The London Olympics

[vandermolen]

indeed, it was just superfluous then.

Hell,  The Arctic monkeys were better at being the Beatles than the Beatle himself. That says a lot...

That's true about the Arctic Monkeys (just typed 'Arctic Convoys' by mistake  )

Can't wait for the Spice Girls at the closing ceremony. 

[Szykneij]

Did I miss it, or was any evidence of Elton John completely missing from the ceremonies? I heard music by the Stones, Pink Floyd, the Kinks, Bowie, and a host of other British artists, but I don't remember hearing anything by Elton. Since his presence is usually all over events like this, it was surprising not to see his face.

[kishnevi]

I feel it appropriate to record here the fact that the London 2012 Olympics caused a traffic jam in Miami today.

At least, I'm assuming the Olympics is at the root of the matter.

The traffic jam--on a Saturday afternoon--was caused by the fact that our local stadium, Sun Life Stadium, which normally hosts the Miami Dolphins (American) football team, and various Superbowls and major events, as well as the University of Miami Hurricanes (American) football team, and until last year* the Florida Marlins baseball team (and therefore where both of the two World Series which they won were played), is tonight the site of a game between Chelsea and AC Milan.  I'm assuming the Olympics forced Chelsea to find an alternate venue, and we in Miami were the lucky blokes.  (Couldn't they have borrowed another British stadium?  It's not like they're the only (rest of the world) football team in the UK?)

I forgot the game was today and got caught on the way home from work.  At least it was not as bad as when they have SuperBowls or Dolphins games, and it would probably would have been worse if Chelsea were playing a team from Latin America. (We do usually have a major matchup between Latin American teams once or twice a year here.)  But you Londoners may take comfort in the fact that the Olympics are screwing up traffic in cities beside your own.

*this year they moved to a new, taxpayer funded stadium in the City of Miami, and changed their name to Miami Marlins.  Which, since I don't actually live in Miami, allows me to abandon my tepid support for them and resume unalloyed allegiance to the Only Baseball Team Actually Worth Being A Fan Of aka the Boston Red Sox.

[Szykneij]

the Only Baseball Team Actually Worth Being A Fan Of aka the Boston Red Sox.

[kishnevi]

Followup--it seems I was wrong to blame the Olympics for Chelsea being in Miami. 

They were actually here as part of a series of exhibition games meant to raise the profile of soccer (non-American football) in the US.  Out of four games, they've won one, lost two, and tied one.  Last night's game was one of the losses, although apparently most of the fans in the stadium were rooting for Chelsea (not surprising given the number of Brits, both ex-pats and tourists, and Bahamas/English speaking Caribbean folks to be found in Miami).  Attendance was put at over 57,000, the second highest for any soccer game played in that particular locale.

[Lisztianwagner]

Would have rather heard Sir Edward Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance', or something by Vaughan Williams or Holst' 'Planets.

It would have been certainly great!

Although I didn't see the opening ceremonies, I've been following these Olympic games; I'm especially interested in watching football, swimming, tennis and athletics.

[eyeresist]

Mohammed Ali was another of the flag bearers...second time he's had a featured role in the Opening Ceremony.  He was the one who lit the flame in Atlanta.

No conviction was recorded.


Millions of our money to see which freak can run the fastest.

[springrite]

Can't say I have been following the Olympics closely, though it's hard not to notice. But sickened by two events:

1  The Chinese badminton pair throwing the match. Vanessa could have defeated them with Kimi. They, along with three other pairs got thrown out. I think they should have thrown out the other Chinese pair as well.

2  The US swimming coach publicly saying the Chinese swimmer who won two gold to be possibly on drugs. I guess every winner and non-winner technically could be. But to say so without evidence during the competition after one of your own lost is just sick. Should a coach from some other country said the same about Phelps, Lochte, Bolt, etc... Well, the US print media I have read mostly report it with focus on why and how the accusation might be true. But that is entirely beside the point. Good to see most other media outside of the US are more objective.

I generally prefer the winter olympics. The summer games simply has too many events for anyone to follow any events completely. So you just get the "let's get to the so and so venue for such and such golden moment". It becomes a highlight show at best and does become a medal count game.

I almost always pull for the athletes from small nations who don't usually win medals. For that reason I don't really get to cheer much. I remember in the Asian games Afganistan won cricket, and the Asian Football Championship that Iraq won. Those were sporting moments worthy of my time. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Can't say I have been following the Olympics closely, though it's hard not to notice. But sickened by two events:

1  The Chinese badminton pair throwing the match. Vanessa could have defeated them with Kimi. They, along with three other pairs got thrown out. I think they should have thrown out the other Chinese pair as well.

2  The US swimming coach publicly saying the Chinese swimmer who won two gold to be possibly on drugs. I guess every winner and non-winner technically could be. But to say so without evidence during the competition after one of your own lost is just sick. Should a coach from some other country said the same about Phelps, Lochte, Bolt, etc... Well, the US print media I have read mostly report it with focus on why and how the accusation might be true. But that is entirely beside the point. Good to see most other media outside of the US are more objective.

I generally prefer the winter olympics. The summer games simply has too many events for anyone to follow any events completely. So you just get the "let's get to the so and so venue for such and such golden moment". It becomes a highlight show at best and does become a medal count game.

I almost always pull for the athletes from small nations who don't usually win medals. For that reason I don't really get to cheer much. I remember in the Asian games Afganistan won cricket, and the Asian Football Championship that Iraq won. Those were sporting moments worthy of my time. 

1. Agreed. Doesn't matter who was involved (South Korea and Indonesia were among the offenders, not just China), throwing matches in order to get easier opponents down the road is anti-Olympic anti-Sport at the least, and a slap in the face to the spectators, without which...

2. Agreed. He had no business saying that. Although to be precise, it was a Brit BBC commentator who began the whole affair within seconds after the end of the race. It's up to the anti-doping people to make a hue and cry, not other competitors, wo can, at best, only sound like sour grapes.

I love Field events, used to look forward to the Olympics (started in Rome, 1960 and haven't missed since) to see the only javelin, shot put, hammer, high jump etc that I would see for another 4 years. Since I don't have streaming video at home, the likelihood of seeing it any more is between slim and none, and slim just left town. Like I need to see more freaking basketball. Or football. Those sports don't belong in the Olympics, sorry sports fans... 

[Ataraxia]

They should have stuck with these:

Ancient Olympic Events

Boxing

Equestrian events
Chariot racing
Riding

Pankration

Pentathlon
Discus
Javelin
Jump
Running
Wrestling

Running

Wrestling

[jwinter]

Yeah...  I must admit, my immediate response to the badminton scandal was "What?!  Badminton is an olympic sport?!"

[springrite]

Yeah...  I must admit, my immediate response to the badminton scandal was "What?!  Badminton is an olympic sport?!"

Wait till the UK send in application for DARTS!

[Sammy]

Can't say I have been following the Olympics closely, though it's hard not to notice. But sickened by two events
2.  The US swimming coach publicly saying the Chinese swimmer who won two gold to be possibly on drugs. I guess every winner and non-winner technically could be. But to say so without evidence during the competition after one of your own lost is just sick. Should a coach from some other country said the same about Phelps, Lochte, Bolt, etc... Well, the US print media I have read mostly report it with focus on why and how the accusation might be true. But that is entirely beside the point. Good to see most other media outside of the US are more objective.

I remember reading that the female Chinese swimmer had a faster time in her final leg than the male swimmers.  That does sound very odd.
However, since her tests have been negative, she can't be denied the Gold.

[Leon]

I hate the Olympics.  I wish they would go away - I am sick of them dominating the sports coverage, crowding out most of the baseball news.  Yuk.  Every four years is way too often.  Try every 400 years. 

[Karl Henning]

Chanced to watch about two minutes of fencing, the US lady defending gold medalist lost a match.  Don't know how much more I could watch, but it was an engaging two minutes.

[jwinter]

 Quote from: Arnold on Today at 02:58:09 PM

I hate the Olympics.  I wish they would go away - I am sick of them dominating the sports coverage, crowding out most of the baseball news.  Yuk.  Every four years is way too often.  Try every 400 years. 

 
I'm a Phillies fan.  Crowding out this season's baseball news is fine by me...

[springrite]

Chanced to watch about two minutes of fencing, the US lady defending gold medalist lost a match.  Don't know how much more I could watch, but it was an engaging two minutes.

I watched some fencing as well, but that included half an hour of a protest and a crying Korean fencer.

I will NOT watch trampoline even if they attach live car batteries to my nuts!

[Karl Henning]

I will NOT watch trampoline even if they attach live car batteries to my nuts!

Not again?!

[eyeresist]

They should have stuck with these:

Ancient Olympic Events

Boxing

Equestrian events
Chariot racing
Riding

Pankration

Pentathlon
Discus
Javelin
Jump
Running
Wrestling

Running

Wrestling

What about the poetry and choral events?

[TheGSMoeller]

Unbelievable moment for myself last night, listening to Ockeghem's Requiem on my ipad, the Kyrie dominating most of this moment, while the US women's gymnastic team was finishing their performance and then waiting for scores. Seeing there reaction to their victory along with the spellbinding music of Ockeghem was quite moving, I'm sure still being a somewhat new father and seeing that these are young kids had an added affect.

I'm no true fan of the Olympics or the majority of the sports that take place, but I cannot deny how impressed I am with the athletic ability of these participants. And seeing the look of pure joy or complete heartbreak from those that spend years training for these events is what sticks with me.