The Olympics Thread

[Captain Pyjama Shark]

Thought we might like a dedicated thread about the Olympics now that they're beginning, so we can all have a place to brag about our respective nations.

First things first I thought the opening ceremony was terrific!  More memorable than Beijing in my opinion.  Especially due to Mr. Bean.

[Slayer]

First things first I thought the opening ceremony was terrific!  More memorable than Beijing in my opinion.  Especially due to Mr. Bean.

Yes, I liked it too. Nice historical overview, although I thought the cultural overview was better: the history was cut up pretty much. Looks like the BBFC did the selection

[Tedacious]

Absurd in every way.

Ballsy to play Sex Pistols in front of the queen. Hell I even heard them playing "God save the queen", but stopping just before the phrase "The fascist regime".

And on that, how could not a single The Clash song be played? Infinitely bigger and more influental that Pistols ever was, had a bigger impact on music around the world than 90% of the music they played.

Also, I'm generally really opposed to these kinds of shows. Its just a huge-ass circus. There is no focus on the sports in this opening ceremony. It's just a big play for people to watch.
It cost 27 million pounds to make this. In it they supposedly "honour the british medical system/treatment", Better way to honour it? Donate those 27m pounds to the healthcare. Imagine what you could do with those money.


Also, if you put this much effort into a show, it could be done so much better.
Wasn't exactly that well coreographed.
If this was played in North Korea, in front of Kim Jong Il, half of the participators would never see sunlight again.

[Slayer]

If this was played in North Korea, in front of Kim Jong Il, half of the participators would never see sunlight again.

That's exactly what I liked about it. Last time, in Beijing, I was only thinking about the strict regime which made that ceremony possible. Of course I am biased towards more democratic governments, but I'd watch ten of these shows over one more of the China variant.

[SiCaRiO]

meh, ceremony was avarage, the best part was, of course, mr. bean . I liked the Beijing opening more, plus, they didnt put ground to air missils on nearby buildings, nor did they instaled thousand of cameras (some IR) that will, of course, not be uninstalled once the games finish.

[Slayer]

I liked the Beijing opening more, plus, they didnt put ground to air missils on nearby buildings

Maybe that has something to do with the fact that there haven't been any assaults/attacks in China, while there have been in London.

I agree on the costs being too high and on the cameras which wil conveniently be "forgotten".

But I think some people are a bit misled by Chinese propaganda.

[THeTA0123]

atleast people dint get send to re-education camps in london

[Tedacious]

But I think some people are a bit misled by Chinese propaganda.

I never saw the Beijing opening, so I can't compare the two.

But this opening was just absurd in so many ways.

I have promised myself to try to not watch a single minute of the Olympics (perhaps excluding a football game). But this is simply 'cause I find all olympic sports really boring.


EDIT:
CPS, I do not approve of you changing your avatar

[SiCaRiO]

sure, because a AA missil will stop a terrorist suicide atack. But remind me, when was the last time a terrorist used air vehicles to comint terror?

and how is propaganda related to me liking more the Beijin opening?

atleast people dint get send to re-education camps in london

at least ambulances could use a free lane if avaliable in Beijin, instead of it been reserved for rich an athletes

[hOMEr_jAy]

Like all sports events, I find the Olympics terribly boring. Atleast it´s not my tax money that is financing such an utterly useless spectacle..atleast I hope so, you never know with EU money going everywhere.

[Zoologic]

If this was played in North Korea, in front of Kim Jong Il, half of the participators would never see sunlight again.

That's exactly what I liked about it. Last time, in Beijing, I was only thinking about the strict regime which made that ceremony possible. Of course I am biased towards more democratic governments, but I'd watch ten of these shows over one more of the China variant.

Oh so, democratic governments can show us shitty stuffs and call it a day?
So a guy who drives a gas-guzzling 4 liter SUV in a democratic country can feel more righteous than some mud farmer in a country with oppressive regime that never produce any greenhouse gas besides his farts?

What? Are you being serious? There has got to be fair treatment here, because they spent some amount of money. If the show is shitty, then it is shitty. My biggest negative point for Beijing probably comes from that lip synch incident.

For London, the Mr. Bean part is pretty original and well made. I watched it from YouTube. "Original" because you know it is British, because they have that sense of humour, and it never gets old!

The rest is meh...

[Chadoi]

Like all sports events, I find the Olympics terribly boring. Atleast it´s not my tax money that is financing such an utterly useless spectacle..atleast I hope so, you never know with EU money going everywhere.

Was worthwhile you posting that in the Olympics Thread then.....

I was pleasantly surprised by the opening ceremony, a totally different kind of spectacle compared to the Beijing one. Only thing that got on my nerves was Danny Boyle tacking in Trainspotting.

I know he's responsible for the ceremony but still, as good as a film as it is, Trainspotting doesn't really deserve to be in it. Kind of smacked of shameless self promotion to me.

[hslan.Grim]

Surprisingly liked the opening ceremony. Specially after I saw someone I know walking behind the Dutch flag carrier. Saw a photo of a friend in the audience and noticed you couldn't see anything. You are better of watching it on the tv.

Now just hoping nothing bad will happen and we dutchies finally have a good sport summer 

[Slayer]

Oh so, democratic governments can show us shitty stuffs and call it a day?
So a guy who drives a gas-guzzling 4 liter SUV in a democratic country can feel more righteous than some mud farmer in a country with oppressive regime that never produce any greenhouse gas besides his farts?

No, no, no, no, no. You are totally misunderstanding me here. Not the first time

What I mean is: while watching the opening in Beijing, everything was so strict: I could only think of the way it was developed, with dancers being drilled into a perfect choreography, for example. Linking that to the strict regime in China was easy, and it bothered me.

London wasn't so superorganised, at least it didn't look like that: I spotted several mistakes and of course the Mr Bean part was purposely imperfect. I liked that, taking the whole thing not too seriously. This wouldn't have been possible in China.

So I'm talking about regimes here, not common people living in this country or that.

[VonMudra]

The only sport I enjoy in the Olympics is the winter Olympics curling events.  That's the only time you'll see me sitting on a couch watching TV and cheering for a team.

Last time, it was for the Norwegians and their crazy pants: