The Olympic Games - is anyone bothered?

[marinyork]

I will watch some of it but not particularly enthusiastic about it. I'm neutral about China getting the games although as I generally regard such sporting events as more curse than benefit I'm not sure what conclusions to draw. I agree with the theory behind the games and sport and communication has I think been a great contributor to a teeny bit less of human violence and intolerance in the 20th century. However the idea of the games has certainly got warped drastically by contractors, sponsors, big business, probably from sometime before I was born, perhaps this started as early as the early 70s. The 1992 games I think were pretty good, the 1996 games were incredibly dull (not just a like of medals for GBR by any means).

 

[Mr Pig]

Thanks for that, you...generalising fool

Chill out dude. It could be worse, you could be Scottish! All we're good at is skiting big stones across across a frozen pond. Which like cricket is not a sport, but a game.

I know a bloke who got a gold medal for Clay Pigeon Shooting

A tad off topic, but have you hear of the native American Indian guy, Chief Something-or-other, who can shoot Aspirins tossed up into the air with a BB gun?

 

[Dayvo]

I want to see cricket at the Olympics.

Well, believe it or not, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and a few others are doing their best to get Twenty20 into the, er, 2020 Olympics!

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/363699.html

 

[Aperitif]

I think my Mum is looking forward to the Olympics - she's a bit too old to be making sporting + politics links. She, like many of us likes the 'corinthian' endeavours of human powered sport. She always picks her favourites...maybe because they have a nice smile, are wiped out - maybe fall over etc etc.
She will have a grandstand seat for the opening and closing ceremonies that's for sure.
As a cricket lover she would welcome the chance to see more - she can't wait until the BBC start showing it again ("No Mum, Peter West will not be doing it...")

For me? Don't watch much telly apart from the two rugby codes and TdF and unless coverage concurs with food or an idle moment, I will not see much.
It's obvious that the BBC will swallow up the 'successful' GB-ers to become part of their informed, improved and wonderful commentary team.(How long into the Games before we get a mention of 'hitting the wall' or archive home movie of an athlete running a sack race as infant..?) Mix all that with obvious politics, not so obvious cheating, stir in the pure commercialism and the whole thing is already looking like a greasy plate on the table of life...

Good luck to all who have worked hard to achieve their relevant standards - may the best win!

 

[Andy in Sig]

I just hope there are loads of little demos about Tibet and the general oppressive nature of the state e.g. a medal winning athlete unfurling a protest banner while on the stand and then kicking the security goons in the head as they try to come and get it off him. Anything that embarrasses the Chinese government is OK by me.

 

[dantheman]

*yawn*

 

[peanut]

I'm hoping the iplayer coverage is good, so that I can catch Badminton, table tennis, (poss the tennis as well) cycling, and probably some of the athletics.

that's pretty much what I'll be watching too . We often used to have Chester barnes play demonstration matches at our school in the 60's I remember he used to play about 25 feet back from the table sometimes. Absolutely incredable play.
http://www.etta.co.uk/ezine/dec/06_chester_barnes.html

 

[Paulus]

I shan't watch the opening or closing ceremonies as I believe they are a complete waste of money and time. I shall watch the cycling even though it is on in the early hours of the morning. Mrs P likes the swimming. But I definitely won't be watching the synchronized drowning. I find it amusing that there are still those who want Darts to be an Olympic sport As for twenty twenty cricket, they are trying to go the same way as premiership football, all about the money and sponsorship, little to do with sportsmanship.

 

[NickM]

...is anyone really interested in it?

Not a lot. There is something much more interesting happening in Suffolk soon

 

[NickM]

...All that congratulating of China on a wonderful build, everything on time... all easy in a totalitarian state where you can throw folk out of their homes to make way for the build...

And not too difficult in a "democracy" where you can bulldoze a grass-roots sports facility, well used and much loved for 30 years, to make way for a two-week junket

 

[Keith Oates]

I've just watched the opening ceremony, very impressive and the people doing the perfomances were superb. I will also watch the cycling (if it's shown here in Vietnam) but the other stuff is not so much interest to me. One bad moment was when Dick Pound stood up to wave to the Canadian team, I nearly lost all the beer I have been drinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Just watching for the cycling, not bothered otherwise. Oh, maybe for the ladies' synchronised swimming and diving events....and beach volleyball!!

 

[Cathryn]

I'm liking the torch moment. Less impressed with the build up but the torch itself is gorgeous!

 

[surfgurl]

So how do we think London should open the 2012 Olympics? Mr Surf is hoping for a brief resume of British History culminating in a flypast by the Battle of Britain aircraft. Personally I think party hats and Chas n' Dave surrounded by pearly Kings and Queens, perhaps accompanied by Bethanl Green Infant School Maypole Team.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Yes, it's got to be something totally original.

There's no point in trying to top this opening ceremony, as it probably represents the ultimate tacky compensation for inadequate national willy size that's possible.