I hate sport. I think.

With the exception of PE lessons in school and sporadic spinning classes as an adult, it would be fair to say that my life so far has been a sport free existence. I am so anti- sport that I have found myself deliberately and aggressively avoiding all things olympic and even refusing to buy certain food items as all of a sudden they’ve been olympiacised (new word alert) and they’ve come over all red white and blue. I am not the slightest bit overjoyed/ proud/ excited that London is hosting the Olympics as I am just. not. interested.

Considering my vehment dislike of all things olympic I cannot believe that I just sat and watched the whole damn opening ceremony from begin to almost end (Paul McCartney came on and the telly went off). Not only that- I actually enjoyed it (cough, splutter!). A lot (choke!).

I never watched the 2008 ceremony in Beijing but I remember that when London won the 2012 bid, I heard murmurings that doubted the ability of London to put on a dazzling show that could match the spectacular firework laden performance that China put on.  Well what the opening sequence may have lacked in pyrotechnics it more than made up for in creativity, imagination, style and humour. The first 25 minutes were SPECTACULAR and as much as I wanted to do what I usually do and switch over, I just couldn’t stop watching. To say I was impressed and engaged would be unjust as I was totally consumed by it all. That first sequence was energetic, inclusive, funny and highly entertaining.- and of course- terribly British. Who needs excessive glitz when you’ve got quirk and eccentricity in abundance? The old adage of sticking to your strengths has never rung so true.

The Queen is now a movie star! The Queen has a sense of humour! Who would have thunk it?! The queen was also bored as I saw her examining her fingernails as Team GB entered the stadium so I guess one was not amused for too long. I’m sure I saw Prince Phillip catching forty winks. One couple who definitely were not sleeping was Charles and Camilla who seemed to be the only ones in the royal enclosure having a jolly good time.

It was all very educational though and I’ve been trying to remember as much of the informative commentary as possible in case I ever actually get to go on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and the final question is, “Which country was the last in the world to have television.” I can then confidently shout out, “Bhutan” before Chris Tarrant has even read out my options. I will smile sweetly when it is indeed the correct answer, collect my cheque and hit the airport. Tuvalu? It’s a Polynesian island. Comoro? It’s an island off the east coast of Africa. I know these things Mr Tarrant, because I watched the opening ceremony for the London 2012 olympics even though I hate sport. Had I known there was such a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned just by watching a bit of the olympics on the telly I’d have been tuning in years ago.

What did you make of it all? Like it? Love it? Hate it?

Photo from Flickr