Beijing: 08-08-2008

[DoctorD]

^^^^
Yep - that's how I look on a diving board.

Not.

She is amazing - I can't wait to see how she does.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Dara is my idol!

And she starts out with a Silver Medal.

Outstanding.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

And she starts out with a Silver Medal.

Outstanding.

I keep laughing that people are accusing her of doping.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I keep laughing that people are accusing her of doping.

NBC's medical expert, Dr. somebody, did a story on doping that played this afternoon. The USOC (or maybe the IOC) has begun a new program of voluntary urine and blood tests taken every week or two in order to help set up some kind of genetic profile to better enforce anti-doping in the future.

She is one of the volunteers.

[texas*princess]

I'm watching the gymnastics right now... supposedly the "competition age" is 16. Those Chinese girls look 9!

Great gymnastics work though

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

NBC's medical expert, Dr. somebody, did a story on doping that played this afternoon. The USOC (or maybe the IOC) has begun a new program of voluntary urine and blood tests taken every week or two in order to help set up some kind of genetic profile to better enforce anti-doping in the future.

She is one of the volunteers.

That's what she said in an interview. Michael Phelps is another volunteer.

[RedefinedDiva]

The opening ceremony was SPECTACULAR!!! WOW!!!

[Benzgirl]

The athletes are entering. I'm so corny, but I love the opening ceremony. Guaranteed water-works when the USA comes in. It always happens on queue.

[cuteASAbug]

What annoys me every opening ceremony is during the Parade of Nations when Liberia comes out. The announcers always say that it was founded by freed American slaves. Umm no, actually, it was founded for freed slaves. Huge difference.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

What annoys me every opening ceremony is during the Parade of Nations when Liberia comes out. The announcers always say that it was founded by freed American slaves. Umm no, actually, it was founded for freed slaves. Huge difference.

This DOES bug.

I was bugged by a lot of the comments during the parade of nations.

For example, the announcer said at one point... "The Central African Republic is a republic in Central Africa" with little to no sense of irony. UM, WHAT?

There were a lot of comments that I perceived as demeaning made about smaller nations. It was really offensive to me. Some of the poorest commentating I've seen at an opening ceremony. On par with John Tesh commentating gymnastics at the Atlanta games... oh, the horror!

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

For example, the announcer said at one point... "The Central African Republic is a republic in Central Africa" with little to no sense of irony. UM, WHAT?

The first time he said it was with irony. Now he says it out of tradition.

[epchick]

The family of an ex-Olympian and the in-laws of the current U.S. men's volleyball coach were attacked today in Beijing.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oly_china_american_killed

A Chinese man stabbed the in-laws of the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball coach, killing one and injuring the other while they visited a Beijing tourist site near the main venue where Olympic competitions began Saturday.

Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn. — parents of 2004 volleyball Olympian Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman and in-laws of U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon — were attacked by a Chinese man while visiting the 13th-century Drum Tower.

The U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed Bachman died from knife wounds and that Barbara Bachman suffered life-threatening injuries. She and their Chinese tour guide, who was also injured in the attack, were being treated in a Beijing hospital.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by epchick

The family of an ex-Olympian and the in-laws of the current U.S. men's volleyball coach were attacked today in Beijing.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oly_china_american_killed

I heard of the attack and that it was tied to the volleyball team, but I didn't know of the association with an ex-Olympian

[Beryana]

Originally Posted by epchick

The family of an ex-Olympian and the in-laws of the current U.S. men's volleyball coach were attacked today in Beijing.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oly_china_american_killed

Just found out that Barbara Bachman was downgraded to serious from critical - and that she in an AOII from U of Minnesota.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by BetteDavisEyes

I was annoyed at some stupid comment Bob Costas was making about one country (I forgot which one) that criticized NBC for cutting away when they came out at the last Olympics thus, their countrymen were unable to cheer for their athletes as they were announced b/c of a stupid commercial.

They were doing that a lot still this year and also (perhaps more offensive than cutaways for commercials actually) if a big country (USA/Canada/Germany etc) was about to appear, they would skip even mentioning a smaller country's delegation or giving ANY info about them.

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I remember visualizing people sitting around their TV sets, holding flags and waiting to see their countrymen, only to get a tiny snippet of them when NBC returned from commercials. Maybe I was being too sentimental or dramatic, but Bob Costas REPEATEDLY said himself that some of these people don't advance or even make it anywhere near getting metals. So, it's safe to presume that their country will never see them compete. The least they could do is show the folks entering Olympic Stadium waving their country's flag proudly. I don't know much about advertising dollars and all that good stuff, but I thought once or twice that NBC surely could have aired the Parade of Nations with no or limited interruption.

Originally Posted by DaffyKD

I wish they would quit doing commercials during the entrance of the countries. I love to see how all the countries dress and see the size of their teams, their timing makes it feel like some of these countries are not "worthy" of our note. As was mentioned several times, some countries have teams that know they basically have no chance of winning medals, so the entrance into the stadium is their shining moment. Why cut them out of that one small moment?

Totally agreed with both of you. I also disliked how they almost scoffed at some countries. It's like "You live in a weenie country with no chances of winning! hahahahaha!" Granted, half the time it came off like that and half the time they did seem to be emphasizing how important it was to these people to even be there. But one of the commentators was really driving home how they all had no chance and were pitiful or whatever. It just seems really imperialist to me.

Originally Posted by ZTABullwinkle

Ugh! I remember John Tesh. Unfortunately, Al Trautwig is no better! He is always looking for the drama. Gymnastics is drama-filled enough, no need to go hunting for it!

LOL. I am glad someone else remembers the suck of John Tesh and gymastics. He literally could not get anything right - even important details about the events themselves!

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

The first time he said it was with irony. Now he says it out of tradition.

Ah, OK. I was half paying attention to some parts of the parade in a futile attempt to finish my masters thesis. I didn't realize it was a "thing." I just think it's a stupid and borderline offensive thing to say. Where does the USA think it can get off on publicly mocking other countries? I just really seemed to notice a barely disguised contempt for smaller or lesser known nations this year.

I missed the first half of the ceremony and I'm really bummed. Vancouver will have a lot to live up to - and even more so London I think.