The Olympics 2012 Thread

[Friar]

Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.

[DAISHI]

Originally Posted by Friar

Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.

Well if you're into stereotyping and generalizing, sure. You should read Think Progress or Daily Kos. Americans wanted to watch that opening ceremony, and Americans love being in London, and Americans have, for the most part, been fine with the security.

[caeska]

Originally Posted by Friar

Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user. It's beginning to irk me now actually. We get it, you're still annoyed that we got it instead of New York. Get over it, and just enjoy them!

The games so far have been fantastic. And that's coming from a non-sports fan. It's great to be able to flick on the TV and see such a variety of events happening, in locations I recognise. This is the first one I've been able to watch for one reason or another. I think the Archery or the weightlifting are my favourite events. Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

Personally, I'm root in for the Koreans or the Germans. They seem to be great sportsmen/women. They don't rub victory in your face.

It's fun to watch the events and I'm having a great time watching sports that I don't normally watch.
But I have to say all the moaning and accusing competitors of drug use has no place in the olympiad. The olympiad has never been about winning, it's about friendship, respect and fair play. Winning isn't important.

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by Friar

Is it me or are the Americans always moaning about something? First they said we weren't ready. Then our opening ceremony wasn't good enough for them, so they cut out the memorial to have a celebrity interview. The they moan about security. And now they can't accept that the Chinese have a really good swimmer, so ruin his moment of triumph by calling him a drug user.

NBC cutting out the memorial was definitely despicable. And their excuse was horrid as well (they say they cut it out to appeal to American audiences). They could have found something else from which to cut out minutes instead of a tribute to people who lost their lives to terrorism).

But unless I'm missing something, the Chinese swimmer in question is a woman named Ye Shiwen. And the UK press has been making waves about it, not the American press (The Times is the one making all the headlines for calling her performance "scarcely credible"). The American press has been covering both sides (even Fox News!! and that's saying something).

[Alcoremortis]

Originally Posted by Friar

Fencing could be interesting if I had any idea how it worked! I tried watching it, but the points seeemed to be going to the person who was being hit rather than the attacker, which seemed odd.

It really depends on what weapon you were watching. If it was foil or sabre, there might have been a change in right of way so that the initial attacker lost their right of way via a parry/counterattack so then their touch wouldn't count.

Also, generally you have lost of red lights on the left and green lights on the right. Depending on which light goes off that was who got the touch. So if the fencer on the left made a touch, the red light on their side would go off and they get a point.

Apart from the right of way thing, there's not really a lot of subtlety in fencing rules. You stab the other person, you get a point.

[coolsome]

[corruptbiggins]

Yay, first gold for GB!

[GaryCXJk]

Just saw women's 100m freestyle an hour ago, and I have to say, I've never been this excited about seeing a swimming competition ever. Can't even remember when I was ever excited about a swimming competition.

[DAISHI]

I'm not sure how to put it correctly, but the United States sodomized the Nigerian basketball team. They set 4 separate scoring records in one of the biggest blow outs ever in Olympic history.

[Johro]

..and last I checked, they were toe to toe with Lithuania, so take that for what it's worth.

[RetroVortex]

You know. I'm bloody suprised GB is doing so well.

I know we are the hosts, but we're normally are pretty crap at Olympics.

[Friar]

It seems the forum ate my post I made a few days ago, clarifying my stance on the apparent moaning by the americans. I can't even remember what I said, something a long the lines of how its easy to get confused when It's reported as "The Americans have..." rather than "The American media has..." or "And American Coach has..."

Also, I withdraw my statement of thinking Koreans were good sportspeople after they tried being sleazy in the tennis (I think? Or was it badminton? Football? Pfft, I dunno.)

Anyway, glad to see we're doing so well now! And my new favourite sport is the distance rowing. It's great how it can be neck and neck right until the end. I actually want to go see an event now. Unfortunately, none of my friends do, and it works out really dear (Even if we get a £10 ticket, we're looking at £40 for a train to and from london. Plus underground. Plus transport to train station/parking (7 miles away). So, yeah.

[GaryCXJk]

Aaaaaaaaand they're being trumped at hockey. By the Dutch.

[DAISHI]

HELL YES! USA Women are whooping up. Men are going to have to pick it up for 2012, if they were doing their part we'd be ahead by a mile. But soccer and water polo belong to our girls.

[puzzlebox]

I really like these alternative medal tallies (by GDP, population, or GDP per capita). It's a much more interesting look at how well different nations are doing compared to the regular boring old medal count.