Lets Have An Olympic Thread

[Guy Incognito]

Hell Yes.

1) After all this time, the logo still looks like Lisa Simpson blowing someone.
2) We've already fucked up the logistics, its going to be chaos
3) First day of events and we managed to put the South Korea flag up for the North Koreans womens football team (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18991619). Classic.
4) Am really excited about it though
5)Am hoping the opening ceremony doesnt go horribly wrong, it'd be hard to top Beijing's but i will settle for some good bits.

[MC Moot]

I thought we had a sporting chance in Womens footy but we just came up way short against Japan...also I'm interested to see how well Michael Phelps competes at his last go at it...

[Heather_D]

I read that odds are pretty good for London's mayor's hair to catch fire on the Olympic torch. True?

[MC Moot]

How does one volunteer to get one of those nifty missile battery's installed on top of ones flat?

[Guy Incognito]

one hasnt got a clue

they arent real

god i hope we dont fuck this up too much

[MC Moot]

I think if ever had the chance to take a spot on such a world wide podium I would use the spotlight to make a humanitarian statement...I remember praying that someone would fly a Tibetan flag in Beijing...also I want to see Usain Bolt run like a mofo again...(y)

[Adam]

I suffered my first inconvenience by the olympics yesterday and I've been a cynic to corporate and militarised nature of it all.

The North Korean flag blunder was terrible, even when I produce a document I double check it - if it's going to more than three people I'd get someone else to look at it. Just embarrassing. LOCOG called it a "simple human error". Not sure what simple humans they have running it behind the scenes but geez, this is school boy stuff.

But I am looking forward to it. I get the bug a little, then I cycle against 25 tourists going the wrong way on hire bikes and get annoyed but if I ignore the money, the army, the tourists, the sponsors and Lord Coe I'm hyped (y)

[Junker]

5)Am hoping the opening ceremony doesnt go horribly wrong, it'd be hard to top Beijing's but i will settle for some good bits.

I don't think any city will ever top Beijing's opening ceremony.

[MC Moot]

I'll be damned if I can't find live audio or video of the Spain vs Japan match...Japan is up 1-nil...hmmmm...first they influence our tapas now they want our gold...

[Yeti]

I will be watching tonight and I can't wait to watch the 3D coverage on my TV.

[p-branez]

I'm planning to watch the 5,000m, 10,000m, and marathon all the way through for men and women. Go Ryan Hall and Desiree Davila!

[LuciferHam]

Maybe the flag mix up was an intentional human error...

[Gareth]

love this shit
stoked to be in london right now

[Guy Incognito]

Really enjoyed the ceremony. Some good choices for guest appearances and it looked awesome. Was quite proud apart from when the queen was picking her fingers when team gb came out.

Bring on the sport.

[LilTreyR]

I read that odds are pretty good for London's mayor's hair to catch fire on the Olympic torch. True?

:confused:

[Adam]

Cermony was quite good. I can imagine some nations might not of quite got it but then not all nations get British humour and culture.

Watching the cycle road race now. Mainly looking forward to other cycle events, athletic road races and taekwondo.

[LilTreyR]

The North Korean flag blunder was terrible, even when I produce a document I double check it - if it's going to more than three people I'd get someone else to look at it. Just embarrassing. LOCOG called it a "simple human error". Not sure what simple humans they have running it behind the scenes but geez, this is school boy stuff.

But I am looking forward to it.

(y)

[M|X|Y]

so did england do it up or does china's show still top them all?

i've only seen the mr. bean part.

[Guy Incognito]

it was good, lots of surprises and thrills and it made me feel good and quite proud at times. Really nice to hear "Rez" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0oMwKnU3OM) being played as the athletes went round.Heard a bit of aphex twin in opening ceremony as well. music worked really well all round. Was pleased for arctic monkeys and dizzie.

[Swooziemoonshoe]

For me it was completely amazing. I was out in Shoreditch before I headed home to watch the ceremony, and even the painful hipsters were cheering in the streets when the planes flew over. Loved the tribute to the NHS, and when we reminded the world that we led the industrial revolution and invented THE INTERNET... The music section was awesome too. I heard Fuck Buttons twice! Stepped out of my door and saw the fireworks light up the sky. Despite what I've said I'm not generally one for national pride but the atmosphere in London is pretty cool at the mo.

[Adam]

Yeah the NHS bit was amazing. I'm not into national pride either but Danny Boyle made one of the most self depreciating cynical nations of the world feel proud and for that he deserves a gold medal.

I saw the clip of NBC not knowing who Sir Tim Berners-Lee was. It was a very british ceremony and the rest of the world might of gone 'huh?' but we're not a nation looking at other nations to make us feel big - we know we're not, but it was a reminder to the world that we've given it some of the best culture plus taken and given some beatings on its behalf. 5/5

[Guy Incognito]

There have been a lot of tweets by tories that the ceremony was a "load of lefty crap". Cameron must be upset with that as i think he'd be first to admit that the NHS is something we are known for and should be proud of despite the current political situation with it.

Yeah i think a lot of people are quite proud that the ceremony was very british, was wide ranging and wasnt shit and didnt try to compete with beijing. Simple things were done well and there were some nice surprises and ideas. I liked the fact there were a lot of references to the local area as well. Having Dizzie rascal was a nice touch as was letting stephen lawrences mum carry olympic flag.

[M|X|Y]

why is it so hard to watch the olympics online? i can't find the opening ceremony anywhere.. shouldn't this be the easiest thing to find right now?

[Pres Zount]

2am and I'm sitting there watching some equestrian rubbish, and all I can think of is how stupid and awful 99% of the olympic games are. I'm sure if they hyped up competitive nose picking to the same levels and poured the same millions into it, people would stay up to all hours to watch it live. HE'S ONTO A GOOD ONE HERE, THE YOUNG FRENCHMAN, HE JUST HAS TO WORK IT OUT AND... OH NO! HE'S BLEEDING!


Didn't watch the opening ceremony as Seinfeld repeats were on the other channel, but you know it's going to be good when it involves celebrating the NHS and having someone's mum carry your flag. Christ.

[Guy Incognito]

Didn't watch the opening ceremony as Seinfeld repeats were on the other channel, but you know it's going to be good when it involves celebrating the NHS and having someone's mum carry your flag. Christ.

that was just some things that i liked. I appreciate it was very british and that foreigners may be a little confused and sarcastic people might have something to make comment about.
I was trying to say that there were some nice touches particularly to do with britains history, using local people and referencing a lot of different stuff. I was impressed with some of the subtler touches

There were plenty of highlights. The flame was amazing, (never going to top barcelona 92) but still good, and the way the stage transformed and the rings were formed was magic.

[Adam]

why is it so hard to watch the olympics online? i can't find the opening ceremony anywhere.. shouldn't this be the easiest thing to find right now?

Try searching "UK proxy server" and use the BBC website to stream. I guess LOCOG are right on top of any available unofficial streams.

But I've also seen it on torrents.

[na§tee]

2am and I'm sitting there watching some equestrian rubbish, and all I can think of is how stupid and awful 99% of the olympic games are. I'm sure if they hyped up competitive nose picking to the same levels and poured the same millions into it, people would stay up to all hours to watch it live. HE'S ONTO A GOOD ONE HERE, THE YOUNG FRENCHMAN, HE JUST HAS TO WORK IT OUT AND... OH NO! HE'S BLEEDING!

Didn't watch the opening ceremony as Seinfeld repeats were on the other channel, but you know it's going to be good when it involves celebrating the NHS and having someone's mum carry your flag. Christ.
hey grumpy grumpingtons - chill out! blimey. you chose the wrong sport!

i have been loving the olympics. there are some sports i just don't have a clue about but it's been really interesting learning a bit more. this time last week i knew nothing about the rules and culture behind judo, road racing, rowing, artistic gymnastics, the various swimming things, and er, badminton, but now that has increased a teeny, tiny fraction. i still don't quite understand the whole 'racing in teams but not really' shit with road racing. i had to google how you win the tour de france. AND NO IT'S NOT JUST GOING THE FASTEST OK.

i need an idiot's guide to the road race. i felt bad for mark cavendish though, he was gutted - he said the australians 'cycled negatively'. i wish i knew what that meant. did all the other people in the peloton tactically prevent the british (and cav) from being able to sprint?

i also think bradley wiggins deserves a nice SIT DOWN very soon.

totally agree with you adam about the cynical nation thing. i don't think i've ever felt patriotic before but damn. the nhs bit was inspired. we are incredibly lucky to have that service and we should be proud. let's hope david cameron doesn't take it away, eh? :/

oh and dizzee rascal and the prodigy? ace. so glad that the opening ceremony didn't take itself too seriously.

i'm going to croatia on tuesday for 9 days so i'll miss a lot of it - hoping i can catch at least some of the athletics in a bar out there.

[Freebasser]

Ahhh... nothing like a stupidly expensive opening ceremony to take your mind off the crippling recession.

More beds in the NHS part of the ceremony than actual beds in the NHS system. Ha! #Priorities

[Freebasser]

I'm sure if they hyped up competitive nose picking to the same levels and poured the same millions into it, people would stay up to all hours to watch it live.

Nose picking is a true gentleman's sport - something I'm sure you could never understand... hater!

[Pres Zount]

Hey, I'm moaning about the fact that it's NOT in the olympics; I for one have been following it since I was but a child. It deserves it's chance to shine just as much as trampolining or tug of war.

Yes, I do understand that the obscurity of the sports is what attracts some people to the watch. Or the fact that you don't always see competitive archery on television, at it's highest level. I'm more of a winter olympics person.

[Adam]

i need an idiot's guide to the road race. i felt bad for mark cavendish though, he was gutted - he said the australians 'cycled negatively'. i wish i knew what that meant. did all the other people in the peloton tactically prevent the british (and cav) from being able to sprint?

Kind of. TeamGB have the best cycling team at the moment and the whole field knew that. Basically they looked upon the them to do all the miles, to bring back any break away for the sprint at the end. But the work load to do this has to be shared between more than one team and it wasn't. You apparently use 30-40% more energy at the front due to lack of wind resistant and if you've been doing the work, then any break away would be hard to get back if that break away is working well - i.e. sharing the work load.

It didn't just effect British hopes but the whole peloton suffered as they didn't have a chance to be in the sprint, thus it was a negative ride. Break aways rarely work but this time it did - fair play to the Kazakhstan dude.

The women's cycle road race was much better though, enjoyed that one much more.

[p-branez]

I liked the Opening Ceremony, especially the third part, with Dizzee and the British music, and because I totally bragged to my girlfriend that I learned in college about Tim Berners-Lee. It was actually the first Opening Ceremony I've watched all the way through, so I liked it in that regard. I was definitely looking for a theme to tie the 3 sections together, and didn't really find it, but it sounds like the British-centered program made it meaningful for Brits.

My track events haven't even started, but I've been watching everything. It's actually nice to have something to watch on television at night. Only problem is that I flip through my phone and know all the results before NBC's pre-packaged evening program.

The road race was probably my favorite, glad to be done with synchronized diving (Americans won 2 medals!), not minding beach volleyball because of the athleticism required to jump in the sand for an hour, and definitely going to watch men's and women's basketball. I'm a little tired of the swimming, after NBC ran 50 stories about Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

[Guy Incognito]

not minding beach volleyball because of the athleticism required to jump in the sand for an hour,

thats precisely the reason i watch it as well;)

its great when they do a close up of the signals/womens bottoms. Although the organisers have been putting that on the big screen so the opposition can see them!

[Adam]

Athletics today!! Jessica Ennis from my old haunt Sheffield oop'North in the Heptathlon starts today so looking forward to that competition.

Good to see GB getting a few more medals too - we'll never be as good as China or USA but being in the top two or three euro countries will settle any national pride cravings.

[Guy Incognito]

we've got more medals than we had at same point in beijing. i thought that a lot of the people touted for medals would miss out and some unknowns would come good. thats sort of happening. The girl who won silver in judo, that was best moment of games for me so far.
I just like the way everyones getting into it and enjoying it. cept the londoners who have to deal with all the travel delays etc.
in a way i wish it was on other side of world so i could get home and watch it all, trying to follow on internet at work is a tricky procedure

[Adam]

cept the londoners who have to deal with all the travel delays etc.

I've hardly left the flat for two days. Go out for walks or cycle in the evenings looking at poor tourist who've wondered off the Thames path and find themselves lost in Deptford (looks rough in places but it isn't) daring not to ask directions but feel it's OK to get a massive map out is entertaining.

London does seem to be coping well though. Central line problems this morning (but then it's always best to assume this line is never open and it's a bonus when it is). I'm a mile from Greenwich which as a tourist centre is always the least crowded of the tourist centres is not as crowded as you might think, but I haven't gone into the park (or tried).

[icy manipulator]

we are completely sucking balls this olympics.

[Adam]

we are completely sucking balls this olympics.

Another event I didn't realise was in the Olympics. I also learnt this morning that trampolining is an event!

[Gareth]

how's that medal table lookin, australia?

[Adam]

It won't happen. BUT. What if, GB get more medals than USA? Do you think it'd be time to invade and get the country back and spread socialism?

We wouldn't be able to swim faster than them but we would be able to row and cycle after them.

[Guy Incognito]

saw this on twitter this morning:

Double standards from the IOC, they kicking people out for not trying yet the whole Australian team are still in.

:D:p

[icy manipulator]

lol, just the swimmers. We're actually winning some things now and not just picking up the SILVERware.

The coverage here of the games has been a complete load of shit. Seriously most of the first was swimming, replays of swimming, interviews with swimmers, back stories of swimmers and swimmers with their mums talking about how much they fucked up in their event.

Yesterday i woke up at 4 am to watch the womens pole vault with Yelena Isinbayeva, the 28 time world record holder and one of the best female athletes of the 21st century, to see if she could get a 3rd gold medal. The fucking coverage stopped as soon as the Australian girl (who came 2nd last) got knocked out and by 8am there was still no more coverage, JUST MORE FUCKING REPLAYS OF SAILING AND HORSES!

Seriously pissed off about it. They dont seem to realize ppl want to see all good athletes, not just shitty ones from their country.
There's a facebook thingy about how shitty the coverage is here. It's made the paper and all
http://www.facebook.com/ch9fail

[Adam]

I must say the BBC coverage here has been brilliant. I feel bad for all the countries losing out.

But as I said before - search UK Proxy Server and stream the BBC. Lifehacker did a piece too - http://lifehacker.com/5930437/how-an-american-can-stream-the-bbcs-official-olympics-coverage-and-overcome-nbcfail

[Pres Zount]

Coverage in Australia has been abysmal. I was watching men's vaulting gymnastics the other night, only for the gold medal run to be cut by an ad break, and then replaced with trap shooting.

Half an hour into trap shooting, and the gold medal shoot-off was cut-off by an Australian losing a cycle race.

[Guy Incognito]

if i didnt have a digital box, i might be complaining as well but having 24 dedicated olympic channels is brilliant but the normal coverage has been a bit brit centric

[Kid Presentable]

I love reading the kiwis on facebook braying about per capita this and suck it Australia that. I can relate, but still it's fucking pathetic.

Women's basketball is off the heezy. Gonna pick up some Opals merch fo sho

[TurdBerglar]

first time watching handball today. sweden vs denmark i think. i like it. there's all these techniques and juke moves they use. it's pretty cool.

[Guy Incognito]

handballs good. its better than basketball *waits for lots of shit for that one*

on twitter the other day the UK Handball top man said that they had loads of enquiries from people wanting to take up the sport, he said that their website had crashed due to the amount of enquiries. I imagine it was probably more to do with a much needed server upgrade.

water polo blows.

dressage is just....No. Its the equivalent of asking the F1 lads to do a 3 point turn and reverse round a corner before the race starts.

Sailing is shite to watch.

I dont care that some of these sports have got UK gold, they are bobbins.

[MC Moot]

No. Its the equivalent of asking the F1 lads to do a 3 point turn and reverse round a corner before the race starts.

*Picturing Fernado Alonso parallel parking...*

(y):D

[MC Moot]

We got the bronze in womens footy which is really just consolation after the brutal reffing in the American game...:rolleyes:

[Adam]

water polo blows.

dressage is just....No. Its the equivalent of asking the F1 lads to do a 3 point turn and reverse round a corner before the race starts.

Sailing is shite to watch.

Agreed on all motions.

Been watching the taekwondo last few days but it's what I've been looking forward to a lot - I applied to get tickets for all sessions but got none. I am glad to see most the seats are full though. UK have Jade Jones in the Gold/Silver bout later tonight.

[Pres Zount]

Water polo isn't that bad, I think. It seems like it's got interesting ideas for penalties and sitting in the corner and whatever, so it's not just soccer in da water.

Sailing is boring as fuck, even more so because the Australians are doing well, so I am forced (FORCED!) to sit through the final races by the TV companies... even though the Aussies have already won, and don't need to place anything else. So they've basically taken any excitement out of it completely.

The gymnastics with the ball thing is the worst, and all the equestrian stuff is a close second.

[Guy Incognito]

Water polo isn't that bad, I think. It seems like it's got interesting ideas for penalties and sitting in the corner and whatever, so it's not just soccer in da water.



yeah i like the sin bin thing but ultimately theres a lot of starting and stopping and whistle blowing and i aint got a clue whats going, just seems to be a lot of people hanging round in the water shouting "mine", bit like finding nemo.

incidentally soccer in da water is a better name

[Guy Incognito]

oh and the 800 metres last night was amazing.

[na§tee]

water polo is fucking nuts! they have to tread water the entire time, lift themselves out the water and only use one hand. and they wear two pairs of trunks for a REASON. it's so demanding and violent. cripes.

i managed to catch a bit while on holiday and it's been ace. i read this great book called how to watch the olympics which is a bit of an idiot's guide to all the sports plus history, finer points, current contenders, etc etc. it's been really interesting and also absolutely hilarious. there have been some seriously nuts occurrences/people/sports (bike polo anyone?) throughout the years. there are just way too many interesting tidbits to list here*, but trust me, it's a good'un. responsible for helping me watch so many sports i would usually never watch at all.

*at the 1904 st louis games four of the american water polo players died within a year of the games - the lake they used was full of bacteria.

i watched jade jones win the taekwondo and that was great, as was mo farah's gold medal races, nicola adam's winning the boxing, the rowing and the cycling. i saw some of the synchronised swimming and that shit is absolutely bonkers but technically stunning.

i am obviously getting old as i am blubbing like a baby at a lot of this stuff. i cried at chris hoy getting his last gold, jessica ennis winning the heptathlon, anna watkins and katherine grainger winning the double sculls and lots more. oh god and the TEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENT of some of the athletes! watching sir steve redgrave help mark hunter back on his feet and mark's interview with zac afterwards (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19124776) (video might be UK only), obviously absolutely destroyed they got a silver and not the gold. lordy.

another highlight for me has been chad le clos's father being overwhelmed at his son's gold in this interview (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072220) (UK) (bad recording for outside UK here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl2IOkHgUgc)) and my god, he is BRILLIANT. 'my beautiful boy - i love you!'. awhhh. what a hero.

looking forward to the basketball finals tonight and tomorrow and the marathon tomorrow.

[Guy Incognito]

defintely chads dad was excellent value

The opening ceremony really did help stoke it all up and kicked it off proper.

mo farah. wow. i'm kinda still more impressed that he is the only person to have defeated The Cube. Sorry, non uk-ers its a telly show over here. But two fantastic races.

Taekwondo is really good to watch, hope it gets shown a bit more

Andy Murray managed to beat Rog, get a gold and make lots of new friends.

The velodrome was awesome but i still never actually heard this playing in there:

Theme From Velodrome - Chemical Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpyqgJHSEW0&feature=related)

Olympics has been effing brilliant, but i'm not looking to actually having to do some work next week.

Oh bollocks its trevor, hazel and hugh again for the closing ceremony. I am hoping that the handover to brazil will feature some nice ladies wearing not a lot(y)