It also seemed a bit odd given the size of the stadium - no-one there could really watch it either.

It also seemed a bit odd given the size of the stadium - no-one there could really watch it either.

Hah, that pretty much feels exactly right.

Hah, that pretty much feels exactly right.

Best part was dead Freddie Mercury controlling an 80,000 strong crowd at the start.

Best part was dead Freddie Mercury controlling an 80,000 strong crowd at the start.

I always feel weirdly proud when the Germans win something, like looking at a puppy that's learned not to destroy your slippers and is performing tricks instead.

I always feel weirdly proud when the Germans win something, like looking at a puppy that's learned not to destroy your slippers and is performing tricks instead.

I was thinking Charlotte DuJardin's dressage tunes might be getting too patriotic for outsiders to bear, what with Land of Hope and Glory, until I remembered - wait, Land of Hope and Glory is just 'that tune everybody plays at graduation' in the US. So we can have stealth patriotism! Hurrah.

I was thinking Charlotte DuJardin's dressage tunes might be getting too patriotic for outsiders to bear, what with Land of Hope and Glory, until I remembered - wait, Land of Hope and Glory is just 'that tune everybody plays at graduation' in the US. So we can have stealth patriotism! Hurrah.

Edit: how did this get here?

Edit: how did this get here?

Has anyone got a new favourite national anthem? I think I might be a convert to the Kazakhstan one (yes the proper one, not the Borat one), having heard it for the first time this afternoon when I switched over in the medal of a ceremony. If I were going out to conquer the world, that's the anthem I'd want.

Has anyone got a new favourite national anthem? I think I might be a convert to the Kazakhstan one (yes the proper one, not the Borat one), having heard it for the first time this afternoon when I switched over in the medal of a ceremony. If I were going out to conquer the world, that's the anthem I'd want.

@eric827:disqus One of the best known chances, definitely, but not one of the best actual chances - even disallowing the competitors that people hadn't heard of before, like Nicola Adams, the likeliest medal hopes would clearly have been the rowers and the cyclists, going on past form. (Aka: they've actually won gold…

@eric827:disqus One of the best known chances, definitely, but not one of the best actual chances - even disallowing the competitors that people hadn't heard of before, like Nicola Adams, the likeliest medal hopes would clearly have been the rowers and the cyclists, going on past form. (Aka: they've actually won gold…

The worst thing about it to me was that they did it in the Serpentine. I'm sure they check water quality and all, but my first thought was 'ew.'

The worst thing about it to me was that they did it in the Serpentine. I'm sure they check water quality and all, but my first thought was 'ew.'

It means Zara Phillips only got silver and the commoner horse-riders beat her. ;)

It means Zara Phillips only got silver and the commoner horse-riders beat her. ;)