The Olympics

[S.ilvio]

Weeeerrrrlllll... I wouldn't mind being endorsed like some gold medalists in the past... but I take your overall point.

The vast majority of those who take part will never win a medal...

 

[Blackwater Babe]

The vast majority of those who take part will never win a medal...

Hence I take your overall point.

 

[MoreCoffee]

...

I like your little flapping monster in the signature

 

[Fantine]

I didn't see the entire Opening Ceremonies. but I really enjoyed what I saw (I think I'm a bit of an anglophile, too). After two weeks in Asia, I loved immersing myself in Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Chariots of Fire. I'd heard that of course England's opening ceremonies would be much more understated and dignified than China's over-the-top one four years ago--but after two weeks in the frenetic crowded overpopulated pressure cooker that is Asia I loved it.

 

[AMDG]

The vast majority of those who take part will never win a medal...

Then those people who so unfairly hog the medals should share them with others. I mean, it's only "fair".

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I enjoy watching the Olympics. I like the winter better than the summer, but still enjoy watching them both.

The opening ceremony last evening for me was a dud. Lots of TV improvisation and I would've like to see more of Paul McCartney.

I'm glad I have cable, because I like to watch the sports that don't end up on prime time tv. I like table tennis and I'd love to see archery, but that can be a boring sport to watch if your not an archer, which I am.

I like gymnastics too.

My disappointment is the sparse coverage of the mens gymnastics in the US trials.

The US Olympic committee seems to be pushing girls gymnastics over mens, for there are few schools for men,s gymnastics. In fact, my nephew just looked for one recently, and all the gyms are focused on girls gymnastics. One of the instructors in Tricking, told him that unless you start training when your five years old, you really have no chance.

Unfortunately, few public schools don't have gymnastics, in fact, I don't know any in my area.

Anyway, I still like watching the Olympics.

I'm watching women's fencing right now.

Jim

 

[Davidnic]

I liked the opening ceremonies. Some TARDIS sounds....I like British history so it was enjoyable. I did not like NBC airing it tape delay. By the time it aired I knew what was going to happen because I don't avoid spoilers.

 

[MikeK]

Any Olympic opening that includes the Sex Pistols is okay by me. I was expecting the Clash, but not the Pistols.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I was noticing how muscular the arms and shoulders of the gymnasts are.

The opening ceremony was mostly boring, but after the teams came in it improved.

 

[vortext]

I loved the Opening Ceremony and the Olympics, in general. What a wonderful time to love sports.

 

[Antigone]

Any Olympic opening that includes the Sex Pistols is okay by me. I was expecting the Clash, but not the Pistols.

I wonder how Sid Vicious would have felt about that.

McCartney was kind of a dud. I know he's a Beatle and all that but when the Arctic Monkeys do a betternjob with your songs than you do it might be time to throw in the towel.

Otherwise the opening ceremony was brilliant, though I gather it only works if you know a thing or two about British history and culture...

 

[S.ilvio]

McCartney looks more and more like Ken Dodd. If you don't know alot about Brit Culture you won't know Ken...

 

[MoreCoffee]

... the opening ceremony was brilliant, though I gather it only works if you know a thing or two about British history and culture...

No. It doesn't work even if you are expert on UK history and culture. I speak from experience! My ancestry is British and my formal education is replete with UK history and culture, and I can tell you that the opening sequences - those chimney things, the guys in top hats, the interminable foot hopping drummers, the cheesy 1960s and 1970s pop songs were horribly boring.

 

[S.ilvio]

No. It doesn't work even if you are expert on UK history and culture. I speak from experience! My ancestry if British and my formal education is replete with UK history and culture, and I can tell you that the opening sequences - those chimney things, the guys in top hats, the interminable foot hopping drummers, the cheese 1960s and 1970s pop songs were horribly boring.

You can't please all the people all the time...

 

[Anhelyna]

MoreCoffee - sorry you didn't enjoy it - but I echo what S.ilvio said.

On the whole I enjoyed it .

 

[MoreCoffee]

I went back and watched the Beiging opening ceremony and the Sydney ceremony and both were immeasurably better than the London ceremony.

 

[MikeK]

I wonder how Sid Vicious would have felt about that.

Either indifferent or stabby, I'd guess.

McCartney was kind of a dud. I know he's a Beatle and all that but when the Arctic Monkeys do a betternjob with your songs than you do it might be time to throw in the towel.

Agree completely, McCartney was awful, AM were good. I did appreciate that neither were playing over backing tracks though. Gotta keep it real. I was hoping McCartney would do a medly, not just boring old Hey Jude. Better still, he should have told the committee he was going to do Hey Jude but played Lie and let Die instead.

 

[Antigone]

No. It doesn't work even if you are expert on UK history and culture. I speak from experience! My ancestry is British and my formal education is replete with UK history and culture, and I can tell you that the opening sequences - those chimney things, the guys in top hats, the interminable foot hopping drummers, the cheesy 1960s and 1970s pop songs were horribly boring.

That's still your minority opinion. This English major didn't think it was boring at all. It was different from the Beijing Olympics, sure; Beijing was more impressive if you like Grandeur; this was heartfelt and appropriate. It fit England. Boyle did a great job.

 

[Antigone]

Agree completely, McCartney was awful, AM were good. I did appreciate that neither were playing over backing tracks though. Gotta keep it real. I was hoping McCartney would do a medly, not just boring old Hey Jude. Better still, he should have told the committee he was going to do Hey Jude but played Lie and let Die instead.

Hey Jude has the intercultural advantage. Even that runner who lives in a hut in the Ethiopian desert can blare along with NA NANA NANANANA. Happiness is a Warm Gun would have been more fun but I doubt they have that many Beatlemaniacs in Ethiopia.

 

[HereIStand]

I enjoyed parts of it, especially the forging of the Olympic rings. There was too much going on though in parts of the ceremonies. Early on, the camera flashed to Kate Middleton and her eyes were going back and forth looking a little lost like everyone else.

The NHS segment produced some cringe-worth commentary from Matt Lauer. He noted that the British are celebrating their healthcare system while the U.S. is in a partisan debate about healthcare. Lauer perhaps did not realize the partisan nature of his remark.