The Tom Daley of the Blog World

This is the FIFTH Olympic Games that have happened since I started this blogsite. Just think about that for a few seconds - a global event that takes place every four years is now happening for the FIFTH time since the birth of The Chesworth Chronicles. I think I have finally disproved the opinion of my old teacher, Mr Turner, who said 'You strike me as someone who will never be able to stick at anything.'

I only caught the last hour or so of the Opening Ceremony last night. They tend to be over-blown, long-winded affairs and I got the impression that this was no different. If I had to give the past number of ceremonies a one-word review, and had to use a word that encapsulated thoroughly the whole evening's extravaganza, I might say the following:
'Dignity' for Seoul 1988
'Colourful' for Barcelona '92
'Commercial' for Atlanta '96
'Inspiring' for Sydney 2000
'Historic' for Athens '04
'Overwrought' for Beijing '08
'Breathtaking' for London 2012
'Crazy' for Rio '16
'Sombre' for Tokyo '20/'21
And my word for Paris '24 would be "WET".
I don't think it stopped pouring from Minute One to Minute Nine Thousand (or however long the bloody thing went on for).

I have to say, though, that the 'floating cauldron' thing is a wonderful idea. Having the Olympic Flame suspended below a hot-air balloon, 30 metres over Paris, is an original and awe-inspiring concept. I'm amazed the bloody thing didn't go out last night though. It was like watching a Bank Holiday Monday in Britain. It rained A LOT.

RC 27-7-24