Author Topic: Let the Olympic Games Begin !!!! (Read 4079 times)

isawlogs · « **on:** August 08, 2008, 07:20:27 pm »

I am watching for the second time the opening ceromonies of the Olympic games in Pekin China ... man those are the most enjoyable that I have seen yet . A whole different culture with so much history behind it .
Amazing all the choreography that is involved just mind boggling...

Toolman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2008, 08:49:49 pm »

China reported yesterday that their air quality index was 96. The World Health Organization standards are below 50 as acceptable standards. Then 3 independent firms came up consistantly with over 300!! Those tests were conducted the same day as Chinese governments tests.

Let the..couph..couph.. games..couph..couph begin!!!

Go USA!!!

Tom · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:03:20 pm »

I wonder what those numbers represent?

isawlogs · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:09:11 pm »

I have no idea Tom , all's I know is that the athetes are there and ready to compete against one another . Being one of the participants there is in my book a winner !!!

Cedarman · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:58:59 pm »

I am one of those few people that couldn't care less about the olympics. The events I would want to watch, shooting, track and field are not shown. Plus I want to see the events, don't care much about those participating. Thumb your noses at me if you like.

For those of you who love to watch, feast away and have a good time. Luckily I'll be in Florida checking out some wet caves for the next week.

Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:08:27 pm »

Please be careful, Cedarman. I've lost friends in those caves who got turned around or broke a string.

Cedarman · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:11:07 pm »

So far I have made it out of everyone I have went into. Hope to see you in a few days.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:22:05 pm »

They really need a sawmilling event at the Olympic Games. Maybe the 50 meter slab relay.

Dave

WDH · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2008, 12:14:59 am »

I am the alter-Cedarman. I love the Olympics and the competition. I try to overlook the politics.

asy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2008, 05:10:44 am »

Watched the swimming today, a young American boy won his event and they chopped the beginning and end off the Star Spangled Banner. George Bush was in the stand watching and just kept waving his flags. The winner stood on the daias laughing.

I had visions of a whole bank of pentagon workers running around madly getting all the footage from the Atlanta games to make sure the Chinese national anthem was never curtailed to ensure it WAS just an accident, not a 'payback'.

It's OK, though. I was singing along, and I finished it for ya's.

asy

PS: AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE--- OI -OI- OI!!!

Tom · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2008, 02:37:31 pm »

I got to watch the USA Oarers and the Australian Oarers, oaring this afternoon.

asy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2008, 05:56:08 pm »

Was that the four-boy-oarers?

Our ozzieboys did really well! I just saw a bit on the news. They broke the world record. I hope they can repeat the feat in the finals!

Steph and I love it when the Aussies win, and when the USA wins (but only if they weren't competing with the aussies

) We sing both anthems. One for us and one for the FF guys! Even she looked stunned yesterday and said "Hey, they forgot the "Oh say can you see" bit!!!

She's gettin' ready for her visit, methinks...

asy

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #12 on:** August 10, 2008, 10:55:54 pm »

I like the anthem sung best with the least amount of warbling. I heard it sung so badly one time I thought either she was lip-syncing to a skipping record or she had a five pound pigeon stuck in her throat.

I don't get to watch the Olympics, no TV here.

Dave

Tom · « **Reply #13 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:06:18 pm »

I saw the womens shells with 2 oarers and the men's shells with 2 oarers and the mens shells with 4 oarers. Australia was really hauling it. Turns out the race was left for third and fourth place.
It was a real photo finish!!!

DanG · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:10:58 pm »

I ain't all that familiar with oaring. I take it the first one to the oar-house is the winner?

Tom · « **Reply #15 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:16:31 pm »

You should have seen it, Dan. It was exciting. And, in the background, on the sidewalk there were a bunch of guys on bicycles peddling it.

DanG · « **Reply #16 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:29:12 pm »

Peddling what?

Tom · « **Reply #17 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:38:35 pm »

Why...... peddlin' there cycles you nut. Just what are you thinkin'?

I know that the rowing and cycles racing are fun, but my heart is still into Track and field when it comes to the olympics. Well, that, boxing and wrestling.

I like to watch javelin, shotput, long jumps, foot races, pole vaulting and even marathons. I can hardly wait.

DanG · « **Reply #18 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:52:11 pm »

Well I didn't know.

They coulda been peddlin' nuts. How much are cycles bringing over there these days, if a feller was to peddle them on the sidewalk?

Tom · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2008, 12:00:19 am »

I was watching them peddlin' it down the sidewalk and it was all they could do to stay up with the oarers.

DanG · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2008, 12:15:46 am »

I saw some stuff on teevee today too. There was these people rowing these skinny little boats, and it looked like they was racing one another! All I could figger was that there was a really good bream bed on the other side of that pond and they was trying to get there first. They was in such a hurry, they was still in their underwear!

Radar67 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 11, 2008, 12:53:54 am »

DanG, I think somebody pulled the plug on them things just as they pushed them off the pier. They was haulin tail to keep from sinking (did you see how low they was to the water?) and being how someone strapped their feet in, they couldn't get to the hole. And them boys a peddling was counting on one of em sinking so they could dive in and save em on international TV.

Dodgy Loner · « **Reply #22 on:** August 11, 2008, 10:19:23 am »

Did anybody see the men's 4 x 100 freestyle relay??? That was by far, the most excting Olympic event I've ever witnessed. By the end I was jumping up and down and pumping my fists like a madman. If you haven't watched it, you most definitely need to YouTube it!

Jeff · « **Reply #23 on:** August 11, 2008, 02:16:26 pm »

Quote from: Dodgy Loner on August 11, 2008, 10:19:23 am

Did anybody see the men's 4 x 100 freestyle relay??? That was by far, the most excting Olympic event I've ever witnessed. By the end I was jumping up and down and pumping my fists like a madman. If you haven't watched it, you most definitely need to YouTube it!

I saw it and was excited too.

I love the Olympics. The love of watching the games is one of the few things my Dad and I had in common and growing up, they were always an event in our house. My memories began at 11 years old with the 72 Munich Olympics and the terrors that caused the deaths of the Israeli Athletes. I also remember Mark Spitz and how he made watching Olympic swimming one of my favorite events.

The Summer of 1976 I was working on restoring an old Thompson runabout wood boat and was only 15. My plan was to have the Bicentennial emblem emblazoned on the front deck. That never came to pass, but I remember scrapping the old finish on the hull while watching a portable black and white T.V. Boxing was another thing that Dad and I enjoyed and that was the summer of Sugar Ray Leonard and getting hooked on watching Gymnastics spurred by the perfection of Nadia Comaneci.

In 1980 Tammy and I were married on August 1st so the loss of watching the Olympics due to the US Boycott was greatly lessened.

In 1984 I started at Billsby Lumber and watch Mary Lou Retton and her smile become a part of my indelible memories.

In 1988 Greg Louganis was the star of the Seoul games and 1992, who can forget the Olympic flame being ignited by the flaming arrow?

In 1996 Kerri Strug stole all of our hearts with the one foot landing off the vault. That has to be the most dramatic event of my memories and one that still can well tears when I see it. The thing I remember most though is that it was the first Olympics I was unable to share with my Dad.

In 2000 I don't have any memories of the Olympics. That was the summer I was on the Tree of Hope committee and maybe my time was consumed by that. Maybe its was something else. I've thought and thought but cannot remember any events noteworthy of that time.

In 2004 we were introduced to Michael Phelps.

This past Friday evening I was up at the cabin by myself. Not feeling good, I turned the T.V. on instead of going out and working til dark like I usually do. I watched the opening ceremonies and was mesmerized and at the same time, almost frightened. It was a display that I don't see ever being matched by another opening ceremony. This Olympics is shaping up to be one that will be one of the more memorable for me.

Tom · « **Reply #24 on:** August 11, 2008, 04:21:21 pm »

2000 didn't hold much memorable for the USA. It was the Olympics where Gold was taken back for the use of forbidden substances. Pretty much an embarrassment, I'd say. It only takes one bad apple to spoil a barrel and this was an example. It's unfortunate for the other hard-working American athletes who attended and gave their all.

Dodgy Loner · « **Reply #25 on:** August 11, 2008, 10:03:57 pm »

I was at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, and unfortunately, my memories of those Olympics are tainted because I was in Centennial Olympica Park the same day the bomb went off. I still remember my mom waking me up in the wee hours of the morning to tell me about it

.

I was watching Kerri Strug as she brought home the gold for the American gymnansts with her incredible performance, and that's definitely in my top 3 Olympic memories

.

DouginUtah · « **Reply #26 on:** August 11, 2008, 10:26:38 pm »

Quote from: Jeff on August 11, 2008, 02:16:26 pm

It was a display that I don't see ever being matched by another opening ceremony.

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but I ran across this...

UK Telegraph: Beijing Olympic Giant Fireworks Footprints "Faked"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2534499/Beijing-Olympic-2008-opening-ceremony-
As the ceremony got under way with a dramatic, drummed countdown, viewers watching at home and on giant screens inside the Bird's Nest National Stadium watched as a series of giant footprints outlined in fireworks processed gloriously above the city from Tiananmen Square.

What they did not realize was that what they were watching was in fact computer graphics, meticulously created over a period of months and inserted into the coverage electronically at exactly the right moment.

Tom · « **Reply #27 on:** August 11, 2008, 11:55:06 pm »

Maybe. Do I have to take the word of a ......gag.........Reporter??

Did we actually land a man on the moon??

I think I'll wait for confirmation from a reputable source, like, someone who was there.

Jeff · « **Reply #28 on:** August 12, 2008, 12:03:07 am »

The link is not found now.

logwalker · « **Reply #29 on:** August 12, 2008, 12:21:34 am »

They looked real to me. Maybe they were put on by that eyetalian family in New York. unhuh, I think they were. Joe Spagettio

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #30 on:** August 12, 2008, 06:39:47 am »

Which US TV network is covering the Olympics? Come to think of it, they may be televising during the working hours and I am not in front of the tube then. I know it is big coverage here in Canada on CBC, everything else takes a back seat. I'm not a big fan I have to admit, but will sometimes sit for an hour to see the events.

DouginUtah · « **Reply #31 on:** August 12, 2008, 10:41:42 am »

Would you believe a colaborating report from Yahoo?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080812/world/oly2008_china_ceremony_song_fake

BEIJING (AFP) - The little girl who starred at the Olympic opening ceremony was miming and only put on stage because the real singer was not considered attractive enough, the show's musical director has revealed.

Pigtailed Lin Miaoke was selected to appear because of her cute appearance and did not sing a note, Chen Qigang, the general music designer of the ceremony, said in an interview with a state broadcaster aired Tuesday.

Photographs of Lin in a bright red party dress were published in newspapers and websites all over the world and the official China Daily hailed her as a rising star on Tuesday.

But Chen said the girl whose voice was actually heard by the 91,000 capacity crowd at the Olympic stadium during the spectacular ceremony was in fact seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who has a chubby face and uneven teeth.

"The reason why little Yang was not chosen to appear was because we wanted to project the right image, we were thinking about what was best for the nation," Chen said in an interview that appeared briefly on the news website Sina.com before it was apparently wiped from the Internet in China.

Lin was seen to perform the patriotic song "Ode to the Motherland" as China's national flag was carried into the stadium, a key moment in the three hour ceremony.

"The reason was for the national interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression," said Chen, a renowned contemporary composer and French citizen.

"Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects. But in terms of voice, Yang Peiyi is perfect, each member of our team agreed," he said.

He said the final decision to stage the event with Lin lip-synching to another girl's voice was taken after a senior member of China's ruling Communist Party politburo attended a rehearsal.

"He told us there was a problem that we needed to fix it, so we did," he said, without disclosing further details of the order.

The Beijing Olympic organising committee confirmed the episode with spokesman Sun Weide saying the decision was taken in the interests of providing the best possible show.

"A number of girls were on the short list for the show and Lin was the best actress while Yang had the best voice," he said. "So at the end of the day they decided to have both."

The ceremony directed by China's Oscar-nominated filmmaker Zhang Yimou and featuring more than 15,000 performers won high praise in China and overseas for its breadth, scope and flawless execution.

However criticism began to build after it emerged that another part of the opening ceremony had been faked.

Supposedly live pictures of fireworks depicting footprints moving from central Beijing's Tiananmen Square to the Olympic stadium in the north of the capital were actually partly computer-generated or pre-recorded for TV, organisers have admitted.

Wang Wei, vice president of the organising committee, Tuesday insisted the fireworks had actually exploded on the night and that most of the television images used were genuine.

"However, because of the poor visibility of the night some previously recorded foots may have been used," he said.

Xiao Qiang, the director of the China Internet project at the University of California at Berkeley and former dissident, said the two incidents illustrated the political nature of the Games for China.

"I do not think the Chinese state realises how unethical this is, they don't understand what kind of values they are reflecting," he said.

Earlier this year Olympic organisers preoccupied with the right image for the country were criticised for insisting that only tall, slim, young and attractive women could serve as medal award ceremony hostesses.

-------

I have no problem with either of these two issues being the case. I just don't understand why they can't be honest about it.

Bill, the Olympics is broadcast on NBC--even preempting Jay Leno.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #32 on:** August 12, 2008, 11:40:42 am »

Ah, that explains it Doug. I don't get NBC or ABC in my area, just a CBS affiliate. And they only give a 2 minute blip on the news at night. $:-\$ Way past my bedtime at midnight to watch, but I think they cover it here at 7:00 am on CBC, some is likely recorded.

Back to the singing part of the opening, I wouldn't think it would be difficult to select a singer for looks when you have a gene pool of over a billion.

And as far as fireworks is concerned, if China couldn't put on a good fireworks display, then the rest of us have no hope.

beenthere · « **Reply #33 on:** August 12, 2008, 12:45:03 pm »

Here is a link to what I assume is a spoof of the Olympic coverage.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/article.aspx?ID=6920

A stretch if it is true, but is one of the coverage tidbits that I get tired of the commentators interjecting into the broadcasts.

A good read.

Tom · « **Reply #34 on:** August 12, 2008, 01:37:18 pm »

Some folks would complain if you hung them with a rotten rope. $:-\$

The opening ceremonies are a show, are they not? They are, aren't they. I mean, really, is it a true documentary? Are you trying to tell me that there really is no Santa Claus? Oh my!

And, all these years I just knew that Tarzan was fighting that crocodile hand to hand..... and fighting that lion hand to hand....... and fighting that python hand to, ...well.... coil. Tarzan was a real person, wasn't he. Wasn't he?

I'm so disillusioned $:-\$ $:-\$

Jeff · « **Reply #35 on:** August 12, 2008, 01:39:58 pm »

I dont see how it matters or weather saying something was faked is even relative. It was a show. A production. Theater. It really doesn't matter how it was created as long as it had the desired effect of the producers of the show. If it did, then it was a total success. We all know that the guy running around the top of the stadium wasn't really running around the top of the stadium. We all know that that wasn't really the earth that erupted from the center of the stadium.

However did you know that when the Olympic flame was ignited by the flaming arrow in the 1992 Olympics that was "Faked" too? It was.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #36 on:** August 12, 2008, 02:14:24 pm »

I can't follow if beenthere was joking with the news link or serious. I hope he was joking, that must have been the worst nonsense I read. Some of you guys are up on these talk show personalities. Me, I equate all their ramblings with scandal sheets such as the "National Enquirer". You give those guys a thread from this forum here and it will erupt into something it never was to begin with.

Jeff · « **Reply #37 on:** August 12, 2008, 02:41:40 pm »

Donk, that would be Satire.

Tom · « **Reply #38 on:** August 12, 2008, 03:07:30 pm »

No, Jeff. this is a Satyr.

beenthere · « **Reply #39 on:** August 12, 2008, 03:35:00 pm »

And now SD is trying to expose me....

Tom · « **Reply #40 on:** August 12, 2008, 04:08:50 pm »

You gotta be careful exposing yourself around that Satyr.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #41 on:** August 12, 2008, 04:15:55 pm »

Tom, your such a beast.

asy · « **Reply #42 on:** August 12, 2008, 07:15:52 pm »

Sheesh guys, next yer gonna tell me that dude running around the side wall of the stadium really CAN run sideways, and that slowly without falling...

As Tom said, it's a production. BILLIONS of people watching... of COURSE they wanted to project the best image.

In any case, other than feeling sorry for the little girl who wasn't judged pretty enough (I mean what an AWFUL thing to do to a kid) it was all good.

I'm enjoying watching the swimming, but, being unwell, I'm not getting much watched, I keep falling asleep

asy

logwalker · « **Reply #43 on:** August 12, 2008, 08:18:58 pm »

Quote from: Jeff on August 12, 2008, 01:39:58 pm

However did you know that when the Olympic flame was ignited by the flaming arrow in the 1992 Olympics that was "Faked" too? It was.

"Say it ain't so, Joe. Say it ain't so."

isawlogs · « **Reply #44 on:** August 12, 2008, 09:24:39 pm »

The lip sink I could do with out , they had ,on the news this evening , a pic of both children . I dont care what she looks like ( even though she was not the cuttest of the two ) I think she should of had her moment of fame . If they could make foot prints in the sky , make a lot of the starlets loook good

They sure as hell could of made this kid sing her song . That being said , it was one of the best yet .

Asy ... I was sure he was running ...ya telling me other wise $:-\$ Was he tied in up there $:-\$

dundee · « **Reply #45 on:** August 13, 2008, 01:19:25 pm »

All I am seeing here on the thread is fake this and fake that, what I saw last night on TV was the Chinese girls (ladies)? gymnasts, what they performed ain't faked, it was real and remarkable.

Now see there is comment if in-fact these girls were under aged??, 16 years of age is the requirement I understand, they looked less than that!, just wondering if this is another fake job?

if it is, I luv it

Richard

Jeff · « **Reply #46 on:** August 13, 2008, 01:56:18 pm »

I keep wondering why this thread keeps having negative undertones. Its a bleeping shame in my opinion. I think some should just watch the competitions. Turn off the sound if you have to. Quit watching the *DanG news and commentary for awhile and appreciate the individual efforts that go into what you see on the Olympics. Regardless of the politics or other cr@p that creeps into it, these are fellow human beings striving to be the best they can be and doing the best that they can do for not only themselves, but for the enjoyment and wonderment of the world. At least appreciate that.

dundee · « **Reply #47 on:** August 13, 2008, 02:16:02 pm »

Jeff, your onto it--totaly agree
Richard

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #48 on:** August 13, 2008, 03:21:53 pm »

Yip!

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #49 on:** August 13, 2008, 05:49:26 pm »

Michael Felps is cleaning up at the pool isn't he? 4 seconds ahead of Russia in time, in one race.

Poor old Canada hasn't a metal yet. $:-\$ Go Canada Go!

isawlogs · « **Reply #50 on:** August 13, 2008, 06:03:53 pm »

I think he is part dolphin

Man can he swim .

pigman · « **Reply #51 on:** August 13, 2008, 07:54:23 pm »

I watched a badminton match this morning.

They sure don't play like we do in the back yard. It seems they try to kill that poor birdie every time they hit it.

Gary_C · « **Reply #52 on:** August 13, 2008, 08:10:24 pm »

Quote from: pigman on August 13, 2008, 07:54:23 pm

I watched a badminton match this morning. They sure don't play like we do in the back yard. It seems they try to kill that poor birdie every time they hit it.

I sure wish I had seen the badmition matches. I used to play that indoor competition badminton and it is the toughest racket sport there is. That game can have a lot of deception and takes good racket skills as well as strong legs. A lot of fun.

Also some of the world class athletes in other sports use badminton as a conditioning sport.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #53 on:** August 14, 2008, 06:29:16 am »

I can see Gary now, chasing that birdie and tipping it over the net.

asy · « **Reply #54 on:** August 14, 2008, 06:30:38 am »

I missed the viewing today

all I managed to see was a few minutes in a shop on the TV there where the aussies got a gold for something.

Wish I'd seen it.

I did manage to see some of the Mens Gymnastics the other night and gosh was it AWESOME.

asy

PS: I love badminton too!!!

Tom · « **Reply #55 on:** August 15, 2008, 05:50:53 pm »

Track and field is supposed to have started and ESPN has the contract. I still haven't seen any of it. I keep hunting on the TV, but it is being allusive. $:-\$

Jeff · « **Reply #56 on:** August 15, 2008, 06:54:14 pm »

I watched track events today on I think it was, cnbc. 100m qualifying I think shotput is supposed to be on primetime nbc tonight but could be wrong.

It does seem like the track athletes are the ones that seem to swagger and the ones that get caught doping the most, at least that's how it seems to me from what I see on T.V.

Dodgy Loner · « **Reply #57 on:** August 18, 2008, 09:58:59 am »

I don't have a TV at home, but I visited my folks this weekend and got a healthy dose of the Olympics

. A few things I learned: 1) Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian ever. I don't think there has ever been a human body more perfectly suited to swimming. 2) Usain Bolt is probably the fastest man to ever walk the earth. He could have run a sub 9.6 in the 100 m dash if he hadn't started jogging with 20 meters to go

. I wish I could watch him in the 200 m final. 3) Shawn Johnson is my future wife, she just doesn't know it yet

.

WDH · « **Reply #58 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:19:30 pm »

Quote from: Dodgy Loner on August 18, 2008, 09:58:59 am

3) Shawn Johnson is my future wife, she just doesn't know it yet .

With a name like Shawn Loner, she might balk

.

Jeff · « **Reply #59 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:23:58 pm »

He should take her name and be called Dodgy Johnson.

Radar67 · « **Reply #60 on:** August 18, 2008, 01:26:48 pm »

He should probably let her graduate high school first.

pigman · « **Reply #61 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:45:48 pm »

Most people would say that Usain Bolt was way too tall to be a sprinter, but I suppose no one told him. That is what I like about track and field events, they don't weigh or measure the athlete, they just time or measure the outcome. My daughter was told in highschool by several that she was too small and skinny to be a sprinter and that she should be a distance runner, but when she to went to the state meet all comments stopped.

Dodgy Loner · « **Reply #62 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:49:05 pm »

Quote from: Radar67 on August 18, 2008, 01:26:48 pm

He should probably let her graduate high school first.

I'm in no hurry

. Dodgy Johnson sounds pretty catchy, actually

.

WDH · « **Reply #63 on:** August 18, 2008, 04:40:46 pm »

Whats that an anagram for?

isawlogs · « **Reply #64 on:** August 24, 2008, 08:14:45 pm »

I am watching the closing ceromonies of the games .....

Gotta saye that the Chinese people can be proud of the outcome , sure was a pleasure to watch and have a look at there country and their culture during the games , sure they made a few things look better ... but hey its a step in the right direction I think

WDH · « **Reply #65 on:** August 24, 2008, 10:34:55 pm »

I agree that it is a step in the right direction. The Chinese people were very proud to host the games, and it showed. I learned a lot more about China than I knew as a result of the exposure. It is a nation with awesome potential.

I see change in the wind as China moves headlong into the modern world. They seem to be adapting and opening up to how the rest of the world does things without giving up their storied traditions.

News:

Author Topic: Let the Olympic Games Begin !!!! (Read 4079 times)