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Thread: London 2012 Olympics

  1. #1
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    Default London 2012 Olympics

    It's finally arrived in all its gilded glory and London has thrown open arms to the world to come and join in. 2 months of hosting a few extra million people from around the globe.

    Being a cynic, I'm just waiting for the first things to start going wrong. However, the stadiums have been built in time. The weather has gone from rainy to gorgeous in a few days and is now hotter than Hawaii. Oh well, there is always roadworks or a strike on the underground or possibly Border Control to screw things up.

    Should be fun though.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  2. #2
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for a peaceful, enjoyable Olympics for all, full of athletic excellence and uplifting stories.

  3. #3
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    I hope everything goes well, I'm excited that the Olympics are in the UK...I think it's going to be great fun.

    U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    It's weird. There is this strange sense of acceptance, it's here we may as well enjoy it.

    Already had one strike cancelled, but we have already had lots of messages about staying out of the special Olympic road lanes for the officials.

    And apparently, the opening ceremony is going to be really good. Danny Boyle has managed to keep it under wraps, no leaks, no previews, just a few hints about what it will be about.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  5. #5
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    I actually don't envy you guys. When Chicago was in the running I was like "please god no, please god no." But...as you say, as long as you're stuck with it, might as well make the most of it. I'm really looking forward to the opening ceremony...I'm sure it will be great. I heard Paul McCartney is the closing act, but I might have read that in the Daily Mail, so who knows if it's true. Can't wait to see what the Queen will be wearing.

  6. #6
    Oliphaunt
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    I wouldn't want to actually be in London, but I'll enjoy the spectacle (from this nice, long distance away)!

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    My thoughts exactly. I have a USA Olympics pin I'll wear on Friday.

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    and we have already had our first major gaff.

    The North Korean Women's Football team was welcomed with the South Korean flag.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Oh. I thought you were talking about ol' Mitt: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...to-London.html

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    Romneyshamble. It's got such a nice ring to it.

    And when you have been slated by the "Mr Foot in Mouth" BoJo, you know you are doing something wrong.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  11. #11
    Oliphaunt
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    OK what is wrong with that guy? (The London mayor, I mean. I know what's wrong with Mittens.) He looks like a crazy person.

  12. #12
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    It's a show to make people more at ease with him.

    He is a very clever and smooth operator and gives that image because it means a lot of people underestimate how good he can be.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  13. #13
    Oliphaunt The Original An Gadaí's avatar
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    Ha that opening ceremony looked like shit.

  14. #14
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Nice bit with HM and 007, though.

  15. #15
    Oliphaunt
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    It's interesting to see how a country decides to portray itself at these kinds of things.

    That was a lot of top hats.

  16. #16
    Oliphaunt
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    Also, the torch/cauldron thing is pretty damn nifty.

  17. #17
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Yes, but I still think the Barcelona Olympics opening, with the bowman lighting the cauldron with a flaming arrow, was the best.

  18. #18
    Oliphaunt
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    Anything getting lit with a flaming arrow generally wins, in my opinion.

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    Hmm, I liked parts of the opening ceremony and other bits were pretty embarrassing. So quite British then. There are not many of them going to allow Mr Bean to play a part in such a momentous occasion and get away with it.

    I also thought the Torch was brilliant. It's also great that the petals represent each country and at the end each country will be taking one home with them.

    Despite everything, it's actually been quite quiet here. Everything is running smoothly, people seem happy other than a couple of grouches, so far so good.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  20. #20
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Elendil's Heir View post
    Nice bit with HM and 007, though.
    I give her credit, that was pretty awesome.

  21. #21
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Yes, she's loosening up just a bit as she begins her second 60 years on the throne....

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  23. #23
    Oliphaunt
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    Random fact I learned today: men and women compete together in equestrian events.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    re: the Korean fencer refusing to leave. If I were one of the Olympics security officers sent to escort her away, I would've insisted she surrender her blade! I'm not much for risking skewering just to get a diva athlete out of the picture.

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    It looks as though four Badminton teams have been kicked out of the Olympics for trying to abuse the system and deliberately lose to get a better draw going forward.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  26. #26
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    The absolute best thing about the Olympics is the drama that happens in these little-known sports.

  27. #27
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    It's true; I could do with a lot more coverage of the obscure stuff and a lot less coverage of Michael Phelps and his entire extended family.

  28. #28
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    What's fascinating to me about it is that we all get the stakes in swimming, track & field, gymnastics, diving...we are brought into those worlds through the media. But we forget that for the few people in the world who care about, you know, fencing or shooting or judo, the passions run just as high if not higher.

  29. #29
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    Besides, you'd think that American would love the weaponed, combat-ish sports.

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    I sometimes think the American media only likes events in which you have a chance of winning medals - other sports don't count.

    There are so many good sports and none of them should count as little-known. For a lot of them, this is the biggest stage for them.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  31. #31
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    In other news Phelps now has more medals than any other Olympian. The debate as to whether he is the greatest olympian is about to kick off.

    Personally, I think he is a great Olympian, but I don't think he is the best.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  32. #32
    Oliphaunt Rube E. Tewesday's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by CatInASuit View post
    In other news Phelps now has more medals than any other Olympian. The debate as to whether he is the greatest olympian is about to kick off.

    Personally, I think he is a great Olympian, but I don't think he is the best.
    No doubt he's good, but swimmers start off with a huge advantage in terms of getting medals. They have a million events, and someone who's good in one of them is good in all of them. There's just no way of comparing a great swimmer to a great pole-vaulter in Olympic terms.

  33. #33
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    Agreed; the fact that you can swim really well will get you a bunch more medals than any other ability as far as the Olympics go. I am sick to death of Phelps.

    I am happy for the Flying Squirrel. She's amazing.

  34. #34
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    I like 'em both. Glad to see athletic excellence and can-do spirits reaping such Olympian rewards.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    The latest on the fencing controversy: http://1045theteam.com/american-tv-n...-the-olympics/

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    Its strange, just how good an Olympics Team GB is having. If you take out the swimming, we have more gold medals than the USA

    I'd heard that the NBC coverage of the Games wasn't exactly up to scratch.

    Usain Bolt won the 100m again showing that it wasn't just a fluke and that he is the real deal. A third gold in Brazil 2016 and he will be a track legend.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  37. #37
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    Yeah, the NBC coverage has been...subpar. Almost everything I've followed has been streamed online as a result. I've also been mightily annoyed by the various US blogs who have decided to suddenly take notice of dressage and decide it's the Worst Thing Ever.

    On the other hand, I've been blown away by just how competitive the women's weightlifting has been and all of the records getting broken left and right. Zhou Lulu in particular is something else.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

  38. #38
    Oliphaunt Rube E. Tewesday's avatar
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    Bolt is still incredible. I think, though, that this time out he just looks like the greatest runner in the world, not like the Flash on steroids.

  39. #39
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    Australasian media agency Fairfax Media have apologised for any offence caused by an article about Irish boxer Katie Taylor’s victory against Britain’s Natasha Jonas yesterday, following a complaint by the Irish Ambassador to Australia that the piece was “inappropriate” and “lapse[d] into lazy stereotyping” about Irish people.

    The article, originally headlined “Punch Drunk: Ireland intoxicated as Taylor swings towards boxing gold”, was published on The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and the Brisbane Times websites this morning.

    “For centuries, Guinness and whiskey have sent the Irish off their heads. Now all it takes is a petite 26-year-old from Wicklow,” the opening paragraph read.
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking41.html

  40. #40
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Really? REALLY? Ugh. I can think of a Fairfax editor or sportsreporter who should lose his head... or his job.

  41. #41
    Oliphaunt
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    DAMN. That's classy.

  42. #42
    Oliphaunt The Original An Gadaí's avatar
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    To add insult to injury the athlete quite famously doesn't drink.

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    Quote Originally posted by The Original An Gadaí View post
    To add insult to injury the athlete quite famously doesn't drink.
    Well, that's what she SAYS. But you know how those Irish are...!

    D&R

  44. #44
    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    Well, it's all over for another four years. It was great fun while it lasted and here's hoping the next one is just a good.

    Totally amazed by how well GB did and there are lots of memories, and new memes, to take away.

    *Does the Mobot*
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  45. #45
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    I didn't watch the closing ceremony, but I did flip it over just in time to see Prince Harry singing/whistling along to "Always Look on the Bright Side of LIfe." Which was really kinda awesome.

  46. #46
    Oliphaunt
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    Yes. Yes it was.

  47. #47
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    Just curious, but is anyone else watching and following the Paralympics that are going on as well?
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

  48. #48
    Oliphaunt Rube E. Tewesday's avatar
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    Nah, haven't seen any of it. The kid may have been watching a bit.

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