The opening ceremonies have become a contest to outdo the predecessor. I guess we can see that effect in Egypt's pyramid, they kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

Now, whoever is getting the next Olympics is going to have to outdo this one and so on until its just going to become ridiculous.

The torch lighting had several torch pass-alongs until finally a guy was hoisted to the top of the stadium where he was 'running' around the edge of the stadium (actually reminded me of Elliot riding his bicycle in the sky in ET), until he finally got to a 'fuse' which sent a flame into the Olympic flame itself. (I thought at some point, 'ok, let's light this thing already.')

There were elements that were well conceived; but at some point it turned into a spectacle designed only to outdo its predecessors.

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