The Olympics 2008

They certainly do have an act to follow <wonders just what our morris dancers can rustle up with 4 years practice?> and that stadium / setup cost a mere 20 <billion>? Or did I mis-hear that figure.

Do we honestly imagine that the stadium will even have its footings completed for 2012.. I hope so, a lot will be riding on it, either that or the worlds biggest egg will splat nicely.

Fantastic opening ceremony.

If the London smogs of the 19th century were called 'pea soup', what could they call the foggy pollution hanging over the bird's nest stadium?

Mark

What football, Munch?

Ceremony was phenomenal. Coming from the middle east I can't overlook the political message that was sent by such a ceremony. The technology and engineering behind it was a way to say "we are an emerging super power". I was particularly impressed by the discipline of the drummers. They functioned like a perfectly tuned army. Any message in that?

I thought the Olympics didn't start until after the opening ceremony.

Anyway, sounds like I didn't miss much.

I'm looking forward to the 100m most.

The Olympics. All of the worlds best drug enhanced athletes competing against each other to see which particular cocktail is most effective and least detectable.

Oh for the good old days of the honest, naturally aspirated athletes like Ben Johnson and Flo Jo and the wonderful ladies of the old Easterm Bloc.

Mark

I'm usually not a big fan of opening ceremonies but this one was fantastic. IMHO the most entertaining I have ever seen.

quote:

London has a hard act to follow.

I thought the next Olympics were in Vancouver...

MilesSmiles,
I feel exactly the same way. I've never watched more than 5 minutes of an opening ceremony before but I was glued to this. I've never seen such scale, organisation, and use of technology before.

And yes I'm well aware of the hypocrisy here. I'll think of that in the morning.

the drummers in the opening ceremony were the highlight for me....SUPERB.
Munch, the picture on bbc hd was great!

quote:

Originally posted by Flame:
Ceremony was phenomenal. Coming from the middle east I can't overlook the political message that was sent by such a ceremony. The technology and engineering behind it was a way to say "we are an emerging super power". I was particularly impressed by the discipline of the drummers. They functioned like a perfectly tuned army. Any message in that?

Well observed in that many of the performers were from the army. However the general message is that the Chinese can be incredibly disciplined. From that perspective, the highlight was the T'ai Chi - extremely well disciplined and accomplished practitioners.

In terms of my favourite part of the ceremony, I can only say that each part equally accomplished what it set out to do. The drummers were an awesome intro, the scroll was exceptionally well-judged and original artistry, the printing press was equally original and well-balanced with the Taoist chanting, the Pin-Chu (sp??) Opera was was wonderful. etc. etc.

Sarah Brightman did the UK proud, and I'm sure Mick Parry would agree

Be interesting to see what the UK decides to too. Morris Dancers and Pipe Bands will be cool though.

Andrew Randle

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
...... and Pipe Bands will be cool though.

Andrew Randle

As the Chinese astutely realised Amateur pipers star at Olympics

We watched the ceremonies as a part of my wife's birthday party (she is 44 on 8/8/8. Gotta celebrate that)

I was unable to take my eyes away from the opening ceremonies. I watched it on a 1080p HD projector throwing about an 80" diagonal picture.

I thought the drummers were a bit scary, but unbelievably well synchronized - all 2008 of them! Our commentator mentioned that the drummers had been encouraged to smile more after they were deemed to intimidating in rehearsal.

My favorite part was the "ripples of water" that had a thousand cubey things going up and down to recreate the patterns of rings of water. We all thought "what incredible technology! must be some kind of fancy hydraulics hooked up to a computer" and then at the end, a thousand people who had been controlling each, popped out of the boxes and waved. They looked like they were about to pass out from heat exhaustion. Quite a surprise. I also liked the human calligraphy brushes!!

My least favorite part was anytime they showed my idiot president. But at least he was there, I guess.

And I agree with munch - the football has been less than stellar. Rather boring really.
J

I wonder if due to the smog and overall pollution, every athlete will test positive?

i was a bit skeptical to the opening, but when i saw it i was very positively surprised

i am glad , that just the soldiers , carrying the flag, took the only part of a military power presentation.

i mean what to expect...it is the country famous for fireworks and tradition ( like the drummers and so on )..i think it was a spectacular and non less sensitive and poetic presentation ( except of the" me and i song"

congratulations china

...how childish, if london would feel threaten now... the olimpic stadium is bit boring, but who cares

we got a GOLD in the womens cycling this morning
first of many hopefully.

A few nice pics for those who missed out on it and wonder what the hype is all about.

Awesome Adlington - First Swimming GOLD for GB for 48 years - Stunning




and a bronze with Jo Jackson - Go Girls

Fantastic. Jo Jackson seemed to go much faster without the piano.

Nic

quote:

Originally posted by nicnaim:
Fantastic. Jo Jackson seemed to go much faster without the piano.

Nic

Be nice to see Jo "Steppin' Out" onto the podium though!

A truly brilliant race. Wow!

I'd just watched our boys not doing so well in the synchronised drowning, & didn't know the result previously.

What a day! I can't wait to get home and see the swimming.
Our girls doing the archery seem to be doing okay, but you'd think they'd look a bit happier about getting through. Faces like a wet weekend at Blackpool.

Ewan

The Mens 4 x 100m Freestyle was something else....especially with the US NBC commentary....great stuff.

Cheers

Jim

Good start for team GB; 2 golds after 3 days whereas it took a week to win our first last time out.

Let's see how the rest of the competition pans out.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:

quote:

Originally posted by nicnaim:
Fantastic. Jo Jackson seemed to go much faster without the piano.

Nic

Be nice to see Jo "Steppin' Out" onto the podium though!

Phelps looks like he could do it with the piano in tow, but hey "it's different for girls". Taxi

Nic