London 2012 Olympics Stuff

[Againsheila]

Well, I watched the whooooooole thing. I'm glad I watched but I sure wouldn't want to watch it again. I suspect all that played much better and more impressively in the stadium than it did on TV. Really fast parade of nations though. I enjoyed that. And I enjoyed the lighting of the Flame. But all and all, a rather lack luster television spectacular and I suspect that had a lot to do with the way NBC handled it.

I agree, during the parade of nations even the announcers seemed bored. I hate when they trot Ali out for these things. He has nothing to do with England. Lighting the Cauldron was impressive, I just thought they should have had a famous British Olympian do it. Sebastian Coe was my favorite. Paul McCarneys singing was horrible.

Overall, I'd give them a B-

I was really hoping Dr Who (David Tennant) did it.

 

[Synthaholic]

 

[California Girl]

I agree, during the parade of nations even the announcers seemed bored. I hate when they trot Ali out for these things. He has nothing to do with England. Lighting the Cauldron was impressive, I just thought they should have had a famous British Olympian do it. Sebastian Coe was my favorite. Paul McCarneys singing was horrible.

Overall, I'd give them a B-

I'm sure the collective heart of Britain is broken by your grading of their opening. They did have their greatest Olympian (Steve Redgrave, not Seb - the arrogant ass - Coe), carry the torch into the sadium... but they opted to give potential future Olympians the honor of lighting the flame. I thought that was very British.

I agree about McCarthy. Someone really ought to suggest he retire gracefully.

I would have given the Atlanta Olympics a C. These opening ceremonies are turning into Busby Berkely production numbers and are just getting out of hand.

Actually never heard of Englands greatest Olympian. But then again, I don't follow rowing. Roger Bannister is their most famous athlete. Even more famous than ship captain Beckham

I do follow rowing.... Redgrave and Pinsent... two of the greatest rowers ever.... but Redgrave is 'da man'.

 

[007]

Oooopsie.... looks like Phelps was hitting the BONG when he should have been WORKING OUT...

PHELPS FIZZLES: NO MEDAL

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

 

[Againsheila]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

Well, at least they didn't CG people into them like China did.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

Well, at least they didn't CG people into them like China did.

China cg'd the fireworks show. I haven't heard anything about them doing that for the crowds.

 

[ThirdTerm]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxffBXIPOcg]USA Swimming Performs 'Call Me Maybe' - YouTube[/ame]

 

[tigerbob]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

Was that what he meant when he talked about security and strikes?

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

Was that what he meant when he talked about security and strikes?

I don't know. I honestly never read what he said. I figured it was just liberal whining and that if it was important then it'd be overwhelmingly known. I guess it wan't important enough.

 

[Kiki Cannoli]

In terms of TV coverage...here in Mexico we have four stations constantly covering simultaneous events. The opening ceremonies had zero commercials.

Its kindof cool.

ETA: the international coverage of Mitt's gaff is well, amusing.

 

[TheGreatGatsby]

In terms of TV coverage...here in Mexico we have four stations constantly covering simultaneous events. The opening ceremonies had zero commercials.

Its kindof cool.

ETA: the international coverage of Mitt's gaff is well, amusing.

NBC sucks balls. In 2008, they put the live moniker on events even though they were on tape delay. Their reasoning when they were asked - 'Well it was taped live.'

 

[waltky]

Lochte upsets Phelps...

Phelps Fails to Medal in Olympics Swimming Opener
July 28, 2012 – There was a shocking result in the very first swimming race at the London Olympics.

American swimmer Ryan Lochte won the men’s 400-meter individual medley (4:05.18) by an impressive margin of more than three and a half seconds, capturing the gold medal. Brazil’s Thiago Pereira took the silver (4:08.86) and Japan’s Kosuke Hagino got the bronze (4:08.94). While Lochte himself is a star and was one of the favorites, it was the placement of his superstar teammate Michael Phelps that came as a big surprise. The record-setting eight-time Olympic gold medalist in Beijing had narrowly qualified for the final out of the morning heats and ended up fourth.

Phelps did not hide his disappointment. “It’s frustrating. It’s all I can say," he admitted. "You know, it’s pretty upsetting. But I think the biggest thing now is just to try to get past this and move forward. I mean I have a bunch of other races and hopefully we can finish a lot better than how we started.” Lochte said he was surprised Phelps was not next to him on the podium. "I mean whenever Michael swims he’s always on the medal stand, no matter what," Lochte noted. "But he did 110%. He gave it everything he had.”

But it was not enough this time, and Lochte won the difficult race that features all four strokes: butterfly, back, breast and freestyle. “Feels amazing that knowing the last four years I’ve put in that hard work that it finally paid off," Lochte said during post-race press conference, "and to not only swim for my country but to have my whole entire family there in the stands cheering for me definitely gave me a little bit more of a boost.” Lochte was asked if Phelps had anything to say to him after the race. “He came up to me and he congratulated me and he said ‘Way to go’ and ‘we haven’t lost the 400 IM for the USA in a long time, so way to keep it going,” Lochte said.

MORE

See also:

Ryan Lochte's post-race grill shines with stars and stripes
28 July`12 - Ryan Lochte likes to celebrate in style. The American Olympic swimmer, who won a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley in London on Saturday, stepped up to the medal podium with a new piece of mouthware, a Stars and Stripes "grill" across his top front teeth.

According to a report by ESPN, however, an IOC official told Lochte he had to take the bling off or he wouldn't be able to receive his gold medal. "Can you believe that," he said to a news reporter. It wasn't the first time Lochte has worn some glitz in his grill after a big win.

He wore a similar grill in Shangai last year when he took the medal podium in the FINA World Championships. That grill was simply diamond-studded, not decked out with the colors of the American flag. In a Speedo video posted on YouTube in June, Lochte explains the look: "For those who don't know what a grill is, it's basically a retainer filled with diamonds. … I wear it when I go on the podium. It's just a unique way of showing my personality out to everyone."

Lochte doesn't keep his flair limited to his teeth. At the Olympic qualifying meet a few weeks ago, Lochte tweeted out an image of some special shoes he wore. One sneaker had stars and one had stripes and both kicks had wings hanging off the back. Later that week, he rocked some bright green kicks on the medal podium. So if Lochte keeps piling up the medals in London, who knows what we'll see next?

Source

 

[tigerbob]

Lochte upsets Phelps...

Phelps Fails to Medal in Olympics Swimming Opener
July 28, 2012 – There was a shocking result in the very first swimming race at the London Olympics.

American swimmer Ryan Lochte won the men’s 400-meter individual medley (4:05.18) by an impressive margin of more than three and a half seconds, capturing the gold medal. Brazil’s Thiago Pereira took the silver (4:08.86) and Japan’s Kosuke Hagino got the bronze (4:08.94). While Lochte himself is a star and was one of the favorites, it was the placement of his superstar teammate Michael Phelps that came as a big surprise. The record-setting eight-time Olympic gold medalist in Beijing had narrowly qualified for the final out of the morning heats and ended up fourth.

Phelps did not hide his disappointment. “It’s frustrating. It’s all I can say," he admitted. "You know, it’s pretty upsetting. But I think the biggest thing now is just to try to get past this and move forward. I mean I have a bunch of other races and hopefully we can finish a lot better than how we started.” Lochte said he was surprised Phelps was not next to him on the podium. "I mean whenever Michael swims he’s always on the medal stand, no matter what," Lochte noted. "But he did 110%. He gave it everything he had.”

But it was not enough this time, and Lochte won the difficult race that features all four strokes: butterfly, back, breast and freestyle. “Feels amazing that knowing the last four years I’ve put in that hard work that it finally paid off," Lochte said during post-race press conference, "and to not only swim for my country but to have my whole entire family there in the stands cheering for me definitely gave me a little bit more of a boost.” Lochte was asked if Phelps had anything to say to him after the race. “He came up to me and he congratulated me and he said ‘Way to go’ and ‘we haven’t lost the 400 IM for the USA in a long time, so way to keep it going,” Lochte said.

MORE

See also:

Ryan Lochte's post-race grill shines with stars and stripes
28 July`12 - Ryan Lochte likes to celebrate in style. The American Olympic swimmer, who won a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley in London on Saturday, stepped up to the medal podium with a new piece of mouthware, a Stars and Stripes "grill" across his top front teeth.

According to a report by ESPN, however, an IOC official told Lochte he had to take the bling off or he wouldn't be able to receive his gold medal. "Can you believe that," he said to a news reporter. It wasn't the first time Lochte has worn some glitz in his grill after a big win.

He wore a similar grill in Shangai last year when he took the medal podium in the FINA World Championships. That grill was simply diamond-studded, not decked out with the colors of the American flag. In a Speedo video posted on YouTube in June, Lochte explains the look: "For those who don't know what a grill is, it's basically a retainer filled with diamonds. … I wear it when I go on the podium. It's just a unique way of showing my personality out to everyone."

Lochte doesn't keep his flair limited to his teeth. At the Olympic qualifying meet a few weeks ago, Lochte tweeted out an image of some special shoes he wore. One sneaker had stars and one had stripes and both kicks had wings hanging off the back. Later that week, he rocked some bright green kicks on the medal podium. So if Lochte keeps piling up the medals in London, who knows what we'll see next?

Source

That "grill" looked freaky.

 

[tigerbob]

Dweeb Team playing France. Olympic hoops just as dull as NBA.

 

[Synthaholic]

I'm sure the collective heart of Britain is broken by your grading of their opening. They did have their greatest Olympian (Steve Redgrave, not Seb - the arrogant ass - Coe), carry the torch into the sadium... but they opted to give potential future Olympians the honor of lighting the flame. I thought that was very British.

I agree about McCarthy. Someone really ought to suggest he retire gracefully.

I would have given the Atlanta Olympics a C. These opening ceremonies are turning into Busby Berkely production numbers and are just getting out of hand.

Actually never heard of Englands greatest Olympian. But then again, I don't follow rowing. Roger Bannister is their most famous athlete. Even more famous than ship captain Beckham

I do follow rowing.... Redgrave and Pinsent... two of the greatest rowers ever.... but Redgrave is 'da man'.

Are the two Facebook creator twins competing?

 

[California Girl]

Empty seats. Was Mitt right?

London 2012 Olympics: Empty seats on the opening day prompts investigation - Telegraph

Was that what he meant when he talked about security and strikes?

I don't know. I honestly never read what he said. I figured it was just liberal whining and that if it was important then it'd be overwhelmingly known. I guess it wan't important enough.

He was referring to these:

1. a security company contracted to provide thousands of security personnel who did not deliver on their contract. The Brit military got called in to fill the breach. Police forces from around the country had to send extra officers to London to back up their police presence... leaving other areas of the country with less police.

2. Union workers undertaking passport control threatened to strike over pay and conditions the day before the games started.

3. London taxi drivers also threatened industrial action over the use of 'Olympic lanes' on the roads.

It was a clusterfuck in the run up to the games. Romney was right. The Brits had some wheels to put back on... fast.

 

[California Girl]

Dweeb Team playing France. Olympic hoops just as dull as NBA.

Team GB got its first medal today.

 

[tigerbob]

Was that what he meant when he talked about security and strikes?

I don't know. I honestly never read what he said. I figured it was just liberal whining and that if it was important then it'd be overwhelmingly known. I guess it wan't important enough.

He was referring to these:

1. a security company contracted to provide thousands of security personnel who did not deliver on their contract. The Brit military got called in to fill the breach. Police forces from around the country had to send extra officers to London to back up their police presence... leaving other areas of the country with less police.

2. Union workers undertaking passport control threatened to strike over pay and conditions the day before the games started.

3. London taxi drivers also threatened industrial action over the use of 'Olympic lanes' on the roads.

It was a clusterfuck in the run up to the games. Romney was right. The Brits had some wheels to put back on... fast.

Security was indeed a clusterfuck. Not sure what you can do about union workers. Fairly standard union practice to hold everyone to ransom when there's an event that is a can't miss. The unions know that the government have no choice but to negotiate. I'm surprised this didn't happen more. On the other hand, if any union did it, I would have put money on it being the transport unions.

 

[tigerbob]

Dweeb Team playing France. Olympic hoops just as dull as NBA.

Team GB got its first medal today.

Yep. Women's road race silver. Whoo-hoo!

Great race, traditional July weather.