Twitter’s thoughts on various aspects of Olympic opening ceremony
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Beginning in the rainforest, moving through the soreness of slavery, conquering the struggle, acknowledging Albert Santos-Dumont’s flight in the early 1900s and then getting each athlete to enter the Maracana Stadium with a seed to plant in some dirt to help the development of trees, as an acceptance of their issues surrounding climate change.
The opening ceremony for the 2016 Olympics had its dancing, empowering music, its art, its fireworks and elements of the bizarre, but compared to London four years ago, Rio didn’t bring the same awe-inspiring vibe.
Instead of attempting to go bigger than those to come before, the feel was cool in a different way, with Brazil almost accepting their limitations and focusing on their abilities to make something special out of what they do have.
Here is some of the positive and negative reaction that graced Twitter:
This moment is the coolest thing about the Olympics: All those nations, languages, cultures & talents gathered in just one spot. Goosebumps
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) August 6, 2016
Such joy and excitement from the athletes. Let’s hope for a wonderful 2 weeks #Olympics
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) August 6, 2016
I don’t understand anything that’s happening on my television right now. #OpeningCeremony
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) August 6, 2016
Some chose to focus on the length of the ceremony instead …
Day Three of the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Rio, and Trinidad & Tobago enter the stadium to a chorus of snoring.
— Simon Rowlands (@RowleyfileRRR) August 6, 2016
This is the first time in my living memory that an Olympics Opening Ceremony has bored me. #Rio2016
— The Gardens Gnome (@thegardensgnome) August 5, 2016
Also on the longer side was the length of Gisele Bundchen’s walk as part of the festivities …
Do you think Brazil regrets wasting Gisele Bundchen on that “catwalk” in the opening ceremonies when they could have her walk the torch in?
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) August 6, 2016
wait hold on why did they make Gisele Bündchen just walk in a straight line for a full 2 minutes im so confused
— samantha (@sammlovee) August 6, 2016
At least we all got to hear The Girl from Ipanema for the first time in a while!
If the length of the ceremony was boring and Bundchen took a long time to strut her stuff in high heels, the commentary from the BBC didn’t seem to be helping the show move along for viewers …
I feel like the BBC commentary is basically some quick Wiki facts put together last minute. #OpeningCeremony
— selfina (@redEYEDmonst3r) August 6, 2016
‘A long thin strip of a country’ is the BBC description of Chile #OlympicGames
— Stevie Dawson (@StevieDawson) August 6, 2016
The commentary for the opening ceremony is the worst I’ve ever heard. I’m glad the BBC doesn’t have sport anymore – it doesn’t deserve it.
— Jamie Vaide (@JamieVaide) August 6, 2016
Over in the US, things were no better for those watching on TV …
Opening games for the Olympics are very disappointing with all the commercial interruptions. NBC means: Nothing But Commercials.
— Laura Beltchenko (@labell44) August 6, 2016
10 seconds of opening ceremony. 10 minutes of commercials…
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) August 6, 2016
Speaking of the US, the uniform worn by their athletes also bought some attention …
Why does @RalphLauren consistently design the ugliest uniform ever? Our tshirts look like the Russian flag, And there’s no USA symbol….
— Sri (@SriVIyer) August 5, 2016
The USA have opted for a uniform that suggests Ralph Lauren having a nosebleed #Rio2016
— Siobhan Synnot (@SiobhanSynnot) August 6, 2016
However, it wasn’t just the US …
Approx 384973215362536 countries have gone for blue jackets and white pants #OpeningCeremony
— Rachel Rodriguez (@rayrod) August 6, 2016
The appearance of Tongan flagbearer Pita Nikolas Taufatofua generated much attention, giving Gisele a run for her money …
#Tonga should automatically win a gold medal for that beautiful, shiny man ✨ #Olympics
— Rubi Ali (@rubialii) August 6, 2016
#Olympics Tonga might just be my new favourite country.
— Fabian Igiraneza (@fabianigiraneza) August 6, 2016
Pele’s health issues meant that a late replacement had to be sourced to light the Olympic torch and the reaction was positive overall …
Olympic torch lighting replacement for Pele is Vanderlei de Lima. Which is the world scale equivalent of replacing MJ with Pete Myers.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 6, 2016
Beautiful opening ceremony. Marathoner Vanderlei de Lima, who won bronze in 2004 after a fan attacked him on the course, lit cauldron.
— Juliet Macur (@JulietMacur) August 6, 2016
Vanderlei de Lima – superb choice to light the cauldron.
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) August 6, 2016
Ladbrokes is not an official sponsor of the Olympics and is no way affiliated with any of the competing athletes, events or competitions being held in Rio de Janeiro this summer.
