Official Thread of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (August 8-24)...

[Zim Hosein]

The world's best athletes will begin to move into Beijing's Olympic Village starting on Sunday, July 27, embarking on their stay in safe, comfortable, warm accommodations while in the Chinese capital.

Olympic Village welcomes first delegation...

W/ the 2008 Summer Olympics ~11 days away, I'm going to make an "official" thread where ATOT can follow along and discuss the events and results.

 

[Chronoshock]

Can I preemptively ask that we leave discussions of China's government/human right's record/foreign policy/etc. in P&N? Most discussions about the Olympics online tend to turn into a political flamefest within 10 posts
Also, bitching about the pollution is lame.

 

[caivoma]

I can't wait to watch the olympic basketball match. It is too bad that KG isn't on this team.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
Can I preemptively ask that we leave discussions of China's government/human right's record/foreign policy/etc. in P&N? Most discussions about the Olympics online tend to turn into a political flamefest within 10 posts
Also, bitching about the pollution is lame.

This thread will be only be about the "scheduled" events and the results of the '09 Olympic Games and not the politics of China Chronoshock; remember this is OT and the forum rules still apply.

 

[z0mb13]

I am in Shanghai and I can't wait to watch the opening ceremony on TV!

 

[George P Burdell]

Because a picture speaks a thousand words

 

[bunnyfubbles]

So who do we think is the biggest lock to dish out some gold metal USA ass kicking?

Michael Phelps swimming?
Basketball dream team?
May/Walsh beach volley ball?

Considering they have only one event, I'd say May and Walsh given their past record...the Basketball team should cruise through undefeated, but there's still some ounce of doubts. Michael Phelps has the biggest potential to kick the most ass though (potential for 8 golds), but because he's competing in so many events, he also has the biggest chance not to completely dominate his field...of course that's also kind of silly as it would be considered a huge upset/letdown if he doesn't win at least 1 gold, let alone 6 (matching what he did 4 years ago) or 7 (matching what he did in the world championships last year) or 8 (the number of events he's competing in and has a good chance to win)...

Any others I'm missing? I guess there's Tyson Gay, 07 world champion in the 100, 200 and 400m relays , but I don't exactly consider such events as much of a 'sure thing' as the others mentioned. Same would go for some of our favorites in gymnastics...

 

[JonathanM]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
Can I preemptively ask that we leave discussions of China's government/human right's record/foreign policy/etc. in P&N? Most discussions about the Olympics online tend to turn into a political flamefest within 10 posts
Also, bitching about the pollution is lame.

This thread will be only be about the "scheduled" events and the results of the '09 Olympic Games and not the politics of China Chronoshock; remember this is OT and the forum rules still apply.

Wait a second... The Olympics are being delayed?!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I fear the ninjas guarding the Olympics. They have ski masks, they have segways... there is no stopping them.

If Michael Phelps doesn't win at least 12 golds, he will be considered a colossal failure. I don't care how many events he's competing in. Look for Tyson Homosexual to win at least 2 Golds (men's 100m and men's uneven bars).

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

China's pole vault team = serious business!

Click

 

[JJChicken]

Originally posted by: Chronoshock
Can I preemptively ask that we leave discussions of China's government/human right's record/foreign policy/etc. in P&N? Most discussions about the Olympics online tend to turn into a political flamefest within 10 posts
Also, bitching about the pollution is lame.

On the 10th post itself.

Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
China's pole vault team = serious business!

Click

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: Barack Obama
On the 10th post itself.

That's a joke, not a political flame

 

[Baked]

Synchronize swimming and platform diving FTW!

About the opening ceremony. Anybody know the exact time and channel it'll be broadcast?

 

[ObiDon]

this is probably a loaded comment but...
it seems like there's no hype this time around about the summer games despite the fact that they're almost ready to start. i've seen absolutely nothing about it on tv. the only reason i even know about it is because of the occasional thread that pops up.
it just seems strange to me.

what network is broadcasting this time?

 

[bunnyfubbles]

are you watching NBC and/or its other channels? (USA/MSNBC/CNBC/Oxygen/Telemundo/etc...?) no real reason for other networks to advertise or hype it until its started (then maybe ESPN)...

 

[dugweb]

Originally posted by: Baked
Synchronize swimming and platform diving FTW!

About the opening ceremony. Anybody know the exact time and channel it'll be broadcast?

I think NBC has all the coverage... and I believe they are planning on starting the event at 8:08pm local time (8.8.08) which would make it anywhere from 4 to 8 am August 8th in the US depending where you're at.

Just a bit of trivia, '8,' if you haven't guessed, is China's lucky number because the word for "eight" and "rich" sound very similar. Rich people will pay thousands of RMB to get license plates with '8's in them because it makes them look like high rollers.

edit: Fuwa mascots are really cool, and have a lot of meaning behind them. kind of fun to read about!

Beijing Huanying ni!

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: dugweb
Just a bit of trivia, '8,' if you haven't guessed, is China's lucky number because the word for "eight" and "rich" sound very similar. Rich people will pay thousands of RMB to get license plates with '8's in them because it makes them look like high rollers.

My 8's, let me show you them.

 

[Jawo]

This should be an interesting games....will it be all about politics (or the athletes)? Will China win more gold medals than the US? Will the pollution get cleaned up? Will the Redeem Team deliver? Can Phelps break Spitz's record of 8 medals?Will NBC finally learn that online broadcasting is profitable?

 

[Kermy]

Originally posted by: Jawo
Will the pollution get cleaned up?

Looks to be a negative. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07...ympics/29china.html?hp

 

[potato28]

Originally posted by: Kermy

Originally posted by: Jawo
Will the pollution get cleaned up?

Looks to be a negative. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07...ympics/29china.html?hp

Ouch, that can't be good for the Chinese. I probably won't watch these unless I'm bored, summer Olympics is where Canada gets their ass handed to. I'm just waiting for Vancouver

 

[Inspector Jihad]

USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!

our basketball team is gonna kick ass.

 

[DomS]

I can hardly wait for the 100m this year...

 

[MaxDepth]

Let me be the first (if the only one) to say that it is f*^%^&ing shame that the US will field an all pro basketball team.

Fvck the "dream team." They are nothing but a group of rich bastards who feel that it is their right to have a gold medal. It really chaps my ass that we have guys who either left early or bypassed college for money and their picture on a sports drink and now they say to themselves, "I have everything except a gold medal. I want that too."

They have not earned the right to be an Olympian, simple as that.

I would rather have team tryouts from a high school / college level and a college coach. even if it means they get beat by another country who fields their pros. The point being is that we invented basketball and kids from tots on learn how to play and have better opportunities to become better athletes than most countries. We should be able to field a damn good team from our country's youth. Not millionaires looking for more bling.

The only ones calling for a "dream team" are the NBA players and their agents.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: DomS
I can hardly wait for the 100m this year...

Yeah, I can't wait to see the athletes gagging for air at the smog covered stadium

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Let me be the first (if the only one) to say that it is f*^%^&ing shame that the US will field an all pro basketball team.

Fvck the "dream team." They are nothing but a group of rich bastards who feel that it is their right to have a gold medal. It really chaps my ass that we have guys who either left early or bypassed college for money and their picture on a sports drink and now they say to themselves, "I have everything except a gold medal. I want that too."

They have not earned the right to be an Olympian, simple as that.

I would rather have team tryouts from a high school / college level and a college coach. even if it means they get beat by another country who fields their pros. The point being is that we invented basketball and kids from tots on learn how to play and have better opportunities to become better athletes than most countries. We should be able to field a damn good team from our country's youth. Not millionaires looking for more bling.

The only ones calling for a "dream team" are the NBA players and their agents.

lol, every other country puts professionals to play...as do other sports like tennis, etc.