Managed to get a chance to watch it last night (watched the replay as well).  All I can say and all that needs to be said is that it completely destroyed any opening ceremony I've seen--that includes graduations, coronations, birthday jubilees, PPV openings, every event opening between 1984-2008 just seems inferior after Beijing's spectacle!  It was truly amazing.  Unless you had work, if you missed it would truly be a "What the fuck were you doing?!" moment.  The first 2 1/2 hours was actually the portion worth watching followed by the last 10-15 minutes, but the whole thing was ace.

London really has a challenge ahead in 2012.  Seriously.  That event truly filled me with awe and was a beyond-excellent opening to such an important event.  Honestly, it's the sporting event that matters...think about it, your typical sport where you are extremely active (not including golf, doesn't count) you probably have a career expectancy of at the most 20-25 years.  That's roughly 5-6 Olympic chances--if you make the team and if you're still in great competing condition towards the end of your career.

Yeah, it's just that big people.  You winning a gold medal for your country will most likely out weight any "World Championship" (I say "World" because some sports have a championship that is only competed for in that country then fail to put alot of emphasis on the actual "World Championships" of that sport) you may get in your entire career.  You're competing against the best in the world on the greatest stage in the world.  That's something because some greats have never made the Olympics and some that have came up short.

Anyway, everyone enjoy the games and support your athletes.

SWIFT