Winter Olympics

It does have a certain compulsion, although I'm afraid much of the appeal for me comes from hoping people will fall over/crash or generally get it wrong. The summer games are more gripping for me, probably because I understand what it takes to run/jump etc rather more.

I do think the Olympics gives a glimpse of a harmonious world but behind that ideal is a great deal of politicking, and some deeply dubious abuses of the human body by coaches in particular. I have a feeling that Beijing may leave a rather nasty taste somehow.

And record numbers slung out for blood doping!

...or more likely record amounts of suspicion of skulduggery but apparently clean tests.

In 1956 my father took the Olympic torch on the road to Cortina.

I still have it here at home in a corner of the dining room.
Really heavy btw.

Seriously?

Yes!
He still remember the night he spent going on guard at the torch during the night.
Half of an hour turns because of 20 degrees under.
It's a shame i gave back the camera back to my friend at work and i can't post a pic.
Anyway the torch is much more better than the picture i've found on the net.
Maybe next days.

Is it the exact same one your father held?

Yes.
The one i have is very well kept and the metal is still shiny.
The large wick in it is only partially burned and, many years ago, my grandfather got a support to attack it on the wall.
In 1956 someone offered my father for the torch more of 100.000 italian lires.
A lot of money for those days.

quote:

Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
And record numbers slung out for blood doping!

And how many who are never caught? I suspect the laboratories in China are working around the clock.

quote:

In 1956 someone offered my father for the torch more of 100.000 italian lires.

Wasn't that about 17 pence?

That is such a wonderful thing to have Gianluigi. I would love to see a photo of it when you get your camera back.

Ok Rasher!
Next week i'll ask my friend to give me the camera back and i'll take some pics of it!
Now go and enjoy your the wine your wife got for you and her.
Switch of the computer, turn off the cdp, soften lights and have some good loving hours!
This is the time!

Rasher
"when politics and religeon are set aside"

sorry the Olympics are big politics, the UK Govt has set a goal of being fourth in the 2012 Olympic Medal table and are prepared to spend £660m to do so. Reminds me of the determination of East Germany, USSR and China in a country seeking to show how good they are by sporting prowess regardless of cost or impact to the rest of the population

Tessa Jowell was on the Today program yesterday talking of the 2012 Campaign.

So much for innocent sporting endeavour.

All paid for by taxing the "hard working families" of this country.

quote:

All paid for by taxing the "hard working families" of this country.

What about mine?

Olympics games are ok, but the implied message is about the way politicians would like to see us.
All fitted with muscles and a brain all concetrated on competition.
Just like 70 years ago when people where forced to play sports and leave brain home.
I don't follow the games because i see life not like extreme competition but like the sharing of experiences.
Winnig doesn't take you further if the rest of the world can't follow or understand.

Yeh, but what's the thing with curling ? Seems like one of the more far fetched 'sports' to me. Even more so when the organisers blame the fact that the ice is new for lack of 'curl.'

Maybe there is someone out there who can explain...

/dl

I rather agree with Rasher; I too am completely hooked every time. Where we diverge is that I find the summer "mass-market" Games almost as boring as football in comparison.

The winter games always seems to embody elegance, accuracy & goodwill without too much sweat, grunting and Alan Partridgeism.

I'd love to attend a winter olympics, but you'd need to pay me to to go to a summer one. Oh, and the curling's really Zen -- amazing the Japanese don't dominate.

quote:

Originally posted by David Legge:
Yeh, but what's the thing with curling ? Seems like one of the more far fetched 'sports' to me. Even more so when the organisers blame the fact that the ice is new for lack of 'curl.'

Maybe there is someone out there who can explain...

/dl

Dave, I believe that the sport's appeal is that the captain of your team will invite you to have a wee dram after a good shot
The day can only get better

Pete

quote:

Originally posted by Gianluigi Mazzorana:

quote:

All paid for by taxing the "hard working families" of this country.

What about mine?

Olympics games are ok, but the implied message is about the way politicians would like to see us.
All fitted with muscles and a brain all concetrated on competition.
Just like 70 years ago when people where forced to play sports and leave brain home.
I don't follow the games because i see life not like extreme competition but like the sharing of experiences.
Winnig doesn't take you further if the rest of the world can't follow or understand.

Ciao Gianluigi,

Yes, there is alot I don't like about the games - the 'us and them' patriotism (patriotism being the last refuge of the scoundrel according to Wilde) the obsession of one country to show the world that their people are superior and/or their system/economy/DNA/facilities/talent etc. are the best - it's nonesense and it's repulsive. I love the sport for the excellence of the individuals and indivual team sports not the spectacle of nations against nation (war by other means?)If Great Britain came top of the medal chart would it make me personally a better person? It's all a nonesense. I agree with you Gianluigi.

Regards,

Erik

Rasher,
I love watching the Olympics but I think that the fancy openinig ceremonies are a huge waste of a lot of money.
An illiustration of how good the human race could be is to have a modest introduction of the athlets, and use all the millions saved to help nations or regions that suffer from natural disasters. We really do not need all the fireworks to enjoy the games.

Haim

...and while we are at it I think the Winter Games in particular are spectacularly un-environmentally friendly. Ski-ing causes deforestation and despoiling of mountain habitats. Maintenance of pistes etc takes vast mechanisation. The ice rinks and bobsleigh tracks require huge amounts of energy to create their synthetic environments. I don't suppose the Summer Games are too much better but the juxtaposition of all this construction and wild mountain environments I find striking.

I also find some of the sports very 'synthetic' and contrived. I saw some people skiing down a slope covered in bumpy bits yesterday, somehow judged on style (and presumably 'cool').

I suggest simpler pursuits. Team snowball fights, biggest snowball rolling, construction of the most humurous snowman etc.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by David Legge:
Yeh, but what's the thing with curling ? Seems like one of the more far fetched 'sports' to me. Even more so when the organisers blame the fact that the ice is new for lack of 'curl.'

Maybe there is someone out there who can explain...

/dl

I have some curling background and a 4 rink building in the back garden. The British coaches of Russell Keiller and Mike Hay used to play with us at U-21 level.

The ice is pebbled to make the stone glide across the ice. Sweeping melts the pebbles and reduces the friction allowing the stone to move up to an extra 16 feet. Sweeping staightens the stones path(less friction). The spin of the stone over the pebbles makes it curl in the direction the handle is turned.

The pebbles help the stone curl. Size of them will also affect the movement of the stone left or right. Over time the ice gets thicker with spraying and tends to fall off at either side of the rink making the stone turn more. I can only assume that's what they mean by saying the ice is young and has had little time to be built up through constant pebbling of the ice.

It is generally known as "chess on ice"

The Swedish woman at the Olympics make me think more of "sex on ice" They can play some too! ;O)

quote:

epulsive

quote:

the obsession of one country to show the world that their people are superior and/or their system/economy/DNA/facilities/talent etc. are the best - it's nonesense

Erik

With all due respect, what is nonsensical about it?

Regards
Jim