London 2012 Olympics Handover - Michael Phelps / fly past

[andresrojas22]

why did those plains draw the french flag?

[penguinsrule23]

Because it would be kind of hard to draw the Union Jack...

[AdamDuffield]

the handover was a disgrace

you'd think that everyone in england is obssesed about football and has that annoying accent

it prompts an unfair sterotype

[OTHsmallvillefan]

@AdamDuffield i know like yes david beckham was a good footballer but like wtf is he doing at the olympics kicking a ball, let me guess on the opening ceremony he will kick about 30 more

[kwesiidun91]

The red arrows send shivers down my spin and they sounded amazing on the TV! Rule Britannia!!!

[nedasilyah]

I was looking forward to something a bit more subtle, I thought that it was an unnecessary "handover" and Michael looked like he was thinking : "What the f*ck is this?!"

[tofukim]

I watched the broadcast show later - they'd cut to showing the red arrows on TV about 30 seconds before they reached us (when the music in this clip starts), so he was giving his opinion on how "cool" they were before he'd even seen them... thus the confusion! :D

[speedbird007]

OH come on it was great, you must be a Yanki to say something so negative

[nedasilyah]

I'm just a dissapointed yank is all. I would have been more pleased if we saw Phelp's penis encased in gold.

[TheBritishWatcher]

I wonder how much one of the London Olympic sponsors paid for Phelps to come to London to take part in yesterdays event. They either paid him or lied to him about what would be happening.

The 8 minute London intro at the closing ceremony of the Olympic games was a disgrace. Please email your MP to complain about such incompetence.

[tofukim]

Maybe they paid him on Visa. Ha. I'm originally from Sydney and I remember the outcry over the 8 minute handover in Atlanta. Dancing shrimps on unicycles, crocodiles on rollerblades and every other cliche you could throw a beer at. I don't think this was quite as cringeworthy - although it was pretty close.

[InsideBigBrother]

Thats why our handover got great press coverage worldwide then?

Chill out man! The Olympics is coming!

And Phelps gets paid millions by Visa, the least he can do is stop off in London for a few hours on his way home!

[TheBritishWatcher]

For the media and people around the world it was just a small part in the backdrop of a huge show by china, people here were more focused on our 8 minutes of fame and most were not impressed

It wasnt a disaster which im very glad about but it certainly wasnt great. We have to be critical and honest about it otherwise the same mistakes might be made in 2012

We cant be laid back and unprepared for the event otherwise it will go wrong. We are wasting 9 billion on it, the show has to be good

[speedbird007]

What do you suggest, pink elephants and lemonade

[TheBritishWatcher]

Well im no events organiser but i certainly wouldnt of wanted elephants or lemonade. The 8 minutes was meant to show off London to the world, apart from the bus and the video at the start it didnt. First of all perhaps they could of done a song actually about London and got rid of all those silly dancers.

My main problem isnt the fact the 8 minutes were not amazing its that the same people will be making the the opening ceremony of 2012 and that does have to be good.

[TheBritishWatcher]

What should the opening ceremony include? (still no elephants) but i hope it will do a look back at British history and culture. Our contribution to sport and social / technological advance which has changed the world.

Parts of the Manchester commonwealth games were good and should be repeated. A military marching band, the royal family, red arrows etc. Things that show off the good image of Britain.