Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

[aaron_scotland]

The athletes parades drag as they are - adding interviews and good luck messages is only going to make it feel like it drags longer.

Was literally about to say that, thankfully they only seem to be interviewing select countries

[Fanoftv]

Brilliant ceremony so far, especially the scenes with the fantastic bull.

I’m unsure what the presenters are adding to it, though they’re trying to mix it up a bit it seems.

[AxG]

I'm glad they're keeping the bull after the games, just hope things don't start falling offlike a certain sculpture from the last England held games.

[aaron_scotland]

The winners of this show are absolutely the dancers doing the macarena on a loop surrounding the stage

[Josh]

I can't hear the interview though because they're blasting the Spice Girls too loudly

[Brekkie]

Always thought it was a shame London didn't keep the cauldron as an installation on Olympic Park.

One promising thing presentation wise though is the on screen graphics used so far look really nice.

[Josh]

There's something so refreshing seeing a bunch of people doing the not-Macarena to "Push the Button" by The Sugababes

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And "Superstar" by Jamelia? Give the intern a payrise!

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Dua Lipa?? Bloody hell, this playlist is good

[aaron_scotland]

Dua Lipa?? Bloody hell, this playlist is good

It was doing so well until Harry Styles

[Fanoftv]

The comedians of Birmingham/West Midlands is a nice touch, but why are they having to shout over the music to be heard in the stadium? The shouted delivery reminds me of a teacher who’s lost control of a class!

[Brekkie]

From a production point of view it would probably be better if these interviews were bookended Eurovision style so they were opt out points for the countries that are taking ads.

[Josh]

"I'm going to do something that the British government doesn't always do and welcome some foreigners!"
Can always rely on Joe Lycett to add some chaos to the proceedings.

[Andrew]

These cut away interviews are pretty unnecessary

[aaron_scotland]

What can we do to decorate these stairs up a bit...Hmmm just chuck some lost luggage about the place?

[Jon]

Nice to see Beyoncé involved.

[thegeek]

Always thought it was a shame London didn't keep the cauldron as an installation on Olympic Park.

As I was reminded by Barry Davies' commentary of the 2012 Olympics that was playing on a big screen I was passing the other day, the petals of the cauldrons were gifted to each of the countries' Olympic and Paralympic committees. Part of the prototype cauldron is on display in the Museum of London.

The Olympic bell - the world's largest harmonically tuned bell, rung by Bradley Wiggins at the start of the opening ceremony - is on display outside the stadium. The planning permission lets them ring it a few times a year on special occasions, but they never actually do because they don't want to disturb the locals.