London 2012 Olympics Thread

Aleksandar · Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:01 pm

Unfortunately, the results of my country are below all expectations. The final blow was yesterday's withdrawal of Mihail Dudas from decathlon competition due to severe migraine. He even had to spend the night in hospital.

The only remaining hope is waterpolo team.

Klaus · Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:14 pm

Wow. Brink & Reckermann win gold for Germany in – of all sports – beach volleyball, and against Brazil!

The final was actually fun to watch. Nice atmosphere, and the brazilian players were formidable opponents.

Three sets GER-BRA-GER with a very close finish.

[Edited 2012-08-09 14:32:11]

imiakhtar · Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:17 pm

Am I the only one who finds the olympic mascot kind of freaky?

It looks like something out of Arthur Clarke's sci-fi novels.

Klaus · Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:19 pm

Quoting imiakhtar (Reply 302):
Am I the only one who finds the olympic mascot kind of freaky?

No, you're not. It's positively creepy.

But it probably just symbolizes the 1984-like camera surveillance in Britain...!

aloges · Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:23 pm

Quoting imiakhtar (Reply 302):
Am I the only one who finds the olympic mascot kind of freaky?

far from it

I was in London just before the games and the bloody thing saved me some money - I simply couldn't buy any souvenirs with it on them.

Rara · Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:25 pm

Go USA!

Two golds ahead - wouldn't surprise me if they could get the title as most successful nation back.

Other than that, very enjoyable evening at the Horse Guard Parade. The crowd favoured the Brazilians, but Brink and Reckermann made a great comeback. Fantastic Olympics altogether, too bad it's only a couple of days left.

randyh3253 · Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:30 pm

Quoting rara (Reply 305):

Agreed...where has the time gone? Seems just like yesterday the Olympics started. It has been a welcome sight to have the Olympics coverage on the news as it has for the most part given us a break from all the bickering and back and forth with both sides of the political spectrum here in the US. With the end in sight and the Party conventions coming up in less than a month, I'm dreading all the coverage from next week all the way through November.
London, has done a magnificent job with these games.

GDB · Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:33 pm

Hell of a day for UK women, first ever Boxing Olympic Gold for Nicola Adams - like it or not, either the sport or just having women doing it - it's here to stay at the games.
Then in the whirling, kicking each other thing, (AKA Taekwondo) Jade Jones, adds another gold for Team GB.
Being a sport you associate with the Far eastern nations, quite a thing to see a 19 year old from Wales beat her Chinese opponent to win gold.

[Edited 2012-08-09 15:41:32]

Plus of course, arguably the most charismatic presence at the Games, Usain Bolt did his thing.
And did some press ups at the end of his triumph!

[Edited 2012-08-09 15:45:29]

Kiwirob · Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:21 am

Quoting GDB (Reply 307):
Plus of course, arguably the most charismatic presence at the Games, Usain Bolt did his thing.
And did some press ups at the end of his triumph!

Undoubtedly the star of this games, I can't see the Jamacians not winning the 4x100m. Michael who?

Aleksandar · Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:02 am

Quoting rara (Reply 305):
Fantastic Olympics altogether, too bad it's only a couple of days left.

Quoting randyh3253 (Reply 306):
Agreed...where has the time gone?

A BBC anchor said "it is almost over, but I don't want to think about it. I want to live a bit more in this bubble". This is exactly how I feel about the Olympics in general and this one in London.

Quoting imiakhtar (Reply 302):
Am I the only one who finds the olympic mascot kind of freaky?

Quoting Klaus (Reply 303):
No, you're not. It's positively creepy.

Quoting aloges (Reply 304):
I simply couldn't buy any souvenirs with it on them.

You are right. It reminded me of Athens 2004 mascots, but...come on guys, ugly need love too

http://youtu.be/EYbon6QhFOI

I am just so so so sad because I cannot get any souvenir from them or from London 2012

scbriml · Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:14 am

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 308):
Undoubtedly the star of this games

That really depends on your perspective.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 308):
I can't see the Jamacians not winning the 4x100m.

We'll see. They'll obviously start as favourites, but it's way too easy to screw up a relay.

IMHO, the single greatest athletics performance of the Olympics so far has almost been completely missed in all the hype surrounding Bolt - David Rudisha DESTROYED a World-class 800m field to break the World record. His performance was so impressive that every athlete in the final either ran a season's best or personal best and still failed to get within 15m of him. Best of all, he's probably one of the nicest and most humble athlete I've ever seen interviewed.

MadameConcorde · Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:22 am

Quoting imiakhtar (Reply 302):
Am I the only one who finds the olympic mascot kind of freaky?

They are so weird. I wonder why they were created with only one eye?
Couldn't they just do something more normal?

I really liked Mischka the Moscow Olympic mascot. That little bear was so cute!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-vJlVWxWc

Quoting scbriml (Reply 310):
David Rudisha DESTROYED a World-class 800m field to break the World record

Definitely... fantastic and... under-rated. An anti-star, a most fabulous athlete.

Waiting to see what they will do with the closing ceremony. I am very curious as to what it will be like.
It is said there will be a lot of singers and music.

I hope Susan Boyle will be invited.

scbriml · Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:29 am

Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 311):
Definitely... fantastic and... under-rated. An anti-star, a most fabulous athlete.

Just to put that 800m race in perspective - it was, by any measure, the greatest 800m race ever run. By way of comparison, GB's Andrew Osagie came in last but his time would have won gold in the three previous Olympics. Wow!

bjorn14 · Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:32 am

Quoting scbriml (Reply 310):
We'll see. They'll obviously start as favourites, but it's way too easy to screw up a relay.

Yep. Especially the 4x100m, the 4x400m not so much.

One of Norway's few bright spot is the Women's Handball team plays Montenegro in the gold medal game.

Aleksandar · Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:46 am

Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 311):
I really liked Mischka the Moscow Olympic mascot. That little bear was so cute!

And this cute bear made us all cry during Closing Ceremony.

http://youtu.be/t3G1vl5UAxU
It seems that Russians made cute mascots for Sochi as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TExYCtowUhk

[Edited 2012-08-10 03:48:49]

bjorn14 · Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:38 pm

Quoting scbriml (Reply 312):
Just to put that 800m race in perspective - it was, by any measure, the greatest 800m race ever run. By way of comparison, GB's Andrew Osagie came in last but his time would have won gold in the three previous Olympics.

I read that 8 of 9 runners set personal bests in the race.

Kiwirob · Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:21 pm

Quoting scbriml (Reply 310):
His performance was so impressive that every athlete in the final either ran a season's best or personal best and still failed to get within 15m of him.

A bit like the 100 with 7 of the 8 competitors dipping under 10 seconds, which has never happened before, probably the greatest 100m's of al time.

Happy to see NZ won their 5th Gold today in the womans 470's. Hopefully Gold in the womans BMX and maybe a medal in the mens.

flipdewaf · Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:13 pm

Quoting GDB (Reply 307):

Hey! What about Charlotte Dujardin, amazing test by her in the dressage.

Fred

rampart · Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:24 pm

Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 297):
Much to my surprise they do have BMX in the OL.

Yes, which is why I wrote in my reply:

Quoting rampart (Reply 286):
Watching it now. I think it's great!

Quoting david_itl (Reply 298):
I think we can safely say Usain Bolt is a legend now.

I'm officially tired of him at this point. Beware of media overexposure. Charismatic, sure, but the attitude doesn't do well for me.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 308):
Undoubtedly the star of this games,

THE star? Out of how many superstar performances, including track? Not sure about that.

-Rampart

scbriml · Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:40 am

Quoting flipdewaf (Reply 317):
Hey! What about Charlotte Dujardin, amazing test by her in the dressage.

A double-gold winner who is living proof that equestrianism isn't an exclusive playground for the idle rich.

MadameConcorde · Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:09 am

Quoting scbriml (Reply 319):
A double-gold winner who is living proof that equestrianism isn't an exclusive playground for the idle rich.

I'd rather see Dujardin winning at the Olympics than Charlotte Casiraghi.

The Monaco celeb thinks she is the best equestrian sportswoman the world has ever seen. Good thing she wasn't selected as an Olympic participant only because she is a wealthy princess.

astuteman · Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:50 am

Quoting scbriml (Reply 312):
GB's Andrew Osagie came in last but his time would have won gold in the three previous Olympics.

Can't beat that for perspective...

Bummer for Andy though....

Rgds

fruitbat · Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:06 pm

Quoting scbriml (Reply 310):
IMHO, the single greatest athletics performance of the Olympics so far has almost been completely missed in all the hype surrounding Bolt - David Rudisha DESTROYED a World-class 800m field to break the World record.

Brilliant race, best 800m I've ever seen - and I've been a fan since Coe vs Ovett in the early 80's. Sub 1.41 without a pacemaker - I was genuinely gobsmacked!

Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 311):
I hope Susan Boyle will be invited.

Only if she's joined the Spice Girls (or so the rumour goes....)

Mascots: they are cool and I think have been deliberately designed not to be sickly cute. My kids call them Leelus (as in child of Leela, from Futurama....)

Mexico 2 - 1 Brazil OMG!!! According to the BBC commentary the Brazil team contains the core of their world cup squad....doesn't bode well for 2014.....but there are 2 years to go for Brazil to sort themselves out!

However certain footballers let themselves down with petulant performances (yes, I mean YOU Rafael). Once again footballers look like petty children compared to every other participant in the Olympics.

Just shows money doesn't buy class...........

Onwards to the boxing finals - come on Team GB!

MadameConcorde · Sat Aug 11, 2012 4:56 pm

Details about the London Olympics closing ceremony are starting to emerge.

Olympics: Closing ceremony 'party' details promised

The Olympics closing ceremony will be "the best after-show party of all time", says its artistic director.
Kim Gavin said the ceremony, which will focus on 50 years of British music, would be a "mashed-up symphony".
...
The closing ceremony, which begins at 21:00 BST on Sunday and runs for about two hours 45 minutes, will see 3,500 performers in the stadium.

more hee:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19211950

Aleksandar · Sat Aug 11, 2012 5:19 pm

Quoting fruitbat (Reply 322):
Mascots: they are cool and I think have been deliberately designed not to be sickly cute. My kids call them Leelus (as in child of Leela, from Futurama....)

I like them.

Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 323):
The Olympics closing ceremony will be "the best after-show party of all time", says its artistic director.
Kim Gavin said the ceremony, which will focus on 50 years of British music, would be a "mashed-up symphony".

I know that certain band is having 50th anniversary this year and they are from the UK and, if Sir Paul was on Opening Ceremony....

GDB · Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:18 pm

Another wonderful performance from Mo Farah! 2nd gold. Mad scenes in the stadium.

RussianJet · Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:19 pm

Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 324):
Sir Paul was on Opening Ceremony....

Oh God.....please no. He was embarrassing in the opening ceremony. Why can't he just retire gracefully and accept that he's past it?

fruitbat · Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:37 pm

Quoting RussianJet (Reply 326):
Oh God.....please no. He was embarrassing in the opening ceremony. Why can't he just retire gracefully and accept that he's past it?

I think he was hinting at the Rolling Stones...........could be fun...........maybe

Back to the sport - Go Mo !! Hope Aiden Burley was watching.............tee hee

RussianJet · Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:52 pm

Quoting fruitbat (Reply 327):
I think he was hinting at the Rolling Stones...........could be fun...........maybe

Ok good. Still wish Macca would sod off though.

fruitbat · Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:13 pm

What a way to finish the athletics - Jamaican WR in the 4 x 100m - will that be the last time we see Bolt on an Olympic track?

OA260 · Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:24 pm

Amazing the time has flown by hard to believe its coming to
a close soon . Its been an amazing games so far .

Aleksandar · Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:39 pm

Quoting RussianJet (Reply 326):
Why can't he just retire gracefully and accept that he's past it?

Well...I would love to have a chance to hear Sir Paul once live despite everything. I was born too late to hear Fab Four, two of my favourite Beatles died too young...so, it would be at least something.

Quoting fruitbat (Reply 327):
I think he was hinting at the Rolling Stones...........could be fun...........maybe

You're right

What an amazing day and, finally, Serbia won its first gold medal since Sydney. Milica Mandic won gold in taekwondo !!!

bjorn14 · Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:34 pm

Norway gets a gold in Women's Team Handball after disappointing finishes by Andreas Thorkildsen in the javelin and Gunn Rita Dahlen in the MTB events today..

Aleksandar · Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:43 pm

Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 332):
Norway gets a gold in Women's Team Handball after disappointing finishes by Andreas Thorkildsen in the javelin and Gunn Rita Dahlen in the MTB events today..

Well done!

Mortyman · Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:32 pm

Fantastic achivement from the Handball woman of Norway, after a troublesome start in the olympics. Norway also won the gold in the 2008 olympics and are not only reigning olympic champions, but also european and world champions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18912978

Norway has in these olympics won:

Gold: Handball Woman

Gold: Paddling - kayak singles (K1) 1000 meter men

Silver: Fencing - Individual epee men

Bronse: Road Cycling Men

[Edited 2012-08-11 17:04:49]

[Edited 2012-08-11 17:13:52]

Geezer · Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:38 am

I doubt if anyone will be reading this thread any longer, but just in case anyone does, here's my take on the open ceremony;
it was just fine, right up until the very last "act", (which I promptly turned off) ( no use risking throwing a brick thru my own TV screen ! )

I throughly enjoy most things British..........with the notable exception of "Sir Paul" McCartney; "Sir Paul" is persona-non-grata in my house. What a twit !

Charley

Klaus · Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:07 am

Quoting GEEZER (Reply 335):
I throughly enjoy most things British..........with the notable exception of "Sir Paul" McCartney; "Sir Paul" is persona-non-grata in my house. What a twit !

I've always felt more of a resonance with George Harrison among the four, but I still don't get all the hate towards Paul McCartney. His performance in the opening ceremony was perfectly adequate for me – heavier on the legend status than on actual current brilliance, but not a problem either, at least not for me.

GDB · Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:38 am

Not that I would go to one of his shows but maybe give McCartney a break? Even allowing for his post Beatles output!
He would have been invited by Boyle to the ceremony because in an event so full of the music this country has produced in the past 50 years, Sir Paul is the last living AND performing Beatle. Not having him would be like having a big event about space exploration, inviting loads of Astronauts but not having any of the remaining Apollo Moonwalkers.
Much of the music played there owed a huge amount to the the dizzying amount of innovation from Lennon/McCartney/Harrison in the mid/late 1960's. Lennon once said before Elvis there was nothing.
After The Beatles there was everything.

Aleksandar · Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:25 am

Quoting GDB (Reply 337):
Sir Paul is the last living AND performing Beatle

What happened to Ringo?

GDB · Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:34 am

Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 338):
What happened to Ringo?

Doesn't really perform much, does he?.
Wasn't one of the creative core of the group.

Aleksandar · Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:12 am

Quoting GDB (Reply 339):
Doesn't really perform much, does he?.
Wasn't one of the creative core of the group.

Well...you're right about it, but he's still the fourth.

Speaking of this Games again, I really enjoyed it so much. I envy you folks from the UK and London area because you had a chance to feel that Olympic spirit live (and to visit Olympic Shop in the Park

)

Aleksandar · Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:17 am

There is one thing that really impressed me about organization. Costs were controlled and even now, there are still ideas how to earn more money and pay this Olympics. This is great idea about selling stuff on auction

https://memorabilia.london2012.com/

Rara · Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:34 am

Quoting Klaus (Reply 336):
I've always felt more of a resonance with George Harrison among the four, but I still don't get all the hate towards Paul McCartney.

Yeah, me neither. He's a Beatle - that should be enough to put him beyond any doubt, as far as status as a legend of music is concerned.

OA260 · Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:21 pm

Im looking forward to the closing ceremony tonight on BBC HD also available in 3D .

Closing Ceremony in 3D

DURATION: 2 HOURS, 40 MINUTES

3D coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony, highlighting the achievements of the men and women who have taken part over the past 16 days, as the Olympic Flame is extinguished and London hands over to Rio de Janeiro, host city for the 2016 event. To watch in 3D set your 3D TV to 'side-by-side' mode.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m315q

Aleksandar · Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:36 pm

Quoting OA260 (Reply 343):
Im looking forward to the closing ceremony tonight on BBC HD also available in 3D .

Woow., it will be an awesome experience in 3D

RussianJet · Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:16 pm

Quoting Klaus (Reply 336):
His performance in the opening ceremony was perfectly adequate for me

Hm, especially the part where he started hesitantly, and restarted, ending up a line out of sync with the crowd, and then really obviously had to miss a line to catch up. Dreadful! He sucks.

MadameConcorde · Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:56 pm

Quoting OA260 (Reply 343):
Im looking forward to the closing ceremony tonight on BBC HD also available in 3D .

Closing Ceremony in 3D

DURATION: 2 HOURS, 40 MINUTES

3D coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony, highlighting the achievements of the men and women who have taken part over the past 16 days, as the Olympic Flame is extinguished and London hands over to Rio de Janeiro, host city for the 2016 event. To watch in 3D set your 3D TV to 'side-by-side' mode.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m315q

Most times these BBC internet feeds are not accessible to countries (IPs) outside the UK
but there will be other ways!

BMI727 · Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:58 pm

The Olympic planners should be embarrassed at the officiating in the gold medal basketball. It's been terrible for both sides.

PHX787 · Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:50 pm

Quoting GDB (Reply 339):
Quoting Aleksandar (Reply 338):
What happened to Ringo?

Doesn't really perform much, does he?.
Wasn't one of the creative core of the group.

Friend of mine saw a drum presentation by Ringo and he also is a drum teacher in NYC.

ltbewr · Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:53 pm

Apparently for the USA market, NBC has relented and will have Llive Internet steaming of the Closing Ceremony as well as a tape delay on broadcast.

At least ESP is giving USA a good battle in the Men's Basketball for the Gold medal.

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