The Olympics 2008

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:

" Taxi for Murray ! "

Last women's swimming gold 48 yrs ago?

As far as i'm aware its the last swimming gold for GB in the Pool (1960) regardless of sex (if you know what i mean)

Diccus

Nah....David Wilkie and Duncan Goodhew jump instantly to mind as Gold medal winners....there must have been others since then....surely....

Jim

Adrian Moorhouse?

What's with the sudden change in the BBC pronunciation of Beijing? It has always been 'Bay-zhing' up to now but has suddenly become 'Bay-Jing'.

I believe that the new pronunciation is closer to correct, but why did they get it wrong for so long?!!

Poor show BBC!!

Dear All,

It has been reported that Brit Spears lip synch was used.

Take two girls, one with a pretty voice one with a pretty face. Mix the two you get a pretty girl singing???? with a pretty voice.

We need a score on the most elegant and aesthetically appealing assault by the Police on a protestor and journalist.

Marks to be given for violence of assault, rapidity of the assault,
and the grace with which the assaulted consents to their arrest.

Oh yeah this should include the journalists stupid enought to witness or even worse try to film this.

This Political Broadcast by the Govt of China seems to be becoming a bit ragged at the edges.

regards david

Guys, who is commenting on the cycling for the BBC or whoever shows it ?

In Australia we get Phil Liggett which confuses me as I remember he used to commentate on all cycling whichever channel it was on (before we left the UK in '96). For the Olympics his side kick is an Australian called Mike Turtur whereas for the TdF it's Paul Sherwin.

I suspect that for the TdF his commentary goes to a lot of the English speaking TV companies but for the Olympics it's kind of like he is commentating for Australia. Maybe this has more to do with the fact that Australia has more top male riders over the last few years.

BTW brilliant riding by Nicole Cook and Emma Pooley for the GB women.

Cheers
Scott

quote:

Originally posted by Ewan Aye:
Fuck me! Is this the Beijing Olympics or a Pink Floyd gig?

It was better than a Floyd gig.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
What's with the sudden change in the BBC pronunciation of Beijing? It has always been 'Bay-zhing' up to now but has suddenly become 'Bay-Jing'.

I believe that the new pronunciation is closer to correct, but why did they get it wrong for so long?!!

Poor show BBC!!

And why is the food still called 'Peking Duck'?

In Amateur Photographer there was a piece about the Chinese banning all 'professional' cameras from the stands at the Olympics cos they 'get in the way' of other spectators!
Just think what restrictions the UK Police State will be able dream up for the 2013/2014 Olympics

Michael Phelps just became the most decorated Olympian ever.



Source: SBS Staff and Agencies

How Phelps stacked up so far

400m individual medley, Aug 10 - GOLD
Won second straight Olympic gold in world record (4:03.84). Phelps beat rivals Laszlo Cseh and Ryan Lochte, and lowered the world record for the eighth time.
4x100m free relay, Aug 11 - GOLD
Added gold to 2004 Olympic bronze. Phelps posted an American record 47.51 on the lead-off leg and anchor Jason Lezak came from behind as the United States bested favorites France in a world record of 3:08.24.
200m freestyle, Aug 12 - GOLD
Added gold to 2004 Olympic bronze. Lowered own world record to 1:42.96 in domiant performance.
200m butterfly, Aug 13 - GOLD
Won 2004 Olympic gold. World champion and world record-holder. Challengers include US teammate Gil Stovall, Ioannis Drymonakos of Greece
4x200m free relay, Aug 13 - GOLD
Won 2004 Olympic gold. Reigning champion United States will be challenged by Australia, as well as world bronze medallists Canada and European champions Italy

Races remaining

200m individual medley,
Won 2004 Olympic gold. World champion, broke own world record at US trials. Main challenger: US teammate Ryan Lochte, Hungary's Laszlo Cseh
100m butterfly
Won 2004 Olympic gold. World champion. Main Challenger: Teammate Ian Crocker holds the world record, but fell to Phelps in Athens and the Melbourne worlds.
4x100m medley relay
Won 2004 Olympic gold with appearance in Athens heats.USA have never lost at Olympics

(Spitz won seven gold medals at Munich in 1972, in 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley)

Scott

quote:

In Australia we get Phil Liggett which confuses me as I remember he used to commentate on all cycling whichever channel it was on (before we left the UK in '96). For the Olympics his side kick is an Australian called Mike Turtur whereas for the TdF it's Paul Sherwin.

Just to confuse matters even more both Paul s and Phil L commentate on US TV as well.

Cheers

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
And why is the food still called 'Peking Duck'?

Same reason Bombay Duck is not called Mumbai Duck or Chicken Madras is not Chicken Chennai.

Sri Lanka tea anyone?

Never let it be said that a Silver medal is not important. (Don't you just love the Italians?)

Here

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
Scott

quote:

In Australia we get Phil Liggett which confuses me as I remember he used to commentate on all cycling whichever channel it was on (before we left the UK in '96). For the Olympics his side kick is an Australian called Mike Turtur whereas for the TdF it's Paul Sherwin.

Just to confuse matters even more both Paul s and Phil L commentate on US TV as well.

Cheers

Jim

Hi Jim,

Is that for the Olympics as well or just the TdF ? I suspect that for the TdF they are syndicated across however many English speaking tv channels take it and I can see that it works well. However for the Olympics I was surprised when that Phil L is still the main commentator here but with an Australian co-commentator - that's why I asked the question (which no one in the UK has answered yet).

Bruce, I seem to recall you've got a flash road bike so I assume you've been watching the cycling ?


Cheers
Scott

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
What's with the sudden change in the BBC pronunciation of Beijing? It has always been 'Bay-zhing' up to now but has suddenly become 'Bay-Jing'.

I believe that the new pronunciation is closer to correct, but why did they get it wrong for so long?!!

Poor show BBC!!

And why is the food still called 'Peking Duck'?

"Bay-Jing" is correct, I think "Peking" is the old pronunciation of Beijing before 1950. The Duck was already very famous at that time, so the "Peking Duck" be kept.

BR
Tian

quote:

Originally posted by ScottC:


Bruce, I seem to recall you've got a flash road bike so I assume you've been watching the cycling ?


Cheers
Scott

On the highlights yes, such as it is. Looking forward to the track events which I might be able to tape. Terrestrial TV only at home (and no Freeview) so I've never watched much cycling on TV for years!

As for the flash bike, this year I'd be better off with a waterski. In carbon of course!

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by ScottC:
Guys, who is commenting on the cycling for the BBC or whoever shows it ?
Cheers
Scott

Scott,
Hugh Porter is doing the BBC commentary here, 'aided' by Gary Sutton (Aus). It must be galling for Gary to see GB win all those medals knowing that his brother Shane is the GB coach

Scott

Certainly for the TdF and Phil L for the Olympics also - and it wasn't a global syndication as he was also in the studio with the US network anchor....must be a busy guy but luckily the times zones allow him to do both although he won't get much sleep!

Cheers

Jim

The mystery of the showering divers

By Chris Chase



Over the last three nights, NBC has led its primetime Olympic coverage with synchronized diving. According to the stacks of letters that have poured into the Fourth-Place Medal Investigative Unit Headquarters, you've all been watching but are baffled by one facet of the competition. In that case, you're in the right place. After successful forays into the cases of Cullen Jones' disappearance and the identity of the hot Paraguayan, Fourth-Place Medal will today tackle the mystery of the showering divers.
After completing a dive, competitors swim to a ladder, climb out of the pool and head immediately to a bank of showers that sit adjacent to the diving boards. Then, in full view of the crowd and NBC cameras, they shower off. Divers keep their suits on, of course, usually appearing only to rinse off their hair and arms. Oftentimes, the divers will receive their scores while still showering off. What's the purpose of this?

Theories have ranged from 'to get the chlorine off' to 'they want to have fun' -- seriously, that last one is a direct quote from NBC's diving analyst, Cynthia Potter. Neither are the reason.
Divers shower in between each dive to keep their muscles warm after getting out of the pool. The temperature of the pool water and the air are usually different (the pool is usually around 80 degrees, with the air temperature between 68 and 72 degrees). This difference can cause muscle tightness. To combat this, divers warm up in either the showers or a hot tub.
Mystery: solved. (Although we're still a bit unclear as to why the showers are out in the open.The water cube cost over $200 million to build. They couldn't have put a privacy wall in?!)

My vote for winning performance of the first week goes to Sharon Davies' plastic surgeon. UK viewers will understand!

Bruce

They need to shower off because if you look closely where they enter the water, there are a couple of people constantly peeing off the pool edge.

Team cycling Gold to GB by the way.