Torino, no?

Last nights' opening ceremony at the Turin Winter Olympics was bad even for a genre that tends to, well, Olympian heights of frenzied spectacle. It wasn't the worst*. But it was inexcusably formless and shallow for a country of almost unparalleled culture, taste, and history. People appeared to be literally climbing walls! And they were the participants! Ending with Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma (nobody sleeps) is tired (see World Cup), sleepy tired, and it was way too late. This judge will give a 10 for fireworks but still only raises the final score to 2.

Note to planners – simply duplicating smaller acts to fill the venue never works. Study the recent Athens ceremony, where art and spectacle were merged beautifully on the requisite scale.

The centerpiece of these ceremonies is the parade of the athletes. Nothing can diminish the uplifting impression of so many countries represented by so many attractive, healthy young people smiling for the camera. This impression stills, however momentarily, the nagging sense that the Olympics has become a corporate tool, having evolved from a silly rich boy's fantasy. We can hope that it will continue to evolve.

*Americans take gold for the worst but that probably reflects our annual training at the Super Bowl. With the exception of Ali in Atlanta, never a memorable or moving moment.