The Liberal Winter Olympics.
Well, that’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons, I hope.
The Turin Winter Olympics
opening ceremony has just finished, and a stunning and stylish ceremony it was. Costumes by Armani, art by Boticelli, words by Dante , dance by La Scala, music by Verdi and Pavarotti and transport by Ferrari… a real celebration of what some might call cultural elitism. I call it brilliant. Can’t wait to see the right wing press’ reaction.Why? Because Laura ‘Rita’ Bush and Cherie Blair, consorts of two warmongers, had to watch with rictus grins as Yoko Ono, dressed in white, spoke of giving peace a chance then quoted from ‘Imagine’. Peter Gabriel then sang it ( including ‘and no religion too’, which got an extra cheer) and the President of the Olympic Committee made a speech that clearly referred to current events and the need to promote peace rather than go to war.
“Our world today is in need of peace, tolerance and brotherhood and the values of the Olympic Games can deliver these to us. May the Games be held in peace and in the true spirit of the Olympic truce. Show us how sport unites by overcoming political, religious and language barriers and you will show us the world we all long for.”
Bland words, but delivered in a pointed way.
That the 6 women who carried the Olympic flag included a couple of human rights activists and liberal bogeywoman Susan Sarandon, the combined effect could not help but seem a giant public slap aimed right at Mesdames Bush & Blair and the nations they represent. Nice one, Turin.
But there were also some boos as the US team entered, which I’m not happy about. Iran’s tiny team just got the cold shoulder from the crowd, which was sad for them. Each one of those athletes deserved to be there on their own merits, and they’re not personally responsible, except in the most indirect sense, for their actions of their government. Booing them and giving the silent treatment was childish and very unsporting, if I can refer to such an outmoded and antedeluvian concept. Have a go at the countries official representatives by all means – I certainly just have- but leave the athletes alone.
Nevertheless, all in all an excellent opening ceremony. I”d like to see parts of it again. Not as exuberant as Sydney or as magically simple as Athens, but done with subtlety and symmetry – even the fireworks had that Northern Italian grace and style.
