1. Danny Boyle's story of Britain was a celebration of freedom (Guardian)
Some called it too PC, others said that by participating one sanitised the less ethical sponsors – but the opening ceremony was a truthful story of Britain, says Shami Chakrabarti.
2. Why the UK was right on Romney (Financial Times)
It has its faults but the British media has a reasonable track record at detecting bluff, writes Edward Luce.
3. Boris zoinks off the Geiger counter of positivity (Times) (£)
Be upbeat, hug modern Britain and embrace the state — that’s what all Tories should learn from London’s Mayor, says Tim Montgomerie.
4. Here’s 20 jolly good reasons to feel cheerful about the Games (Daily Telegraph)
We have just stunned the world with what was the best opening ceremony ever produced – and by quite a margin, says Boris Johnson.
5. Syrian war of hypocrisy (Independent)
The west's real target here is not Assad's brutal regime but his ally, Iran, and its nuclear weapons, says Robert Fisk.
6. PM’s ‘to do’ list to win next election (Sun)
Cameron’s slender hope of glory relies on delivering clear evidence that he has saved the economy, writes Trevor Kavanagh.
7. Of course we loved the opening ceremony: It was patriotism as a sentimental movie (Daily Mail)
If Boyle’s intention was to provide a snapshot of Britain today, this is indeed what he so spectacularly achieved, says Melanie Phillips.
8. The world as seen by Republicans, in a land of myth and amnesia (Guardian)
US conservatives are increasingly keen to interpret their country's woes primarily in terms of threats from abroad, writes Gary Younge.
9. We’re Olympic whingers – thank goodness (Daily Telegraph)
Chinese propaganda, lapped up by the foreign media, hid the dark side of the Beijing Games, says Anne Applebaum.
10. Europe’s political union is an idea worthy of satire (Financial Times)
Basing integration argument on saving monetary union is not convincing, writes Otmar Issing.
