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The Olympics 2012 Thread

DAISHIDAISHI
edited August 2012 in General Chat
“No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training…what a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”
-Socrates

Comments

  • FitzoliverJFitzoliverJ
    edited July 2012
    A truly *British* Olympics

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6692464
  • JohroJohro
    edited July 2012
    A truly British Olympics, with their official beer, Heineken.

    I love it, I laughed so hard. What a kick in the teeth to the local so-called famous breweries.

    While I wait for Canada to collect it's 3 gold medals, I say, "Go Russia!"
  • FriarFriar
    edited July 2012
    I can't wait for the 100 yards for people with no sense of direction.
  • der_ketzerder_ketzer
    edited July 2012
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    actually I will watch most of it
  • FitzoliverJFitzoliverJ
    edited July 2012
    Johro wrote: »
    A truly British Olympics, with their official beer, Heineken.

    I love it, I laughed so hard. What a kick in the teeth to the local so-called famous breweries.

    In their defence, Heineken have made clear that they think the situation is bloody stupid as well, since alternative beers at official Olympic locations can only be sold under generic labels - INCLUDING ones from the same brewer!
  • DAISHIDAISHI
    edited July 2012
    http://www.london2012.com/photos/galleryid=1303934/#performers-stage-during-the-opening-ceremony-1304110

    1304070_M01.jpg

    Opening ceremonies are tonight at roughly 630 in the U.S.
  • Darth MarsdenDarth Marsden
    edited July 2012
    Watched a chunk of the opening ceremony. Holy hell it must have cost an absolute fortune. Bloody impressive!
  • Giant TopeGiant Tope
    edited July 2012
    I liked the part that celebrated the nhs AND lcd in the same segment!
  • corruptbigginscorruptbiggins
    edited July 2012
    Loved the opening ceremony, tired now though. Off to bed and tomorrow/today I'll watch sport. And sport. And more sport. Nice of the BBC to create 24 new channels to watch all the sport all the time on.

    Oh before I go, my two favourite bits: the forged Olympic rings rising then cooling in the air and the cauldron. Simply wow.
  • caeskacaeska
    edited July 2012
    The opening ceremony was absolutely fantastic, loved the whole show. Can't wait to watch some sports now!
  • FriarFriar
    edited July 2012
    corruptbiggins wrote: »
    Loved the opening ceremony, tired now though. Off to bed and tomorrow/today I'll watch sport. And sport. And more sport. Nice of the BBC to create 24 new channels to watch all the sport all the time on.

    Oh before I go, my two favourite bits: the forged Olympic rings rising then cooling in the air and the cauldron. Simply wow.

    The music during the whole industrial revolution scene was really impressive. I thought that was just amazing, and a fantastic idea. I loved the skits with Rowan Atkinson and also the bit with the queen (Mostly because My mother said "That's an actress. It doesn't even look like her" just as she started to turn around to greet Mr. bond.)

    I hate sport though, so I won't be watching the actual events.
  • JohroJohro
    edited July 2012
    Britons are cheering Canadians. ...They know we're not a part of the monarchy anymore, right? Could be a lesser of two evils deal. We're a country they're not familiar with competitively as we're best at different sports....and we're not America. It's just weird, people waving the Union flag, chanting Canada.
  • Darth MarsdenDarth Marsden
    edited July 2012
    We're supporting you because you're awesome. Now hush.
  • Giant TopeGiant Tope
    edited July 2012
    tumblr_m7uu316SV31qfgx6bo1_500.gif
  • FitzoliverJFitzoliverJ
    edited July 2012
    Johro wrote: »
    Britons are cheering Canadians. ...They know we're not a part of the monarchy anymore, right?

    Well, the official website of the Canadian government lists a Governor-General and a Prime Minister, that sounds kinda monarchial. On the other hand, it also lists the War of 1812 under "Priorities"!
  • JohroJohro
    edited July 2012
    Well we ARE a federation, which can be a monarchy. I guess it really comes down to how much power your leader has. Yes, we do have a Governor General(A Canadian representative to Britain who really doesn't seem to do anything from my perspective) and we do maintain ties to Britain, but yet it is easier for us to throw our leader out of office or vote down a position he supports than the States(more likely anyway, while we have our own version of "Congress", they are less likely to support their own party and more likely to support what they and their voters want. As I mentioned previously, party members vote against their leaders all the time if they disagree). If our leader makes a couple fucked up decisions, they do a vote of no confidence(it's happened before) and if most of the combined party members agree, he's toast, gone, dog meat, bye bye. So really our leader doesn't have a whole lot of free rein.

    So... We're closer to Britain... But less of a monarchy than most democratic countries in this regard.
  • coolsomecoolsome
    edited July 2012
    Instead of the Olympics we should have had The Hunger Games.
  • JohroJohro
    edited July 2012
    Hard Target. Just with less Van Damme.
  • DAISHIDAISHI
    edited July 2012
    Today is an epic day at the Olympics. I'm recording all the action and watching some via my iPad at the gym. Soccer, beach volleyball, and basketball are all going on today. Should be sweeeeet.
  • FriarFriar
    edited July 2012
    Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

    The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

    Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.
  • DAISHIDAISHI
    edited July 2012
    Friar wrote: »
    Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

    The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

    Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.

    Well if you're into stereotyping and generalizing, sure. You should read Think Progress or Daily Kos. Americans wanted to watch that opening ceremony, and Americans love being in London, and Americans have, for the most part, been fine with the security.
  • caeskacaeska
    edited July 2012
    Friar wrote: »
    Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

    The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

    Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.

    It's fun to watch the events and I'm having a great time watching sports that I don't normally watch.
    But I have to say all the moaning and accusing competitors of drug use has no place in the olympiad. The olympiad has never been about winning, it's about friendship, respect and fair play. Winning isn't important.
  • JenniferJennifer Moderator
    edited July 2012
    Friar wrote: »
    Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user.
    NBC cutting out the memorial was definitely despicable. And their excuse was horrid as well (they say they cut it out to appeal to American audiences). They could have found something else from which to cut out minutes instead of a tribute to people who lost their lives to terrorism). :mad:

    But unless I'm missing something, the Chinese swimmer in question is a woman named Ye Shiwen. And the UK press has been making waves about it, not the American press (The Times is the one making all the headlines for calling her performance "scarcely credible"). The American press has been covering both sides (even Fox News!! :eek: and that's saying something).
  • AlcoremortisAlcoremortis
    edited July 2012
    Friar wrote: »
    Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

    It really depends on what weapon you were watching. If it was foil or sabre, there might have been a change in right of way so that the initial attacker lost their right of way via a parry/counterattack so then their touch wouldn't count.

    Also, generally you have lost of red lights on the left and green lights on the right. Depending on which light goes off that was who got the touch. So if the fencer on the left made a touch, the red light on their side would go off and they get a point.

    Apart from the right of way thing, there's not really a lot of subtlety in fencing rules. You stab the other person, you get a point.
  • coolsomecoolsome
    edited July 2012
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  • corruptbigginscorruptbiggins
    edited July 2012
    Yay, first gold for GB!
  • GaryCXJkGaryCXJk
    edited August 2012
    Just saw women's 100m freestyle an hour ago, and I have to say, I've never been this excited about seeing a swimming competition ever. Can't even remember when I was ever excited about a swimming competition.
  • DAISHIDAISHI
    edited August 2012
    I'm not sure how to put it correctly, but the United States sodomized the Nigerian basketball team. They set 4 separate scoring records in one of the biggest blow outs ever in Olympic history.
  • JohroJohro
    edited August 2012
    ..and last I checked, they were toe to toe with Lithuania, so take that for what it's worth.
  • RetroVortexRetroVortex
    edited August 2012
    You know. I'm bloody suprised GB is doing so well.

    I know we are the hosts, but we're normally are pretty crap at Olympics.
  • FriarFriar
    edited August 2012
    It seems the forum ate my post I made a few days ago, clarifying my stance on the apparent moaning by the americans. I can't even remember what I said, something a long the lines of how its easy to get confused when It's reported as "The Americans have..." rather than "The American media has..." or "And American Coach has..."

    Also, I withdraw my statement of thinking Koreans were good sportspeople after they tried being sleazy in the tennis (I think? Or was it badminton? Football? Pfft, I dunno.)

    Anyway, glad to see we're doing so well now! And my new favourite sport is the distance rowing. It's great how it can be neck and neck right until the end. I actually want to go see an event now. Unfortunately, none of my friends do, and it works out really dear (Even if we get a £10 ticket, we're looking at £40 for a train to and from london. Plus underground. Plus transport to train station/parking (7 miles away). So, yeah.
  • GaryCXJkGaryCXJk
    edited August 2012
    Aaaaaaaaand they're being trumped at hockey. By the Dutch.
  • DAISHIDAISHI
    edited August 2012
    HELL YES! USA Women are whooping up. Men are going to have to pick it up for 2012, if they were doing their part we'd be ahead by a mile. But soccer and water polo belong to our girls.
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited August 2012
    I really like these alternative medal tallies (by GDP, population, or GDP per capita). It's a much more interesting look at how well different nations are doing compared to the regular boring old medal count.
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