The Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, RUS

[Brahmsian]

They played Schnittke?!?!? That's great! I wonder what work they played? I'm surprised they didn't play any Shostakovich or Prokofiev, though.

The CBC announcer said it was the Concerto Grosso No. 5, not the first.  I haven't heard either (only the 6th), so I wouldn't have recognized whether it was the 1st or 5th. 

[North Star]

2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze on the first day of the games. I'm flying the flag.

Saarinen was so close..

Somehow I haven't been that interested in cross-country skiing events in the 21st century. 

[Sef]

The CBC announcer said it was the Concerto Grosso No. 5, not the first.  I haven't heard either (only the 6th), so I wouldn't have recognized whether it was the 1st or 5th. 

I'll have to check at the end of the Ireland game. 

[Sef]

The CBC announcer said it was the Concerto Grosso No. 5, not the first.  I haven't heard either (only the 6th), so I wouldn't have recognized whether it was the 1st or 5th. 

No - I was right. It was the Rondo: Agitato 5th movement of Concerto Grosso No. 1

[Marc]

Ole Einar Bjørndalen is a Miracle.

16 years after his first Olympic gold: GOLD!!

His seventh!

Really amazing, and .... he's only 40 years old. There are plenty of years to go!



Of course we Dutch are happy with the 1-2-3 at the 5 km speedskating: Sven Kramer - Jan Blokhuijsen - Jorrit Bergsma. Not really unexpected, but still a great (and rare) achievement.

[Brahmsian]

Isn't is strange - the only sport I probably won't watch is hockey! I dont mind the sport, it's just the popular team sports at the Olympics (Soccer, hockey, baseball when they had it, and basketball) don't really interest me. I'd rather watch curling.

I'll be watching both.  I enjoy the game of Curling very much, and have played it for years.  If anyone wants help understanding the game and terminology, don't be shy to ask questions! 

I enjoy watching pretty much any Winter Olympic event.

[Brahmsian]

No - I was right. It was the Rondo: Agitato 5th movement of Concerto Grosso No. 1

Excellent, thanks for pointing that out! 

[Gurn Blanston]

2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze on the first day of the games. I'm flying the flag.

Your gold in the 10k biathlon sprint was brilliant!  40 isn't old!  0:)

[Gurn Blanston]

Of course we Dutch are happy with the 1-2-3 at the 5 km speedskating: Sven Kramer - Jan Blokhuijsen - Jorrit Bergsma. Not really unexpected, but still a great (and rare) achievement.

As you should be; great event for you, and well done!

[The new erato]

And a bronze in the men's downhill.    0.1 seconds from the Gold 

[North Star]

First medal for Finland, Enni Rukajärvi got silver from Slopestyle snowboard - though she should have won gold; the judging was as incongruent as yesterday with men.

[The new erato]

First medal for Finland, Enni Rukajärvi got silver from Slopestyle snowboard - though she should have won gold; the judging was as incongruent as yesterday with men.

Yes indeed!

[Rinaldo]

No irony here - I envy your enthusiasm, guys. I was unable to enjoy Beijing and Sochi feels even worse with the stuff that's going on in Russia (the same reason I can't stomach Gergiev). And I used to be such a fan of the winter olympics.. ice hockey, ski jumping, biathlon. Those were my faves.

[Marc]

Ode an die Freude:



Russian speedskater Olga Graf skates the race of her life and celebrates her unexpected bronze medal in the women's 3 km.

(Another Dutch gold btw, for Ireen Wüst. )

[Marc]

No irony here - I envy your enthusiasm, guys. I was unable to enjoy Beijing and Sochi feels even worse with the stuff that's going on in Russia (the same reason I can't stomach Gergiev). And I used to be such a fan of the winter olympics.. ice hockey, ski jumping, biathlon. Those were my faves.

I understand completely.

And I won't change my own weekly schedule for the Olympics like I used to in earlier years.

But I've been watching some stuff this weekend on TV and the performance of the athletes can still excite me and cheer me up.
And the emotions before, during and after the competition (celebrations, tears) are genuine.
(See post above. )

[Rinaldo]

And the emotions before, during and after the competition (celebrations, tears) are genuine.
(See post above. )

Oh, I don't doubt that at all. I love great sport stories, so I'll probably watch the highlights.

[Sergeant Rock]

Violinist Vanessa Mae is competing. Really! She qualified for the giant slalom, representing....Thailand, that winter sports powerhouse.







Sarge

[The new erato]

No irony here - I envy your enthusiasm, guys. I was unable to enjoy Beijing and Sochi feels even worse with the stuff that's going on in Russia (the same reason I can't stomach Gergiev). And I used to be such a fan of the winter olympics.. ice hockey, ski jumping, biathlon. Those were my faves.

I agree, and am decidedly sceptical.

[Gurn Blanston]

Violinist Vanessa Mae is competing. Really! She qualified for the giant slalom, representing....Thailand, that winter sports powerhouse.
Sarge

Have to admit, I was pretty damned surprised when she marched out in the parade of athletes! First to see Thailand there at all, then to see her as a competitor. Even if she is hopeless though, it is still pretty cool.

[North Star]

No irony here - I envy your enthusiasm, guys. I was unable to enjoy Beijing and Sochi feels even worse with the stuff that's going on in Russia (the same reason I can't stomach Gergiev). And I used to be such a fan of the winter olympics.. ice hockey, ski jumping, biathlon. Those were my faves.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of Vladimir Iljits Putin either, and would have loved it if the Olympics were somewhere else. But then again, the issues get probably more attention in other countries thanks to the Olympics.