I just caught a bit of the big opening. Unfortunately it was the bit where some young lady sang what was supposed to be an inspirational song. The chorus was all about how Heroes Live Forever.

But I'd switched on the subtitled version, and some genius had put it down as "Heroes liver for ever"

I'm with Shambles wife on this - I like seeing the opening ceremonies in these big events, but rapidly lose interest in the running and jumping and standing still show. I quite like the medal ceremonies mind you. They aren't the same though since they ditched the stirring Soviet national anthem. I used to reckon it went really well alongside the US one.

Too much happening at the same time, that's the trouble. The good thing with a big sports championship is that you get a chance to build up an understanding and an interest. With the Olympics it's just highlights, and on to the next event while you are still trying to puzzle out what the hell they are up to, especially in the weirder sports.

If they're going to stick in new events, I'd vote for hang-gliding and bungie jumping.

Actually it's my understanding that the original Greek Olympics, and the present ones when they started back in the 19th century, were supposed to be as much about music and so forth as about sport. Somehow the operation got sidetracked. A great shame. I'd like a triathlon in which you had to swim across a lake, climb up the wall of a building, and serenade your loved one atbthe end of it all. A bit like It's a Knockout/Jeu Sans Frontieres I suppose...