Your thoughts on the Olympics so far...

davoscat · 08-12-2008, 05:28 AM

Is everyone excited about the Olympics? A few of my friends tell me that they are getting a little too overwhelmed by all the pageantry and commercialism. I'm a sucker for all the background stories of the athletes, so I'm also more interested in the human interest aspects of the Olympics instead of the giant fireworks displays.

Can't wait for gymnastics!

sheru89 · 08-12-2008, 10:59 AM

I'm pretty sure Michael Phelps is an amphibian.

Greg · 08-12-2008, 09:22 PM

Have you guys seen the coverage at nbcolympics.com?

You have to install something called Silverlight to watch the videos, but that was pretty painless.

It's pretty awesome. I wasn't able to catch the USA-China basketball game on TV, but watched the whole thing at nbcolympics.com.

I've enjoyed watching sports that you don't see everyday. Volleyball (both versions), water polo, even swimming (relays) are exciting.

davoscat · 08-13-2008, 02:13 AM

I'm floored by the gymnastics competition. The announcers sure know how to push my buttons. I started crying when they mentioned that the girls on the Chinese team are like sisters... an experience that is rare in China (due to the one child policy which discourages having lots of girls). What a poignant observation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheru89

I'm pretty sure Michael Phelps is an amphibian.

An Amphibian-American.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Have you guys seen the coverage at nbcolympics.com?

You have to install something called Silverlight to watch the videos, but that was pretty painless.

It's pretty awesome. I wasn't able to catch the USA-China basketball game on TV, but watched the whole thing at nbcolympics.com.

Thank you for the tip Greg. I was hesitant about adding more Microsoft crap on to my computer. But I guess if a techie recommends it....

I've enjoyed watching sports that you don't see everyday. Volleyball (both versions), water polo, even swimming (relays) are exciting.

Norbert The Librarian · 08-13-2008, 04:46 AM

Those Chinese girls are not sixteen.

gt0163c · 08-13-2008, 06:04 AM

I haven't watched any of the Olympics either on tv or on the web but I have enjoyed reading about some of the events on various web sites.
I ODed on the Olympics in '96. I was a student at Georgia Tech and not only did the world come to our town, but many of them stayed on our campus. We lived with the games (or at least the idea of the games) for about two years prior a year afterwards. It's taken me a while to actually become interested in the Olympics again. But it is fun to check CNN and see by how much Michael Phelps beat the world record the previous evening and read about some of the other events.
I've also heard from many people that the opening ceremonies were really great. I may have to find some of that video on-line.

Found in Boston2 · 08-14-2008, 02:08 AM

I'm with you man. All this hype is a bit much. I can only imagine what the envionrment is like for the people in China.

I like the personal stories. This video from a past Olympic trials is my favorite Olympic moment of all time.

gt0163c · 08-14-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Found in Boston2

I'm with you man. All this hype is a bit much. I can only imagine what the envionrment is like for the people in China.

I wasn't in Atlanta during the '96 Games, but I was there before and after and had a bunch of friends who were in town during the Games (student at Georgia Tech. Campus became the Olympic Village). If Beijing in anything like Atlanta was, the traffic is the best it's been in 20+ years, offices are calm and casual with many people out on vacation, talk of what events people attended and what athletes were seen around and about dominate conversations and long lunches to go take in events and/or special activities are common.

Alpha Mom · 08-19-2008, 05:33 PM

Thanks for being such gracious hosts on all our behalf.

I do feel bad for those gymnasts from China. Behind all that grace and precision is a lost childhood never regained.

AlmostFrugal · 08-20-2008, 04:52 AM

I live in France and am watching in the Olympics on the BBC via satellite. It is amazing, no commercial breaks, lots of live coverage, about 16 hours a day of coverage... you actually get to see, you know, sports and stuff.

I don't miss American TV one iota.

08-12-2008, 05:28 AM	#1
davoscat Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (14)	Your thoughts on the Olympics so far... Is everyone excited about the Olympics? A few of my friends tell me that they are getting a little too overwhelmed by all the pageantry and commercialism. I'm a sucker for all the background stories of the athletes, so I'm also more interested in the human interest aspects of the Olympics instead of the giant fireworks displays. Can't wait for gymnastics!

08-12-2008, 09:22 PM	#3
Greg Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 245 Thanks: 21 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (56)	Have you guys seen the coverage at nbcolympics.com? You have to install something called Silverlight to watch the videos, but that was pretty painless. It's pretty awesome. I wasn't able to catch the USA-China basketball game on TV, but watched the whole thing at nbcolympics.com. I've enjoyed watching sports that you don't see everyday. Volleyball (both versions), water polo, even swimming (relays) are exciting. __________________ Admin / Tech guy Wise Bread, Parenting Squad, Healthcare Hacks

08-20-2008, 04:52 AM	#10
AlmostFrugal Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: France Posts: 88 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (32)	I live in France and am watching in the Olympics on the BBC via satellite. It is amazing, no commercial breaks, lots of live coverage, about 16 hours a day of coverage... you actually get to see, you know, sports and stuff. I don't miss American TV one iota. __________________ Almost Frugal... frugality for the rest of us Almost Frugal Food family, food, France, frugality

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08-12-2008, 10:59 AM	#2
sheru89 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I'm pretty sure Michael Phelps is an amphibian.

08-13-2008, 04:46 AM	#5
Norbert The Librarian Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Those Chinese girls are not sixteen.

08-13-2008, 06:04 AM	#6
gt0163c Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 344 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (60)	I haven't watched any of the Olympics either on tv or on the web but I have enjoyed reading about some of the events on various web sites. I ODed on the Olympics in '96. I was a student at Georgia Tech and not only did the world come to our town, but many of them stayed on our campus. We lived with the games (or at least the idea of the games) for about two years prior a year afterwards. It's taken me a while to actually become interested in the Olympics again. But it is fun to check CNN and see by how much Michael Phelps beat the world record the previous evening and read about some of the other events. I've also heard from many people that the opening ceremonies were really great. I may have to find some of that video on-line.

08-14-2008, 02:08 AM	#7
Found in Boston2 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I'm with you man. All this hype is a bit much. I can only imagine what the envionrment is like for the people in China. I like the personal stories. This video from a past Olympic trials is my favorite Olympic moment of all time.

08-19-2008, 05:33 PM	#9
Alpha Mom Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	Thanks for being such gracious hosts on all our behalf. I do feel bad for those gymnasts from China. Behind all that grace and precision is a lost childhood never regained.