Opening ceremony was self-glorification

How far do we want to take the renaming of countries?

Japan would change to Nippon. Other examples – Italy-Italia, Spain-Espana, Germany-Deutschland, Sweden-Sverige, Norway-Norge and – not to forget – Thailand would revert to Siam, unless of course the red shirts want to create their own country in the North/Northeast, for which they could stick to Thailand while Bangkok and the South would use Siam. Whilst at it they could also rename Bangkok to Krung Thep. 

The enormous task of repainting planes, changing all the sign boards, etc, would create a lot of jobs, which could be a welcome boost for the world economy.

Also, I fully support the sentiment voiced by Paul Kokoski on the symbolic value of the Olympic Games, when he says, “The event also provides an opportunity to promote peace and reconciliation. The tradition of the ‘Olympic truce’, originating in eighth century BC Greece, asked that all wars and conflicts be suspended before and during the games”. 

It therefore puzzles me why the organisers chose to turn the opening ceremony into a purely British affair, leaving the rest of the world guessing what all the displayed historic events could possibly mean for them.

I was also surprised to hear the “Dambuster” tune played and commented on by the reporter. Peace and reconciliation?

Imagine if the Germans ever staged the Olympics again and referred in the opening ceremony to the V2s landing in London, causing countless civilian fatalities just like the Dambusters did.

I think the Olympic Committee should stipulate that the opening ceremonies of future Olympic Games should reflect the games’ global nature and not be used simply for self-glorification of the host country.

Horst Bullinger

Bangkok