The Sport Thread

A whole lot of love gone into that pres and the theme should have never been axed.

More complete version available here with the preceding network BBC One CA.

What a nice way to remember 60 years since the launch of Grandstand, and it was nice to see the tweaks to include the current BBC Sport logo at the end of the title sequence.

There is no reason for the amount of effort that has been made that this title sequence and theme can’t be permanent.

No reason not to use it for this season of Football Focus, any longer and the novelty will wear off.

Always nice to see such pres brought back and tweaked in a respectful manner to celebrate an anniversary, but, without being a kill joy, to ask for 30+ year old titles to become a permanent feature of a modern, vibrant, football show in 2018 makes little sense.

Grandstand was always introduced using the clock, so even if they had dug out the COW it wouldn't have been right.

With this age of cuts v the BBC proving it’s worth in this multi viewing platform world maybe it’s time for them to consider bringing back the grandstand umbrella and feature some less covered sports on the Saturday afternoon slot.

As a rugby union fan, I can give an outsiders view.

I think it was a nice touch, and would love to see that 1988 BBC Sport globe brought back, with the current BBC lettering. Mind you, that globe was mark 2. Version one, which lasted until 1989, had the globe spinning the wrong way round!

But sure, it seems to suit Football Focus well, so hopefully the BBC can keep the globe for the sports programmes.

I guess the other point is that introducing a football show with a stylised racecourse doesn't really work!

I honestly thought they might have resurrected Grandstand after the 2012 Olympics, to cover those minority sports that had caught people's imaginations during the Games. The Sports News studio at Salford would be perfect, it has a lot of similarity with old Grandstand sets.

Now we've been here before. The globe just isn't inclusive enough to be used on the BBC!


Monday afternoon seems to be the slot of choice for minority sports lately which aren't shown live. Makes sense I guess not to hold back highlights nearly a week but they could have fleshed out yesterday with a repeat of the Canoeing World Champs highlights and preview of the Youth Olympics, plus I'm sure something else from their online content. Climbing seems to be there latest obsession.

I always thought it suited Match of The Day better... you can sing the name to the tune.


I think it would be a good idea to use it in Football Focus, and Final Score, it's one of those iconic sports themes and a bit of a shame they don't utilise that heritage in the same way that 5 Live do on a Saturday afternoon

Whereas I though the Grandstand name should have been retired after the London 2012 Olympics.
'London Olympic Grandstand' would have been a great way to send the name off into retirement, at the biggest multisport event possible.

As for the 60 year recreation. Does prove with animation and modern editing of opening titles, just how dull a set of action and amusing clips interlaced with show title graphics are now for a sports opening title sequence.

However, many points awarded for actually spending time in putting it together, the picture cuts on the beat of the theme tune, faithful recreation of the grandstand, track, and err, grandstand, and including the traditional footage of a goal being scored against Southampton.

But, points off, for the 'picture erode graphic' - it was a more dynamic 'shatter' than a simple diamond sissor cut and also using the same footage of the fat Saints fan 'throwing some shapes' fairly quickly in succession.

So BBC Red Button is giving us Breaking (yes it's a Gymnastic/Dance sport) from the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.....

It'll be great if this is indicative of significant coverage over the coming week.