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# Chime In: London Olympics Opening Ceremony
- URL: https://ivn.us/chime-in-london-olympics-opening-ceremony/
- Published: 2012-07-30T23:37:24.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:28:38.000Z
- Author: Kymberly Bays
- Tags: News

Credit: globalpost.com

![opening-ceremony](cloudinary://weird_moments_olympic_opening_ceremony_3_0.jpg "opening-ceremony")

The London Olympic opening ceremony was a grand spectacle. Directed by popular British director, Danny Boyle, the multi-hour extravaganza included more than one memorable concept:

- a real-life pastoral scene
- Mr. Bean
- giant rising smoke stacks
- an Olympic flame transported down the Thames River, via speedboat, by soccer superstar David Beckham
- extensive fireworks
- a rousing journey through decades of British pop culture
- dozens of Mary Poppins defeating a blow up Lord Voldemort
- Paul McCartney performance
- symbolic lighting of the Olympic cauldron

Most notable part of the ceremony for the politically-inclined was a rousing tribute to the National Health System, Britain's universal health care.

Radio jockey Rush Limbaugh had some harsh words for the ceremony today, as [reported by Politico](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/79160.html?ref=ivn.us), accusing it of being "socialist":

> *“Of all the things of historical note in Great Britain, United Kingdom, the things they chose to highlight about themselves in that opening ceremony scared me more, because that’s a free people basically honoring socialism and collectivism. The \[Chinese\] people had no choice. They are under orders and under guns. In the U.K., a free people decided to do it.”*Agence France Presse reported the reaction from Aiden Burly, a member of British Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative Party:

> *"Aidan Burley, a lawmaker from Prime Minister David Cameron's ruling Conservative party, tweeted: "The most leftie opening ceremony I have ever seen -- more than Beijing, the capital of a communist state! Welfare tribute next?"*

**What did you think of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony? What was your favorite part? Least favorite?**