Winter Olympics 2010, Vancouver

[BroDeal]

I not digging the medal designs. They look huge, cheap, and ugly.

 

[usedtobefast]

 

[BroDeal]

Riddle me this. Why is there no Olympic coverage on NBC's Universal Sports channel? They have some preview shows, but I have not seen any real coverage listed. The funny thing is that they are broadcasting other winter sports. Why the frack doesn't NBC have live coverage on US?

 

[flyor64]

Agree on mostly everything, except the ski jumping. My favourite, since I was five years old. Queen of sports. Although the "normal" hill is an anachronism, far too small for 2010 and rarely used outside of the olympics, and should be dropped in favour of ski flying, minimum K-185 meters.

(Also, it just doesn't look as good anymore, with the V-style..this makes me sound a thousand years old, but if there's a clip of thoralf engan on youtube, you should watch it.)

I think Alpe is referring to freestyle aerials...where the go up 15m and spin about 40 times before landing.

 

[Mambo95]

What about the torch relay around the world which was continaully marred by protesting about tibet.

I'll apologise to everyone that I have to use CE as a reference but the beijing organisers and the AOC told him that he was free to express his opinion but he was not allowed to talk anything other than his sport. Couldn't say anything about the games themselves.

What about the road cycling... no spectators on the course, trains were all cancelled to see the road race and the stands were filled with Chinese people who had no idea about cycling, all wore the same coloured shirts and had a big screen in front of them telling them when to cheer for certain riders in certain languages.

quoting evans
He had to sneek his wife in with the tv commentary so she could watch the race.

Then the chinese are pushed by the chinese to schedule the swimming for their time.

Also the pollution issue in China affected the games.

I found the beijing olympics a bit like a tumbling set of dominoes. One problem after the other.

I went out to Beijing and you're partially correct, particularly about the Men's road race. I got a taxi up there (taxis are really cheap) with an American couple as the trains were, as you say, cancelled. We got to the top of the climb and couldn't get beside the course, even though security outnumbered spectators. We were kept about fifty metres back from the roadside (later negotiated down to twenty) and were constantly filmed by some bloke.

At this point I thought the whole trip would be a disaster. And you could only get hold of tickets to minor events.

However, the cycling was on day one. The Chinese got a lot of criticism for it. So they changed. They learnt that the foreigners were just there to enjoy themselves, and not to bring down the government. They got a lot more friendly and the secret police guys disappeared from view. Tickets for almost everything became easy to get hold of, if you were from the right country (EU, US, Canada, Oz and NZ). Official, not thorugh touts (scalpers). So easy that I ended giving some of my tickets to my cousin's Chinese work colleagues (he lives in Beijing) and made a bit of beer money buying tickets for ex-pat Brits with Chinese credit cards.

There was still quite a lot of security, but there will be in London. The helpers were very helpful but too officious, mainly because there were clearly scared of their superiors, and didn't really know how react to Brits and Aussies largely ignoring them. (They also tried to get cheering and chants going at completely the wrong times).

The pollution was greatly exaggerated. The heat and, especially, humidity on the other hand was greater than I've ever experienced.

In the end I had a fantastic time. I saw Hoy, Wiggins and Romero win gold, Nadal and Federer play tennis, lots of hockey (I play hockey), some boxing, and the highlight - Bolt winning the 100m (he did all his celebrating right in front of us). I was on the Great Wall in the middle of a lightnign storm which was incredible.

I thought it was a great place, as does my cousin (he's a journalist for WSJ and views the government restrictions with amusement rather than outrage), although the level of capitalism would make even the most die hard US Republican blush.

Anyway, back to the Winter Olympics. A great chance of a GB gold medal today (Amy Williams in the skeleton) - they come around as often as Halley's Comet.

 

[Moondance]

Short track, isn't that the event where the person who wins is the one lucky enough not to get involved in the inevitable crashes?

No.

If you're going to exaggerate you could make the same statement about cycling.

 

[BroDeal]

If you're going to exaggerate you could make the same statement about cycling.

I would never think of exaggerating for fear what I write might might be read by humorless people who are unable to figure out that something is snark.

Evidently this showed up on NBC's website briefly but was quickly changed. Too funny.

 

[Moondance]

I would never think of exaggerating for fear what I write might might be read by humorless people who are unable to figure out that something is snark.

My apologies, O Hilarious One.

For someone who no time for the Olympics you sure do post a lot in this thread.

 

[elapid]

No.

If you're going to exaggerate you could make the same statement about cycling.

Australia's first ever gold medal in the Winter Olympics was in short track skating. Steve Bradbury has now gone down into legend status and, as a result of the way he won his gold medal, Australians now call any similar occurrence as "Doing a Bradbury". Legend. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQMJtilOGg

 

[BroDeal]

My apologies, O Hilarious One.

Sorry, Cupcake. Next time I will try to post with sarcasm tags so that you can figure out whether or not something should be taken literally.

 

[BroDeal]

Australia's first ever gold medal in the Winter Olympics was in short track skating. Steve Bradbury has now gone down into legend status and, as a result of the way he won his gold medal, Australians now call any similar occurrence as "Doing a Bradbury". Legend. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQMJtilOGg

And that is the sort of thing I am talking about. Farkin hilarious.

 

[Moondance]

Australia's first ever gold medal in the Winter Olympics was in short track skating. Steve Bradbury has now gone down into legend status and, as a result of the way he won his gold medal, Australians now call any similar occurrence as "Doing a Bradbury". Legend. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQMJtilOGg

I've seen it many times already. I remember seeing it way back in '02. Yes, short-track is a more crash happy sport than most, and obviously freak events like the Bradbury win can occur.

I was just responsing to the non-exitent perception that the sport is mostly about luck, because if it was than Apolo Ohno wouldn't have 6 Olympic medals, and 20+ World Championship medals.

 

[Moondance]

And that is the sort of thing I am talking about. Farkin hilarious.

It's actually even funnier. In the opening heat he was skating last, but someone spilled out, gifting him a semis spot. In the semis he was skating last, but three guys spilled out, gifting him 2nd and a finals place. And in the finals of course, that happens. They probably should've played the Benny Hill song instead of the Australian Anthem at the medals ceremony.

It's not exactly a poster child for quality sports i agree there.

 

[Ferminal]

It's actually even funnier. In the opening heat he was skating last, but someone spilled out, gifting him a semis spot. In the semis he was skating last, but three guys spilled out, gifting him 2nd and a finals place. And in the finals of course, that happens. They probably should've played the Benny Hill song instead of the Australian Anthem at the medals ceremony.

It's not exactly a poster child for quality sports i agree there.

It's better than any of our other medals

 

[elapid]

It's better than any of our other medals

I have to say it was the most exciting of our medals to date. But for a country not known for our winter sporting prowess, I'm very proud of our athletes. Our woman, particularly the aerialists (starting originally with Kirstie Marshall, then Alisa Camplin [gold medal in 2002, bronze in 2006], the perennial Jacqui Cooper, and now Lydia Lassila), have been prominent and last night Torah Bright was fantastic in winning the women's half pipe. All I can say is "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!"

 

[Monty Dog]

Last night's biathlon 20km individual was pretty special - the pupil and master finished 1st and 2nd, only 7 seconds between Svendsen and Bjoerndalen, despite Ole Einar losing an extra minute with a missed shot. Kruglov must rue his rifle harness breaking - one of only 2 to shoot clear.

 

[Moondance]

Ouch... Another silver for Miller, he must be getting annoyed about this. Great performance by bronze guy, Weibrecht. Best finish in a World Cup to date is 10th in a Downhill, and now he picks up an Olympic medal. Really good to see. Also good job for Svindal of course.

On the other hand I'm still bummed that neither Cuche or Walchhofer has Gold. I guess Cuche still has a chance to win the GS, but I don't have high hopes for it.

Austrians must be p!ssed. Four events so far and only one bronze to show for it, not really what they were expecting.

 

[BroDeal]

Ouch... Another silver for Miller, he must be getting annoyed about this. Great performance by bronze guy, Weibrecht. Best finish in a World Cup to date is 10th in a Downhill, and now he picks up an Olympic medal. Really good to see. Also good for Svindal of course.

Sounds like Miller is not drinking enough. Did the U.S. team forget to bring the Jack?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I would never think of exaggerating for fear what I write might might be read by humorless people who are unable to figure out that something is snark.

Evidently this showed up on NBC's website briefly but was quickly changed. Too funny.

Hilarious... How do they call curling a sport?

Congrats Torah Bright!!!!

13th Australia 1 Gold 1 Silver 0 Bronze 2 in total Gold: Snowboard

The poms are yet to be seen on the medal table

Can't believe I'm saying this but I am actually enjoying Phil Liggett's commentating.

 

[zapata]

wow! Not to be patriotic, but the womens 15 km mass start was quite a race! Mens 30 km tomorrow, should be good also.

 

[Mambo95]

It's actually even funnier. In the opening heat he was skating last, but someone spilled out, gifting him a semis spot. In the semis he was skating last, but three guys spilled out, gifting him 2nd and a finals place. And in the finals of course, that happens. They probably should've played the Benny Hill song instead of the Australian Anthem at the medals ceremony.

It's not exactly a poster child for quality sports i agree there.

To be fair to Bradbury, he wasn't complete no-hoper, just someone who was a bit past it and having one last go. He won Olympic and World Championship medals in the 90s as part of a relay team (including a gold). He also had a couple of horrible injuries (broken neck and having his thigh sliced open, losing four pints of blood), so I say he deserved his luck.

 

[Mambo95]

13th Australia 1 Gold 1 Silver 0 Bronze 2 in total Gold: Snowboard

The poms are yet to be seen on the medal table

Typical Aussie, crowing before it's all over. Didn't you lot make this mistake in Beijing? We may have a gold coming up in a couple hours (but she'll probably blow it in true British style).

However, beating the British Winter Olympic team is like beating the American rugby team as an achievement.

 

[Oldman]

Sounds like Miller is not drinking enough. Did the U.S. team forget to bring the Jack?

I'm sure he enjoys himself in private; he's the same skier. He showed some serious strategic discipline this season and may surprise us in the GS. Slalom medals would be a stretch, though.

 

[Mambo95]

13th Australia 1 Gold 1 Silver 0 Bronze 2 in total Gold: Snowboard

The poms are yet to be seen on the medal table

Gold for the Poms! And in a proper sport - not showing off on skis with judges.

We're coming for you Aussie, we're coming for you. Your colonial masters will win out.

 

[Ferminal]

Typical Aussie, crowing before it's all over. Didn't you lot make this mistake in Beijing? We may have a gold coming up in a couple hours (but she'll probably blow it in true British style).

However, beating the British Winter Olympic team is like beating the American rugby team as an achievement.

Anyone with an idea wouldn't have been crowing at all about the Australians in Beijing.