think the idea is that it appeals to a global audience of 3 billion.
Nah. Sure it would be nice if everyone could be pleased, but that's always going to be difficult. The priority, in my opinion, should be with those presenting themselves to the world; to make them proud and feeling it was a meaningful presentation of their country.
It's much easier for countries that have exported their cultures to all four corners of the globe (often forcibly) to "please" a global audience. To put it simpler: everyone knows who Paul F***ing McCartney is. But if you, or anyone else out of that 3 billion audience are not entertained by Caetano Veloso, Paulinho da Viola and Gilberto Gil - three of the most talented musicians to have ever lived - then who cares? I sure don't. And if you don't understand the local language and the beauty of our poetry - and I don't hold much hope on that front with people from for such a self-centered country still coming to grips with the difference between "your" and "you're" - then I couldn't care less.
Maybe being a bit more open minded instead of fixing expectations for countries so widely different - and, it has to be said, with quite different budgets as well - would be a better idea and help the enjoyment of it. One example that comes to mind was a comment that I've seen elsewhere - in a tone of criticism - that the ceremony had a "fun" vibe that is usually associated with closing instead of opening ceremonies. While that may indeed be reason for criticism elsewhere, I replied that this is bound to be taken as a compliment over here.
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