The Olympics

Originally Posted by babygreenspots

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Everyone relies on cliches. The Olympics is increasingly about money and marketing - in China more than ever before because the market is so huge.

I just saw the Opening Ceremony and it was the most amazing spectacle I have ever witnessed. Let them butcher the minorities and restrict free speech.

I just don't understand this sentiment that the Olympics is somehow about something other than the sports. It's just not. I'm seeing this thrown around all over the place without any sort of explanation.

Originally Posted by odoreater

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I just don't understand this sentiment that the Olympics is somehow about something other than the sports. It's just not. I'm seeing this thrown around all over the place without any sort of explanation.

It is a major way to showcase a city (and a nation), which is why those ******** wanted to host them.

anyone have the line on the Men's Individual Trampoline event?

Just saw the opening show. It was ...eh...big.

Originally Posted by JetBlast

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Am I the only person who really thinks the Olympics are only about bringing in a bunch of money and not really about the sports anymore?

JB

I doubt this will be a net gain for China. Australia made a loss; I'm pretty sure Greece did and I'm almost certain we will in 2012.

Back on topic. Amazing display, quite possibly the best opener I've seen. All of the artsy stuff was actually impressive, rather than relying on its abstract nature like Greece did. This all makes me regret that "we" are hosting in 2012. Quite simply, I think our opening ceremony will be embarrassingly poor. We've already fucked up the logo.

Will be watching women try and play basketball tomorrow, should be good. Not sure what else to watch, the 100m obviously but other than that... probably boxing (one of our boxers got sent home for being overweight by 2lbs though).

huge Olympics fan. my first memories are of Eric Heiden winning all those golds in speed skating at Lake Placid.

woke up at 5am to catch the Opening Ceremonies. pretty freakin' amazing what i did see before i had to head to work.

the competitions will be amazing and i can't wait!!!

-Jeff

Originally Posted by Fuuma

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It is a major way to showcase a city (and a nation), which is why those ******** wanted to host them.

Ok, so?

all the "communist" countries love getting the olympics. its a way to show how great they are through metals and displays, and a way to throw away all the bad and crap thats really going on for a few weeks.

Clearly, the whole thing is complicated.

Anyway, four times the fireworks were used in Beijing last night to celebrate the opening ceremony than all the fireworks used in all of the Olympics before.

I enjoy watching them. My favorite sport in the Olympics is track. The 100M race should be one of the best ever with Tyson Gay, Usain Bolt, and Asafa Powell. Basketball should also be interesting to watch to see if Kobe and Lebron can bring home the gold again.

Originally Posted by Fuuma

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It is a major way to showcase a city (and a nation), which is why those ******** wanted to host them.

Dude, ******** is not the preferred nomenclature.

I was digging the Dutch Jackets!

Originally Posted by chorse123

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Dude, ******** is not the preferred nomenclature.

He should have used the plural form, no?

OMG best torch lighting in history.

I watched the Bejing opening Olympic ceremony in High Def at my office this afternoon with my staff. A few of my management team are from China. Events such as the Olympiad is exactly why high def is essential, and what it shows best.

Unbelieveable, a beautiful, glorious precision that induced kaflempt tears on a number of occasions, and I wasn't ashamed to let my staff see that.

What was/is interesting to recognise, is that this sort of magnificent discipline is not only difficult, but I believe almost impossible in our western civilizations, because our freedoms are so based on the individual and not as a group or nation. Our unions and so-called pendulum of 'human rights' self importance has swung so far to the right - it could barely withstand the amount of aggressive discipline that would have been required to muster so many thousands into an almost frightening militaristic perfection.

Face it folks, our laws are prescribed in a fashion as to walk on eggs over the consideration of a missive glance, or a caustic shout of disapproval - one gets sued for hundreds of thousands. Our western humanitarian ideals have precipitated the woosification of western morals and ethics. Mediocrity seems to be idealized and heroic, and we have ourselves to blame for this. No one else.

But wow, look how effective some of the old fashioned rules are; the quality is clear, concise, and I love seeing a grand display of epic genius.

I wish China could export more of this sort of thing, as an international trademark. This is what China as a nation does so well, and, to build more on the great historic achievements. So many wonderful contributions, so much invention to mankind in the past.

Anyone who is of the nation of China, should be so proud of what their country has displayed, in spite of any controversies that may lie between nations - proud even if for this one moment.

It was absolutely gorgeous.