New Olympics thread London 2012

[Jeff Wrangler]

Mod note:
I split the new posts from the older ones from 2008 and moved the thread to Chez Tremblay, so we have a clean new start on this year's Olympics.



Bumping this.

In case anyone else wants to post anything about this year's Summer Olympics.

 

[Penthesilea]

Bumping this.

In case anyone else wants to post anything about this year's Summer Olympics.

 

You bet I want! Thanks for un-burying it, Jeff.
We just spent to weeks in the UK and are totally hyped up about the event!
You couldn't miss the Olympics/Paralympics coming up in the UK, no way. The games hadn't even started, but they were everywhere. TV, newspapers, olympic/paralympic flags at all BP stations, and each and every shop, even the smallest in the most remote village, has a corner of souvenirs.

Whole family will be in front of the telly tomorrow, watching the opening ceremony.


Here are the officiall mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville. Mandeville is named after Stoke-Mandeville, where one of the world's most famous (and also one of the first, I think) spinal injury units is. That's also where the first sports competitions for wheelchair users were held, some time after WWII. Gawd, I heard the whole history of Stoke-Mandeville hospital when I was studying. A professor of mine was a specialist on SCI (Spinal Cord Injuries). Almost twenty years later, I still remember. Spent a whole semester learning exclusively about SCI (in medical science anyway, I also had other subjects).





Speaking on the subject of the paralympic games, I really liked how evenly presented they were with the olympic games in the UK. Well done, Brits. It's about time they start throwing the whole stuff together, IMO. I know, logistic-wise, it would be a challenge, but it's the biggest event on this planet anyway. I'm sure it could be done. And it should be done.

[David In Indy]

Yup!

I'm going to watch it! I'm looking forward to seeing the opening ceremonies tomorrow! I'm even planning to DVR it so I can watch it again later, at some point. They are always so beautiful. And I love seeing all of the athletes from around the world parading in! 

[David In Indy]

I've reset the poll so everyone can vote again if they wish.

[delalluvia]

Dang it!  I just realized I'm having dinner with my friend when the Opening Ceremonies are going on!!!  Will they repeat them?

[Jeff Wrangler]

Thanks for un-burying it, Jeff.

I had to do a "Search" to find it.  

I will watch the opening ceremonies tomorrow night.

I would like to see certain events. I've already made pretty clear elsewhere my, er, fascination with the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team.   And one team member in particular.  

(Side note: The team has five members and three alternates, in case somebody gets hurt and can't compete. I read today that the alternates have to stay in Birmingham. What's up with that? No offense to Birmingham, but the alternates can't even stay in London? Don't seem right to me.   )

I would like to see Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte compete against each other in swimming. I saw Lochte beat Phelps in one event in the trials, so Phelps can be beaten. I saw part of an interview with Lochte. He has a wardrobe the size of which many a gay man would envy, and a collection of shoes to rival Imelda Marcos.  

I know absolutely nothing about American diving this time out, but I will be rooting for the Canadian heartthrob Alexandre Despatie.   I also read today that Matthew Mitcham will be competing for Australia again this year.  

Tell you what, I heard something today that hauled me up short. I should have realized it, of course, but I just hadn't thought of it. This year is 40 years since the Munich Olympics. I guess the Munich games will be remembered for two bizarrely different reasons: Mark Spitz's triumphs in swimming, which weren't surpassed until Michael Phelps in Beijing four years ago, and the horror and sadness of the massacre of the Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists.    (Spitz is Jewish. I remembered he was hustled out of Munich and back to the States in case he was another target.)

I was 14 years old that summer of 1972. Where the heck has my life gone?  

[ifyoucantfixit]

     
                 Mariel Zegunis"    Hometown:   Beaverton,  Oregon


            The young woman leading the parade of athletes from USA.  Is from a fencing school next door literally to the billiard room
we use to practice.   She won gold some 8 years ago and she is back again.  It is an honorary position, chosen by the athletes themselves.  Her mother got the notice last evening that she was to lead the procession, and told her that NBC offered one of their
available ticketed seats, in which to watch the opeing ceremonies.  She had to get reservations, pack, arrange a place to stay, and get there.  In less than 24 hrs. 
             She was a former Olympian herself.  She was on the rowing team.  I was so happy for her.  She was so excited.  They had her on the local news, as she was preparing to board the plane enroute...  I wish I could remember her name.  If I hear it later, I will add that to the post...

[Penthesilea]

ITell you what, I heard something today that hauled me up short. I should have realized it, of course, but I just hadn't thought of it. This year is 40 years since the Munich Olympics. I guess the Munich games will be remembered for two bizarrely different reasons: Mark Spitz's triumphs in swimming, which weren't surpassed until Michael Phelps in Beijing four years ago, and the horror and sadness of the massacre of the Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists.    (Spitz is Jewish. I remembered he was hustled out of Munich and back to the States in case he was another target.)

I was 14 years old that summer of 1972. Where the heck has my life gone?  

I was four years old in 1972, so I don't remember personally, but of course I know. Horrific and heartwrenching, even forty years later.

My daughter, for who this is all ancvient history, commented somewhat dryly: we [Germans] had the Olympics twice and managed to botch it both times. We'll never live to see Germany hosting another Olympics.

[Meryl]

Here's a big-picture article that makes good background reading for tonight's ceremonies:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/27/london-2012-time-to-find-out-who-we-are

[Jeff Wrangler]

I was four years old in 1972, so I don't remember personally, but of course I know. Horrific and heartwrenching, even forty years later.

My daughter, for who this is all ancvient history, commented somewhat dryly: we [Germans] had the Olympics twice and managed to botch it both times. We'll never live to see Germany hosting another Olympics.

Apparently there is some controversy over not remembering the deaths in Munich. A columnist in our local newspaper wrote about it in this morning's edition. Apparently the chairman of the IOC is not going to mention it in his opening remarks tonight, and some people think he should, including the columnist.