A few of my gripes.... I think the ceremony would have bored and been misunderstood by many.
Yes, I think free health care is wonderful and a right for all, but I don't understand why the NHS was celebrated in the way it was; low standards of care especially for the elderly, underpaid staff, malnutrition and dehydration of patients and dismissal of ground breaking treatments far outweigh the positive aspects that were shown.
I fear the seven young athletes who lit the cauldron will be quickly forgotten after the games. Their time to become a star will come in 2016 and beyond, and whilst I think their part sent out a great message to 'inspire a generation', it would have been better to have at least one 'legendary' olympian to lead the lighting of the torch with the youngsters at either side.
But my biggest gripe of all... PAUL MCCARTNEY!! Why does he have to make an appearance at every single large scale celebration this country holds?! His sagging face and scratchy voice are an embarrassment and an insult to the Beatles legacy. Yeah he is a 'founder' of modern music, but many more talented British musicians have come after him and made just as much a valuable contribution. I'm not denying the fact Hey Jude is an instantly recognisable song worldwide, but so is What Makes You Beautiful, so we might as well have had Harry Styles doing a solo and it would have had the same dire effect.