There will never be an opening ceremony that will top London 2012 The pride I have for Britain seeing this is unmatched - pandemonium is THE BEST segment in an opening ceremony - cannot be topped.

It feels like London peaked in 2012 and it's been downhill ever since

Isn’t it funny, remembering with fondness 2012. The olympics, the queen’s silver jubilee, street parties, a glimpse of the community we’d heard about in our history books Don’t think we’ll ever see that again

I know it is popular to do down this ceremony - yes, it is a bit cliché and twee - but I still love this section. As a child, it really gave me a sense of the upheaval, the pain and sacrifice, this country went through to lead the world into the modern age. And the striving; and how everyone was involved in something bigger than themselves. I felt my ancestors were there with me - us! And that music! It always brings out something primordial and English in me. Instantly, I exist across the every moment in this Isle's history.

China 2008! 🔥

Yet you moaned, whined and bitched about how much the Labour government wasted bidding for it Memory problems Soapie

Still not as cool as The Undertaker entering WrestleMania XIX, while Limp Bizkit performed Rollin.

This the one that had demonic images, images of injections and predictions of a pandemic?

It was satanic

no @OlympicCeremony (opening or closing) will every top this one moment:

Music was good. But didn’t it go on about how “great” the NHS is?? The NHS is fucking bullshit. There was a lot of bollox in this, a lot of propaganda.

I don't want to bust your bubble but did you watch the Beijing 2008 opening? Haha ...

Yeah and then you right wing cunts decided that you’d want to break it

It was deeply satanic!

Yep. Then came Brexit and it all went to shit

London was one of my favorite opening ceremonies. It was so much fun.

@yeoldiesapper You mean this one? Dancing nurses, death leering over and a very specific virus, a coronavirus (all look very different under a microscope, it's how they diagnose which one you have).

What London did or didn’t do is by the by. This was cringingly dreadful. I’m sure it was great fun if you were in it, and I hope all the teams has a magical evening but as telly it was terrible.

You didn’t even include the spice girls

It did make me feel proud 🇬🇧

Is this the one with all the hospital beds and the giant grim reaper and COVID-esque inflatables flying through the air?

Russia was better. China was better. Greece was better. Just chill.

Total trash celebration of socialism and big statism. Utterly dreadful

The Olympics died in 2024. There is no coming back from then. It’s over, no one cares any longer.

This was the best song.

Hands down the best. I thought nothing would top Beijing and then along came London 4 years later. Maybe because, even as an American, I understood the cultural references and history…but to me it was the music. I still listen to the soundtrack from the 2012 opening ceremonies.

Again, you cannot compare winter olympics with summer olimpics ceremonies. Then, the unmatched ceremony was the one in beijing. Worst one, France.

I remember thinking no opening ceremony anywhere could beat Beijing’s 4 years earlier, but as a Brit I found this was far more moving, personal and emotional, and relief that it wasn’t a cringe-fest helped. The last time (and possibly the first time) I’ve felt patriotic.

It was also beautifully shot and the commentators knew to stop taking and just let it unfold. The camera work and shot choices do as much to make it. Obviously that's Danny Boyle too but pulling it off on a live production seems extraordinary. It also looked and sounded unbelievable on BBC iPlayer at the time. ITV or Sky would have mauled it. In everyway a brilliant example of the UK showing class, skill and reminding why we're still great.

When James Bond drove off with the queen, the camera should’ve panned to the Top Gear stooges waiting for her on the other side of the street. Would’ve been a great gag to include them. They didn’t even have to know they weren’t gonna get to drive her.

London was dark, it actually messaged us the plans they had for us.

I was lucky enough to be there. Chris Hoy coming out carrying the flag to Heroes by Bowie and they zoomed in and he had something in his eye. Blub .

I agree @sophielouisecc. As someone who was invoved in getting us ready for the Games, being there in the stadium that night was pure electric joy. We could deliver! I've since led and witnessed equally solid delivery. Now we need drive spread and consistency of that mindset.

It was cringe, filled with satanic and dark imagery. Do wake up.

Wow, thank you. I'd forgotten how *amazing* this was!