Olympics thread

[Roxanne Appleby]

Excuse me! I don't think the Elvises were "boorishness" or teenage either. I think they were spot on in the spirit of L.A. in not taking itself too seriously--and not taking the games so god damn seriously either. I remember those games and L.A. had FUN! It was relaxed, friendly, joyous; it emphasized the idea of cheering on all the athletes and creating a spirit of unity and welcome for the world. People had such a good time they actually went "awww noooo!" when the Olympic announcer said the games had to come to an end.

Those were the true *spirit* of the Olympics. Not a presentation meant to dazzle and, yes, intimidate and prove to the world who has the most people who can march in sync and the most impressive tec. Yes, China put on a beautiful circus, also pretentious, self-centered, ignoring entirely the "We are the world" theme (where was that? Did you see it, cause I didn't). It had no sense of fun, of humanity, of brotherhood. I'd even go so far as to call it boastful--or did you miss the astronauts at the end taking over the globe?

My vote would be for 1,000 Elvises over that any day of the week.

Yay you! Valid points, all. Yay us! I still think even one elvis is over the top, but maybe 1,000 is so far over the top that it's exactly as you say. As I said in another thread, I'm a sap for this stuff, so even though I doubt I was moved by elvises, I'm sure I got choked up by our olympics during our "morning in america" year too.

Second that motion! I went to the L.A. Olympics and it was a ball. All the businesses went on flex time so that the traffic was reduced, we (SoCal) turned a profit on the deal, everyone was laid back and cool. It was SoCal at it's best rather than China at its most overbearing. Go Elvis . . . and all the break-dancers at the closing.

I was so poor in 1988, but I had this crazy idea of driving to Calgary - I wimped out, and have regretted it ever since, becaue that event seemed to be exactly what you describe here, and I can relate more to the winter games. (I've done marathon x-c citizen racing many moons ago.)

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Help! In the Olympics opening ceremonies there was this drop-dead gorgeous Mexican woman athlete who carried herself like something between Princess Grace and an awesome supermodel - perhaps a bit shy, certainly awesomely classy and elegant. She had buzz-cut dark hair and I think she was tall. WHO IS SHE? Wow! I spent 25 minutes searching and could not find squat on "Mexico women 2008 olympics" etc.

Got her! Or, someone on GB got her: Maria Romary Rifka ... [IMG]http://www.atletismoenmexico.com/2008/M08/Romary Rifka.jpg[/IMG]

 

[only_more_so]

Watching weight lifting again. Wow! First it was the women's competition again, although a slightly higher weight class. The american lifter was a super hot milf. She didn't win, but set an American World record.

Then there's this kid from China, 17 years old and looks it. He set a Jr. World Record in the snatch. Then set another Jr. World Record in the Clean and Jerk. And won the gold.

My DVR is getting a workout!

 

[fieryjen]

I'm confused. What exactly is an American world record?

 

[jomar]

I'm confused. What exactly is an American world record?

The best time (or weight lifted, or whatever) that an American has done in an official contest. American (or insert country of your choice) record, Olympic record, world record.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Parallel bars and floor exercises seem kinda fun, but making those poor little gymnast girls do those balance beam performances is just cruel and unusual punishment! Seriously, they are f'ing awesome!

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Parallel bars and floor exercises seem kinda fun, but making those poor little gymnast girls do those balance beam performances is just cruel and unusual punishment! Seriously, they are f'ing awesome!

I still watch and think to myself, "People can't really DO that... can they!?" It's so amazing it feels surreal to watch them. There are some TINY little Chinese girls on that team. No wonder they're accusing them of being "underage." I felt SO bad for the girl who fell off the uneven bars. China's kicking butt in women's gymnastics so far... watching swimming now. Another world record! w00t!!

 

[Belegon]

I still watch and think to myself, "People can't really DO that... can they!?" It's so amazing it feels surreal to watch them. There are some TINY little Chinese girls on that team. No wonder they're accusing them of being "underage." I felt SO bad for the girl who fell off the uneven bars. China's kicking butt in women's gymnastics so far... watching swimming now. Another world record! w00t!!

The thing that really got me about those reports was that they originated with CHINESE journalists. I wish I could honestly believe that it was more than either a temporary thing or a "look, we really are allowing more freedom", but I'm afraid I'm skeptical...

But regardless of the manipulations of those around them, it doesn't change the incredible skill and dedication from these young women... and that Chinese girl that fell...wow, the move before with the two back-to-back releases was awesome!

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Looking forward to the Chicago games in 2016 (fingers crossed).

We might have to do a special Olympian lit-together.

 

[Belegon]

Looking forward to the Chicago games in 2016 (fingers crossed).

We might have to do a special Olympian lit-together.

I would be so there for the Fencing events...

 

[AphroditeReborn]

So many people are centered on Michael Phelps, but it wasn't he who came from behind to win GOLD last night It was a team effort, true, but my hat's off to the "old man" of the group!

 

[Handprints]

Just back from Beijing and a quick update from the ground: opening ceremony unbelievably gorgeous and mind-blowing. I saw in the Western press that the torch lighting bit with Li Ning was considered kitschy. All I can say is that the whole audience (me included, up in the nosebleed seats) was making "ooooh" noises like kids at story-telling time. Easily the most heartfelt cheers on the night (after the home team) were for Taiwan, which was more than a little nice.

Sat exactly across from George Bush at the women's basketball the next night and can honestly say it's the first time I've seen him look natural and interested in something... If he had spent more of his presidency watching sports, the rest of the world might have a more humane opinion of him. A friend who was sitting near enough the US men's basketball team to overhear said they spent the whole game back-seat quarterbacking the women on the court.

Watched the women's team archery on the next day - first time I've seen it and couldn't get over the amount of curve in the arrows' flight. I thought they moved so fast they went in a near-straight line. They actually have to aim 10-15 feet over the target, in a blustery wind, withe half the crowd blowing whistles to put them off. Just amazing.

Despite the theory that anything is possible in China, was wholly unsuccessful in attempting to obtain tickets for either the decathlon or pentathlon - my two favourite sports. Contrast this with Torino, where everything was theoretically impossible and you could get a ticket for anything (including the hockey final) with a phone call...

What else is worth saying: Beijing hotels are not nearly as busy as rumoured; the weather (thanks to daily showers) is much more survivable than it was at this time last year; there are, if anything, fewer lost/clueless tourists than there are in non-Olympic years; I'm ready to abscond with the entire Latvian women's basketball team; Fu Mingxia is way more attractive than Guo Jingjing; corporate entertainment is, as always, a hands-down win for the Koreans and electronics manufacturers - no-one who values their time or mental health should send any time in the Visa or Coca-Cola pavilions.

I have an outside chance of seeing some equestrian in HK later this week. If so, will post a summary.

Best from Olympia,
H

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Sat exactly across from George Bush at the women's basketball the next night and can honestly say it's the first time I've seen him look natural and interested in something... If he had spent more of his presidency watching sports, the rest of the world might have a more humane opinion of him.

And if he'd spent most of his presidency watching sports, we wouldn't have had time to invade Iraq, etc. Good plan!

Must be cool to really be there.

The relay last night was fantastic. I was jumping around the house yelling at the TV actually... "Who's talking smack NOW, huh, France? Huh!?" The look on that guy's face when he saw he lost... priceless.

I know, it's soooo bad, but after all the trash-talk from the French team... it was such poetic justice.

Can you say hubris?

 

[Handprints]

Can you say hubris?

"L'ou-bree," je crois...

 

[Trombonus]

So many people are centered on Michael Phelps, but it wasn't he who came from behind to win GOLD last night It was a team effort, true, but my hat's off to the "old man" of the group!

That was an amazing race, and so was the Women's 400 Freestyle race where Rebecca Addlington just narrowly beat Katie Hoff at the last second. I felt bad for Hoff, but IT was great for Great Britain who got both Gold AND Bronze! Yay!

 

[JagFarlane]

So many people are centered on Michael Phelps, but it wasn't he who came from behind to win GOLD last night It was a team effort, true, but my hat's off to the "old man" of the group!

What about the "old woman" at 41 who swam the second fastest lap of the womens 400M relay to place silver?

 

[trysail]

Just back from Beijing and a quick update from the ground: opening ceremony unbelievably gorgeous and mind-blowing. I saw in the Western press that the torch lighting bit with Li Ning was considered kitschy. All I can say is that the whole audience (me included, up in the nosebleed seats) was making "ooooh" noises like kids at story-telling time. Easily the most heartfelt cheers on the night (after the home team) were for Taiwan, which was more than a little nice...

Watched the women's team archery on the next day - first time I've seen it and couldn't get over the amount of curve in the arrows' flight. I thought they moved so fast they went in a near-straight line. They actually have to aim 10-15 feet over the target, in a blustery wind, withe half the crowd blowing whistles to put them off. Just amazing...
Best from Olympia,
H

H-
I enjoyed your "on the ground" take. As for the "Western press' " opinion of Li Ning's torch lighting, well, let's just say I don't hold much regard for the 4th estate's opinion of almost anything.

As a one-time and still occasional archer, your description was also enjoyable. While the magnitude isn't comparable, much like aiming a rifle, an archer must allow for distance and "windage."

Enjoy the Games!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

And if he'd spent most of his presidency watching sports, we wouldn't have had time to invade Iraq, etc. Good plan!

Must be cool to really be there.

The relay last night was fantastic. I was jumping around the house yelling at the TV actually... "Who's talking smack NOW, huh, France? Huh!?" The look on that guy's face when he saw he lost... priceless.

I know, it's soooo bad, but after all the trash-talk from the French team... it was such poetic justice.

Can you say hubris?

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."--Mark Twain, I believe.

 

[Necroh_Skewer]

So many people are centered on Michael Phelps, but it wasn't he who came from behind to win GOLD last night It was a team effort, true, but my hat's off to the "old man" of the group!

Yes same here. The event was wonderful to watch. I seriously thought France would win. The look on their faces was kinda funny.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Ok, they're showing women's beach volleyball.

Boycott... resolve... fading...

At least they're not showing women's swimming. I love women swimmers. (In fact, I married a swimmer )

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Ok, they're showing women's beach volleyball.

Boycott... resolve... fading...

At least they're not showing women's swimming. I love women swimmers. (In fact, I married a swimmer )

I know... *drool*... I know!

Hey, did you hear that Michael Phelps thing about food? He can eat something like 8-10 THOUSAND calories a day! Man... I need to become an Olympic swimmer!

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Ok, they're showing women's beach volleyball.

Boycott... resolve... fading...

At least they're not showing women's swimming. I love women swimmers. (In fact, I married a swimmer )

Boycott, schmoycott - watch the athletes.

"This is your time . . ."

And today it's theirs.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Ok, they're showing women's beach volleyball.

Boycott... resolve... fading...

At least they're not showing women's swimming. I love women swimmers. (In fact, I married a swimmer )

Funny, so did I. And she was a lifeguard, too.

 

[JagFarlane]

Ok, they're showing women's beach volleyball.

Boycott... resolve... fading...

At least they're not showing women's swimming. I love women swimmers. (In fact, I married a swimmer )

Ha but they showed a lot of womens swimming earlier on, with more to come

btw great pic of you and freckles

 

[jomar]

Misty May and Kerri Walsh. Nipples rule!