2012 London Olympics

[Joe]

Jul 29, 2012 16:56:57 GMT martindn said:

Hi Joe,

I would hope that the DVD of the ceremony will be relelased in due course. Is that what you mean by a two disc set? The sound without the visual spectacle might be pretty incomprehensible!

I was riveted to the TV throughout.

Martin D

Hi Martin D,

No, I was speaking about the soundtrack being a 2 CD set.

[jameskparker]

Oops.... it looks like our men's volleyball team lost to Poland today.

[Dave]

That depends on what "our" refers to, James!

Glad to see the GB men get their first Olympic team gymnastics medal for 100 years late yesterday!

I stayed up late to watch a midnight beach volleyball match between the US and Czechs, the US girls *almost* lost their first set for three Olympics! It was a close 2nd set and enjoyable TV.

Even later was a volleyball match between GB and Algeria, and the GB girls won their first ever Olympics set, followed by their first ever match! I love giant killing, Algeria are ranked 16, GB 69th.

Finally, at nearly 1 am, I watched the US women's basketball team demolish Angola but even that was interesting, the the preliminary rounds too can be entertaining.

It is impossible to watch more than a small selection though, there are 24 live channels (and another 24 in HD) devoted exclusively to the Olympics, as everything is being broadcast live, and in full, by the BBC! As I write, I have a choice of 19 live channels of action, even more in 10 minutes time!

Cheers, Dave

[Joe]

Hi Dave,

Yeah that GB men's gymnastics final was a nail-biter!

NBC has great coverage. They have five channels of live daytime events.

I am on vacation from work this week specifically to watch the Olympics.

Many athletes maintain their own Facebook or twitter page...let them know you support them!

[Libby]

Jul 28, 2012 21:46:22 GMT martindn said:

I have to say that that opening ceremony made me feel proud. It was wonderful, a fantastic show with things following so quickly that it must have confused anyone not familiar with British history. Blink and you missed it. Riveting.

There were only 3 downsides. The rendition of Abide with Me was not great. Never heard of the girl who sang it, but I can name I'ms sure at least a dozen beter choices even if we restrict it to singers of British nationality. But if we don't have that restriction, we all know there is only once choice.

Secondly Seb Coe's speech went on for far too long. The Queens speec on the other hand was excellent.

Anf Sir Paul McCartney. It seems he can no longer sing in tune, and I was cringing through that performance.

Loved the bit where the Queen was with "James Bond". The way those corgis behaved told me a lot about the sort of person our Queen is. They were very obviously happy dogs, and used to being around her.

So over all, a wonderful show.

Martin D

I didn't think Paul sounded that bad. True, not as good as he used to be, but it didn't make me want to cringe. Maybe it was the crowd that helped.

Hey, how about the US ladies' gymnastics team? They did very well today! I believe the swimmers have been doing well, too, although I'm mostly just hearing what they report on the news.

[Joe]

Aug 1, 2012 1:32:54 GMT Libby said:

I didn't think Paul sounded that bad. True, not as good as he used to be, but it didn't make me want to cringe. Maybe it was the crowd that helped.

Hey, how about the US ladies' gymnastics team? They did very well today! I believe the swimmers have been doing well, too, although I'm mostly just hearing what they report on the news.

Hi Libby,

I think Paul McCartnry was thinking of the size of the global audience. yeah, he wasn't that bad. No TelePrompTer as in the Diamond Jubilee concert.

It was a super day for team USA! How about that gymnastics! Wow! I kept off any news sources and the Internet all day so as to watch the NBC gym coverage. It was SO worth it! The swimming is awesome too!

I think the coverage is fairly balanced. Today at 8pm they began the prime time coverage with a non-USA event. It's all about ratings really. Just wish the commercials were free of the new fall show previews!

[Bamafan]

So true, Joe! Those girls did an amazing job! As did the swimmers. And I still haven't gotten to see the opening ceremonies. Oh well. However, I did hear something about a giant baby?

-Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Richard]

Kerenza Peacock is enjoying the archery at Lord's:

Kerenza | violinist ‏@kerenzapeacock
Archery! yfrog.com/kewf2awj

Richard

[Libby]

Aug 1, 2012 4:23:39 GMT Bamafan said:

So true, Joe! Those girls did an amazing job! As did the swimmers. And I still haven't gotten to see the opening ceremonies. Oh well. However, I did hear something about a giant baby?

-Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Oh yeah, that baby was very creepy and scary!

Yeah, I think I'm enjoying the girls' gymastics this time more than I did last time! I like all of them this time. I think my favorite girl this time is Aly. I also like McKayla, the vault girl. She's great! I could watch her vault all day. LOL

McKayla's vault: www.nbcolympics.com/video/2012/top-nbc-moment-maroneys-vault.html

And how about the Russian team, huh? They all looked so miserable after the last girl's floor routine. I mean, they still got the silver medal, but the way they earned it was probably not ideal.
It was kind of funny that when the girl with the glittery hair started, the commentators said that the Russians needed a fall from the US team. But then, when the last US girl, Aly, started, they said that she could fall and they'd still win! Needless to say, the competition was not too stiff this time.

[martindn]

Two golds for Team GB today (though I still don't know why it isn't Team UK). I actually dont think there is a term that includes all of the British Isles except for the Repuplic of Ireland, which is what I think that team is supposed to represent. Great Britain is only the largest of those islands.

Bradley Wiggins, our greatest Olympian ever. Well done to him.

Martin D

[Richard]

Hello folks!

This is definitely the best Olympic performance so far:

ITN News: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hRwnXmdRCo

The Morning Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL28i-OQvGo

Richard

[Richard]

This tweet from Hayley belongs in this thread:

Hayley Westenra ‏@hayleywestenra
Marmite reward for Kiwi Olympic medallists?! Now THAT is a prize worth fighting for. Really. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19082740

Richard

[I-H-F]

Aug 1, 2012 20:18:21 GMT martindn said:

Two golds for Team GB today (though I still don't know why it isn't Team UK). I actually dont think there is a term that includes all of the British Isles except for the Repuplic of Ireland, which is what I think that team is supposed to represent. Great Britain is only the largest of those islands.

Martindn,

The Ireland Olympic team has Olympians from both the North and the South of Ireland. There are also Olympians from the North on Team GB. I'm not sure exactly how qualification for the Olympics works, but I presume athletes from the North have a choice in which team they wish to represent.

A couple of years ago, controversy arose when a player who was born in the North, opted to play international football for the Republic. The Northern Ireland FA contested it, but FIFA ruled that Northern-born players had the option of playing for both teams. Similarly, people born in the North can hold an Irish or British passport.

But, I've never understood why it's GB for some things, the UK for others. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete as separate nations in International football and the Commonwealth Games, but not the Olympics. 

[Richard]

Boris Johnson wins another gold medal for Britain in the Olympic Frank Spencer
impersonation competition!

Richard

[Martin]

You have to admire Boris. No other major public figure could make such a pratt of themselves and get away with it!

Martin