Pro Olympics/Paralympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

As the games are less than 3 hours away from the official start (yes I know that the football tournament has already started) I thought I'd open up a thread where everything related to the sports and competitors (Nothing political please)

I know a few of you don't want anything to do with the games so I'm sure that someone will open up a WE HATE THE OLYMPICS THREAD soon ;) but please in the mean time keep this one Pro-Olympics.

ThanX Kymmy

Re: Olympics 2008 thread
 

Tskk. The mods aren't what they used to be ... :no:

You do know we have a search facility don't you? ;)

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/88...-olympics.html

Re: Olympics 2008 thread
 

I saw it, but as that one had started going down the POLITICAL I won't be watching route I thought I'd open one purely about the sport and competitors.
Have changed the title to be more specific.

:) Kymmy

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

After seeing the news yesterday and the smog that hangs over beijing i just hope the athletes wont be too affected by it. Good luck to them all.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Apparantly they're closing all the factories and any building that produces the smog during the olympics. Should help them a lot.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Thanks whoever moved it, I didn't even know we had a sports section ;)

Now getting back on topic...

I wonder if they'll do some crazy lighting of the flame (like the flaming arrow at I think the LA olympics)??

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

That was Barcelona if memory serves...

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Just watching the opening ceremony and as expected it's hugely impressive, imaginative and moving!! At times it almost resembles the sort of magical special effects in a Kubrick or Speilberg sci-fi epic - not surprising since Speilberg was heavily involved as Artistic Advisor.

This scale of event is just the sort of thing the Chinese are great at and there probably aren't many Health & Safety people around to spoil all the fun either. Their very own version of Liberace's the best too :) I reckon there must be more people involved in this opening ceremony than the gathered media's entire BBC contingent :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Correct you are..ThanX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vyLmkOesOE

Kymmy

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Opening ceremony is absolutely amazing (in HD)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I loved the lit drum countdown!!!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

LA had George Jetson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5qBLoegGz4

:)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

But he didn't actually light the torch???

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Oh no - he didn't do that

That was the least of his concerns... :)

Previous flame lighters listed here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Flame

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

What about the poor doves in Seoul 1988. Since then the releasing of Doves have been banned at the opening ceremony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg_weauz1eI

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7548855.stm

I think Gerry's going to lose his shirt... Mind you David Campese got it badly wrong too once when England won the Rugby World Cup and he nearly lost all his clothes but decorum prevailed thankfully ..... :D


Hope this doesn't breach the 'no politics' rule ;)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Now I am I'm looking forward to the highlights of the opening ceremony tonight. Didn't Speilberg pull of out of the roll earlier on?

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

OH WOW!!!!

What a fantastic torch ceremony :)

Kymmy

---------- Post added at 17:51 ---------- Previous post was at 17:07 ----------


Yes Speilberg pulled out due to human rights issues so none of the artistic design is his.

Kymmy

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

i did start a Olympics 2008 thread a few weeks back you know.don't see what's wong with just haveing the one

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I do prefer the winter olypmics by far.

Do anyone know the the timings for the daily tv showings because of the time difference. (on avg)?

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

The time difference is 7 hours at the moment.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

He only pulled out in February this year and I'd be surprised if he had no artistic involvement prior to that given that he was appointed in Apr. 2006 and only started raising concerns about Darfur in May 2007. Anyway if he didn't have much direct involvement in today's proceedings the Chinese did a very good imitation of his work in places, mind you they're good at that sort if thing too aren't they.. ;)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Question - How are we, in 2012 even going to try and come close to todays show?

Good luck Team GB:)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Good question but we won't do it competing with sheer numbers and scale.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Because were British and we will show the world how to do an opening cermony.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

This is my favorite moment from any opening ceremony (LA 84)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6vg9Lh...eature=related

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

But will the PC brigade and H&S mob let us do anything? Unless of course everyone is wearing Hi-Vis jackets!:)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

The bigger worry is will the press react at the cost of staging such a grand opening?

I imagine the following will happen:

Press complains about cost
The 'public' complain about cost like the lemmings they are
Spineless Government U-Turns and dramatically reduces cost.
Press complains after lacklustre opening ceremony
The 'public' complain about ceremony like the lemmings they are

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

TEAM GB are very lackluster for a team who where going to bring home lots of medals thay have not even one a thig yet.hell even Chinese Taipei have one something and the old "but it's only the second day" excuse should not be used.we've had some people out there who should and could have won ! come on team GB pull your socks up !

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Our first medal, and it's a GOLD!! Well done to nichole Cooke in the Womens Road race:)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

We've just won a gold in the Women's Road Race!

Will done to Nicole Cooke!


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7552294.stm

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Yes, well done Nichole...Impressive that anyone managed to keep thier bikes upright with that downpour!!!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

And to cycle 75 miles in it!!!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I thought she was only going to get silver or bronze when she sort of slipped back right near the end, but great finish by her. Exciting end to a really gruelling race.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Out first of the games and our 200th olympic medal

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Yeah - looked a bit iffy but a great recovery! Wonder what happened? BBC said a replay was coming up but they never did show it...

We've also qualified for the final of the 4x100m Mens Freestyle - only just though...

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Another two medals in the 400M womens freestyle, fantastic comback as I thought surely the american, Katie Hoff (Silver) had the race in the bag. Well done Rebecca Adlington (GOLD) and Jo Jackson (Bronze)

---------- Post added at 11:18 ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 ----------

I'm not a big tennis fan but the end of the first set between Murray and Lu (Tapei) was amazing with Lu coming back from 3 set points to set up and win the tiebreak

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I have to say I reckon the British athletes have renewed faith and vigour this time..I wonder how much London winning the 2012 chance to host the Olympics has played a part...

Well done to them...

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I know it's a case of 'never hurry a Murray' but from what I saw of the first set, he didn't look comfortable. Oh well - maybe next time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...is/7553989.stm

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

we have lots of time to get ready for the 2212 games ;)

i feel sorry for Aldridge haveing to be put with someone who was clearly not ready for the Olympics if he'd had a real partner maybe he'd have got a medal


http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008...es.divingdaley

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I saw the diving this morning, and I think some of the judging was P poor.

Especially the first judge.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Loving this olympics was great start aswell. If anyone has a facebook i found cool app on there today http://www.facebook.com/apps/applica...id=19134072082 Add it to support team Great Britian its cool, were about 7th i think on country that has most fans on there, the americans at number 1, were just under australia so add it to bump Britian up the popular table ;), its a fun app. has the medals we won and who won them on it aswell.

well done to the women who won for britian so far, need the guys to win something aswell lol :D

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

A great performance today from Lu of Chinese Taipei against Britain's Andy Murray, Lu who's ranking is somewhere in the 70s never looked in danger against 6th seeded Murray.
To be honest I find it very difficult to engender any enthusiasm for Andy Murray, to me he just comes across as bloody miserable. His brother on the other hand is a totally different person, Jamie Murray has a "personality", a happy disposition, a guy who actually looks like he is enjoying his tennis.
Come on Andy take a leaf out of Jamie's book, this is the Olympic games not a wet Sunday afternoon in Glasgow!!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

One of our children attends a specialist sports college and is very keen on martial arts. It's really noticeable how many of the young people we come across in the sporting context either via the school or elsewhere have been inspired by the prospect of the 2012 Olympics. It's one of the few things I admire Red Ken Livingstone for, since without his input, we'd never have won the games. Even if the final medal table in 2012 doesn't meet the wildest expectations of the media I think the games will have glavanised a sizeable proportion of our youth and that's no bad thing.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I hope we give the Olympics a massive event, something we can be proud of as a country and a legacy of venues and inspiration post-2012.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Having watched how well the Chinese have delivered the games so far it is going to be a tough act to follow, but if the entire country is behind 2012, which as we get closer I hope will happen, I believe we in Britain can stage a great games.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/7556058.stm

Hmmmmm...fake 'fireworks', miming singers, empty seats, ticket touting, algal blooms,.... perhaps the Chinese aren't perfect after all... ;)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Remembering that this is the Pro- olympic thread please :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Didn't you notice the ' ;) ' then ?? ;) In the context of a competition on this scale the above are minor issues aren't they. I reckon Seb Coe and Clive Woodward will breathe a mighty sigh of relief if that's the worst the pundits can say about London's efforts.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Currently in 11th place in the medals table with 2 golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronze.

Latest medal is a silver for Emma Pooley in the time trails, silver as well for David Florence in the C1 event, Bronze to the the GBR team in the equestrian with Tina Cook of that team getting an individual bronze int he same event, Congrats to them all.

But main news has to be the US swimmer Michael Phelps who broke his gold tally record from 2004 with an amazing 11th Gold medal at this years event

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

about time we put some Pictures to this thread :) here are some of Rebecca Adlington winning gold :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

will Michael Phelps get his 3 remaining Gold?

Now 9th in the table

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...le/default.stm

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

WELLDONE to the GB cycling sprint team getting a gold :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7562884.stm

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Craig Pickering didnt have a chance in the 100 metres! The Jamaica runner didnt even run??! He jogged, wasn't even looking at the track!?

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Yeah, all six and a half feet of him...all the other guys looked like midgets!!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

welldone to Rebecca Adlington on winning a second gold :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Not only that she broke the World Record by 2.12 seconds

---------- Post added at 10:45 ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 ----------

YES...another rowing gold by Andy Hodge, Peter Reed, Steve Williams and Tom James in the coxless fours

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Silver and Gold for GB in the Keirin Mens final for Ross Edgar (S) and Chris Hoy (G) with Bradley Wiggins also getting a gold in the 4000m pursuit..

4 golds, 1 silver and 4 bronze for us today :)

---------- Post added at 15:33 ---------- Previous post was at 13:39 ----------

9.69
A new world record for the Jamaican Usain Bolt as he wins the 100m Gold

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Has anyone seen an easier world record set than Usain Bolt in the 100m??

He was easing off after 70m FGS!

21 years old ..... Awesome!!!

Mind you Becky Adlington's world record (beating the oldest standing record in swimming by over 2 secs)
is going to take some beating too so well done to her and, indeed, all our other medallists. :tu:

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

What a run from Usain.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

We are going to get at least another 4 golds tomorrow, before the events begin! On top of the 7 we have already! We could finish 3rd overall in these games the rate they are going :D

So far: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...le/default.stm

With the 4 that will come, we will be 3rd. Hopefully we will win more and secure that!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Hatch before count not chicken.

Rearrange in order. ;)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

4 golds??

I know we're in for a gold and silver in one event as we're the two finalists but I thought the other medals could be gold, silver or bronze???

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Well 11 golds will be good no matter what :) Maybe the press will actually have something nice to say about the country for once :D

---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:42 ----------

I thought it was 4 golds but actually makes sense that it's four including other medals :dunce: Still, awesome!

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

If Micheal Phelps was a county today he'd be 7th, if he gets his 8th gold he'd be 4th place

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Anyone watch the women's weight lifting?? The Korean that won Gold and broke both world records was totally in a class of her own. Well done Jang Miran

LINK

---------- Post added at 18:06 ---------- Previous post was at 18:04 ----------

I think that Paula Radcliffe (a local of these parts) starts the marathon at 00:30 Sunday morning local time. She's recovered well from her Injury earlier this year...

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

love this girl Rebecca Adlington she is a true Britishheroe :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

The sad part is that she is already spoken for sir-drinks-alot;), mind you that may not be a bad thing considering her rather expensive taste in shoes.:D

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Damn it are you 100% sure about that i'm more than happy to keep her in shoes if it makes her my girl

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Don't believe that Froggy bloke - he just wants her all for himself :D

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I don't know what it is but she's just simply irresistible.She deserves the applause, just for winning 2 golds :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Paula Radcliffe got 23rd place, well at least she tried especially after her leg fracture in May.

Gold for Ben Ainsley in the Fin class (his third in succesive olympics)
Gold for Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter in the lightweight sculls
Gold for Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson in the womens yngling sailing

Britain's now got 10 golds and that puts us third in the medals table

---------- Post added at 09:38 ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 ----------

Womens quad sculls get Silver, well done to Annie Vernon, Debbie Flood, Frances Houghton and Katherine Grainger

---------- Post added at 09:41 ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 ----------

Womens and mens 8 races to follow a bit later, good luck to both teams

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

We are about to get that certain gold soon, so we will have 11 soon thus equally our 2004 result.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I stayed up til 3:10am to watch the women marathon Paula Radcliffe was in pain for a long way you could see here limping.

Liz Yelling finished 26th despite falling heavily 10 miles into the race and was taken to hospital for a check-up with a suspected cracked rib.

Mara Yamauchi finished in sixth place equalling the best for a British woman.

---------- Post added at 10:09 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------

Phelps has got number 8 in yet another record time.

---------- Post added at 10:10 ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 ----------

Individual pursuit on now to Brtis in the final 1th Gold & 5th Silver coming up.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

What a shame for Liu Xiang having to pull out of the 110m hurdles which he's the reigning olympic champion especially in front of his home crowd :(

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Seems to me that Radcliffe was never really in with a chance given her recent injury problems so perhaps it'd have been better to give her place to someone in need of the experience.

---------- Post added at 11:32 ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 ----------

Another Gold for GB and a new World Record in the cycling team pursuit!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ng/7567845.stm

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

They ripped apart that Danish team which as the Danish team broke the world record twice in this olympics is totally amazing...

---------- Post added at 11:46 ---------- Previous post was at 11:43 ----------

That should put us back into 3rd place ahead of the Australians

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

oh dear china have not had a good day i do feel sorry for Liu Xiang
the whole country had put way to much under pressure to win

done be shocked by that any member of the Chinese that gets less than gold is thought of as a failure by the rest of China sad so sad :(

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

New women's pole vault record:

Link
Wonder if that was Stanislaw Tomaschewski... :erm:

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

this is not in the olympic spirit at all it true she could be stripped of her medal

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/o...ph-901736.html

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Hopefully not the last but our 13th Gold goes to Paul Goodison in the laser class sailing event. We're still in 3rd place in the medals table

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Chris Hoy is unstoppable in his latest heat and is through to the final alongside Jason kenny :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

well HOY got the gold along with Kenny getting the obvious silver.

Another gold for cyclist Victoria Pendleton in the womens sprint which brings our current tally to 15 golds, 8 silver and 8 bronze, no wonder the AUSSIE tabloids are going crazy ;)

---------- Post added at 13:24 ---------- Previous post was at 13:14 ----------

LOL, I typed the aussie comment before I watched the replay of the Pendleton final......

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Christine Ohuruogu's fantastic win in the 400m race brings us upto 16 golds our best ever gold haul since the 1908 olympics (that one doesn't realy count as we were sometimes the only competitors after Italy pulled out from hosting the event and we took over)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Christine Ohuruogu's just claimed the gold in the 400m and a surprise silver for Germaine Mason in the highjump has built on medals won earlier :)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Victoria Pendleton's semi-final was somewhat "straight-forward" in comparison to the semi Australian Anna Meares had to come through.
Meares Chinese opponent Guo Shuang, was tipped to face Pendleton in the final, but after falling off her bicycle, causing a restart Guo won the third leg only to be disqualified for having been judged as to impede Meares along the back straight, a truly dramatic semi-final.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten take silver and bronze in the 10km swim, and Bryony Shaw takes windsurfing bronze for GB.

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Usain Bolt may have won 2 gold but Chris Hoy won 3 who's the better
i will let the record book deside ;)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

michael phelps?

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson won Britain's fourth sailing gold

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

From the way the Triple Jumpers have been trying to get the crowd geed up today. Anyone would think that they have been doing their training on Mario & Sonic Olympics on the Wii:D

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

LOL Wonder if they'll unlock another event :)

Tim Brabants just won canoeing gold

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Now that the Olympics have ended, I hope that this thread is going to be kept open for the Paralympics. Good luck to our team.:)

Re: Pro Olympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Good Idea, I'll change the title :)

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympic 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

wonder who from team GB will be the first on the morning talk shows

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympic 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I think BBC got them all this afternoon. By making sure that everyone had to get off and back on the plane, at least once so that Kate could grab them:D

I personally wouldn't blame any of Team GB getting appearance money on daytime shows. They have done their hard work whilst being under the media spotlight, those that have medaled or not.

:)

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

For those not aware, the PARALYMPICS as mentioned by "Wooly One" is due to start on the 6th September.

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I hope the BBC cover a decent amount of the Para-Olympics, in past Olympics there coverage has been somewhat lacking.
Also our athlete's generally put in a excellent show bringing home a stack of medals.

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

I totally agree. :tu:

Re: Pro Olympics/Paralympics 2008 thread (no political comments please)
 

Anyone else catch the Opening Ceremony? Especially the torch lighting!

I'm not overally impressed with the BBC though - The Olympics were on 24/7(ish) - However the Paralympics are reduced to a 'catch up' show in the evening or watching 5/6hrs live streaming via the red button.

They say that this Paralympics is going to be the most competative yet - It would be nice to be able to watch our athletes perform without having to resort to the Red button.

Anyway - Best of luck Team GB - Even if you are only going to try and scrape third in the medal table this time:)