Author Topic: London Olympics - News & Views  (Read 234296 times)

Offline Sheriff Roland

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London Olympics - News & Views
« on: July 27, 2012, 03:04:10 am »
The Games are gettin' started today so I thought a new thread might be in order.

I've been without a T.V. for the past 4 years plus - that is to say I cancelled by cable nearly 5 years ago and haven't watched any T.V. except for DVDs and what I've been able to streamline on my computer in all that time. However, about a month ago I splurged on a 46" wide LED T.V. and had an antenna installed on my roof so I will now be able to watch (probably far too) many hours of coverage of the London Games.
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2012, 03:09:02 am »
I'm sure there are going to be daily google doodles during these games, as there were during the Vancouver 2010 games. Here's the first, for Opening Ceremony day ...


reposted from the 'google doodle' thread.
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2012, 03:25:08 am »
Oops - I missed it by one day.

Apparently the 'Are you planning to watch the Olympics' thread, from 2008, has been reactivated.

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,21888.0/topicseen.html

Now there's a new 2012 London Olympics thread in Chez Tremblay merging a post from this thread to those posted recently in that reactivated 2008 Olypics' thread - should you prefer not to post in my blog.

http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,50063.msg635912.html#new

I'll be posting on this thread as before.
« Last Edit: July 28, 2012, 11:29:45 am by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2012, 08:47:55 pm »
The opening ceremonies ended a little more than half an hour ago and they're now broadcasting a 'Reader's Digest' version.

I enjoyed the show. Highlights for me included the James Bond bit with the Queen, the Mr Bean segment (and I'm not a fan of either characters), the grandiosity (Is that even a word?) of the show, especially the beginning. I loved the drums - thoughout the proceedings; the cultural influence of Great Britain in the past half century (party in a house); the flame cauldrum.

This is the first games to have both male and female athletes from every single participating country.(although far more felt the need to have one of the women be flag bearer.)

Some (slight) negatives ... What the hell is Muhammed Ali doing there? Why was the cauldrum lit by seven 'aspiring' British athletes? (after all, Roger Banister, the first man to break the four minute mile is still around), and why did Paul McCartney get to sing only one song?
« Last Edit: July 28, 2012, 04:54:07 am by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2012, 10:02:39 pm »
Why was the cauldrum lit by seven 'aspiring' British athletes? (after all, Roger Banister, the first man to break the four minute mile is still around).

Why indeed. I just learned yesterday that Roger Banister is still living. I was "betting myself" this evening that he would be "the one."
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2012, 10:07:34 pm »




[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2U4ianzLY0[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS9qfggbLJE&feature=related[/youtube]
.



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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2012, 10:30:06 pm »


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJwujbz5wxc&feature[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erDi2guRj1w&feature=relmfu[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QP6NzMsX7I&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
.



"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2012, 10:48:00 pm »
Tell you what. I hate to sound like a Pollyanna, but I do like to watch the Parade of Nations. All those wonderful, talented young people, looking so happy and so proud to be representing their countries at the Olympics! I can't even imagine what it must feel like to be in their place.  :)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Monika

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2012, 01:41:18 am »
Great work, UK! I watched the entire thing, beginning to end. I liked that they had brought a lot of humour into it. Mr Bean was probably my favorite and the first part with the chimneys.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #9 on: July 28, 2012, 04:32:17 am »
Tell you what. I hate to sound like a Pollyanna, but I do like to watch the Parade of Nations. All those wonderful, talented young people, looking so happy and so proud to be representing their countries at the Olympics! I can't even imagine what it must feel like to be in their place.  :)

And Good Looking!!

Healthy people have a glow about them. Even the women (gay man here - don't usually notice 'em) were quite attractive.

The uniforms (and costumes) were in large part attractive as well. Heard the Australian uniforms had the names of every past gold medal winners stitched into the lining. I found some of the men's hats to have missed their mark. Austerity hats, I call 'em (can't recall from which nation). I might get use to the American beret, but right now, I'm still not likin' 'em much.

And still, in 2012, the American's teeth all look far too perfect - not quite human.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2012, 10:07:22 am by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #10 on: July 28, 2012, 04:49:51 am »



[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I5rpRSOw7Ic[/youtube]
.



"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2012, 04:59:57 am »
Reposting Day Two's Google Doodle


Archery

Hey Look! There's the Mokingjay!
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Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2012, 05:19:51 am »
I don´t know if this is a good thing...but I am hooked on the olympics from day one. I´m watching Beach Volley, Swimming, Cycling sense this morning.. I´m afraid it´s gonna be a lot of hours infront of the telly.

I watch the entire Olympic ceremony last night. 4,5 hours later I was stooned death. But I manage to see the whole thing. It was amazing. The story´s, the music shows, the guest´s appearance, the fire works, the volunteers. I loved it.

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2012, 11:05:00 am »
(Re: The athletes in the Parade of Nations)

And Good Looking!!

Healthy people have a glow about them. Even the women (gay man here - don't usually notice 'em) were quite attractive.

I agree, 'hunnerd percent. I was thinking the same thing, even about the young women, as I was watching the parade. Some of those young folks were smiling so broadly you'd think their faces would crack.  ;D

Quote
I might get use to the American beret, but right now, I'm still not likin' 'em much.

I don't think too much of those berets, either. However, since it was pointed out that the U.S. military wears berets these days, I guess we U.S. folks aren't allowed to criticize them.  ::)  ;)  ;D

(I suppose you've heard the controversy about the uniforms being designed by Ralph Lauren but manufactured in China? I heard yesterday that the uniforms for the Winter Olympics will be manufactured in the U.S.)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2012, 11:10:23 am »
I don´t know if this is a good thing...but I am hooked on the olympics from day one. I´m watching Beach Volley, Swimming, Cycling sense this morning.. I´m afraid it´s gonna be a lot of hours infront of the telly.

I heard Michael Phelps barely qualified for the 400 m Individual Medley (I think I have the even correct?).

At the risk of sounding mean-spirited, I think Phelps is old news. I have a sneaking suspicion that despite what he says publicly, at some level he just no longer has the fire in him that he had four years ago.
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #15 on: July 28, 2012, 11:19:36 am »
Big disappointment this morning in woman's basketball.

After trailing the #2 seeded Russians for the first five minutes of the game, Canada (ranked 10th) came back to build a 12 point lead, reduced to 7 by the end of the first quarter. They continued to lead even rebuilding a 10 point lead at the start of the 4th quarter. Then the Russians poured it on and with about 3 minutes left, the game was tied and the final score showed a 5 point victory for the Russian women.  :(

Guess it's true - what Jed Bartlet said ... "The (basketball) game is decided in the last two minutes".
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #16 on: July 28, 2012, 11:37:27 am »
The women's soccer team (ranked 6th) lost to Japan (ranked 1st) by a score of 2-1 in their first divisional match. At the beginning of the current game, the pundits were saying they needed to beat the South Africans by 3 points in case they end up tied for third.

Guess what - The Canadian woman's soccer team won 3-0 against the South Africans.

Neither the basketball team nor the soccer team are expected to medal (the men haven't even qualified), but it's nice to see them outperform.
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Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2012, 11:52:08 am »
The women's soccer team (ranked 6th) lost to Japan (ranked 1st) by a score of 2-1 in their first divisional match. At the beginning of the current game, the pundits were saying they needed to beat the South Africans by 3 points in case they end up tied for third.

Guess what - The Canadian woman's soccer team won 3-0 against the South Africans.

Neither the basketball team nor the soccer team are expected to medal (the men haven't even qualified), but it's nice to see them outperform.

the soccer team´s has to have players under the age of 23. Only three players can be above.

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2012, 04:00:20 pm »
Yeehaw!  :D

I just saw on AOL News/Huffpost that Ryan Lochte won the gold in the men's 400 m individual medley.  :D

Michael Phelps came in fourth.  8)

I can't remember: How far "ahead" of the U.S. east coast is London, 4 hours or 6 hours?  ???
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline southendmd

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #19 on: July 28, 2012, 05:38:11 pm »
I can't remember: How far "ahead" of the U.S. east coast is London, 4 hours or 6 hours?  ???

5

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #20 on: July 28, 2012, 09:47:41 pm »
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2012, 10:52:23 am »



Cool to be a Clueless Fool Dep't:



http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/07/28/nbc_olympics_coverage_meredith_vieira_think_it_s_cool_to_be_ignorant_.html


Meredith Vieira at the
Opening Ceremony:
It’s Cool To Be Ignorant

By Josh Levin
Posted Saturday,
July 28, 2012,
at 11:01 AM ET



Meredith Vieira joked about her own
ignorance at the opening ceremony.



The opening ceremony of the London Olympics featured loads of references that were lost on American viewers who aren’t familiar with, say, the particulars of Britain’s National Health Service. When unfamiliar facts arise during NBC’s coverage, you can typically count on in-house smartypants Bob Costas to fill you in on the details. But with Costas on the sidelines until the parade of nations, former Today compatriots Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira instead engaged in a reverse battle of wits, fighting it out to see who knew least. Vieira came out on top.

Some have complained that NBC’s talking heads chattered too much during the ceremony. I take issue more with how they chattered. At the top of the bizarre set piece celebrating the virtues of texting, Vieira explained that World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee would soon be making an appearance. "If you haven't heard of him, we hadn’t either," she said.

Later, Lauer and Vieira described the technology that was lighting up the audience. “These are little pixel screens at every seat that allows the creative team here to actually turn the crowd into a giant LED screen,” Lauer noted. Vieira’s jokey response: “One more thing I don’t understand.”
 
Aside from Chris Berman-esque nicknaming, this is my least favorite sportscasting tic. Vieira is surely very intelligent. She has an army of researchers by her side both before and during the opening ceremony. And yet, likely out of a desire to seem more “relatable,” she plays dumb. This reverse snobbery is insulting to viewers—if she acts dumb, how do you think she feels about the yokels watching on the boob tube?—and perpetuates the poisonous idea that it’s uncool to know stuff.

A polite request for Meredith Vieira: Instead of chuckling that you don’t understand how the stadium’s light show works, get someone to teach you so you can explain it to people at home. You would learn something, and so would we.






http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony






NBC lambasted over banal butchering
of opening ceremony – and rightly so


Tim Berners-Lee? Who's that? Madagascar?
Oh, like the kids movie! If you're going to
make us wait hours to watch the ceremony
live, NBC, the least you could have done is
keep quiet



Sir Tim Berners-Lee's 'This is for Everyone' referring to the world wide
web – everyone besides Meredith Vieira, that is.



As the Olympic torch was lit in London at the end of a three-and-a-half-hour ceremony live blogged and tweeted across the globe, NBC finally began to broadcast the show – to Americans on the east coast (west coast viewers had to wait another three hours for their turn).

Commentators Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira reunited for the cameras as if it was Beijing 2008 – or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, or just a regular morning in 2011.

Theirs was the job of interpreting, explaining and trampling all over Danny Boyle's fast-paced, high-def presentation of Great Britain from the time of maypoles and hay bales to the current day. And they did what they were paid to do.

In the early part of the broadcast, commentary was restrained. Matt and Meredith didn't speak over every song, and they only interrupted each other every so often.

Much of the early local cultural references may have been lost on a US audience, and to their credit the cheery duo did a valiant job trying to explain the Beefeaters, the Industrial Revolution, and the National Health Service.

"Some very big surprises lie ahead," said Matt cutting to a commercial break as reports of the show from those who had watched it live began to flood the internet.

He was referring to the "entry" of Her Majesty the Queen into the Olympic Stadium. Matt was beside himself at the prospect of it. He was DYING to tell us what would happen.

Luckily for us the set up for the Queen's entrance was a video of Daniel Craig as James Bond escorting her into a helicopter.

In a rare display of self-control NBC let the pre-shot video sections of the ceremony play without interruption. As Matt Lauer would say, "We thank them for that."

Meredith disappeared two hours into the show and Matt was joined by Parade of Nations veteran Bob Costas for the marathon task of introducing the individual nations to America.

The two men lobbed their factoids of "Olympic trivia" as they called them back and forth with fluent ease.

A couple of examples from Matt, who edged out Bob for the gold medal in triviality: "From the I-did-not-know-that-file, Denmark is the most competitive non-Asian country in Badminton."

And, "Madagascar – for our younger viewers a country associated with a few animated movies."

At this point of the broadcast a Storify called Shut Up Matt Lauer began to circulate on Twitter.

The most egregious moment of commentary had come earlier when Matt and Meredith mentioned that there was to be a tribute to "someone" called Tim Berners-Lee.

"If you haven't heard of him, we haven't either," chuckled Meredith about the inventor of the world wide web sitting on stage.

"Google him," laughed Matt with no apparent sense of irony.

Three and half hours into the broadcast the United States team appeared in the Parade of Nations and promptly took out their cellphones, snapping pictures and shooting videos of each other as they walked through the stadium.

It was an odd moment that somehow synthesized the lack of spontaneity of the whole television experience.

Ten minutes later the home team of Brits finally entered to David Bowie's Heroes, a blizzard of white confetti, and an overwhelming roar of gusty cheering.

"Let's sit back and listen," said Bob. And we did – for 20 seconds before Matt started up again.

"Seven billion pieces of paper have just been released into the air over this Olympic Stadium …"

By now the two men just couldn't stop. They talked all the way through The Arctic Monkeys singing Come Together. They talked through the stadium announcers.

They briefly held back for Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Olympic Committee, and for the Queen, who declared the Games officially open.

But the minute the Olympic flag appeared at the end of her words they started up again. And from then on they didn't stop talking till the fireworks at the end. If only NBC had cut some of their banality.

But the network chose to let them run on in their entirety.

Other portions of the ceremony weren't so lucky. The Sex Pistol's Pretty Vacant  was largely missing from NBC's coverage, other than the briefest of snippets either side of yet another commercial break.

Meanwhile the arrival of Saudi Arabia's first female athletes never made it onto American television nor did a memorial package displayed in the stadium on big screens.

Instead, as a taste of what we can expect in the days and weeks to come, NBC interrupted exciting and emotional television for a static Ryan Seacrest studio interview with Michael Phelps.

By the end of the night three and a half hours of live action had become four and a half hours of tedium and #nbcfail was trending on Twitter. It was an award rightly earned.


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #22 on: July 29, 2012, 11:12:31 am »


http://deadspin.com/5929778/heres-the-opening-ceremony-tribute-to-terrorism-victims-nbc-doesnt-want-you-to-see


Here’s The Opening Ceremony
Tribute To Terrorism Victims
NBC [Didn't] Want You To See


By Timothy Burke
Jul 27, 2012 10:55 PM


Click and scroll to see the full video



The major transitional element of today's London Olympics opening ceremony was a downtempo performance of adoptive sporting anthem "Abide With Me" by Scottish singer Emeli Sandé. The song and accompanying dance were a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 terror attacks in London that claimed 52 victims days after the 2012 Summer Olympic hosts were named. (It's also been suggested the performance was a memorial to the war dead.)
 
Regardless, it was a rather significant and emotional moment in the opening ceremony, coming just before the parade of nations—and it wasn't aired in the United States. Instead, viewers were treated to a lengthy and meaningless Ryan Seacrest interview of Michael Phelps. NBC regularly excises small portions of the opening ceremony to make room for commercials, but we've never heard of them censoring out an entire performance—especially to air an inane interview. We've asked NBC why they didn't air the tribute, and if they get back to us we'll let you know what they say. In the meantime, enjoy the performance everyone else in the world saw. [BBC]
 
Update (12:25 a.m.): Some readers have commented the official media guide to the opening ceremony makes no reference to 7/7. The sheer number of news stories that cite the performance as a tribute to its victims (as well as the performance itself) gives us pretty good confidence that the memorial was its theme. Here's the prepared BBC remarks as aired:
 

Ladies and gentlemen, please pause silent for our memorial wall for friends and family who can't be here tonight. The excitement of that moment in Singapore seven years ago when England won the games was tempered the next day with sorrow from the events of July 7th that year. A wall of remembrance for those no longer here to share in this event.
 

Metro reporter Cassandra Garrison told me the segment's choreographer Akram Khan did not mention 7/7 in his press conference on the performance, explaining it instead to be about "mortality."
 
SEE ALSO: Opening Ceremony Choreographer "Disheartened And Disappointed" NBC Cut His Entire Performance Out Of Their Broadcast
"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #23 on: July 29, 2012, 11:32:39 am »
Bhopal victims organize protest Special Olympics Games


Disabled children suffering the effects of the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India are to take part in a "Special Olympics" on Thursday to protest against London 2012 sponsor Dow Chemical.

The event is aimed at raising awareness about the legacy of birth defects and pollution from the accident at a factory owned by US chemical company Union Carbide, which was bought by Dow in 1999, organizers said Tuesday.
 
The plant leaked poisonous gas into neighboring slums in Bhopal, killing thousands instantly and tens of thousands more over the following years in the world's worst industrial accident.
 
The "Bhopal Special Olympics" will see at least 100 physically and mentally disabled children compete on a sports field in the shadow of the defunct factory, which still contains toxic waste left untreated by local authorities.
 
The contests in Bhopal -- the day before the London Games officially open -- will include football, an "assisted walk" and a "crab walk", in which participants unable to stand on two feet race on their hands.
 
"We are doing this mostly due to Dow's attempt to greenwash its crimes," Rachna Dhingra, a spokeswoman for the five survivors' groups behind the initiative, told AFP.
 
"We all find it ironic that a corporation that has disabled people in Bhopal is sponsoring the Olympic Games."
 
Organizers are also targeting Britain and its colonial crimes, particularly in India. The Bhopal Olympics "will open with songs and dances focusing on matters that British people could be ashamed of," Dhingra said.
 
The decision by London 2012 organizers to stick by Dow Chemical has caused anger in Bhopal and led to complaints from the Indian government, which asked for the company to be dropped as a sponsor.
 
"Our biggest qualm with (British Prime Minister) David Cameron and (chief Olympics organizer) Lord Sebastian Coe is the simple reason that they never gave the survivors of Bhopal the chance to express themselves," Dhingra said.
 
Dow bought Union Carbide more than a decade and half after the disaster and insists all liabilities were settled in a 1989 compensation deal that saw Union Carbide pay the Indian government $470 million.

The local and federal governments have also faced criticism in India for failing to clear the site and prevent further contamination of groundwater more than 25 years after the disaster.
 
Dhingra said the children in the Bhopal event were all willing participants.
 
"I would say 60 percent (of the children) have had training. This is part of their rehabilitation," she said.
 
"This is what Dow has done. There is no better way to show their crimes."
 
The organizers of the London Olympics and the International Olympic Committee have faced consistent questions over their choice of sponsors, including fast-food giant McDonalds and soft drink maker Coca-Cola.
 
After an outcry in India and speculation about a boycott by Indian athletes, London organizing officials said Dow's branding would not appear on a giant fabric wrap around the main stadium in the east of the British capital.





Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/newsarticle/500ee6dcc3d4cae251000003/bhopal-victims-organize-protest-special-olympics-games#ixzz221fNd63z

Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #24 on: July 29, 2012, 11:50:06 am »
Victims of Bhopal gas leak hold protest Olympics to shame London Games sponsor Dow





Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #25 on: July 29, 2012, 11:56:29 am »
BHOPAL, India — Dozens of giggling children in wheelchairs or limping on twisted limbs raced for gold Thursday in their own “Special Olympics” organized in an effort to shame London Games sponsor Dow Chemical Co. over the deadly 1984 Bhopal gas leak.

Cheered on by parents and activists, the children — teenagers and kids as young as 5 who have birth defects blamed on their parents’ exposure to the gas — struggled across distances they normally would not attempt in spirited competition. One little boy ran laps back and forth on the patchy field even when no race was on.


Survivors say Dow owes them compensation for the world’s worst industrial disaster and have campaigned to have the chemical giant dropped as a sponsor of the Olympics. Dow says it has no liability because it bought the company responsible for the plant more than a decade after the cases had been settled.

All sides acknowledge that what took place on the morning of Dec. 3, 1984, in this central Indian city was a tragedy. A pesticide plant run by Union Carbide leaked about 40 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air, killing an estimated 15,000 people and affecting at least 500,000 more, according to government estimates. Activists say thousands of children have been born with brain damage, missing palates and twisted limbs because of their parents’ exposure to the gas or to contaminated water.

Having failed to get Dow’s Olympic sponsorship quashed, Bhopal activists carried through with their threat to hold their own “Olympics” the day before the London Games’ opening ceremony to showcase the devastation caused by the gas leak.

The Bhopal “Olympics” began with children with cerebral palsy, partial paralysis and mental disability parading in wheelchairs and walking with the assistance of others around a rundown, outdoor stadium overlooking the old pesticide plant.

Events included a crab race on all fours, wheelchair races and an “assisted walking” 25-meter sprint.

Jamila Bi brought her wheelchair-bound 11-year-old grandson, Amaan, who has cerebral palsy.

“Today these children are participating, in spite of what Union Carbide did to them,” Bi said. “We are happy that they will walk. Those people will see that in spite of what they did these children are still participating.”

Some children carried brooms to symbolize their demand that Dow clean up the plant. Others in the concrete stands held banners reading “Dow Poisons” or “Don’t let Dow Chem contaminate Olympics.” Placards suggested Dow’s participation in London should make one “ashamed to be a Brit.”

Dow, which is sponsoring a decorative sheath around London’s Olympic Stadium, was trying to use the Games to wash away its responsibility to the people of Bhopal, said Satinath Sarangi, a protest organizer.

“Dow Chemical as a sponsor violates the very spirit of the Olympics,” he said.

Survivors say Dow should pay $8 billion in compensation to the victims and their families and clean up the soil and groundwater around the plant.

In a statement, Dow expressed sympathy with the victims but accused activists of trying to rewrite history. The company reiterated that it never owned the pesticide plant. It is linked to the tragedy because 16 years later, in 2001, it bought the Union Carbide Corporation, an American company that had a majority stake in the Bhopal plant.

Dow says the legal case was resolved in 1989 when Union Carbide settled with the Indian government for $470 million, and that all responsibility for the factory now rests with the government of the state of Madhya Pradesh, which now owns the site.

“Those trying to attach Dow to the incident are misinformed or misguided,” said Scot Wheeler, a Dow spokesman.

Investigators say the accident occurred when water entered a sealed tank containing the highly reactive gas, causing pressure in the tank to rise too high.

Union Carbide Corp. said the accident was an act of sabotage by a disgruntled employee who was never identified. It has denied the disaster was the result of lax safety standards or faulty plant design, as claimed by some activists.

The Bhopal activists are also using their protest to try to embarrass the British for what they say is a lengthy history of oppression of their former colony.

Offline Monika

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #26 on: July 29, 2012, 02:50:12 pm »
That sure was a terrible, terrible accident.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #27 on: July 30, 2012, 10:07:18 pm »
Day Three


Fencing
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #28 on: July 31, 2012, 04:47:41 am »
Day Four


Men's Rings
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #29 on: July 31, 2012, 11:15:54 am »



Caliban's Dream
Written by
Rick Smith of Underworld
(London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony)


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mec8GZkEpD4[/youtube]
Published on Jul 27, 2012 by daibhymac


The hauntingly beautiful music from the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Featuring vocals from Alex Trimble (of Two Door Cinema Club), Only Men Aloud, Dockhead Choir, Elizabeth Roberts, Esme Smith and percussion by Dame Evelyn Glennie


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #30 on: July 31, 2012, 03:02:26 pm »
Nothing impresses the Queen...not even the biggest event of the year!

I have seen this before...

Ohhh my nails.....

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #31 on: July 31, 2012, 03:37:21 pm »
I'm not a Monarquist (by any stretch) but, she IS 86 years old. Gotta give her credit to even show up at various events.

I too noticed that she looked bored during the opening ceremonies.
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Offline Kelda

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #32 on: July 31, 2012, 04:08:36 pm »
I thought Danny Boyle did a fab job,,, and even though I'm no Royalist all credit to old Lizzie for her apperance in the bond sequence. But Callum did come out with a cracker after the deaf kids sang god save the queen... "she canny even crack a smile the old bint"...

Loved Mr Bean too!

I also like how made a few political statements throughout the show... the whole NHS sequence was a big two fingers to the current Conservative government, and he got a lesbian kiss on tv across the world in the old UK tv clips that were interspersed in the WWW section.
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #33 on: July 31, 2012, 04:31:52 pm »
I'm not a Monarquist (by any stretch) but, she IS 86 years old. Gotta give her credit to even show up at various events.

I too noticed that she looked bored during the opening ceremonies.

I thought Danny Boyle did a fab job,,, and even though I'm no Royalist all credit to old Lizzie for her apperance in the bond sequence. But Callum did come out with a cracker after the deaf kids sang god save the queen... "she canny even crack a smile the old bint"...

Hadn't Callum ought to be careful, if he wants to keep his head?  ;D  ;)

She had--what?--one line, declaring the games open? She might have tried to read it with a little more enthusiasm.  :(

I heard on TV this morning that she went right off to Balmoral as soon as the ceremonies were over. This was pointed out in the context of film of Will, Kate, and Harry watching Cousin Zara compete in an equestrian event.
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #34 on: August 01, 2012, 08:45:58 am »
Day Five


Field Hockey
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #35 on: August 02, 2012, 04:48:01 am »
Day Six


Table Tennis
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views - Cheating
« Reply #36 on: August 02, 2012, 04:56:02 am »
Badminton scandal is a reminder of sport’s dark thread: cheating

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/badminton-scandal-is-a-reminder-of-sports-dark-thread-cheating/article4457025/

The crowd booed and jeered the badminton athletes. The spectators could see something wasn’t right. It was clear that some of the world’s best players were trying to lose at the Olympics.

On Wednesday, officials agreed with what fans saw. Eight women – a doubles teams from China, two from South Korea and one from Indonesia – were thrown out of the London Games for violating badminton’s code of conduct, “not using one’s best efforts to win a match” and play that undermined the sport.

In the long history of cheating at the Olympics, and in sports, the badminton scandal was an unusual twist. The ejected teams had, on Tuesday night in London, tried to purposefully lose matches at the end of a preliminary round to better position themselves in the playoffs for a medal. It was obvious, an ugly spectacle.
...


***Indefensible! I heard that the players were told to lose on purpose by their national federations. Makes no difference. whether it's the playoffs or not, it's not in the Olympic spirit to lose on purpose.***
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views - Cheating
« Reply #37 on: August 02, 2012, 08:57:38 pm »
Badminton scandal is a reminder of sport’s dark thread: cheating

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/badminton-scandal-is-a-reminder-of-sports-dark-thread-cheating/article4457025/

The crowd booed and jeered the badminton athletes. The spectators could see something wasn’t right. It was clear that some of the world’s best players were trying to lose at the Olympics.

On Wednesday, officials agreed with what fans saw. Eight women – a doubles teams from China, two from South Korea and one from Indonesia – were thrown out of the London Games for violating badminton’s code of conduct, “not using one’s best efforts to win a match” and play that undermined the sport.

In the long history of cheating at the Olympics, and in sports, the badminton scandal was an unusual twist. The ejected teams had, on Tuesday night in London, tried to purposefully lose matches at the end of a preliminary round to better position themselves in the playoffs for a medal. It was obvious, an ugly spectacle.
...


***Indefensible! I heard that the players were told to lose on purpose by their national federations. Makes no difference. whether it's the playoffs or not, it's not in the Olympic spirit to lose on purpose.***

And they aren't even Italian!  ;)  I just watched Canada vs Japan.  Japan won but it was a pretty good match.

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #38 on: August 02, 2012, 10:48:14 pm »
I just watched some boxing and fell in love with Great Britain's Anthony Ogogo:


Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #39 on: August 02, 2012, 10:52:33 pm »
Anthony Ogogo is very hot but I think Italy's Clemente Russo wins the title:



Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #40 on: August 03, 2012, 08:29:01 am »
Day Seven


Shot Put
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #41 on: August 03, 2012, 08:58:23 am »
I'm glad for Michael Phelps that he got his twentieth medal, and that it was gold.  :)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #42 on: August 03, 2012, 09:24:18 pm »
Quick update ...

Our (Canadian, woman's) soccer team beat out Great Britain by a score of 2 to nothing today. Since their initial lost to Japan (2-1) they haven't posted another loss & now they've made it to the semi-finals - against the Americans. In the other semi-final match up, France will meet up with the #1 team, Japan.

Not bad girls ... quite a step up from last year's 16th (of 16) placement at the World's.

BTW, the last time a Canadian team medalled in the Summer Olympics, the men's basketball team earned a silver medal - in 1936.
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #43 on: August 04, 2012, 03:34:01 am »
Day Eight


Pole Vault
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #44 on: August 05, 2012, 09:20:45 am »
Day Nine


Synchronised Swimming
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #45 on: August 05, 2012, 09:31:21 am »
Yesterday, the double amputee Oscar 'Blade Runner' Pistorius (from South Africa) came in second in his heat and will be competing today in the semi-final of the 400 m race.


He's not expected to medal, but he might just make it to the finals.

In an interview, he said that he'd always been athletic and when he was a kid, he believed that he simply had different kind of shoes.
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Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #46 on: August 05, 2012, 09:57:15 am »
Yesterday, the double amputee Oscar 'Blade Runner' Pistorius (from South Africa) came in second in his heat and will be competing today in the semi-final of the 400 m race.


He's not expected to medal, but he might just make it to the finals.

In an interview, he said that he'd always been athletic and when he was a kid, he believed that he simply had different kind of shoes.

THat´s awesome...I love that he finally were allowed to compete. I keep my fingers crossed he will do a exellent heat both semi-final and final.

Offline Kelda

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #47 on: August 05, 2012, 12:36:31 pm »
I love his shoes comment.. that's fab! Team gb are doing great.. 3 golds in an hr last night and 3 medals in 5 mins today!
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #48 on: August 05, 2012, 09:55:21 pm »
Well, Pistorius came in last in his 400m semi-finals. He will again run in a relay race later on during these Olympics.

Also, concerning the Canadian women's soccer team, they will play with the Americans in their semi-finals. They're record against the Americans?  3 wins, 5 ties and some 43 losses! That's what I call underdogs!  ;)

BTW, it's been about 11 years since the last win for Canada.
« Last Edit: August 06, 2012, 05:45:47 pm by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #49 on: August 06, 2012, 12:46:46 am »
Oscar Pistorius is certainly easy on the eyes.

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #50 on: August 06, 2012, 12:54:27 am »
I'm not a fan of water polo (the wet equivalent of beach volleyball)  but some of those guys are so damn sexy. Such as Niccolo Gitto of Italy:


Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #51 on: August 06, 2012, 05:55:48 am »
Day Ten


Javelin
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #52 on: August 06, 2012, 03:46:23 pm »
Oscar Pistorius is certainly easy on the eyes.





http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/track-and-field/highlights-oscar-pistorius-bows-out-in-400m-semifinals.html?chrcontext=top-nbc-moments


Oscar Pistorius Bows Out
In 400m Semifinals

"Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius of South Africa finishes
in 46.54 seconds and fails to qualify for the men's 400m
final, but in a touching moment, exchanges bibs with
gold-medal contender Kirani James.


http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/track-and-field/highlights-oscar-pistorius-bows-out-in-400m-semifinals.html?chrcontext=top-nbc-moments


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #53 on: August 06, 2012, 04:04:31 pm »
I'm watching the USA/Tunisia volley ball match and the US is dominating..  How sexy is Sean Rooney?

« Last Edit: August 07, 2012, 03:28:29 pm by oilgun »

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #54 on: August 06, 2012, 05:28:06 pm »
Well the U.S.A. domination of Canada in women soccer continues. The Americans scored the winning goal (4-3) with a few seconds left in extra time of overtime. They generally dominated during the entire game even though Canada had the lead (or were tied) through the entire game (save maybe 10 seconds at the end of extra time).

Canada's goals were all from the same player but they were all good looking goals. Can't say the same about the U.S. goals.

Their (U.S.) first came with some bungling defensively from Canada. The ball bounced on two defencemen before tricking in the net. Their second goal came off the inside of a goal post, and their third goal came after some truly questionable ruling by the ref (for calling an indirect kick because of delay in the game [which normally calls for a warning from the ref], which developped moments later into a direct kick - cause the ball hit the arm of two Canadian players). The last goal was as beautiful as the three Canadian goals.

So Canada now plays for bronze with the French while the U.S. will fight for gold with the only other team that beat the Canadians, Japan.

I like our chances to finally earn our first team medal at the Olympics, after 76 years.
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #55 on: August 07, 2012, 12:42:32 am »
How sexy is Canadian diver françois imbeau-dulac?


Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #56 on: August 07, 2012, 04:11:10 am »
How sexy is Canadian diver françois imbeau-dulac?




Oh my!

 :o :o :o









By the way, how Québécois/Quebecer/Quebecker is  it that François goes by the name 'Francky'! (Twitter @franckyidulac) I LOVE it!!  :laugh: :laugh: 8)
(Just change the name Mickey to Francky, and you've got his new theme song!!


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkYZKqmxaro&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]




 ::) ::) ::) ::)
 8) 8) 8) 8)



[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLktKW915DU[/youtube]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
 ;) ;) ;) ;)




"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #57 on: August 07, 2012, 04:51:27 am »
Day Eleven


Hurdles
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #58 on: August 07, 2012, 08:56:05 am »
the referee's call in yesterday's women's soccer semi-finals is certainly as talked about in these parts as the Bolt win in the 100m race (there are a lot of Jamaicans in Toronto - especially in my neighbourhood, plus, they're marking Jamaica's 50th anniversary).

Here's an explanation of what happened yesterday ...

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/opinion/olympics2012/2012/08/referees-calls-beyond-comprehension.html

Referee's calls beyond comprehension

In the aftermath of what some are already calling the best game in a generation, it's a shame that Canada's 4-3 extra time loss, to the heavily favoured Americans, will largely be remembered for what a referee did.

To set the scene: the Canadian women's soccer team, who has only beaten the powerhouse U.S. four times in its history, was leading 3-2 in the 80th minute of the Olympic semifinal on Monday. All three goals had come from their captain Christine Sinclair and Big Red was looking poised to generate an upset of epic proportions.

That was until Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen stepped in and made a call that few could comprehend and even fewer knew existed.

On paper, a referee can call an indirect free kick when a goaltender is charged with excessively delaying the game on a restart.

On paper.

Usually - and only after repeated warnings - a ref can deliver a yellow card and the goaltender is then free to deliver her kick after the restart.

Usually.


When Canadian keeper Erin McLeod was deemed to have exceeded her six-second limit, 'on paper' and 'usually' became a twisted blend of the rules and reality.

The ensuing free kick would see Canadian defender Lauren Sesselmann deflect the ball off her hand, Pedersen shockingly call another foul for their trouble and American Abby Wambach knotted the game at three from the ensuing penalty kick.

McLeod would later describe her disbelief to the assembled press, saying she had only received a prior warning from the referee's assistant at the start of the second half - and even then, she explained, it was just a vague reference to keeping the game going.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage would add fuel to the confusion (and conspiracy) fires when she too admitted she had never seen a call - or a series of plays - of the sort.
...
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Offline ifyoucantfixit

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #59 on: August 07, 2012, 10:55:31 am »


     In my mind that call was a matter of ego for the ref.  She had probably just learned that rule, and found the slightest of a chance to use it.
Thus showing the degree of expertise she knew over the others. 

    All too sad for the athletes, that work so long and so hard to get to that place. 
   
     Both of those young ladies are members of the phenominal Portland State college team.  It was very difficult to cheer against either of them.  am always happy to be able to cheer for all athletes.  It is no longer the Olympics of yesteryear.  With the cold war and the East Germans using all means at their disposal to win.. I am just happy for all the winners.  I am particularly happy for the ones from small little states.  They have such a difficult time even getting to the Olympics.  Winning is a much larger deal than the priviledge that most of our larger countries have for their athletes...  These athletes become like Michael Phelps and Michael Jordan wrapped into one.  It is a very rare thing for those people.. Several this time around are receiveing the very first medal ever, for their particular home country..!



     Beautiful mind

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #60 on: August 08, 2012, 09:56:27 am »
I don't get it. How is that in Women's Beach Volleyball, a U.S. team is playing a U.S. team for the gold.  ???

Did I hear that correctly?  ???

I got to see Alexandre Despatie dive yesterday. Unfortunately, he didn't make the finals. But he's still gorgeous. ...  ::)

I was surprised to see Troy Dumais was still an Olympian. Good for him!  :D

And Oscar Pistorius is cute. ...  ::)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #61 on: August 08, 2012, 12:06:19 pm »
I got to see Alexandre Despatie dive yesterday. Unfortunately, he didn't make the finals. But he's still gorgeous. ...   ::)

Actually, Alexandre DID make it to the finals, but ended way off the podium - like in 9th or 12th place.

BTW, even though he's be around for a long time, he's been in the starlight from the age of 13 - sooo he's currently still just 27 years old.
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #62 on: August 08, 2012, 12:26:22 pm »
Actually, Alexandre DID make it to the finals, but ended way off the podium - like in 9th or 12th place.

BTW, even though he's be around for a long time, he's been in the starlight from the age of 13 - sooo he's currently still just 27 years old.

27 and 4 Olympics under his belt, that's pretty wild. He came in 11th, but he's had rough with two injuries and the last one was just six weeks before the games.  That was his last Olympic game and it's sound like he might be retiring from competition diving altogether.  He said in an interview that he now wanted to concentrate on an acting career.

___________


I just watched the quarter men's water polo between Serbia & Australia. What an exiting game that was!  Australia lead the first three quarters but then Serbia woke up in the fourth to finish and one 11 to 8.

Now it's Spain vs Montenegro.


« Last Edit: August 08, 2012, 03:05:19 pm by oilgun »

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #63 on: August 08, 2012, 01:53:41 pm »
Actually, Alexandre DID make it to the finals, but ended way off the podium - like in 9th or 12th place.

BTW, even though he's be around for a long time, he's been in the starlight from the age of 13 - sooo he's currently still just 27 years old.

Thanks, Roland. I'm glad to know he did make the finals, sorry he didn't medal.

I saw the men's springboard semifinals yesterday, and I thought I saw the final scores in the semifinals,  ::)  and his name wasn't in them. I guess those rankings change after every dive, and I can't follow any of those scorings anyway!  :laugh: Maybe I didn't see all of the semifinals.
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #64 on: August 08, 2012, 03:22:30 pm »

I just watched my very first game of Handball, France vs Spain, and I fell in love with it.  It's a really fast and aggressive game.  I could almost smell the testosterone emanating from my TV.   And I love that it's the national sport of Iceland, how cool is that?

They were tied at 22 points but France scored at literally the last second.  The spanish players were heartbroken of course, some were in tears.


 

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #65 on: August 08, 2012, 05:25:16 pm »
Did anyone catch the Nederland's Epke Zonderland's high bar routine? I think it yesterday or the day before It was astonishing and easily got him the gold.  I think it was yesterday but I've been sick at home and watching the games nonstop so it's hard to keep track :


Here's a better shot, :-*:

Epke Zonderland

And being dutch he's not afraid to do some beekcake shots.  I added the sticker because I'm not sure if a bit of pubes violates the rules.  I've been warned twice about the photos I post, lol!  


(BTW: Do any of you know photo hosting sites located in Europe? Photobucket keeps censoring my pics.  Even that photo of a pork kidney I posted in the "What's the strangest food you ever eaten"!?)




Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #66 on: August 08, 2012, 06:28:38 pm »
Bulgaria is moving on to the semi-finals in men's Volleyball. They dominated Germany and won all three sets.  The star of the show was Bulgaria's 6'9" , 22yr  Tsvetan (Tsetso) Sokolov.   It was an excellent game.  I couldn't find any revealing photos unfortunately.  I guess Eastern European male athletes are slower to commodify they're bodies.


Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #67 on: August 08, 2012, 09:29:04 pm »


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!




http://rumorfix.com/2012/08/henrik-rummel-is-that-a-gun-or-are-you-happy-to-see-me/


Henrik Rummel:
Is That A Gun
Or Are You Happy
To See Me?


[email protected]
Posted on August 8th, 2012 at 5:37 pm



:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:




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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #68 on: August 08, 2012, 09:32:57 pm »
Yummo!  ;D
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #69 on: August 08, 2012, 10:04:50 pm »



Yummo!  ;D

"The picture "stars" Team USA rower Henrik Rummel receiving
his bronze medal for the (cough) coxless four [Yes, that's what
the event is REALLY called!
] at the weekend, sporting what we
can politely call a bulge in his gentleman's area."
::) ::) ::) ::)
I'd like to send him some flowers too!!
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #70 on: August 08, 2012, 10:13:06 pm »
He's a clearer shot.  He's a lucky boy:


Here's a column about Olympian crotches from Huff Post Gay Voices:

Björn Barrefors: The Sexy Olympian Who Wasn't

I know the Olympics are supposed to be about athleticism, pageantry, global unity, and other catchphrases only used every four years, but let's face it: For many gay viewers it is about hotness. And this Olympic season, one sexy slice of man muscle has taken our own gold medal in men all around. Only one problem: He isn't competing this year.

Perhaps it is the inherently sexual XXX Olympiad moniker or the modern maturity of the Internet and its endless bounty of shirtless photos, but this year feels like the sexiest Olympics of all time. It is like God smashed his Abercrombie & Fitch piggybank above London and sprinkled the city with all our wettest dreams come to life. When David Beckham delivered the flame on a speedboat up the Thames, the Olympic torch was the second hottest thing in that watercraft. The parade of sexiness has barely abated since.
[...]


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derek-hartley/bjorn-barrefors_b_1750058.html

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #71 on: August 08, 2012, 10:26:14 pm »
He's a clearer shot.  He's a lucky boy:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/derek-hartley/bjorn-barrefors_b_1750058.html


Ok, that's it! Flowers AND a box of chocolates!!  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #72 on: August 08, 2012, 11:30:43 pm »
Of course there's the case of the famous photoshopped pic of Swedish Decathlete Bjorn Barrefors (who's not in Beijing) that's making the rounds: The retouched one is on the right, lol!


I hope he'll be in Rio, though.  He's (still) one to watch.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2012, 01:17:40 am by oilgun »

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #73 on: August 09, 2012, 12:04:17 am »



Of course there's the case of the famous photoshopped pic of Swedish Decathlete Bjorn Barrefors (who's not Beijing) that's making the rounds: The retouched one is on the right, lol!


I hope he'll be in Rio, though.  He's (still) one to watch.


Oh yes, him!!



Hmmmm! Well, now in 2012, Baby Bear has grown a beard!


 :-* :-* :-*  ;D

"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #74 on: August 09, 2012, 01:27:06 am »


That's one of my favorites.^^

Quote
Hmmmm! Well, now in 2012, Baby Bear has grown a beard!


 :-* :-* :-*  ;D

LOVE the beard!

Heres one more:


[/quote]

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #75 on: August 09, 2012, 03:59:29 am »
Day Thirteen


Slalom Canoe
2015 - Toronto: Pan Am Games
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #76 on: August 09, 2012, 07:51:00 am »


Here's somebody actually in  the 2012 London Games--Marcel Nguyen of Germany (he won Silver medals in the men's all-around and men's parallel bars):





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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #77 on: August 09, 2012, 08:09:56 am »



Nice boy!  :)





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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #78 on: August 09, 2012, 09:51:18 am »
"The picture "stars" Team USA rower Henrik Rummel receiving
his bronze medal for the (cough) coxless four [Yes, that's what
the event is REALLY called!
] at the weekend, sporting what we
can politely call a bulge in his gentleman's area."
::) ::) ::) ::)
I'd be, um, excited, too, if I won an Olympic medal.  ;D

Here's somebody actually in  the 2012 London Games--Marcel Nguyen of Germany (he won Silver medals in the men's all-around and men's parallel bars):

Cute kid!  :D  Interesting ethnic combination. German mother and Vietnamese father?
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #79 on: August 09, 2012, 10:08:17 am »



Cute kid!  :D  Interesting ethnic combination. German mother and Vietnamese father?


Yes!

 :) ;)
"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #80 on: August 09, 2012, 10:46:05 am »
Well it wasn't pretty - Canada only got 4 shots  (1 on goal) while the French managed 25 shots (4 on goal), but in the end, in extra time of regular time, Canada put the ball in the net to win it 1-0 and capture the Bronze Medal in Women's soccer!!

Canada's 10th bronze medal (out of 15) and the first traditional team sports medal since 1936.

Still better than all the 4th places we normally get in summer Olympics.

BTW, while I was typing this, a Canadian woman wrestler won her semi-final match so Canadians can count on at least one more medal - either our fourth silver or our second gold.

I remember the Mexico Games (1968) - my first time aware of the Olympics where Canadians medaled only 5 times (an improvement on Tokyo's 1964's 4 medals and Rome's 1960's one & only medal). So 16 medals don't seem so bad.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/a-visual-history-of-canadian-olympic-summer-medals-1900-to-today/article4443388/
« Last Edit: August 09, 2012, 12:13:19 pm by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #81 on: August 09, 2012, 10:58:02 am »
BTW, while I was typing this, a Canadian woman wrestler won her semi-final match so Canadians can count on at least one more medal - either our fourth silver or our second gold.

Oi! I really am out of the loop. I didn't even realize they had women's wrestling.  :-\
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #82 on: August 09, 2012, 11:05:00 am »
Oi! I really am out of the loop. I didn't even realize they had women's wrestling.  :-\

And boxing ... and judo ...

If it wasn't for our women, Canada would not medal much.
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #83 on: August 09, 2012, 12:22:45 pm »
And boxing ... and judo ...

If it wasn't for our women, Canada would not medal much.

I'd heard of the boxing and the judo, but not the wrestling.
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Kelda

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #84 on: August 09, 2012, 06:17:33 pm »
Wow!

Manteo Mitchell says he heard and felt his fibula crack during a 4x400-meter relay heat... yet he kept running for another 200m... and did his 400m in 46.1m!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/19202411
http://www.idbrass.com

Please use the following links when shopping online -It will help us raise money without costing you a penny.

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/idb

http://idb.easysearch.org.uk/

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #85 on: August 10, 2012, 07:40:57 am »
Day Fourteen


Football (soccer)
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #86 on: August 10, 2012, 09:13:16 am »
Americans have taken the gold and the silver in the Decathlon.  :)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #87 on: August 10, 2012, 10:06:46 am »



10M Diving today (Friday) and tomorrow--

Cool NYT motion capture/interactive:




How to Win: The High Dive

                                                                                       

Leap 3 Stories, Impress Judges
U.S. Olympic coach Drew Johansen reveals
some secrets behind the 10-meter platform dive.


and

The Dive From Many Points of Views
See what the judges see (and what they don’t see)
in the time they have to evaluate the divers.


http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/08/09/sports/olympics/diving-how-to-win.htm



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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #88 on: August 10, 2012, 09:27:19 pm »
I'm a happy camper. This evening I got to see the prelims of the men's platform diving.

Tom Daley.

David Boudia.

Matthew Mitcham.

 :o  Thud!

They are all gorgeous boys. ...

 ;D
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #89 on: August 10, 2012, 10:38:34 pm »

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/China-s-divers-1-2-in-men-s-10M-Olympic-prelims-3779349.php


China's divers 1-2 in
men's 10M Olympic prelims

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
Updated 6:25 p.m., Friday, August 10, 2012



Qui Bo of China dives during the men's 10-meter platform diving preliminaries at the Aquatics
Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.




LONDON (AP)China is looking awfully tough to beat in the last diving event of the London Olympics.
 
Qui Bo led the 10-meter platform preliminaries with a nearly flawless display on Friday night, qualifying first with 563.70 points. The 19-year-old current world platform champion took the lead for good after the second of six dives in a field loaded with big names.
 
Qui's 21-year-old teammate, Lin Yue, finished second at 532.15, putting China in position to claim its seventh diving medal of these games.
 
"They're really good, but I really didn't think about the other athletes," Lin said. "I could tell it was competitive because of the noise in the venue."
 
Sascha Klein of Germany, the bronze medalist at last year's world championships, was third at 525.05. His teammate, Martin Wolfram, was fourth at 496.80.
 
The top 18 divers advanced to Saturday's semifinal, with the top 12 making the evening final.
 
Mexico's two divers were close behind the Germans. German Sanchez was fifth and Ivan Garcia sixth. Both of them performed the toughest dive in the world, an inward 4 1/2 somersault tuck, that carries a 4.1 degree of difficulty.
 
Even the Chinese didn't attempt that one.
 
Sanchez scored 98.40 points on it, while Garcia earned 77.90.
 
"Nothing is written yet," Garcia said. "Anything can happen tomorrow."
 
Nick McCrory of the U.S. moved on in eighth at 480.90.
 
"It was a consistent effort — no hits, no misses," the Olympic rookie said. "The goal was just to get through and I'll sharpen up for the semifinal."
 
Defending Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham, who upset the Chinese four years ago in Beijing, was inconsistent but finished ninth.
 
"I was overcooking a lot of things," he said. "Everybody did not dive the way I would have expected. Everyone had a scrappy prelim. They go for so long. Prelims are endurance events."
 
There were 32 divers doing six dives each, which stretched the session to more than three hours.
 
The biggest cheers were reserved for Tom Daley of Britain, who narrowly missed out on a medal in 10-meter synchro last week. He was 18th after his opening dive, then got as high as seventh before botching his fifth dive.
 
Daley hit the water hard on a back 2 1/2 somersault pike that earned just 39.60 points and dropped him to 16th.
 
"My legs were starting to get a bit shaky," he said. "I was trying to keep up my energy. The home crowd gave me an adrenaline boost."
 
He rebounded with 84.15 points on his last dive to move up to 15th.
 
"You just don't know what can happen," he said.
 
The other American, David Boudia, grabbed the 18th and last spot for the semifinal. He dropped from eighth to 17th on his fourth dive, a reverse 3 1/2 somersault tuck, that earned scores of 4.5 after Boudia's feet hit the water and created a huge splash.
 
"I don't think I scored that low in I don't know how long," he said. "I have nowhere to go but up."
 
Boudia recovered on his next dive to be 11th, but he scored low on his last dive and left himself on the bubble.
 
Scores from each round don't carry over, so every diver starts at zero.


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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #90 on: August 11, 2012, 07:12:04 am »
Day Fifteen


(rythmic) Gymnastics
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #91 on: August 11, 2012, 10:37:31 am »
Day Fifteen


(rythmic) Gymnastics

I wondered whether that was still an Olympic event. I haven't heard anything about it this time.
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #92 on: August 11, 2012, 05:40:36 pm »



I'm a happy camper. This evening I got to see the prelims of the men's platform diving.

Tom Daley.

David Boudia.

Matthew Mitcham.

 :o  Thud!

They are all gorgeous boys. ...

 ;D




WOO-HOO!!

SO glad 'Our Tom' won something! Yay!

(I'm Happy for the two other divers who WEREN'T Tom also!!   :laugh: :laugh: )



August 11, 2011

Men's 10 Meter Platform Diving


1ST GOLD

BOUDIA David



2ND SILVER

QIU Bo


3rd BRONZE

DALEY Thomas




Dive Round: 6

Rank Athlete  After Dive     Result


1    BOUDIA David             6   568.65   

2    QIU Bo                       6   566.85 

3    DALEY Thomas            6   556.95

4    MINIBAEV Victor          6   527.80

5    GUERRA Jose Antonio   6   527.70

6    LIN Yue                       6  527.30

7    GARCIA NAVARRO Ivan 6  521.65

8    WOLFRAM Martin          6  506.65

9    McCRORY Nicholas        6  505.40

10  KLEIN Sascha                6  496.30

11 McCORMICK Riley           6  493.35

12 BONDAR Oleksandr         6  443.70


 :D :D :D :D :D


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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #93 on: August 11, 2012, 05:46:08 pm »
I was mesmerized by Riley McCormick's deliciously hairy armpits, lol!


Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #94 on: August 11, 2012, 06:31:56 pm »
These are the final results? David Boudia won gold?  :D

WOO-HOO!!

SO glad 'Our Tom' won something! Yay!

"Our Tom"?  ???

Are you saying what I think you're saying?

If you had said, "Our Matthew," meaning Mitcham of Australia--and I'm sorry he didn't medal--I'd be sure what you meant. But I didn't know Tom Daley before these Olympics, and I haven't had/taken the time to "do my homework" on him.

 ???

Edit to Add: I Googled Tom Daley, and the first references to pop up all had to do with his girlfriend!  :laugh:

Too bad. ...  8)  ;)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2012, 09:22:28 am by Jeff Wrangler »
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #95 on: August 11, 2012, 06:55:34 pm »
These are the final results? David Boudia won gold?  :D

"Our Tom"?  ???

Are you saying what I think you're saying?

If you had said, "Our Matthew," meaning Mitcham of Australia--and I'm sorry he didn't medal--I'd be sure what you meant. But I didn't know Tom Daley before these Olympics, and I haven't had/taken the time to "do my homework" on him.

 ???

I don't know if he's gay but he's certainly been a victim of homophobia (by a footballer, natch!):

A rude tweet from the account of Welsh footballer Daniel Thomas suggested British swimmers Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield were HIV+ lovers.
“If there is any consolation for finishing fourth at least Daley and Waterfield can go and bum each other #teamHIV,” was tweeted from Thomas’s account, @10danthomas10,
The message compounded the misery of Daley and Waterfield, who narrowly missed nabbing an Olympic medal on Monday. But Thomas, a midfielder for Port Talbot FC says he left his phone unattended and the message was sent by someone else.
Management of Port Talbot FC issued a statement saying, “both the player and club wish to apologise unreservedly to those offended and in no way condone such views.” In the meantime, Thomas’ twitter account has been suspended.
Other cruel tweets have suggested Daley let down his father, who died of brain cancer last year, by not placing. And a teenager in Weymouth was arrested after threatening to drown the 18-year-old swimmer.
Aren’t the Olympics supposed to bring people together in peace and harmony?



Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/british-diver-tom-daley-gets-anti-gay-aids-phobic-tweet-from-welsh-footballer-20120731/#ixzz23HVKZKwb

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #96 on: August 11, 2012, 10:36:13 pm »
I'm actually considering getting at 4:00am to watch the Men's Volleyball for Bronze between Bulgaria/Italie.

I will definitely not be up at 3:00 AM for the Women's Modern Pentathlon-Fencing.  The Pentathlon has to be the strangest competition of the Olympics:


Modern pentathlon is a sports contest created especially for the Summer Olympic Games by the founder of the modern Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and was first contested in 1912. Coubertin was inspired by the pentathlon event in Ancient Olympic Games, which was modeled after the skills of the ideal soldier at the time. The modern pentathlon simulates the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he/she must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight with pistol and sword, swim, and run. Therefore, the modern pentathlon event comprises the five sport disciplines:
épée fencing
pistol shooting
200 metre freestyle swimming
show jumping on horseback
3 km cross country running


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_pentathlon_at_the_Summer_Olympics

I think it should go, lol!  They could keep fencing as a stand alone competition, but the rest is kind of redundant.  As for pistol shooting, who cares.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #97 on: August 11, 2012, 11:50:10 pm »














"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #98 on: August 12, 2012, 03:53:22 am »
Day Sixteen


Closing Ceremonies
2015 - Toronto: Pan Am Games
2015 - Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg: Woman's World Cup of Soccer

Offline Kelda

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #99 on: August 12, 2012, 05:48:31 am »
Really happy for Tom Daley - he's had a very hard year - his Dad died last year who was only in his late 40's - and he was a big support to Tom.. He wanted to do his Dad proud.. and he did! And he celebrated in style too..

And Go Mo Farrah! He won the 5000m to add to his 10000 title..
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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #100 on: August 12, 2012, 12:45:57 pm »
So glad for Tom Daley, but even gladder for David Boudia.  That was an exciting diving final!  8)
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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #101 on: August 12, 2012, 01:41:23 pm »
So glad for Tom Daley, but even gladder for David Boudia.  That was an exciting diving final!  8)

David Boudia was amazing!  I'm also glad that Daley got a second chance to do his first dive because of the distraction of flash photography.  Some fans can be so brainless, I'm sure everyone was aware that flash photography was not allowed.

____________________________________________


Team Italy after defeating Serbia

Right now I'm watching the Final Men's Water Polo and my team is losing!  Croatia is ahead 7-4 against Italy.  I'm not a fan of the east europeans. It's enough that Serbia won the Bronze. More importantly, I just can't find any sexy pics of these guys.  I guess it would be too gay.  ::)

Croatia Wins the Gold!

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #102 on: August 12, 2012, 03:30:59 pm »
OMG!  I'm watching an interview with Princes Harry and Williams on Canadian television.  The interviewer is the same who interviewed the Canadian athletes throughout the games.  That Harry is so cute! (Take off your shirt!)

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #103 on: August 12, 2012, 06:48:01 pm »
Closing ceremonies are nearly over and ... my impression ... too much of nothing (We Will Rock You' should never be sung without their true anthem 'We Are the Champions'). I must admit I've been away from pop culture for some twenty years but, were those acts really the best of GB? Where's Bowie or Elton John? The opening ceremonies were vastly superior to the closing ceremonies.

And as for the Rio presentation ... I didn't know they were into drag queen wannabees (or were those actually women?). Too much low tek flash, not enough substance. The only thing I could relate to in their show was Pelee, and he seemed as out of place in this presentation as Mohamed Ali did in the opening ceremonies.

Though I don't know who Eric Idle is (Is he one of the Monty Python Gang?), I did enjoy his bit - some. And the all male chorus during the lowering of the olympic flag - they were nice too.

Who was that boy quartet at the extinguishing of the flame? - nice song. Also liked the use of the Phoenix in extinguishing the flame.

Now they're concluding with The Who. Not a bad choice. At least all surviving members participated.
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Offline Monika

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #104 on: August 12, 2012, 07:07:17 pm »
I am loving it! The tribute to John Lennon made me cry and I jumped around the room when George Michael came on.
Such a fun closing ceremony - and such great music. UK has produced the best music in the world.


Great show!

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #105 on: August 12, 2012, 07:08:02 pm »
I wondered where Elton John was at the Opening Ceremonies.  ???

Yes, Eric Idle is a "Python."
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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #106 on: August 12, 2012, 07:09:45 pm »
I missed Adele and Coldplay, but then UK has produced so many great bands and singers, it´d be impossible to fit them all in.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #107 on: August 12, 2012, 07:34:38 pm »




Though I don't know who Eric Idle is (Is he one of the Monty Python Gang?), I did enjoy his bit - some. And the all male chorus during the lowering of the olympic flag - they were nice too.





[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGRPFUYUUdQ[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs[/youtube]
::) ::)



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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #108 on: August 12, 2012, 08:21:47 pm »


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTdQV7Rql8[/youtube]

"I had to do two drug tests because my wee was too weak"

 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #109 on: August 12, 2012, 09:48:48 pm »










Actor Timothy Spall portrays Winston Churchill as he delivers a speech during
the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012,
in London.




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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #110 on: August 12, 2012, 10:50:32 pm »
Well, I certainly enjoyed the cheerful presence of the Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, throughout the week:


What's up his ass?  I know you're from Belgium, Jacques, but come on, turn that frown upside down.  He didn't even smile while handing out medals.  What a revolting man.

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #111 on: August 12, 2012, 11:08:36 pm »
Closing ceremonies are nearly over and ... my impression ... too much of nothing (We Will Rock You' should never be sung without their true anthem 'We Are the Champions'). I must admit I've been away from pop culture for some twenty years but, were those acts really the best of GB? Where's Bowie or Elton John?
[...]


More importantly, where was JEDWARD:laugh:


Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #112 on: August 12, 2012, 11:58:14 pm »


More importantly, where was JEDWARD!  :laugh:



WELL, I'd sort of agree, but--

PLANET JEDWARD is actually from (can it be possible??!!) the Republic of Ireland (and therefore not exactly eligible)??!
 

Oh my!

 :o :o :o :o
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWUISfxyLs&feature=fvst[/youtube]

 

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x77sOUQhZU[/youtube]
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #113 on: August 13, 2012, 12:26:47 am »



Caliban's Dream
Written by
Rick Smith of Underworld
(London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony)


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mec8GZkEpD4[/youtube]
Published on Jul 27, 2012 by daibhymac


The hauntingly beautiful music from the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Featuring vocals from Alex Trimble (of Two Door Cinema Club), Only Men Aloud, Dockhead Choir, Elizabeth Roberts, Esme Smith and percussion by Dame Evelyn Glennie




HOWEVER, you MIGHT then be confused, wondering WHY was Alex Trimble of Two Door Cinema Club featured in the Opening Ceremony if JEDWARD of PLANET JEDWARD, being Irish, was not?

Well, that's because Two Door Cinema Club is from NORTHERN Ireland, and is actually BRITISH, that's why! (I think TDCC are WAY cool, by the way--Monika is absolutely right, the UK has produced [some of] the best music in the world.)


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXwYJyrKK5A[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CsRqMpbr0&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJDCMth8poM&feature=related[/youtube]


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Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #114 on: August 13, 2012, 07:37:16 am »


WELL, I'd sort of agree, but--

PLANET JEDWARD is actually from (can it be possible??!!) the Republic of Ireland (and therefore not exactly eligible)??!
 

Oops, my bad.   :-\

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #115 on: August 13, 2012, 08:41:34 am »
I loved the look on Mo Farrah's face as he won the race that I saw of TV Saturday.  :)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #116 on: August 13, 2012, 12:12:38 pm »



The most informal touch was the most moving: The athletes arrived on field in unison rather than filing in nation by nation. Imagine there are no countries; it isn't hard to do.





http://www.vulture.com/2012/08/olympics-london-2012-closing-ceremony-review.html


The London 2012 Closing Ceremony:
Both Kitschy and Irresistible


By Matt Zoller Seitz
Today at 9:15 AM





Was the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games awful or amazing? I vote both.
 
As a gathering of pop music talent, it was impressive, and as a display of  "What the hell, we're done, let's party!" energy — as well as a checklist of 21st century hipster touchstones — I found it irresistible, even though I made fun of it from start to finish. That the production seemed to invite mockery — and built self-mockery into certain numbers — made the whole thing more lovable, or at the very least immense yet harmless.

The ceremony started with an out-of-shape Batman and Robin stumbling out of an exploding car (a reference to the long-running sitcom Only Fools and Horses  while an animated Michael Caine mask barked one of Caine's lines from The Italian Job : "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" Imagine the next U.S.-based Olympic games starting its ceremony by re-creating a moment from Seinfeld 's "The Contest" while a bust of John Wayne as True Grit 's Rooster Cogburn barks "Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!" That's how "inside" this sketch was. Bravo, I sez.

The rest of the show was a slow-motion eruption of kitsch and a sampler of 50 years of native music, fashion, film, TV, and comedy. If you tuned out before the official handover to 2016's host city, Rio de Janeiro – complete with an extended musical preview that was as sensual and controlled as London's closing ceremony was nutty and raucous — you might have gone to sleep thinking that this was, in its way, one for the ages.

Annie Lennox, the Spice Girls, and Brian May shared the same broadcast with Tinie Tempah, Taio Cruz, and Jessie J (the show MVP, I think). There was an elaborate tribute to Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines,  a tuxedoed men's choir performing the Olympic anthem, Fatboy Slim deejaying from inside the brainpan of a giant transparent inflatable octopus. Throughout, Ryan Seacrest's "duh" narration was forever telling us things we could see or Google for ourselves. (George Michael used to be the front man for Wham!, apparently.)

The ghosts of John Lennon and Freddie Mercury showed up via JumboTron. Lennon got an emotional blackmail assist, courtesy of a living sculpture that formed his face and a Liverpool children's choir singing "Imagine." Mercury's old Queen-mate May honored him with a glam-rock-metal guitar run-up to "We Will Rock You" that deserved a gold medal for chutzpah. He was clad in a monogrammed leather ensemble complete with cape, his haggard face framed by a Muppety spray of grandpa frizz. Too bad his performance, however spirited, reinforced one of the immutable laws of physics: Nobody can follow Freddie Mercury, even when he's dead.

Oasis's Liam Gallagher (with his new band Beady Eye) botched the band's biggest hit, "Wonderwall," so badly that I had to leave the room until he was done. He sounded like me imitating Bob Dylan, which might be the worst thing I can say about anybody. (In fairness, the Olympic committee originally asked Liam's brother Noel to sing the song, but he turned them down for reasons that only Noel Gallagher understands.) Russell Brand, an alleged comic actor I like to picture being mauled by ferrets, managed to be almost sweet when he entered the stadium atop a psychedelically painted Magic Bus while singing "Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory  (pity that cult classic's director, Mel Stuart, died last Thursday). But then he lost me by screeching the lyrics to "I Am the Walrus" into a bullhorn while ringed by faux-hippie merry pranksters, Hare Krishnas, and go-go dancers. The reverent tribute to David Bowie's chameleonic image-shifting made it seem as though he, too, were dead, as opposed to sitting this one out. The Bowie interlude transitioned into a fashion show backed, not amazingly, by Bowie's "Fashion." Trucks rolled into the stadium bearing billboards of Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, and other supermodels we were about to see, who then spilled onto the catwalk in clothes by Erdem, Vivienne Westwood, Burbery, Christopher Kane, Alexander McQueen, and Victoria Beckham. (Beckham, née Posh, also appeared in the Spice Girls' number.)

The high point might have been Eric Idle leading a sing-along to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian,  which as you'll recall was originally performed on film by improbably cheerful crucifixion victims. Idle sang the line, "Life's a piece of shit" in front of 80,000 spectators and three-quarters-of-a-billion viewers; in sheer vastness of reach, this was an epic display of English cheek. (NBC bleeped the curse word, of course.) There wasn't a moment that wasn't in questionable taste; not only did the broadcast refuse to trouble itself over this, it claimed splendid-tawdry opulence, irreverence, and surrealism as defining aspects of U.K. pop culture. It was the least starchy closing ceremony in my lifetime: Dozens of stars and thousands of backup performers dancing, singing, and clowning as they mentally counted down the minutes until they could get snockered. The most informal touch was the most moving: The athletes arrived on field in unison rather than filing in nation by nation. Imagine there are no countries; it isn't hard to do.


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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #117 on: August 13, 2012, 12:25:30 pm »




Though I don't know who Eric Idle is (Is he one of the Monty Python Gang?), I did enjoy his bit - some. And the all male chorus during the lowering of the olympic flag - they were nice too.


The high point might have been Eric Idle leading a sing-along to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian,  which as you'll recall was originally performed on film by improbably cheerful crucifixion victims. Idle sang the line, "Life's a piece of shit" in front of 80,000 spectators and three-quarters-of-a-billion viewers; in sheer vastness of reach, this was an epic display of English cheek. (NBC bleeped the curse word, of course.) There wasn't a moment that wasn't in questionable taste; not only did the broadcast refuse to trouble itself over this, it claimed splendid-tawdry opulence, irreverence, and surrealism as defining aspects of U.K. pop culture. It was the least starchy closing ceremony in my lifetime: Dozens of stars and thousands of backup performers dancing, singing, and clowning as they mentally counted down the minutes until they could get snockered.




[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo[/youtube]

 ::) ::) ::) ::)



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Offline Meryl

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #118 on: August 13, 2012, 02:25:31 pm »
Was The Who not part of the show proper?  I kept waiting for them to show up, then NBC said it was over and aired a preview of some fall comedy they're promoting.  I kept it on with the sound off.  When I looked up from the computer later, suddenly there was The Who.  It seemed to be some after party, which I failed to hear mentioned on NBC.  WTF?
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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #119 on: August 13, 2012, 02:37:37 pm »


Was The Who not part of the show proper?  I kept waiting for them to show up, then NBC said it was over and aired a preview of some fall comedy they're promoting.  I kept it on with the sound off.  When I looked up from the computer later, suddenly there was The Who.  It seemed to be some after party, which I failed to hear mentioned on NBC.  WTF?


#NBCfail! They literally lied,   to run some stupid network show. Unbelievable!

 >:( :P

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #120 on: August 13, 2012, 04:29:16 pm »
Closing ceremonies are nearly over and ... my impression ... too much of nothing (We Will Rock You' should never be sung without their true anthem 'We Are the Champions'). I must admit I've been away from pop culture for some twenty years but, were those acts really the best of GB? Where's Bowie or Elton John? The opening ceremonies were vastly superior to the closing ceremonies.

And as for the Rio presentation ... I didn't know they were into drag queen wannabees (or were those actually women?). Too much low tek flash, not enough substance. The only thing I could relate to in their show was Pelee, and he seemed as out of place in this presentation as Mohamed Ali did in the opening ceremonies.

Though I don't know who Eric Idle is (Is he one of the Monty Python Gang?), I did enjoy his bit - some. And the all male chorus during the lowering of the olympic flag - they were nice too.

Who was that boy quartet at the extinguishing of the flame? - nice song. Also liked the use of the Phoenix in extinguishing the flame.

Now they're concluding with The Who. Not a bad choice. At least all surviving members participated.



Bowie was included he just wasn't there himself...the fashion/ supermodel section... 

I think much of the British public were glad Elton was not on the line up.. hes been peddled out for every national event going this year - heavily included in the Jubilee as was McCartney who got another go at the opening ceremony...

The last 4 guys signing "Rule the World" were Take  That - a HUGE band here in Europe.. The lead singer Gary Barlow did so well last night - most people were so shocked to see him there - his little girl was stillborn 10 days ago.. :(

Eric Idle - loved his bit. Wonderfully random and ecentric.. very British humour! I hear the line, "Life's a piece of shit"  was bleeped out by NBC!!  :P

George Michael.. BAAADD dancing!
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Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #121 on: August 13, 2012, 04:51:23 pm »
This is a link to Swedish television there you can see the entire show without commercial. The Who was on of the last bands preforming...with one of there song My Generation.

http://www.svt.se/os/#./se-avslutningsceremonin-igen?&_suid=134489045043801538046425493068

Offline Monika

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #122 on: August 13, 2012, 04:54:45 pm »
This is a link to Swedish television there you can see the entire show without commercial. The Who was on of the last bands preforming...with one of there song Next Generation.

The other song was "Teenage Wasteland"

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #123 on: August 13, 2012, 05:18:01 pm »




[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KII1ruAfvsg[/youtube]
Uploaded by polydor on Oct 19, 2007








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(and you know who I am...)


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Offline southendmd

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #124 on: August 13, 2012, 05:32:46 pm »
This is a link to Swedish television there you can see the entire show without commercial. The Who was on of the last bands preforming...with one of there song My Generation.

http://www.svt.se/os/#./se-avslutningsceremonin-igen?&_suid=134489045043801538046425493068

Thanks, Sophia, but this can only be viewed in Sweden.  :(

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #125 on: August 13, 2012, 06:53:51 pm »



Was The Who not part of the show proper?  I kept waiting for them to show up, then NBC said it was over and aired a preview of some fall comedy they're promoting.  I kept it on with the sound off.  When I looked up from the computer later, suddenly there was The Who.  It seemed to be some after party, which I failed to hear mentioned on NBC.  WTF?




http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/olympics-london-closing-ceremony-animal-practice-361210

Olympics 2012: NBC Criticized
for Interrupting Closing Ceremony
to Preview 'Animal Practice'


Surprised viewers also took the network to task
for editing out parts of the ceremony, including
performances by Muse and Ray Davies of the Kinks.


by THR Staff
12:40 AM PDT 8/13/2012
 





Some Olympics fans found yet another reason to be unhappy with NBC on Sunday night.

The network edited out parts of the Closing Ceremony -- including performances by Muse's Matt Bellamy, Ray Davies of The Kinks and a second song by George Michael -- and then at 11 p.m. abruptly cut away to show a preview of the new comedy Animal Practice.
 
Before the commercial break, announcer Bob Costas told viewers: "That concludes the Closing Ceremony. We'll be back to wrap things up after this."
 
After the break, he then revealed that the remainder of the ceremony, which the network billed as a "closing party," would actually air an hour later, following a sneak preview of Animal Practice  and local news.
 
"We'll be back from Olympic Stadium in about an hour for the London closing party, featuring The Who," he said. "Stay tuned now for a full episode of Animal Practice,  a new NBC comedy, presented commercial-free."
 
The move surprised and frustrated some viewers, including Glee  star Kevin McHale, who tweeted: "DEAR NBC. Interrupting the Olympic closing ceremony for an hr to air a show about a fictional animal dr. before it ends is a disgrace. Shame on you."
 
And the Robot Chicken account noted, "Doing a Twitter search for 'Animal Practice' right now is like tapping a keg of pure hate."
 
While some people on Twitter praised the show, many others weren't happy about NBC's scheduling decision.
 
Tweeted Ski Vegas, "#NBCFail #AnimalPractice is now the most hated show in America before the first episode. Amazing."
 
Added another named Lawrence Escamilla: "I may not be a The Who fan, but cutting them off to show terrible Animal Practice  is just another thing to add to the #NBCfail list."
 
NBC has been criticized throughout the Games for its decision to show the events on tape delay, sparking the creation of the Twitter hashtag #NBCFail.
 
The Animal Practice  preview also came about an hour after DirecTV went dark in Los Angeles for a half-hour during the Closing Ceremony, meaning some subscribers missed several of the show's performances. The satcaster cited a technical issue at its broadcast center for the outage.


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #126 on: August 13, 2012, 07:09:31 pm »

This is a link to Swedish television there you can see the entire show without commercial. The Who was on of the last bands preforming...with one of there song My Generation.


The other song was "Teenage Wasteland"


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8_Pf144Qmg&feature=related[/youtube]


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8KifjV_L-U[/youtube]


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Meryl

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #127 on: August 13, 2012, 08:31:35 pm »
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/olympics-london-closing-ceremony-animal-practice-361210

Olympics 2012: NBC Criticized
for Interrupting Closing Ceremony
to Preview 'Animal Practice'


Surprised viewers also took the network to task
for editing out parts of the ceremony, including
performances by Muse and Ray Davies of the Kinks.


by THR Staff
12:40 AM PDT 8/13/2012
 

Some Olympics fans found yet another reason to be unhappy with NBC on Sunday night.

The network edited out parts of the Closing Ceremony -- including performances by Muse's Matt Bellamy, Ray Davies of The Kinks and a second song by George Michael -- and then at 11 p.m. abruptly cut away to show a preview of the new comedy Animal Practice.
 
Before the commercial break, announcer Bob Costas told viewers: "That concludes the Closing Ceremony. We'll be back to wrap things up after this."
 
After the break, he then revealed that the remainder of the ceremony, which the network billed as a "closing party," would actually air an hour later, following a sneak preview of Animal Practice  and local news.
 
"We'll be back from Olympic Stadium in about an hour for the London closing party, featuring The Who," he said. "Stay tuned now for a full episode of Animal Practice,  a new NBC comedy, presented commercial-free."
 
The move surprised and frustrated some viewers, including Glee  star Kevin McHale, who tweeted: "DEAR NBC. Interrupting the Olympic closing ceremony for an hr to air a show about a fictional animal dr. before it ends is a disgrace. Shame on you."
 
And the Robot Chicken account noted, "Doing a Twitter search for 'Animal Practice' right now is like tapping a keg of pure hate."
 
While some people on Twitter praised the show, many others weren't happy about NBC's scheduling decision.
 
Tweeted Ski Vegas, "#NBCFail #AnimalPractice is now the most hated show in America before the first episode. Amazing."
 
Added another named Lawrence Escamilla: "I may not be a The Who fan, but cutting them off to show terrible Animal Practice  is just another thing to add to the #NBCfail list."
 
NBC has been criticized throughout the Games for its decision to show the events on tape delay, sparking the creation of the Twitter hashtag #NBCFail.
 
The Animal Practice  preview also came about an hour after DirecTV went dark in Los Angeles for a half-hour during the Closing Ceremony, meaning some subscribers missed several of the show's performances. The satcaster cited a technical issue at its broadcast center for the outage.

Thanks for this, John, that explains why I never heard about the "after party."  I turned off the sound before the commercial break.

This is really a lousy decision on NBC's part.  Whatever viewers they might have picked up with the preview of "Animal Practice" will be more than balanced out by people who will never watch it because of the manipulation and misinformation visited on them.  I certainly belong to the latter group!  >:(
Ich bin ein Brokie...

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #128 on: August 13, 2012, 08:39:31 pm »


Photo Of American, Iranian Olympic Wrestlers Jordan Burroughs, Sadegh Goudarzi Offers Hope

A photograph of wrestlers Jordan Burroughs and Sadegh Goudarzi is being hailed as the single image to encompass the spirit of the Olympics.

Jack Moore of Buzzfeed first posted the image of Burroughs, an American, and Goudarzi, an Iranian, hugging after the New Jersey native beat his Middle Eastern competitor for first place.

"American wrestler Jordan Burroughs defeated Iran's Sadegh Goudarzi in freestyle wrestling to win gold," wrote Moore. "After the match and medal ceremony, Burroughs tweeted this photo."

Prior to the match, some had high hopes for the America-Iran showdown at the mat.

Benjamin Weinthal of the New York Daily News even paralleled wrestling to the nuclear weapons issue, writing, "What can we learn about nuclear weapons programs through the prism of wrestling? Though wrestling is often associated with martial arts brutality, it is actually a scientific study in how to anticipate your opponent’s behavior and react. Top-caliber wrestling is often marked by an aggressive, methodical patience."

Burroughs and Goudarzi's post-match affection showed, however, that the Olympics is a place for nations to come together.

After all, the Olympics is not about athletes winning gold, but rather about nations meeting in peace for friendly competition.

"The key ethical concept of the Olympic games in ancient Greek terms is called arete. Which means virtue or excellence. It's about trying to be the best you can be as a human being," Heather Reid, the Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Morningside College, previously told KTIV.

"The opening and closing ceremonies are a part of the ancient games too," she told the station. "It is a kind of a special time and place when that flame is lit, we are all supposed to think about our possibilities as human beings and what we can be as a world."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/jordan-burroughs-olympics-sadegh-goudarzi-photo-american-iran_n_1773333.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Offline Sophia

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #129 on: August 13, 2012, 10:07:55 pm »



[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KII1ruAfvsg[/youtube]
Uploaded by polydor on Oct 19, 2007










Weird that Robbie Williams wasn´t with them... now when he is part of the gang again





Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #130 on: August 14, 2012, 08:37:27 am »

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/sports/olympics/after-olympics-golden-glow-for-britain.html?_r=1



Memo From London
Britain Basks in a Golden Afterglow
 
By ALAN COWELL
Published: August 13, 2012



Britons during one of the Olympics closing events on Sunday in London. Britain had the
third most gold medals in the Games.




Mo Farah, who won gold in the 10,000- and 5,000-meter runs, was representative of Britain’s
growing diversity.



LONDON — So what do they do for an encore?

Over the past two weeks, Olympic Britain has become used to a daily diet of awe at its own success; of cheering on the excellent to feats of greater prowess; of rediscovering a sense of possibility that had been muted.

All too often in the past, Britons have deluded themselves about their prospects of sporting success, only to see their heroes tumble in the face of a real challenge.

But, contrary to all the curmudgeonly grumbling that preceded them, the Olympic Games have replaced such ambiguity with a tally of 29 gold medals, exceeded only by the United States and China, as if the nation had been blessed by what Samuel Smiles, the Victorian advocate of individual will and self-betterment, called “the gift of miracles.”

The simple answer to the question of an encore is that Britain’s attention will turn to the Paralympics later this month. But the legacy of the London Games may lie in something more imponderable, a finer sense of a nation relaunched, albeit in a time of economic doldrums that could yet becalm its renewal.

Most lands tend to see the Olympics through their own jingoistic prism, and Britain has been no exception, focusing obsessively on its triumphs — though not to the exclusion of the great sporting moments provided by non-Britons like Usain Bolt of Jamaica, among others. But consider just a few omens.

The Games took place almost exactly a year after riots and looting spread from London to other British cities, shocking the country with a vision of a society whose greed had produced an underclass fueled by violence, envy and alienation.

“Of course, the comedown will happen,” Suzanne Moore wrote in her column in The Guardian.  “But we have seen ourselves for a while in our best light: glittery and happy, belonging to something bigger than all of us.”

“Here we are, all in it together, just for a while,” she added.

What were the markers along the way? First off, perhaps, was the opening ceremony, a celebration of a land at ease with its past and its present. But then, with the men’s 10,000- and 5,000-meter runs, when Mo Farah, who had arrived in Britain from Somalia as a child, took gold twice and enfolded himself in the union flag, something else seemed to crystallize about these Games.

True, some of the contests — dressage on fancy horses, for instance — have long been the domain of a privileged few. But here were voices from a different Britain.

The cavalcade of winners included the queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips (silver, equestrian), but it also ranged over a spectrum of skin tones and a medley of speech patterns — the accents that signal origin and, to a large extent, education and class.

And who was doing the talking? The “golden girls,” as one headline writer put it, included Nicola Adams, a black 29-year-old flyweight from northern England who became the first British woman to win Olympic gold in boxing, restriking the gender balance, at least on the victor’s podium.

The banner under which the athletes jousted for glory also bespoke a greater sense of inclusion. Britain often competes internationally with separate teams from its component parts. But the Olympics offered a chance for Great Britain — Team GB — to draw on broader reserves of talent.

“So the Union Jack has been rescued from the old connotations of vanished empire and has become a vibrant, colorful symbol of contemporary British identity,” The Independent  said in an editorial, suggesting that the surge of Britishness, engulfing athletes like Andy Murray (Scottish, men’s singles tennis, gold), may at least temporarily drown the clamor for Scottish separatism.

Of course, this could all get too gushy, coming only weeks after Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee coaxed forth an equal stirring of the national soul. The British still have a talent for taking success for granted until complacency proves their undoing.

For all the Olympic excitement, this is a country facing deep economic woes. From anecdotal evidence, the $14 billion Games may have set the economy back further, frightening would-be visitors and Britons alike away from central London, even as others thronged the Olympic Park.

After the closing ceremony Sunday night, it seemed even more difficult to imagine how Britain might produce an encore. Perhaps the answer lay in a recalibration of the national myth, evoked in what could be the fondly self-mocking anthem of this rediscovered Britain — Monty Python’s Eric Idle leading the Olympic Stadium in singing his classic song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”

“Sporting failure has fitted comfortably into the story of a nation in decline, a country that has lost an empire and failed to find the goal net,” the often dystopian broadcaster Jeremy Paxman wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.  But the “biggest revelation” about the Games “is the obvious one,” he said. “A nation that had elevated failure into a conviction is actually rather good” at its opposite.


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Kelda

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #131 on: August 14, 2012, 11:55:08 am »
Weird that Robbie Williams wasn´t with them... now when he is part of the gang again





Sophie.. he just did the one off tour and album las year...at the tour he did a section of his solo stuff, they did a sectiumon as a 4 piece, and a section as a 5 piece with the old stuff and the new album..
http://www.idbrass.com

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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #132 on: August 14, 2012, 01:44:41 pm »
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #133 on: August 14, 2012, 07:35:11 pm »
How hot is Handballer Nikola Karabatic?  He plays for France who won the gold medal on Sunday.  He has his own line of underwear and I want the style that he's wearing in the epic.

Nikola Karabatic

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfbkrIR5wS0[/youtube]

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #134 on: August 14, 2012, 10:24:10 pm »



http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/13/take-a-bow-london-the-olympics-were-a-triumph.html


Take a Bow, London:
The Olympics Were a Triumph

With the Olympics’ smashing success behind them, Brits
are waking up to an unfamiliar feeling: triumph. Peter Jukes
on how the Games took the hard edge off national politics—
for now.


by Peter Jukes
Aug 13, 2012 1:35 PM EDT



Dancers perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremonies of
the 2012 London Olympic Games, Aug. 12, 2012



It’s been like one of those parties you’re a bit reluctant to attend because it might be crass, embarrassing, or difficult to get to, only to find yourself confounded by the good time you had. For most Londoners—most Brits, actually—Monday was the morning after the night before, and we awoke with the same questions: “Oh my god, did we really do that?” and “Damn ... What do we do now?”

For the past 17 days, if TV ratings and venue attendance are anything to go by, the British nation has been transfixed by the spectacle of the London 2012 Olympics. On a train ride through the rural countryside this weekend, I found the entire crowded carriage was busy with sports chatter. Gone was the traditional alienated reticence: strangers were talking to strangers about their favorite moments so far. It’s been a wild ride, with eventually ecstatic press at home and rave reviews abroad. So if this hangover has left us feeling like victims, it’s as victims of our own success.

The last time Brits were so publicly bonded was the day after the successful Olympic bid was announced: July 7, 2005, when London was hit by the Underground 7/7 bomb attacks. Seven years previously, the country had lost its reputation for the stiff upper lip with the unprecedented displays around the funeral of Princess Diana. But the Olympics have brought a new emotion beyond shock and grief—a feeling so unfamiliar that it invariably made British athletes and spectators tear up whenever a medal was awarded. We’re not used to enthusiasm. We really don’t know how to cope with joy.

I spent the past three weeks as a volunteer reporter in the Olympic Village, and the rising roars from the Olympic Stadium, Velodrome, and basketball arena were audible from more than a mile away. The enthusiasm is actually measurable—a crowd at the boxing arena was clocked at 113.7 decibels, louder than a jumbo jet at takeoff. Part of this was pent-up relief. After seven years worrying about the cost of hosting the summer Games, the ticketing, the congestion, sponsorship, the security, and more, Mitt Romney turned up in the U.K. three weeks ago, shared those reservations, and became a lightning rod, discharging our cynicism into a familiar contempt of foreigners. 

Then came Danny Boyle's bizarre, bonkers, and mind-altering opening ceremony. It might have baffled foreign observers, but it pretty much unified the country with its eclectic mix of history and humor. This was no accident. The organizers had known for four years that they could not compete with the Beijing 2008 games in terms of power, numbers, or centralized expenditure, so they borrowed lots of suggestions from the Australians who organized Sydney 2000, and cannily played to our downbeat strengths: eccentricity, individuality, and humor.

This mixture of punk and pomp, skydiving monarchs and East End rap, was quickly taken up by Londoners, who can often be remote and unwelcoming to visitors. The usually sullen and overworked Underground staff at Stratford Station, the gateway to the Olympic Park, turned crowd control into a comedy routine:  “Champions this way; losers can stay at home.” The transport system, usually heaving and problematic, seemed to work almost perfectly for once. Security—the biggest mobilization of personnel since World War II—was finally put in place without incident. Above that, the London Organising Committee managed to stage hundreds of events across the capital, in iconic but tricky locations, covered flawlessly by the BBC, without a hitch. The city looked beautiful, unrecognizable, especially when the sun eventually came out.

But the success in organization was also matched by results on the sports fields. Notwithstanding U.S. medal rankings (which, unlike every other country, gives no added weight to gold medals) Team GB came in third, ahead of Russia. Russian tweeters have pointed out that they would have won if all the countries of the former Soviet Union were included in their medal tally. But two can play at that post-imperial game—Brits would have beaten off the Soviets if their former colonies in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Jamaica were included. But that’s the point. For the first time I can remember, we didn’t play the post-imperial game.

The previous two London Olympics—1908 and 1948—are bookmarks in the rise and fall of the British Empire. For decades since, Britain has exercised its political resentments in the defeatism of the sporting field. So what if the German soccer team beat us on penalty shoot-outs, the Australians bowl us out at cricket, the New Zealanders trounce us at rugby? We taught them everything they know. We still had the best violent soccer hooligans and most virulent nationalist tabloid headlines. As the old soccer chant went, “Nobody likes us and we don’t care.”

That theme has definitely gone for good. When a Tory M.P. denounced the opening ceremony as “multicultural crap,” he was met with near universal rejection from right, left, and center. It was a bad Games for old-school resentment. Just after the opening spectacle, the Daily Mail  tabloid ran an article claiming the depiction of a successful mixed-race British family was unrealistic. Then along came Jessica Ennis, the poster child of the team and with precisely such a background, to win a gold in the women’s heptathlon. As for the “plastic Brits” the Mail  had griped about in the runup to the Games—a term meant to question whether athletes who had been born overseas were English enough to compete under the Union Jack—the Mail  was forced to eat its words and picked out double gold medalist Mo Farah, "who fled to Britain from war-torn Somalia as a child" as "a fantastic role model ... for millions of young Britons of all walks of life."



Jessica Ennis proudly shows off her Member of the Order of the British Empire medal (MBE)
awarded by the UK’s Queen Elizabeth for services to athletics, with her fiancee Andy Hill (left)
and parents Alison Powell and Vinny Ennis at Buckingham Palace, London in November 2011.



This social shift in our perception of ourselves could have the longest-lasting legacy. For hundreds of years the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland has been a multinational, multidenominational state, but often hid its own diversity in foreign adventures and acquisitions. Loss of empire—and particularly the arrival of former subjects from Asia and Africa—threatened to fracture that identity. Now with figures like Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis, this postcolonial world seems more of a source of strength rather than guilt or weakness. This could also have a direct impact on constitutional politics, especially with the chief minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, pushing for a referendum on independence for Scotland. Some of Team GB’s top medalists, such as the cyclist Sir Chris How and the tennis player Andy Murray, are Scottish, and they conspicuously draped themselves in the Union Jack when celebrating their wins. At a popular level, the Games were a powerful visual symbol of the benefits of a united team for those campaigning against the break-up of Great Britain.

On the other hand, the success of the Olympics could be arrogantly misused by English politicians. Already the lead writer of the best-selling tabloid, The Sun,  has argued that the success of London 2012 proves Britain should leave the European Union. Nothing about the greatest show on earth changes the underlying political and economic realities of the U.K. Today, we’re still back in a double-dip recession, with growing youth unemployment, income inequality, overreliance on a dysfunctional financial sector, and a shaky coalition government.

Ah. That’s so reassuring. Back to bad news. Cynicism is so much more predictable and easier to deal with. As John Cleese’s controlling depressive character said in Michael Frayn’s movie Clockwork : "It's not the despair … I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.”
 
And that’s really the summary of the success of the last two weeks; not how we triumphed over other nations, but the way we triumphed over ourselves.


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #135 on: August 21, 2012, 01:18:29 am »


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19323535


Somalia Olympic runner
'drowns trying to reach Europe'

A Somali Olympic athlete has reportedly drowned
while attempting to reach Europe on a migrant boat.


20 August 2012 Last updated at 14:46 ET



Samia was said to have moved
to Ethiopia in search of a coach




Runner Samia Yusuf Omar was trying to cross from Libya to Italy in April when the boat she was travelling in sank, according to Italian media.

The head of Somalia's National Olympic Committee confirmed to the BBC that she had died but did not say how.

Samia competed in the 200m event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 despite having almost no formal training.

Although she came in last place, several seconds behind the other competitors, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says it is extraordinary that she was able to take part at all.

She had grown up and trained in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, facing war, poverty, a complete lack of athletics facilities and prejudice from some quarters against women participating in sports.

According to a profile of Samia on al-Jazeera, she faced death threats and intimidation when she returned to Somalia after the 2008 Olympics, with the Islamist militia al-Shabab controlling parts of the capital.


'We will not forget'
 
In October 2010, the runner is reported to have moved to Ethiopia in search of a coach to help her train for the London 2012 Olympics.

What happened between then and her apparent death in the Mediterranean Sea is unclear.

According to al-Jazeera, there were no guarantees that she would be accepted to train at the stadium in Addis Ababa - it was dependent on her running times and permission from the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.

Reports in Italian media suggest she may have been hoping to find a coach in Europe who could help her reach the London Olympics.

Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera  says Samia's fate only came to light when former Somali Olympic athlete Abdi Bile brought it up at a talk.

He mentioned Mo Farah, the Somali runner who moved to the United Kingdom aged 12 and triumphed in this year's Olympics.

"We are happy for Mo - he is our pride," he said. "But we will not forget Samia."


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #136 on: August 21, 2012, 06:38:47 pm »


London 2012: Hits and Misses
A look at the architecture and design from the London Olympics that made headlines, including Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond's Orbit, Hopkins Architects' Velodrome and Thomas Heatherwick's cauldron.


1 Velodrome by Hopkins Architects

While some speculate that the Olympic Stadium, designed by Populous, will nab the 2012 Stirling Prize in October, Hopkins' pringle-shaped Velodrome remains the star of this summer's games. It's the combination of stunning form and sustainable construction and operation that makes this venue a hit. Steel-framed and clad entirely in locally sourced FSC timber, the home to the indoor cycling track features a glazed concourse and two tiers of seating. Sustainable measures include passive cooling and a grey water system.



2 ArcelorMittal Orbit by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond

Guests entering Olympic Park were baffled by the 115-metre-tall tower. Designed by Anish Kapoor and structural engineer Cecil Balmond, the functional sculpture received a cool reception that included comparisons to rollercoasters and hookahs. One of the game's permanent structures, it's made from 560 metres of red tubular steel and features an observation deck (spectators are encouraged to exit via the 400-plus spiraling stairs). It's a daring engineering feat but it's a far cry from Kapoor's seamless and refined public art pieces.

3 Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid

Hadid came under heavy fire when Olympic officials began offering refunds to spectators watching – and, to some degree, not being able to see – the diving and swimming competitions in her 8,000-capacity stingray-like structure. Many blamed the undulating roof (sculptural, gravity-defying and huge: signature Hadid) for blocking the views of the 10-metre diving board. Hadid's office denied the existence of a design flaw, saying that the firm delivered a stadium with 5,000 uninterrupted views, just as it was asked to do.  

4 Oscar Pistorius' prosthetic legs

Dubbed the Blade Runner, the South African sprinter – and double amputee – raised eyebrows when he qualified for the 400-metre race. Donning the Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthetic legs, created by Össur, he was targeted by critics who postulated that the lightweight prostheses gave him an unfair advantage. Made of carbon fibre, the J-shaped legs are also fitted with shock-absorbing spike pads specially developed for Pistorius by Nike. Pistorius's qualification opens the door for devlopment of high-tech innovations in sports gear, as well as a new debate over performance-enhancers.

5. Olympic cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick

Not only was the design for this Olympic icon top secret, but the final piece was almost impossible to catch a glimpse of. (The Vancouver winter games in 2010 made a similar blunder by surrounding the flames with a chainlink fence). Still, it was a hit. Made from 204 copper petals – representing each participating country – attached to long poles, it was lit by British Olympians and drawn up to form an 8.5-metre-tall cylinder topped with a single massive flame.

6 London 2012 logo

Instantly dismissed at its 2007 unveiling, the dense geometric logo based on the date 2012, was an undeniable eyesore. Designed by Wolff Ollins, who has also worked with GE, Target and (Red), the emblem was also turned into an animation that allegedly caused seizuring. According to Unbeige, organizers for Rio's 2016 games took note – its sans serif logo is simple and easy to read.


http://azuremagazine.com/newsviews/blog_content.php?id=2145

Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #137 on: August 22, 2012, 09:42:28 am »
That logo, London 2012 - I hadn't even seen (or even looked for) the numbers in it until I read your post Gil. What I had seen (after considerable effort) were the distorted letters of 'London'. I'm sure that was intentional. At first , and for a long time, I imagined that the 'letters' represented a mini map of the buroughs of the city.  :P

L   N
  o
D   N    
2015 - Toronto: Pan Am Games
2015 - Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg: Woman's World Cup of Soccer

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #138 on: August 23, 2012, 09:07:10 am »



http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/insane-minnesota-couple-hated-the-olympics-for-bei


Minnesota Couple Hated The Olympics
For Being Too Sexy

This couple was furious about the “pagan noise”
and “cleavage” on display. Way too sexy!


By Jack Moore
BuzzFeed Staff
Posted about 14 hours ago


Click for the comic BuzzFeed commentary/response:



Here is the real letter:

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/240419/


We’ve enjoyed past Olympic openings and closings, and some of the sports.

But the quality of the past two or three Olympics has been a great disappointment.

The entertainment of this latest Olympics was dark, loud, sexualized with scanty clothes and revealing cleavage on women, and with disturbing pagan noise. Connecting children, beds plus frightening villains made one think of pedophiles.

The black and red colors of sex and violence dominated most of the closing. The nuns were obviously there to mock Christianity while one could only think of Satan being glorified.

The comical entrance of the queen was one of the few bright spots.

Past Olympics had spectacular bright, cheerful and family-style entertainment but the English seem to have put teens who worship Satan in charge. It was disgraceful and we suffered through them hoping for some improvement.

Some of the clothes the competitors wore also reflect the sexualized entertainment.

The male swimmers look unprofessional with their hip-huggers trunks stopping just above their pubic region, as also the women’s track and volleyball with their underwear-bikinis.

All are offensive and degrading. These styles are also now worn in our schools and colleges, which no one seems to have objected to.

The girls’ gymnastics also are sexualized in their swimsuits and are too tight around the buttocks plus partially expose their butts.

We had enough with all the sexuality which took away any enjoyment to watch so we only watched the entertainment.

Rio Di Janeiro [sic] has nothing better to offer with more dark juvenile entertainment and women parading around sexually, displaying cleavage and little talent.

Dennis P. & Rosemarie Mitchell

Duluth



"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #139 on: August 23, 2012, 10:51:36 am »
"The black and red colors of sex and violence dominated most of the closing."

"[...]disturbing pagan noise."

"[...]the English seem to have put teens who worship Satan in charge."


Good grief, why do they even publish this crazy stuff?  For the entertainment value?  These people are obviously religious nut-cases. To hell with them, lol!

Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #140 on: August 23, 2012, 11:11:03 am »


Good grief, why do they even publish this crazy stuff?  For the entertainment value?  These people are obviously religious nut-cases. To hell with them, lol!


It was a Letter to the Editor of the Duluth News Tribune :



(All I have to say is, thank god I don't live in Duluth!)


 ::) ::)


"Tu doives entendre je t'aime."
(and you know who I am...)


Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne)
and Pee-wee in the 1990 episode
"Camping Out"

Offline oilgun

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #141 on: August 23, 2012, 01:31:35 pm »


It was a Letter to the Editor of the Duluth News Tribune :



(All I have to say is, thank god I don't live in Duluth!)


 ::) ::)




i realise that it was a letter to the editor but editors are not obliged to print EVERY stupid letter they receive.  On top of the crazy content the letter is very badly written.  The Duluth News Tribune has pretty low standards.

Offline IsaacBoyd

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Re: London Olympics - News & Views
« Reply #142 on: August 08, 2013, 01:46:56 am »


Cool to be a Clueless Fool Dep't:



http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/07/28/nbc_olympics_coverage_meredith_vieira_think_it_s_cool_to_be_ignorant_.html


Meredith Vieira at the
Opening Ceremony:
It’s Cool To Be Ignorant

By Josh Levin
Posted Saturday,
July 28, 2012,
at 11:01 AM ET



Meredith Vieira joked about her own
ignorance at the opening ceremony.



The opening ceremony of the London Olympics featured loads of references that were lost on American viewers who aren’t familiar with, say, the particulars of Britain’s National Health Service. When unfamiliar facts arise during NBC’s coverage, you can typically count on in-house smartypants Bob Costas to fill you in on the details. But with Costas on the sidelines until the parade of nations, former Today compatriots Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira instead engaged in a reverse battle of wits, fighting it out to see who knew least. Vieira came out on top.

Some have complained that NBC’s talking heads chattered too much during the ceremony. I take issue more with how they chattered. At the top of the bizarre set piece celebrating the virtues of texting, Vieira explained that World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee would soon be making an appearance. "If you haven't heard of him, we hadn’t either," she said.

Later, Lauer and Vieira described the technology that was lighting up the audience. “These are little pixel screens at every seat that allows the creative team here to actually turn the crowd into a giant led light screen,” Lauer noted. Vieira’s jokey response: “One more thing I don’t understand.”
 
Aside from Chris Berman-esque nicknaming, this is my least favorite sportscasting tic. Vieira is surely very intelligent. She has an army of researchers by her side both before and during the opening ceremony. And yet, likely out of a desire to seem more “relatable,” she plays dumb. This reverse snobbery is insulting to viewers—if she acts dumb, how do you think she feels about the yokels watching on the boob tube?—and perpetuates the poisonous idea that it’s uncool to know stuff.

A polite request for Meredith Vieira: Instead of chuckling that you don’t understand how the stadium’s light show works, get someone to teach you so you can explain it to people at home. You would learn something, and so would we.






http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony






NBC lambasted over banal butchering
of opening ceremony – and rightly so


Tim Berners-Lee? Who's that? Madagascar?
Oh, like the kids movie! If you're going to
make us wait hours to watch the ceremony
live, NBC, the least you could have done is
keep quiet



Sir Tim Berners-Lee's 'This is for Everyone' referring to the world wide
web – everyone besides Meredith Vieira, that is.



As the Olympic torch was lit in London at the end of a three-and-a-half-hour ceremony live blogged and tweeted across the globe, NBC finally began to broadcast the show – to Americans on the east coast (west coast viewers had to wait another three hours for their turn).

Commentators Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira reunited for the cameras as if it was Beijing 2008 – or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, or just a regular morning in 2011.

Theirs was the job of interpreting, explaining and trampling all over Danny Boyle's fast-paced, high-def presentation of Great Britain from the time of maypoles and hay bales to the current day. And they did what they were paid to do.

In the early part of the broadcast, commentary was restrained. Matt and Meredith didn't speak over every song, and they only interrupted each other every so often.

Much of the early local cultural references may have been lost on a US audience, and to their credit the cheery duo did a valiant job trying to explain the Beefeaters, the Industrial Revolution, and the National Health Service.

"Some very big surprises lie ahead," said Matt cutting to a commercial break as reports of the show from those who had watched it live began to flood the internet.

He was referring to the "entry" of Her Majesty the Queen into the Olympic Stadium. Matt was beside himself at the prospect of it. He was DYING to tell us what would happen.

Luckily for us the set up for the Queen's entrance was a video of Daniel Craig as James Bond escorting her into a helicopter.

In a rare display of self-control NBC let the pre-shot video sections of the ceremony play without interruption. As Matt Lauer would say, "We thank them for that."

Meredith disappeared two hours into the show and Matt was joined by Parade of Nations veteran Bob Costas for the marathon task of introducing the individual nations to America.

The two men lobbed their factoids of "Olympic trivia" as they called them back and forth with fluent ease.

A couple of examples from Matt, who edged out Bob for the gold medal in triviality: "From the I-did-not-know-that-file, Denmark is the most competitive non-Asian country in Badminton."

And, "Madagascar – for our younger viewers a country associated with a few animated movies."

At this point of the broadcast a Storify called Shut Up Matt Lauer began to circulate on Twitter.

The most egregious moment of commentary had come earlier when Matt and Meredith mentioned that there was to be a tribute to "someone" called Tim Berners-Lee.

"If you haven't heard of him, we haven't either," chuckled Meredith about the inventor of the world wide web sitting on stage.

"Google him," laughed Matt with no apparent sense of irony.

Three and half hours into the broadcast the United States team appeared in the Parade of Nations and promptly took out their cellphones, snapping pictures and shooting videos of each other as they walked through the stadium.

It was an odd moment that somehow synthesized the lack of spontaneity of the whole television experience.

Ten minutes later the home team of Brits finally entered to David Bowie's Heroes, a blizzard of white confetti, and an overwhelming roar of gusty cheering.

"Let's sit back and listen," said Bob. And we did – for 20 seconds before Matt started up again.

"Seven billion pieces of paper have just been released into the air over this Olympic Stadium …"

By now the two men just couldn't stop. They talked all the way through The Arctic Monkeys singing Come Together. They talked through the stadium announcers.

They briefly held back for Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Olympic Committee, and for the Queen, who declared the Games officially open.

But the minute the Olympic flag appeared at the end of her words they started up again. And from then on they didn't stop talking till the fireworks at the end. If only NBC had cut some of their banality.

But the network chose to let them run on in their entirety.

Other portions of the ceremony weren't so lucky. The Sex Pistol's Pretty Vacant  was largely missing from NBC's coverage, other than the briefest of snippets either side of yet another commercial break.

Meanwhile the arrival of Saudi Arabia's first female athletes never made it onto American television nor did a memorial package displayed in the stadium on big screens.

Instead, as a taste of what we can expect in the days and weeks to come, NBC interrupted exciting and emotional television for a static Ryan Seacrest studio interview with Michael Phelps.

By the end of the night three and a half hours of live action had become four and a half hours of tedium and #nbcfail was trending on Twitter. It was an award rightly earned.




it was awesome show for sure. One of the best I have ever seen.. I am fortunate to watch ceremony live in stadium
« Last Edit: August 08, 2013, 01:09:20 pm by IsaacBoyd »