please empty your brain below
I was there too, and a few rows lower than you it looks like. I thought it was wonderful - and I don't even like Coldplay!

Brad | 10.09.12 - 1:13 a.m. | #

I'd spent the evening at the Thames Festival - just long enough to see the pageant - but then figured "Thames Festival fireworks: annual; London 2012 closing fireworks: not far from unique"... so I hopped back on the bike and shot down to Stratford.
I'll never know how the fireworks looked from the inside, but - I can tell ya - they looked pretty fantastic from the side of the A12!!!
Glad to hear you managed to be there: always kinda figured you would have been.

RogerW | 10.09.12 - 1:31 a.m. | #

From the back row of the stadium, under cover, behind a row of flags, the Closing Ceremony fireworks were (alas) pretty much invisible.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 10.09.12 - 1:44 a.m. | #

Whilst the mechanical contraptions that wheeled into the area were quiet amazing, the acrobats, dancers and aerial artistes were entertaining, and the lighting was brilliant, I did not think much of the young man who sang for far too long, I would have preferred a decent Tenor with a full orchestra. Maybe it just my age!. At least the special effects as the seasons past from summer through winter etc, provided some diversion.
The cauldron has been disappointing to me for the entire duration of the events as it is too low down, it should have been visible from the entire Olympic park.
The LED lighting between the seating was very effective and no doubt will be copied at future event in other stadiums.
On the whole the past 6 weeks or so have been a pleasant experience and one feels sorry that all has to end.
I am now off to the Central London Olympic 2012 parade,- the final event of the lot.

John | 10.09.12 - 8:03 a.m. | #

From behind the flame, half way down from the top, the fireworks from on top of the Orbit, around the stadium and further up the Park looked absolutely stunning. Well worth getting back home at 2am for.

bblb | 10.09.12 - 8:23 a.m. | #

Cheer up! It's Open House Weekend soon!

Leuconoe | 10.09.12 - 8:37 a.m. | #

It was Heritage Open Days this weekend! Hopefully not the last even though English Heritage is going to withdraw funding.

Andrew | 10.09.12 - 9:13 a.m. | #

The "pixels" were indeed amazing, but they probably should have made more than one request before things started that people remain seated so as not to block them.

In the latter half of the ceremony, the pixels were mostly black on the lower tier in the bit of the stadium the staircase was heading towards, and through my binoculars I could see it was because loads of people were standing throughout.

It was pretty amazing in person, and I look forward to seeing it on TV now.

The fireworks were very cool, but lacking in scale when viewed from our seats 10 rows from the top, as we just saw the ones directed inwards from the roof edge and a few from the floodlighting towers.

Darren S | 10.09.12 - 9:22 a.m. | #

I thought the Closing Ceremony for the Paralympics was fantastic. A wonderful end to London 2012.

I have to admit that I almost shed a tear when I noticed your countdown had disappeared from the sidebar of your blog. I've been watching it counting down to the Games for about five years, and I think it's symbolic of how all good things must eventually come to an end.

Andrewh | Homepage | 10.09.12 - 9:29 a.m. | #

All I can say is, once again, thank you for your marvelous coverage of both games.
After it being such a huge thing in your life for so long, I hope the feeling now that it's over isn't felt too sharply.
I would say it's back to the mundane again, like returning to work after a dream holiday, but your blog has never been mundane!

CornishCockney | 10.09.12 - 10:13 a.m. | #

Thanks DG for all the coverage of the whole build up to and then the Games themselves.

I imagine you've used up your entire leave allocation and holiday budget over the last few weeks so let's hope the return to work is not too much of a let down for you.

PC | 10.09.12 - 12:14 p.m. | #

I stopped by at Tower Bridge, this afternoon, on my way home from the London 2012 parade.
There was a light show there, last night, capped by a commemorative opening of the bridge, with fireworks.
I'm told there will be one more final light show, there, tonight.

RogerW | 10.09.12 - 4:36 p.m. | #

Thanks DG for your coverage.
Does anybody know why the floodlights in the Olympic Stadium were on during the day - even Friday and Saturday when I melted? Maybe TV coverage, but it was super sunny.

Dave | 10.09.12 - 6:48 p.m. | #

Dave. I noticed some of the arena floodlighting was on during the days when it was sunny. I guess it may have been to fill in the shadow areas and give the TV cameras less of a contrast range going from bright sunshine to shaded area, i.e. more even distribution of light.
Our eyes are very accommodating to such changes but it is not so good on TV cameras.
That's what I think but maybe somebody has a better answer.

John | 10.09.12 - 7:49 p.m. | #

BTW I was at the Parade today at the end of the Mall, and by chance David Cameron PM and Boris Johnston walked past me out of sight of the rest of the crowd. I said "Hello", and got a thumbs up from Boris but David looked rather sombre.
Alas I did not have my camera.

John | 10.09.12 - 7:56 p.m. | #

From me as well a big thank you for all the effort and accuracy you have put into your olympic and paralympic posts, both before and during the games. I didn't manage to see the park myself but felt connected when reading your blog.

AnKa | 10.09.12 - 9:42 p.m. | #

I spotted some of the graffiti covered car & truck shells outside the stadium on Saturday, and wondered whether they'd take things full circle: trash the place and leave it with burned out wrecked cars like 2005!

martxw | 11.09.12 - 2:02 a.m. | #

I was lucky enough to get a ticket too and was frankly bemused by the extremely warm reception Boris got.

I suspect lots of people think he was the Mayor that was part of the bid to get us the games, when in reality he had nothing to do with it.

This isn't a party political view, just that, aside from relentlessly promote himself, I honestly don't know what it is that he's done.

Will | 11.09.12 - 7:57 p.m. | #











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