The Olympics

[Tyler]

It was absolutely amazing!

[slyinglide]

I realize that the Olympics is about individual athletes from different countries competing against each other and not country against country. I have been a huge fan of the olympics in years past, but this year with it being held in China I feel that this Olympics has been turned into one big commercial for China to try to improve the way the world sees them.....I will watch the events, and I hope that my perspective changes as the athletes start to compete.

[skinhead002]

Viewership for the Olympics has been declining for years. For me, it is the political correctness and America bashing by the major networks. Some of the "events" they allow in Olympic competiton I dont understand "why"(like pushing weights on ice and sweeping the ice in froront of the weight with a broom'...).  To me, Olympic competiton should have some level of physical achievement and skill. 

My favorite Olympic moments are Franz Klammers downhill run in 1976 and the US hocky win in 1980.

[StumpyDave]

There's been complaints about the political overtones of the Olympics for many years:
1972 in Munich with the murdered Israeli team members
1976 boycott by 28 African nations over a New Zealand rugby tour of South Africa - Princess Ann was the only female competitor not sex tested
1980 in Moscow when the USA and 61 other nations refused to field a team
1984 in LA when the USSR and 13 other nations refused to field a team (GB 3rd in field hockey)
1988 in Seuol (North Korea and a few others Boycotted) (GB 1st in Hockey - captained by Rick Dodds who went to the same school as me)

There's also been a major outcry about the commercialisation of the games.  Now as professional athletes are allowed to compete this is inevtiable.
There will also be complaints about drug taking and I'm sure a few medal winners "shamed".  Although in a professional sport it is hard to resist doing everything to be the best and the highest paid.
I thought the opening ceremony in China was amazing (those firework footprints!).

2000 stands out as a highlight for me.  My younger son had just been born and appeared to be nocturnal.  I watched a lot of the Sydney coverage live in the middle of the night.

[FR8TRAIN]

I did stay up to watch the opening ceremony. And I have to say it was the best I've seen. I will watch several of the events, though not as many as I have it the past.

Dave, great pic in your Avvy.

Really? Pricess Ann? Huh?

[iPelon]

I wasn't in it until this week.  Now I'm jazzed for it!  I just cleared out my TiVo so that it can record all of the Olympic programming. 

I have a feeling there is going to be something crazy that happens this year and I don't want to miss it.

I'm with Tyler... I have TiVo'd everything from the beginning.  Yeah, all the political diatribe sucks, but I will not let it spoil MY Olympics!!  I think some amazing records will be broken and set.

I'm also excited becuase a good friends G/F is swimming for the womens waterpolo team.  They beat China yesterday, but barely.  Not good when you only win by one point and it is China's debut with waterpolo.  They gave the USA a run for their money.  I'm still rooting for her and the team.  Go Moriah!!!!

[GASlick]

How about that Michael Phelps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the US women's gymnastics team..............GOLD and Silver for All Around.

[Tyler]

How about that Michael Phelps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the US women's gymnastics team..............GOLD and Silver for All Around.

Thanks dude, I hadn't watched it on my TiVo yet...

[GASlick]

ooops.....my bad.

SORRY!  Maybe I need to put a spoiler alert up. 

FYI - That's the only report I put up.  Please don't ban me.