanded Boaden for issuing a memo that bore no relation to his intent? I suspect you can't.

I suspect you have the same reading comprehension issues.

You do understand the difference between "not knowing for a fact that he didn't" and "knowing for a fact that he did", surely?

[Semierotic]

This line has been doing the rounds online since last night:

To think that two weeks ago the world thought that the British were rubbish at sport but great at music.

[Metermaid]

Originally Posted by roddydogs

Only a King & Queen are "Majesties", others are "Royal Highness"

Believe King and Queen of Sweden were there.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by DFI

I suspect you have the same reading comprehension issues.

You do understand the difference between "not knowing for a fact that he didn't" and "knowing for a fact that he did", surely?

I understand it entirely. I also think you're clutching at a straw. It seems reasonable to conclude, given the very clear and unambiguous wording of the memo that the DG may, in all probability, have indicated a desire to balance the coverage of Team GB competitors. No crime has been committed and this is not a court of law. Nobody needs to "prove" anything. In the context of a chat about Olympics coverage, a reasonable person might conclude that there was a strong element of truth in the report.

What you appear to want us to think is that we should make an assumption that the news editor of the BBC made a spectacular mistake and completely misunderstood what the DG told her and, without double checking, took it upon herself to issue a memo claiming he wanted action taken that he had never asked for.

.Perhaps the alternative, simpler, explanation is more likely? The DG did ask her to sort it out. And she did so. It's hardly a big deal.

If, as many think, the BBC did dwell a little too much on GB competitors, it didn't mean the coverage was utterly spoilt or awful. The BBC did a very good job (I have criticisms, naturally, but I still acknowledge the quality) No doubt the Daily Mail will leap on any crack in the armour to attack the BBC. But that doesn't mean they are therefore always totally incorrect.

As this thread is about the closing ceremony and not just the BBC coverage of it, I'll say we enjoyed it enormously. Great fun. Not flawless. A fabulously cheesy but enjoyable show. The theatrics were great. Some of the pop artists weren't my cup of tea but no matter.

[BluesTrainRadio]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson
, "...and that awful dirge from Muse - whoever they are."

If you genuinely don't know who Muse are, that is more a reflection of your musical ignorance than it is of Muse! One of our biggest bands...they sell out stadiums these days! And one of the best live acts I have ever seen too....

Overall...these kind of things will never suit everyone...it's a three hour show...impossible for us to like it all. They had to put something together with something for everyone. There was some strange parts - not sure why Emilie Sande was featured quite so much and why they repeated the playlist again while the athletes entered the stadium - that was the chance to play music from bands not playing live. George Michael miming to plug his new single was awful. There were a few other acts that are not my thing but I can see why they were included.

It was noticable that things went up a gear towards the end when the rockier bands came on, those that can actually play live - Elbow, Muse, Brian May/Roger Taylor [ shame they couldn't find a better vocalist though ] and The Who, who were all superb.

One massive error though - in neither ceremony did they cover our top rock and metal acts. Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zep, Def Leppard....even the original Quo should have been there. The Rolling Stones of course. And the biggest mistake...Iron Maiden...their roots from that part of London...one of our biggest musical exports around the world...and whose opening riff to Phantom Of The Opera was perfect for a section...already having been used in the past for a Lucozade running advert of course. Even a five minute segment of these bands music would have been better than ignoring a huge part of British music history!

The big thing for me though, was the lighting and pyro used....all stunning....

[Doghouse Riley]

Did I detect that Jessie J was wearing Spanx under her tights?

[Straker]

Originally Posted by DFI

Total waste of time trying to have a discussion about anything with some with your level of reading comprehension.

Classic DS forum capitulation. If only we had a white flag emoticon you could’ve used that instead.