The opening ceremony (the only good bit of the whole thing, in theory, although reality has not quite lived up to that billing)

[Bingoman]

This is the longest ever lighting of the cauldron I think I have ever seen

 

[Petcha]

Just got in. This is fucking hilarious.

 

[tommers]

They’re going to burn a giant Union Jack that covers the whole surface area and then cut to a black screen with ‘fuck you rosbif’ in white text.

end of transmission

Would love that.

 

[Lord Camomile]

(As ever, I'm cracking wise 'cause it's all I really know how to engage with things, but this must be incredible for all of them to be a part of, and it is nice that they're all walking up together)

 

[Epona]

The huddle of torchbearers is gaining mass and losing momentum

 

[Aladdin]

This is getting ridiculous...RTE joirnalist said "there's another few legs in this relay".

 

[Lord Camomile]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh boy... just how long has that fella been out in the rain?

 

[Elpenor]

Hope Grandpa torch doesn’t get the flu

 

[tommers]

Hahahah, let's make a 100 Yr old man sit in the rain for thirty minutes. Get him a fucking umbrella!

 

[Epona]

He was only 60 when the opening ceremony started

 

[quimcunx]

It's gonna be a real downer when he dies of pneumonia next weekend.

 

[Aladdin]

Just caught sight of a balloon.

I hope to fuch that doesn't have to fly back to the Eifel tower with the fucking flame!!

 

[Lord Camomile]

They are! They're fucking escaping with the flame! In a damned balloon!

The audacité!!

 

[quimcunx]

Hahahah, let's make a 100 Yr old man sit in the rain for thirty minutes. Get him a fucking umbrella!

he was offered but refused.

 

[Bingoman]

At last

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Oh great, a long leg to Kansas...

 

[Lord Camomile]

I genuinely have no idea why, but I've always had a bit of a thing for the romantic iconography of hot air balloons.

J'approve.

 

[Chz]

It's lacking sharks, isn't it?

 

[pbsmooth]

Marie-Jo Perec is one tip for the flame

Got one of them anyway

 

[brogdale]

This all looks a bit dangerous

 

[Indeliblelink]

Are the US Air Force gonna have to shoot this down?

 

[Petcha]

We take cricket players off the field with a bit of drizzle. But let's put a 100yo bloke in a wheelchair out in torrential rain.

 

[Elpenor]

I genuinely have no idea why, but I've always had a bit of a thing for the romantic iconography of hot air balloons.

J'approve.

Maybe it’ll be at Bristol balloon festival?

 

[tommers]

Oooh! That looks pretty amazing tbf.

 

[Epona]

Please god let it drift off course and set fire to the newly restored Notre Dame...

 

[Favelado]

They’ll be glad of that fire

 

[pbsmooth]

Nice bit of Edith

 

[Lord Camomile]

Lummy, they did carry it a long way from the tower!

 

[quimcunx]

Is this the wee spuggy, finally?

 

[Elpenor]

sea lion has arrived