2012 Summer Olympics

[YLGuy]

          
        
    GO U.S.A.
          
          

[MaryD]

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! OI! Oi!

[Poppylicious]

Over here we're all completely sure that the rest of the world is going to laugh at our opening ceremony.  On the telly this morning one of the blokes who organised it said that although Beijing's 2008 opening ceremony was spectacular and beautifully synchronised, it wasn't a surprise.  Apparently we've gone for the surprise WOW! (as in 'you won't be expecting this') factor, which means it will be very chaotic.  I do know somebody who was at the rehearsal earlier in the week though and she said it's pretty spectacular, but might not look so good on the tellybox! 

On behalf of the Brits I apologise in advance if a) you find the opening ceremony a complete letdown, and b) anything goes wrong during the events themselves.

 

But GO TEAM GB!!

 

[paul.karen]

The opening ceremonies have become a one up from the previous venues games were held at. While I do like to see what and how the opening ceremonies are opened I and many more I am sure just want to watch the athletes and cheer on our favorite teams or players.

I'm sure the ceremonies will b grand.  But its about the athletes.

Let's build that metal count USA.

[monrein]

COME ON CANADA     

And good luck to each athlete, wherever they're from.   

[Poppylicious]

And good luck to each athlete, wherever they're from.

Absolutely.

The opening ceremonies have become a one up from the previous venues games were held at. While I do like to see what and how the opening ceremonies are opened I and many more I am sure just want to watch the athletes and cheer on our favorite teams or players.

I'm sure the ceremonies will b grand.  But its about the athletes.

Ha, yes.  Sorry about that ... it's easy to forget that something SO big for us here (which is the culmination of seven years of hard work, media coverage and a lot of anxiety and excitement, plus thousands of volunteers) just doesn't really register anywhere else; the BBC today is just saturated with London and speculation about the opening ceremony, which is all the UK cares about at this precise moment so of course, that's all that's in my head too.  I expect we'll be the only ones watching the best of the world's athletes as they take centre stage tonight, an evening which is mostly about celebrating them and their achievements. 

 

I think the Olympics is more than just (being about) the athletes ... it's about national pride, respect, education, dedication, the coaches, the parents, the perseverence, hope, the world being united, acceptance of others (countries, cultures, religions, sexual identity, disability, etc.) and the thrill of the competition. And not forgetting those medals!

 

[YLGuy]

How many countries can we represent here on this thread? Come on...show your spirit and pride!     

[MooseMom]

Ha, yes.  Sorry about that ... it's easy to forget that something SO big for us here (which is the culmination of seven years of hard work, media coverage and a lot of anxiety and excitement, plus thousands of volunteers) just doesn't really register anywhere else; the BBC today is just saturated with London and speculation about the opening ceremony, which is all the UK cares about at this precise moment so of course, that's all that's in my head too.  I expect we'll be the only ones watching the best of the world's athletes as they take centre stage tonight, an evening which is mostly about celebrating them and their achievements. 

 

Well, that is certainly NOT the case in MooseWorld.  Are you kidding me?  I have been glued to my seat watching all of the coverage from London and from points across the UK.  I'm always jumping up, yelling "I've been there!  I've been there!"  I've already been watching the opening rounds of the soccer (Japan defeated Spain...OMG!); unfortunately, the USA's men team didn't even qualify, but the women came back from an early 2-nil deficit against France.  I'm hoping we'll get another gold medal in that event.

The Opening Ceremonies will be on my TV tonight all night long, and I can't wait.  Yeah yeah yeah, it's all about the athletes, but it's a worldwide party, too, and I am so excited! 

Four years ago, my mother was visiting me, and we spent some good times together watching the swimming and, yes, the beach volleyball.  But my mom died two years ago this month, and I won't ever be able to watch the Games with her again. 

I've already warned my husband that for the next 2 weeks, not a lot is going to get done around my house. 

I'm really looking forward to watching the "Bladerunner"!

[Cordelia]

GO TEAM CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                

[cattlekid]

I want to see another showdown between Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps in swimming.  I still to this day believe that Milorad won the race in 2008.  I sat and watched the replay over and over, staring about 12" away from my parents ginormous HD TV and I will swear on a stack of bibles that Milorad touched the wall first.

What kills me is that he swims for Serbia even though he was born and raised in the US.  He's about as Serbian as I am (and I just married one LOL). 

[Rain]

Go Canada

The sports I'm looking forward to watching is swimming and cycling. 

[Bajanne]

GO CARIBBEAN!!!!!  USAIN, SHOW THEM HOW IT IS DONE!!!!  GO BARBADOS!!!!  GO BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS(with youR two athletes!)!!!!!!

GO EVERYONE!!!!!

[Willis]

I want to see another showdown between Milorad Cavic and Michael Phelps in swimming.  I still to this day believe that Milorad won the race in 2008.  I sat and watched the replay over and over, staring about 12" away from my parents ginormous HD TV and I will swear on a stack of bibles that Milorad touched the wall first.

There was an article about that in a recent Popular Mechanics which was discussing the technology used in swimming events. Apparently the difference was that Phelps' touch may have been microseconds after Cavic's but Phelps applied the necessary pressure on the pressure plate that stops the clock before the other guy did. The article said this year that they can measure within a millionth of a second! How'd you like to lose a medal by 1/1,000,000th of second! 

 

[brenda seal]

I can cheer two countries - I was born in UK but have lived in Australia since I was 12 . I love the swimming , gymnastics , basketball     oh I love all of it  maybe not the ping pong , fencing or pistol shooting - like watching paint dry !

[lmunchkin]

So far Poppy, excellent open ceremony IMHO.  But the best part is definately the competitions.  I love the Olympics.

Willis, I WOULNT WANT TO LOSE BY THAT HAIR!!!!! Lol

lmunchkin

[Jean]

Poppylicious, the opening ceremony was amazing!!!!You guys done good!!

[Poppylicious]

Poppylicious, the opening ceremony was amazing!!!!You guys done good!!

On behalf of GB I'll take full credit for that then! It wasn't bad I suppose. 

 

I'm most looking forward to swimming, diving, gymnastics, cycling and men's athletics.  (And congrats to China for winning the first Gold!)

[lmunchkin]

Congrats to the French, they just won gold in mens relay in swimming.  US got Silver.  So far, not bad competition at all.  It seems more equal across the board!

lmunchkin

[YLGuy]

Medal Count through Saturday, July 28, 2012:

China: 9 G, 5 S, 3 B - Total = 17
United States: 5 G, 7 S, 5 B - Total = 17
Japan: 1 G, 4 S, 6 B - Total = 11
Italy: 2 G, 4 S, 2 B - Total = 8
France: 3 G, 1 S, 3 B - Total = 7
South Korea: 2 G, 2 S, 2 B - Total = 6
Russia: 2 G, 3 B - Total = 5
North Korea: 3 G, 1 B - Total = 4
Australia: 1 G, 2 S, 1 B - Total = 4
Romania: 1 G, 2 S - Total = 3
Hungary: 1 G, 1 S, 1 B - Total = 3
Brazil: 1 G, 1 S, 1 B - Total = 3
Ukraine: 1 G, 2 B - Total = 3
Great Britain: 1 S, 2 B - Total = 3
Kazakhstan: 2 G - Total = 2
Netherlands: 1 G, 1 S - Total = 2
Colombia: 2 S - Total = 2
Lithuania: 1 G - Total = 1
Georgia: 1 G - Total = 1
South Africa: 1 G - Total = 1
Cuba: 1 S - Total = 1
Poland: 1 S - Total = 1
Thailand: 1 S - Total = 1
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan): 1 S - Total = 1
Germany: 1 S - Total = 1
Mexico: 1 S - Total = 1
Mongolia: 1 B - Total = 1
Moldova: 1 B - Total = 1
Canada: 1 B - Total = 1
Azerbaijan: 1 B - Total = 1
Belgium: 1 B - Total = 1
Norway: 1 B - Total = 1
Serbia: 1 B - Total = 1
Slovakia: 1 B - Total = 1
Uzbekistan: 1 B - Total = 1
Indonesia: 1 B - Total = 1
India: 1 B - Total = 1
 

[okarol]

"This Is How Olympic Divers Really Look While Diving" http://thefw.com/olympic-diving-funny-faces/
 

[Poppylicious]

WooHoo! 

(Sorry, felt the need to bump this thread because Team GB have done so fabulously today.  I'm getting into the spirit of the games, but I'm not sure if that's because it's based in the UK or because I'm on my hols and have lots of spare time ... )

Just an observation: on Fb (I can't compare to non-Internet as I don't interact with foreigners on a normal daily basis!) lots of my British friends are going doolally over the Olympics, but it's barely mentioned by anyone else (American, Canadian, Czech, Malaysian, etc.) I was wondering if this was because (and this is aimed at America) you're so used to winning that it doesn't excite you any more ... ?!

 

[MaryJoe]

    I love the Olympics!  I watch everything from the opening ceremony to the final credits.  I'm not usually a sports fan, but put it in the Olympics and I'm there!  A couple of days ago my husband came into the room and said " Badminton, really?  You're watching badminton?"     He says if hopscotch was an Olympic event I'd watch it!  He's probably right, it must be the national pride thing.


P.S.  Good job GB!!

[MooseMom]

Just an observation: on Fb (I can't compare to non-Internet as I don't interact with foreigners on a normal daily basis!) lots of my British friends are going doolally over the Olympics, but it's barely mentioned by anyone else (American, Canadian, Czech, Malaysian, etc.) I was wondering if this was because (and this is aimed at America) you're so used to winning that it doesn't excite you any more ... ?!

 

OMG, no!  Here in the States, you just can't escape the Olympics, not that I'd want to!  The other day, I realized that I was watching three live Olympic events at the same time, one on TV and two on my laptop.  It's great because with the time difference, I can spend the day watching live Olympics and then see the primetime NBC broadcast in the evenings.  I can't speak for other Americans, but I am glued to my laptop and my TV from 8AM onwards, jumping up from time to time go get some chores done so that my husband doesn't come home after work, see domestic chaos and accuse me of being a lazy toad.

GB lost their football QF match on penalties?  Not again!!!!!!!  How many times have I seen England lose on penalties!  And OMG, Stuart Pearce and Ryan Giggs look so OLD!  What happened!  LOL!

I will watch and enjoy any sport that is on live, but I have been really enjoying the basketball, the football, the gymnastics and the swimming.  Now that it is time for track and field, I'll still be glued to my TV.  The British female heptathlete (forgot her first name, but last name is Ennis, I believe) was magnificent.  I can certainly see why the British are all doolally over the Games.  But I am extremely disappointed that their football team was eliminated.  I know very well the deep regional divides that separate the four footballing nations, and I was intrigued by the concept of a united GB Olympic team.

[KarenInWA]

WooHoo! 

(Sorry, felt the need to bump this thread because Team GB have done so fabulously today.  I'm getting into the spirit of the games, but I'm not sure if that's because it's based in the UK or because I'm on my hols and have lots of spare time ... )

Just an observation: on Fb (I can't compare to non-Internet as I don't interact with foreigners on a normal daily basis!) lots of my British friends are going doolally over the Olympics, but it's barely mentioned by anyone else (American, Canadian, Czech, Malaysian, etc.) I was wondering if this was because (and this is aimed at America) you're so used to winning that it doesn't excite you any more ... ?!

 

I have been watching the Olympics, although not religiously. I recently discovered my cable co has the Olympic events on On Demand. Yay! So, this past Friday night, I watched the Women's All Around Gymnast event and watched Gabby Douglas take the gold. Wow, that girl is quite the athlete! She made me proud, and I enjoyed watching her take the lead in that, especially given that it sounds like she may have been considered an underdog not all that long ago. She is an inspiration for may, I think!

As for getting used to winning the gold, I do have to say I'm a bit tired of Michael Phelps. I am glad this is his last year.  Good for him for winning all those medals, but I just seem like he is a bit too into himself now. I enjoyed watching Missy Franklin win her gold *and* breaking a record!

I will say this, though. Our local communities are big supporters of Olympic athletes. When they come home, they tend to get a warm welcome (not so sure if they're not medal winners, but if they are, yes, they get the big welcome.) My local area has had our fair share of Olympic athletes, and I'm proud of every one of them who make it there! 

KarenInWA

[YLGuy]

I have not posted much here but I love watching the different competitions.