London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Pleasantly surprised to feel proud of this country

As with so many others last night, I sat down to watch the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony ready to be cynical and derisory and expecting something cringe-worthy and probably disappointing. Initial bemusement at the image of the Shire (I was expecting to see Bilbo Baggins appear out of a hobbit hole) that graced the screens during the pre-show, was quickly followed by wonder. It was a show that really did spell out all the good things about being British (I’m sure people will gradually come up with what was missing, over the next few days, but there was so much that was included that moved me and many others). There was the Industrial Revolution, there were suffragettes, there was the NHS (actual dancing nurses – fabulous!) and Great Ormond St Hospital, there was JK Rowling and a fabulous tribute to reading and children’s literature, there was Tim Berners-Lee, there was the Queen parachuting in with James Bond, there were the Archers, there was lots of great British music and TV and film moments, there was a rendition of the national anthem by a deaf and signing children’s choir, as well as plenty of other tear-jerking moments with children singing and dancing. Oh, and there was a lesbian kiss.

My enjoyment of the ceremony was increased by watching it with Twitter. I don’t often do ‘TV tweeting’, but I’d put Twitter on expecting to read, and maybe even write a few, sarcastic tweets, but instead experienced a nation being overcome by actual national pride. At the moment, when each day brings us more disappointment in our country and our government, it was surprisingly nice to be reminded that there are still good things here – though, a fair few of those good things are under threat by the current government (NHS, libraries…). Quite a few tweets pointed out that the ceremony was highlighting lots of things David Cameron is trying to get rid of:

RT @tommcrae: So basically, this ceremony is all the things that Cameron is trying to get rid of. Danny Boyle is this country’s official opposition.

RT @jtlovell1979: NHS, film industry. Somewhere David Cameron is whispering urgently into a microphone “Shut it down, shut it all down.”

RT @MiddleAgedCred: Danny Boyle understands his nation better than our politicians #OpeningCeremony

RT @mygibbo: The Tories whine endlessly about broken Britain while trying to break it. This demonstrates the energy of a country they don’t understand.

RT @ijclark: Basically, Danny Boyle has created a celebration of all the things the Tories hate, paid for by a Tory government. Good work.

RT @astrotomato: Dear David Cameron. Danny Boyle has a message for you about the #NHS. Oh yeah he pulled a blinding trick & broadcast it live to 4 billion.

Perhaps highlighted even more by the unfortunate Tory MP, Aidan Burly, who seemed to feel that the athletes from all around the world would stop all the ‘multi-cultural crap’:

RT @AidanBurleyMP: Thank God the athletes have arrived! Now we can move on from leftie multi-cultural crap. Bring back red arrows, Shakespeare and Stones!

Though, I was also increasingly annoyed with the many complaints about the announcements being in French first. Olympic announcements are always in French first, then English and then the host language. Those are the rules. Inability of Brits to embrace other languages, or even attempt to use them when abroad, is one of the things that makes me ashamed of this country – normally my overwhelming feeling.

I wonder if Danny Boyle’s theme of revolutions (industrial, cultural, digital) will lead to another kind of revolution and we can have a change in government before all those great things have been completely dismantled?

Did you watch it? Were you surprisingly moved, too, or were you already fully expecting tears and pride in your nation? Did you see the leftie multi-cultural side of it, or did you take something different from it? And if you’re not British, did you actually understand any of it, or was it completely bewildering?

Photo credits: Shimelle