Olympics

[Cali]

I've been watching the Opening Ceremonies all evening and I remembered that we've got people scattered all over the world here at Triad.  Are the Olympics a pretty big thing in your country?  They are here in the USA.  Are you going to be watching any events?  Got any favorites?

[Amanda N]

Alas, we really don't get any stations.  I wish I could buy opening and closing ceremonies on DVD.  I know this years wouldn't be on one yet, but previous years could be.  Alas, I've only been able to find 2004, and it's got more than just the ceremonies, which are the only things I really want. :(

[emma]

The opening ceremony was mid afternoon here.   Saw bits of it, and most of the events will be very early morning or while I'm at work because of the time difference.

Although the really amusing thing?  The ministers for sport in the UK and Australia have had a bet over who will finish higher in the medals table.  The loser has to go to a sporting event in their own country wearing the shirt of the other... So if you see an Aussie wandering around in Red, White and Blue rather than Green and Gold...

[Jane]

I watched the highlights of the opening.  I'll watch anything, that's the result of being retired.

I guess my favourite thing is the guys on the rings.  Though having had shoulder surgery for a dislocating shoulder I do cringe a lot during the performance.

[Cali]

The Olympics are on 3 different cable channels plus the regular NBC network channel here.  That way you can pick the events you want to watch.  NBC shows the most popular events in the evenings for those that can't watch during the day when it's on so that's what I usually watch, although right now I've got a soccer game on right now.  

I really like the swimming and the mens gymnastics the most I think.  I'm not really a track and field person, but I do like to watch the basketball and soccer medal games, especially if the USA is in them.  

Amanda, do you have high speed internet?  http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share. ... c_rc_ce005 is the opening ceremonies recap.  nbcolympics.com will also have alot of streaming of events if you can't get it on TV.

[emma]

I forgot to mention - at least the next olympics (2012) will be in the right timezone for me ;)

[Vix]

Amanda, do you have high speed internet?  http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share. ... c_rc_ce005 is the opening ceremonies recap.  nbcolympics.com will also have alot of streaming of events if you can't get it on TV.

Actually, you need to enter your zipcode and your cable/internet company to view. If your company is not in partnership with NBC, no viewing allowed.

[Eimi]

The Olympics are pretty big here.  They're pretty proud of their teams.  Unfortunately one of the Japanese favorites already lost - Ryoko Tani- two time gold medalist in Judo.  That was sad.  And last night my Japanese friends and I watched as the US team beat Japan in both women's volleyball and soccer.  It was rather hard to know who to root for.  Yeah, I'm American and I want my team to win, but a medal is a big source of pride and excitement here, and is kind of just another tick in the medal column back home.

[Amanda N]

GAH!  Yeah, I know.  Disappointing.  I'm glad she got at least a bronze.

I watched a recording of the fight with Dumitru.  I remember getting smacked in the ankle on more than one occasion by failed foot sweeps when I did judo.  Also surprised that Dumitru tried to do what looked an ogoshi on Tani.

Anyway, it really stinks that she lost that fight by Shido. :-/

[Eimi]

Yeah, I think the passivity was equally shared in that match.  I don't know why she wasn't more aggressive, but I think they should have made them go another round rather than have an Olympic match decided on a judge's opinion of who was more passive.

[Paula]

I'm watching it some, I don't have much time to sit in front of tv. Hubby is watching more: he's not the one supervising kids when they are playing outdoors.
I'm rooting for Finns, of course. Not many hopes for medals thought :(

[Eimi]

I have a question for you Europeans...  There seems to be a lot of black people from the Netherlands in many of the events (and by many events I mean judo).  Out of curiosity, is there a high proportion of black people in the Netherlands?  I'm just curious.  Is it from immigration?  Or was there a big slave trade to that region?

(Yeah, I'm ignornat of a lot of Eurpopean history, especially modern history... I freely admit that)

[emma]

I have to admit I don't know a lot of Dutch history, but I do know that they did have a lot of territories in the Caribbean and out towards Java and interests in South Africa. Maybe this will help?

[Eimi]

Ah, this is true!  I hadn't even thought about that!  Now that you meantion it, I have studied their territories a bit more than the Netherlands itself.

Duh to Eimi.

[Jane]

Dutch East Indies is now Indonesia.  Not certain that that relates, but it's the extent of my knowledge.