The big O

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NoH8
NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Not that big O, the Olympics...

Although I'm not happy that China is hosting the event because of their lousy human rights record, I am excited for the games. I'm disappointed that Bush is going to the games and the opening ceremonies, although I am glad that he spoke out about human rights. I'm not surprised china basically told Bush to go f himself, considering under his leadership the US hasn't been a shining example of that under Bush's leadership.

I love gymnastics, and also swimming, diving, track and field and most of the individual events. I am not as much of a fan of the newer sports.

I love the stories about the underdogs, particularly those from third world countries who have had to work so hard to get to the games and are the pride of their countries. It reminds me of how much we take for granted.

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  • BethNY
    BethNY Member Posts: 2,710
    edited August 2008

    Did you hear about the atheletes that apologized for wearing masks in upon arrival due to the disgrace of air quality?

    I don't think they should've apologized.  I can't get into the games as much as I would like to b/c the fact that they are being held in China really bothers me.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    I don't think they should have apologized either. From my understanding the athletes who wore the masks were bikers and other athletes who needed to protect their lungs for their outdoor endurance sports.

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  • iodine
    iodine Member Posts: 4,289
    edited August 2008

    I'm excited about the GAMES, but not where they are.  I do hope the conflict will be kept at a minimum and after they are over --- free  to attack for all the reasons we all know.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    I hate the see the athletes caught up in controversy, but I think with billions of people watching the games, social protest is a great way to make issues public.

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  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited August 2008

    I like the swimming and track and field events best.  Michael Phelps is like, totally amazing!  I love his relationship with his mom and how unabashed he is in praising her.  It's wonderful to see a single parent honored so.  And wow, Dara Torres!  What an inspiration to all us middle-aged types.  I worked out extra hard this morning after seeing her body!  Looking forward to seeing the U.S. basketball teams, too.  

        

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  • BMac
    BMac Member Posts: 650
    edited August 2008

    What bothers me about the controversy regarding China's human rights and air pollution is that the IOC knew all this at the time they awarded them the games.  Toronto bid these games but, as usual, was passed over.  BUT if they had been here everything would have been rained out!

    Michael Phelps is truly amazing and I hope he wins all eight medals.  What a great story that would be.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    bmac... hmmm, rained out or smogged out.... I choose rain.

    I hope Michael wins all 8 golds too. I remember when Mark Spitz won his 7, I was young at the time and couldn't believe he had the last name spitz.

    Dara Torres is amazing.

    Does anyone think that there are way too many commerial breaks? I understand they have to pay for the games, but I'd rather see less frequent and longer breaks rather than every 5=-7 minutes.

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  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited August 2008

    I read that the Beijing architects actually design their skyscrapers with the smog in mind.  They pick colors and designs that keep the building from getting get lost in the haze.  You think maybe they could try to get rid of the smog instead?   

    Yeah, too many commercials, and too many of the same commercials!  But I did enjoy seeing all the outfits in the opening ceremony.  Who knew there were so many tiny, tiny countries?  Those poor "cheerleaders" who had to keep bouncing during the whole thing--I'm surprised they didn't keel over.  No doubt they would have preferred some rain . . .   

      

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    OMG, who saw the men's relay with the photo finish! That was so exciting and the look on Michael Phelps face was contageous.

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  • BMac
    BMac Member Posts: 650
    edited August 2008

    Yeah Amy, I'm not American, but that race was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen.  It looked like there was no way for the Americans to win and then their swimmer went into warp speed.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    I didn't think the americans could win either, the guy who swam the anchor is the oldest male swimmer on our team. I really like Stephanie Rice, the australian swimmer.  I'm excited for the women's gymnastics tonight.

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  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited August 2008

    All the swimmers have been so fast, it's amazing.  Even the 5th place relay team ended up breaking the world record.  I guess the fastest swimmers really do set the pace and inspire the rest.  Either that or there's something in that Cube water!

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited August 2008

    My own little protest. I am not watching, b/c of where it's held, but have kept abreast from reading about it. :(  Too bad it had to be there of all places!

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  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited August 2008

    My son is 24, but I'm still reporting the cute things he says!  We were watching swim events last night, and he said, "So at the next winter olympics, will they have an Ice Cube?"

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    Ann, your son is funny.

    wishiwere, I wish I was protesting and not watching, but I';m compromising my ideals and watching. I figure NBC and comcast and benefitting, not the country of china and more specifically not the government of china.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    What about the story of the girl from the opening ceremony who had to lip sync because the chinese olympic federation took out the other 7 year old saying she wasn't attractive enough, That just makes me sick. Even if this was the case, to have the gall to admit it publically with no regard to the feelings of either girl.is disturbing about the culture of how things look on the outside. The same with the fireworks that were digitally placed into the broadcast of the opening ceremonies. At least no feelings got hurt with that one. When I heard that the 7 year old said she didn't care about not being on stage, that singing was an honor I felt bad for her, as if she was saying, "it's ok I'm too ugly to be on stage, I'm still honored my voice was good enough..." Maybe because I'm not from that culture i don't understand the whole honor to country thing-- I don't think I'd do well if I was there, lol.

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  • BMac
    BMac Member Posts: 650
    edited August 2008

    Yeah Amy that was absolutely disgusting.  The original girl wasn't pretty enough!!!  Way to crush her self esteem.  Actually, she was a cute little thing.  It makes my skin crawl.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    Yesterday seemed so strange at the olympics w/o Michael Phelps winning another gold medal.

    I'm so excited for the all around finals for women's gymnastics. I hope I can stay up late enough for it.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    Did anyone see the horrid picture of the spanish basketball team pulling at their eyes to make them look asian? I was appalled at the grade school racial insensitivity. then one of the idiots had the nerve to say it was done in affection and endearment for the chinese people???? WTF????

    I'm soo mad, last night I fell alseep before the last of the athletes performed on the floor and natsia won the gold, shawn the silver. I waited for damn years for this and missed the best part.

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  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited August 2008

    Maybe the Spainards just watched too many Jerry Lewis movies.     

    Yeah, there are probably a lot of very tired people dragging into work today.  I was very happy for the U.S. gymnasts, especially in light of the fact that some of those very young looking Chinese gymnasts were, in fact, not 16!  (Did they really think people wouldn't notice?)   I liked the announcer's comment about how the American team had a Russian-born Texan and a girl from Iowa coached by a guy from China.  

    I was also touched by the story about Kirsty Coventry and the impact she's had on Zimbabwe.

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  • NoH8
    NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
    edited August 2008

    I know they can do some kind of bone tests to tell the real age of athletes. There was a documentary about when Berlin hosted the Olympics during Hitler's regime that a saw a few years ago. They had a token jewish jumper team to prove to the world that they weren't being unfair (barbaric) to the jews and the international community allowed the Olympics to stay in Germany. During practices she wasn't allowed to bathe with the others and was treated poorly and they pulled her from the games. There was one other athlete who wasn't allowed to bathe with the team and she was kept in., Afterwards it was revealed that this other girl was actually a man.

    Remember all the steroids to the women swimmers from the communist countries?

    It's sad when an athlete like Marion Jones cheats to get ahead, but when a country, particularly the one hosting the olympics does, that's crazy.

    The Americans seems to get deductions the chinese and others did not, but not quite as many as Bela Karoli was complaining about.

    I missed the Kristy Coventry story, I was switching back and forth from Keith and Dan to the games.

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