London 2012 Olympics Thread

[180mmCrank]

What did people think about the NHS references? Seemed a little bit unnecessary and stupid to me.

I think you have to look at the whole show ... So the NHS and specifically Great Ormand Street Hopital is a very special part of London and Uk for some folk. The actual parts in the Ceremony were being performed by some of the Staff and Children from the hospital ... Kind of cool really.

T

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

What did people think about the NHS references? Seemed a little bit unnecessary and stupid to me.

I thought it was a great part of the show, but I can see how it is a rather UK specific cultural reference.

 

[hrotha]

Watching fencing now (women, foil). Anyone else finds it weird that, in a sport where they wear sensors everywhere, they have to rely on refs and video to determine who hit first?

 

[Amsterhammer]

They wanted to p!ss off Mitt Romney.

Exactly what I thought when they mentioned the NHS.

For the rest, the stadium light show was impressive, as was the lighting of the flame (what are they going to do with that monster once the stadium is in use?). Everything else struck me as the usual over-the-top chauvinism that we have sadly come to expect.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Watching fencing now (women, foil). Anyone else finds it weird that, in a sport where they wear sensors everywhere, they have to rely on refs and video to determine who hit first?

Women's volleyball is the shiznit..asthetic reason

 

[Magnus]

Anybody got a link to a video of the opening ceremony (or at least high lights)?

 

[RedheadDane]

For the rest, the stadium light show was impressive, as was the lighting of the flame (what are they going to do with that monster once the stadium is in use?). Everything else struck me as the usual over-the-top chauvinism that we have sadly come to expect.

It's the athletics that's gonna be held at that stadium, right? Wouldn't the only things that could end up as a problem be the various throwing competitions? They'd just have to throw over the flame, would look pretty awesome too!

In all seriousness though I've no clue!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Anybody got a link to a video of the opening ceremony (or at least high lights)?

http://www.youtube.com/olympic .. select

 

[Merckx index]

There may be some big surprises in the pool. Michael Phelps barely qualified for the final in one of his strongest events, the 400 IM. He took the 8th and last spot, just out-touching Laszlo Cseh, who won the silver behind Phelps in this event in Beijing (and who was arguably the second best male swimmer in those Olympics). Of course, the best swimmers are usually not going quite all out in the preliminaries, just doing enough to make the final, but it should not have been this close. In Beijing, Phelps qualified first, IIRC, for most of his finals, and was certainly in the top three. His time today was way off his typical preliminary time in this event, and very far off his WR. He will now get an outside lane, meaning it will be harder to see the fastest qualifiers during the race.

Ryan Lochte didn't swim a great race, either, but qualified third. This was supposed to be a battle between the two of them, and might still be, but I wouldn't bet on it now. Overlooked in all the excitement over their head to head duals in the trials was that their times were well off (Phelps') world records. Both are in their late 20s when swimmers are traditionally past their prime.

I think Cseh must be in a state of shock. Weird things can happen in events which require qualifying heats. I remember in 1984 one of the favorites in I think the 400 freestyle barely missed making the final when he tried to save himself a little. In those days they had a non-medal consolation final for the top eight non qualifiers, and he not only won that event, but set a new WR, swimming faster than the winner of the gold medal event. I'm sure he would have traded the WR for the gold.

 

[SafeBet]

I watched the race and I'm pretty sure both Phelps and Cseh took it easy the last 100mt. Both swam over a minute in the free style fraction, a rather unusual split. They just couldn't envision 5 more swimmers beating them (huge mistake for such experienced athletes).

I'm not buying Phelps not being top form. He and Lochte will battle out for gold, Hagino seems a pretty fair bet for bronze, but there might be surprises.

I was stunned by Park's dq in the 400 free style preliminaries. Glad they let him in in the end.

 

[l.Harm]

This evening Holland have to get their first gold medal. The 'golden girls' o) at the 4x100 m won four years ago and we expect them to repeat this.

 

[User Guide]

Had archery on,couldnt be a***ed too turn over.......
Last arrow Italians need a perfect 10 to beat USA in the final....
He has 1 second to let it go before being timed out...
He hits a 10 and they win

 

[SafeBet]

And boy did I scream loud at that arrow

Andiamo!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Thatt was great and now it's on to the ladies hopefully beating the dominicans in volleyball

edit: ****ing hell they were one set and 4 points up now its 1 set all...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

They should've hired some Chinese to do it right or, to do it on the cheap, replaced the opening with a montage of Benny Hill skits.

I was thinking the whole thing needed more humor, as that's something the UK has brought to the world, right. Maybe if they had gotten Terry Gilliam to produce it instead of Boyle.

Womens soccer between GBR and Camroom the stadium was maybe half full, and emptied out with about 10 mins to go.

If you ask me, soccer is one of many sports that do not belong in the Olympics. Basketball is another. Tennis another. I think to have big name pros and their egos just diminishes everything. Same in cycling, it should be all amateurs in the Olympics. And all judged sports should not hand out medals, or the medals shouldn't count.

 

[roundabout]

Didn't know that archery is still in the Olympics. Seems a bit anachronstic despite the hightech looking equipment.

 

[Bala Verde]

Had archery on,couldnt be a***ed too turn over.......
Last arrow Italians need a perfect 10 to beat USA in the final....
He has 1 second to let it go before being timed out...
He hits a 10 and they win

that was brilliant. The USA put away a great last set, with 2x9 and a 10 or something. And then the first Italian arrow goes in 8, second a nine and they need a 9 to tie the game and a 10 to win. (or something like that). He gets the 10.

Incredible how he "pulled" that one off. [pun obviously intended]

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Actually think archery is one of the sports that definitely belong in the Olympics, and this final showed if covered right, can be pretty interesting to watch.

 

[roundabout]

Oh, it's certainly is a cool sport. But for me it's associated with castles and medieval festivals. Dunno why, but I guess I am prejudiced like that.

I also find it more exciting than shooting.

 

[Bavarianrider]

No german swimme rin the final session today

 

[l.Harm]

Phelps... humiliated

 

[BroDeal]

Phelps... humiliated

That's what happens when you spend the four years between games smoking a bong.

 

[Izzy eviel]

I thought the Opening ceremony was ace,

Had a little stroll through the Mall at the Road race. Amazing crowds. Epic.

Sadly my autograph hunting mission didn't go to well. But I did get to meet Paulo Bettini & Mario Cipolini. Legends and all round lovely people.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Never liked the guy much. Glad to see him wallowing behind.

 

[l.Harm]

Wow that 16-years old Chinese girl, wtf. Behind @300 m and than such an accelleration and World Record.