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The Olympics are here, who's going to be watching?

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:25 am
by KristenS
The summer Olympics are upon us again. Who's going to be watching and what events? For me, it will be equestrian, cycling, marathon and women's shotput (I met one of the competitors eight years ago in Atlanta and she is compeing again this time). Sailing should be good, especially givn the location. I'll be watching opening and closing ceremonies with a critical eye, as I was one of the performers eight years ago in Atlanta. Ours were not the best, especially with the all chrome pickups

*Passing The Bottle*

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:31 am
by Marda
Ole Olympics =D>
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I'm hooked on the "Blues & Reds Mixed" *Urinethon* #-o
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[-o<
Love / Marda
[-o<

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:09 pm
by Virginia
Well being a powerlifter and having met a couple of our weightlifters I will hope they will show some of the weight lifting. I also am an old pole valuter (how old) well I will give you a hint! I cleared 12' with an aluminum pole! The pit we landed in was mostly rocks and since I had a tendency to land on my head - perhaps that is what is wrong with me? Just kidding - we actually used an old matress - naw! really - it was saw dust- true!
I also like the high jump and see how many use the Fosberry Flop!
Deborah

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:52 pm
by CJ
Hi all,

I shook hands with Nadia Comaneci, here, in 1976. I was all of 15 years old and madly in love with this strange-talking girl. Urm, I guess that's about the extent of my involvement with the Olympics. I do wish all the athletes the best of luck... in staying away from the drugs and the politics, that is. :P

Love,
CJ

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:01 pm
by Carolynn
Hi Kristens and all!!! :)
I wish you all a pleasant Olympic experience. I'm glad you have favorite sports or events to look forward to.

I used to watch, but I suppose I will be in the minority, again, avoiding the Olympics like the plague. The general idea, of individuals or individual teams doing their best for fame and fortune has been well hijacked by the journalist and sportscasters stealing reflected glory from the athletes, trying to bleed drama from disappointment and encourage poor sportsmanship attitudes (ala Howard Cosell), for the sake of viewership, corporate support, and in the end advertising dollars. The whole process has been so politicized by nations who are eager to take the credit for the efforts of the athletes, and justify their proprietory attitude with state sponsorship, and corporations use it as a mega advertising event in pursuit of the holy dollar. (Yes, yesss, buy our shoes and you too can feel like an Olympian.) It somehow feels as though it cheapens the efforts of the athletes, as they pay for the corporate sponsorship by wearing the logo, and smiling and warbling their script for ads. Then the sleazy wrangling, the bribery, and politics as cities "compete" before and "entertain" (Would you like to date a really hot chick--just vote for our city--wasn't that how one of them tried it?) the "committee" to land an Olympics, certain their city's future will be rosy and bright, economically speaking if they get it. (how many people did Salt Lake City have to remove from their committee again?; What was their debt, and how disappointed did they say they were about the lack of effects on their economy?); how about the recent firing and banning of the officials from the Olympic Committee for bribery, lets see, one was Bulgarian as I recall, another Japanese going for the Winter Olympics; coaches urging their charges to bulk up with steroids, knowing they may get caught and their dreams and reps., and health go down, --- paugh) Then the cities wind up virtually selling their souls, go into hock to build the facitlity, borrow from the national gov., and lots of money changes hands, much not used for the purpose most appropriate. Sorry, I guess I'm just a cynical old curmudgeon, but I do think the spirit of the Olympics has been ripped away, and the basic glory of the individual athlete competitor, or even team, has been largely usurped.

bla*bla*bla

At least I am pleased the thrill is not gone for everyone else! Enjoy!!!! :)

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:10 pm
by Virginia
Carolynn:


Holy sh,,!!!!! Calm down girl!!! have a glass of 'vino, put your feet up, close your eyes - relax! Gheesh! how about a nice warm bubble bath then crawl between some nice satin sheets and sleep late!
Deborah
PS: Don't turn on the TV for about a week

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:40 pm
by Carolynn
Yeah, I know. Just a knee jerk reaction to a pet peeve. :lol:
Do like the idea of the vino and the hot bath though!!! That good anytime.

Enjoy the Olympics.

Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 11:21 pm
by Elizabeth
Hi Girls,

With all the scandals, the Salt Lake officials being bought off, the Candians getting cheated out of the Gold, then giving it to them as co winners, when clearly they were the sole winners, the American Boxers getting cheated in Soule, Lepenski winning when she clearly stumbled? The Americans boycotting the Moscow games, and Russians boycotting the Los Angeles games. The bombing of the Atlanta games, the killing of the Israelis at the Munich Games? Ben Johnson getting strippped for using steroids. All the other doping and performance enhancing drug scandals?

I am just having trouble being at all interested this year. Perhaps something will happen to change that, but I don't see it yet. It is not that I am against it, I am just not interested like I used to be. Perhaps a Mark Spitz will spring forward and get me interested.

Love always,
Elizabeth

Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 12:34 am
by Kristen
hi girls , I have not been intrested in the games since Jenner, Spitz, Flemming, Maybe a little with the opening and closing ceremonies, But you girls have fun watching, I haven't watched any tv since early spring, too many other things to do in the summer. have fun. ........Kristen

Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:50 am
by Gaven McLaren
I intend on watching. I am looking forward to the gymnastics and archery and a few other sports. I am how ever going to be somewhat following soccer even though I do not like the sport. In soccer I am going to be hopping that the Iraq team does well as they could use some national pride. I am going to be taping the opening ceromony as I will not be near a TV this weekend.

EDIT: My plans have changed so I will be able to watch the opening ceremony and the first night of gymnastics. I am not the typical Olympics watcher as I do follow the "glamor" sports (gymnastics, swimming, Ice skating) during the years between the games.

Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:54 am
by CJ
Hi all,

Although I do enjoy "spectating" some disciplines and sports more than others (such as diving, pole-vaulting, and the javelin throw), I'm not sure I can muster up enough interest to actually schedule TV time. As a rule, I don't watch much television. On the other hand, I might be keeping track of the games in the written press.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. --Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Olympic Movement

I'll fess up, here, and admit that the extremely competitive nature of the games is a bit of a turn-off for me. I saw the movie Troy recently, and I can understand that such competitiveness was of value in a culture that was almost Klingon-like in its focus on valour, honour, strength, and prowess. This testosterone-fueled series of contests (no offense intended to all the female athletes out there) is, to me, representative of the excess of yang we've been labouring under for the last couple millenia. In a sense, I don't really care who wins the gold (especially if, and when, those wins are co-opted by national governments for political reasons); no, I think all athletes deserve our kudos for devoting much of their lives to the task of surpassing themselves in this quest to cultivate the beauty and endurance of the human body. Focusing on this quest, rather than on who will take a medal home, would serve to lessen the impact of defeat. In other words, I find that, for me, there's just as much of a thrill in watching an athlete take his run, javelin raised high--the beauty and the power of it is amazing--as there is in seeing whether or not he's managed to gain an inch on his adversary. Anyway, this is turning into a rant. Sorry.

Although I joked, in my previous post, about wishing athletes luck in staying away from the drugs and the politics, I do have a real concern: I just hope their health isn't adversely affected by having to gulp in the air of Western Europe's most polluted city.

Having said this, I still wish you all a good week in Greece, virtually or otherwise. 8)

Love,
CJ