Olympic Games

[devilsadvocate]

The Games are getting closer, but so is Christmas!!!

What does everyone think about the Olympics? Personally I think it's one of the most boring, over-hyped sporting events in the world, and I for one will be glued to the AFL and Afghani Donkey Hurling.

[MightyEagles]

By the end of each event everyone's an expert of the sport.

[Dirko]

I try not to get to worked up re the Olympics, but national fervour usually takes hold and I have been known to yell blue at the TV willing home the Aussies (obviously Sally Robbins didn't hear me )....

But it's probably my "addiction" to sport more than anything....

[Pup]

I am quite similar to SJABC. I dont get into the build up that much but by the time it is on, i tend to watch every moment that i can and this year it will be no different as long as the footy is not on.

I am pretty sports obsessed though so i could be alone on this on.

[Wedgie]

I love the Olympics, Sydney 2000 will go down as one of the most memorable moments of my life even though I wasn't in Sydney. I hope there's another in my lifetime here but I can't see it happening.

[smac]

Perhaps you could arrange for Happy Valley to put a bid in for the 2020 Olympics Wedgie? You could light the torch with a backfire from an old falcon ute, followed by burnouts in the shot-put circle.

I watch them, enjoy them while they are on and forget about them pretty quickly afterwards.

Hopefully Peter Landy, Sandy Roberts and their ilk get to make a comeback to our screens.

[JAS]

I quite enjoy the Olympics...treat it like a pick 'n' mix of sport. Get the chance to see some sports that don't otherwise get much or any coverage on our terrestrial tv and also a chance to learn a bit more about sports that I've never really taken much notice of before. Mind you I would happily cull anyone that does the sync swimming or that arty farty gymnastic dancing carp and watching people running round in circles/ovals for hours on end is pretty mind-numbing too.

For some unknown reason I actually prefer the Winter Olympics even though I've never had any desire to try any of the sports featured but I do love watching the skiing and during the last one I got completely hooked on watching the snowboarding. Same culling process applies to ice dancing stuff though.

Regards
JAS

[magpie in the 80's]

i feel a quiz coming on

[Mr66]

I for one will be glued to the Afghani Donkey Hurling.

So who's your pick?

[am Bays]

I love the Olympics

It is amazing to watch indviduals with seemingly the same 23 chromosomes as I have perform amazing physical feats (yes I'm not that niave that some of them are benefitting from some pharmacological help)

But try swimming 200 m (4 laps of a pool) in 1:46? try trapping a hockey ball smashed at 80 km an hour and then drag flicking it at over 100 km/h into the back of a net, try holding a cadence of 140 for 4 mins in the individual pursuit??? Try running 1500 km in under 3:30? try holding 3 min k pace for over 2 hours as an elite marathoner.....I wouldn't mind betting that there is noone on this site who can run 1 km in 3 mins let alone hold that pace for just a tick over 2 hours...

They are different species elite athletes and for that alone the Olympics are compulsory viewing IMHO

[devilsadvocate]

I for one will be glued to the Afghani Donkey Hurling.

So who's your pick?

I think given Vinokurov is now banned from cycling, he'll come to prominence in ADH and just pip Osama in the upcoming season.

[devilsadvocate]

I love the Olympics

It is amazing to watch indviduals with seemingly the same 23 chromosomes as I have perform amazing physical feats (yes I'm not that niave that some of them are benefitting from some pharmacological help)

But try swimming 200 m (4 laps of a pool) in 1:46? try trapping a hockey ball smashed at 80 km an hour and then drag flicking it at over 100 km/h into the back of a net, try holding a cadence of 140 for 4 mins in the individual pursuit??? Try running 1500 km in under 3:30? try holding 3 min k pace for over 2 hours as an elite marathoner.....I wouldn't mind betting that there is noone on this site who can run 1 km in 3 mins let alone hold that pace for just a tick over 2 hours...

They are different species elite athletes and for that alone the Olympics are compulsory viewing IMHO

Good points, but the bold bit is what cooks it for me. You just don't know who is/isn't/has/hasn't etc.

Having said that, I'm a massive fan of the Tour de France, so how hypocritical is that!

The team sports are OK, but I don't care much for watching a fat Estonian gender change patient spin it's barge ass about a few times then chuck out a ball and chain. I could drive to Salisbury to see that

[JAS]

Hope this years will be as exciting as the 1904 one was...obviously without the 'Anthropology Days' of course...the marathon is unbelivable

http://www.einsteinsrefrigerator.com/st ... index.html

Regards
JAS

[Tassie Blues]

They are the greates show on earth! Sydney was amazing was lucky enough to work there and also see some great events. Eric the Eel from Equatorial Gunnie swimming in a 50m pool for the 1st time and 17000 people cheering him on. Also see the best in the world in sports we just never see here like Handball, Fencing and Volleyball. I am lucky enough and will be in Beijing for 10 days and although getting tickets has been a pain it’s just a buzz to be in an Olympic city something you cant quite put into words. Maybe I will try with a few updates on here when I get on to check to footy results.

[JAS]

They are the greates show on earth! Sydney was amazing was lucky enough to work there and also see some great events. Eric the Eel from Equatorial Gunnie swimming in a 50m pool for the 1st time and 17000 people cheering him on. Also see the best in the world in sports we just never see here like Handball, Fencing and Volleyball. I am lucky enough and will be in Beijing for 10 days and although getting tickets has been a pain it’s just a buzz to be in an Olympic city something you cant quite put into words. Maybe I will try with a few updates on here when I get on to check to footy results.

Must agree...Sydney is probably the best I've ever watched...sadly only on the telly but was still amazing. God I hope Beijing has it's equivilent of Eric the Eel...watching him and the crowds reactions was fantastic. Maybe it'll be the young British kid in the diving...IIRC he's only 13 yo

Hoping that with more tv stations branching out into internet etc there will be a lot more coverage of those less high profile sports. Really envy you being able to get out there to watch

Regards
Jackie

[stan]

Someone tried to put the flame out with an extingusiher today. I must admit thats thinking outside the box.

[brod]

The most amazing thing that I have ever experienced. I worked in Sydney as a volunteer at the International Broadcast Centre, and during the two weeks was able to spend a great amount of time around the city and the Homebush in particular. The atmosphere that engulfed the whole city could not be replicated again, the most amazing thing to be a part of..it makes you feel lucky!!!

[brod]

The whole Olympic Games is becoming more and more of a dissapointment as the the torch relay become nothing short of a farce. The gammet of senarios that are happening now with the moving of routes ect is defaeting the whole purpose of the event. I still remember the chance that I had to hold an Olympic torch baton along the route through Elizabeth in 2000 and for me that is what this whole event is about. At the moment it is just doing it for the sake if it, noone is getting ANYTHING out of it (excapt a protest if they can find it)

[MightyEagles]

It's all about the rights of Tibet (who should be let free).

[magpie in the 80's]

this is way off the mark but was watching an old simpsons rerun last night.
it's the 1st day back at school and they have a spelling bee
naturally lisa simpson wins and principal skinner asks her what does she want
she replies "FREE TIBET" go figure