The 2004 Summer Olympics Thread

[koko_99_2001]

Hey!  At least the Dutch got silver!  And congrats Isreal on the gold medal!  Awesome!  

[Louisiana Night]

Anyone else watch the synchronized swimming(I only saw the US, Japanese, and Russians compete, but I assume the Russians won)? I agree with the scores completely.

The Russians flying, and moving at twice the speed of the US/Japan.

The Japanese seemed to have a slower, but more precise style.

The US, had that neat slow-motion thing(I'm not sure what the correct term is), and that scary spider thing.
I don't think the eagle part was that great, but I'm glad they did that part anyways. I think the US also had the best finish.

P.S. I looked at Israel's time on the windsurfing event.  

[koko_99_2001]

I only got to see the women's pairs synchronized swimming...but that was SO cool!  How do they stay underwater for so long??

[Jeysie]

I only got to see the team final yesterday since it was prime timed... I think all the other synchonized swimming competitions were during the day, so I missed them, dang it.

I wish synchonized swimming got better coverage... it's very graceful and awe-inspiring... not to mention a heck of a lot harder than it looks. (I mean, you're essentially treading water for 4 minutes straight, times a few dozen degrees of difficulty.)

I read comments from a person online who thought the Olympics (or at least the coverage thereof) should be spread out longer, so more sports could be seen in the late afternoon and evening.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

I agree...

I haven't gotten to see the rythmic gymnastics at all since when they SAID it was on NBC, it wasn't...and when it was on CNBC, I was at home, and we don't have that channel.

[Louisiana Night]

I watched it around 1:30am or 2:00am, not sure which.

I was SURE that Australia, Japan, or the US would get the gold in that event. I was also SURE that Russia didn't stand a chance. Shows what I know about the sport.

[Jeysie]

I saw rhythmic gymnastics on Bravo at 12AM last morning. They claimed it was on at 5PM yesterday, too, but they aired one of the basketball games first, so I was too bored to watch and missed it if it ever aired.

That's my biggest annoyance... if you like a sport that doesn't get a lot of popularity, or doesn't have any prominent US athletes competing, you never get to see it here.

Oh, and then there's Harrison's tendency to channel-surf during the commericals. Usually he has good timing, but sometimes we miss what goes on right after the coverage gets back. We kept missing dives last night because of it.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

When that happens, when he gets up to get another drink...you take the batteries out of the remote!

[koko_99_2001]

Oh yeah...Diving's 10 m platform coming on...with Alexandre Despatie  

*pauses her posting to watch*

[Jeysie]

No more diving medals for Canada.

But Matthew Helm... wow! That last dive was totally awesome. Go Australia!

Then there's the relays... USA just blew everyone away in the 4x400s... I mean, like, holy crap.

I feel so sorry for Greece though... ending up in last place because your teammate pulled your shoe off by stepping on it during the pass! I mean, geez, sucky. I'd be pretty at my teammate.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

Yeah, I'd be pretty upset too!

Awesome with the US guys!  I had no clue that our team was SO fast!  Just heard that they won by about 5 full seconds.  And did the women win the 4x400?

[Jeysie]

Yep, the women won by "only" a second. Which still translated into everyone visibly eating their dust.

Maybe the 400m US runners should give some tips to the 100m US runners?

Peace & Luv, Liz

[koko_99_2001]

Hmmm...supposedly, the rhythmic gymnastics gold medal is on NBC right now...or so says the official site.  But so far, nothing...

[koko_99_2001]

Ok...they did have rhythmic gymnastics on.  It was awesome.  I had no clue that the girls changed for each apperatus.  And a small piece of trivia mentioned: their outfits can cost anywhere between $500-$1000 each!

[koko_99_2001]

Ok...I apologize, but I'm triple posting...

The Closing Ceremony is in process.  Let's just say that this has been an awesome Olympics.  *goes to watch TV*

[Louisiana Night]

WHAT!?  

*runs to TV, hoping he didn't miss it all*

EDIT: Nothing on TV, I missed it.

[koko_99_2001]

Check NBC...because it's still on!

[Louisiana Night]

Thanks again.

*logs out*

[Jeysie]

Whelp, a few thoughts:

For one, I hope some of the things that went on during the Games are a kick in the pants to the IOC to work harder to keep politics and favoritism out of the Games. I'm not holding my breath, though.

For two, would somebody please shoot the US Hype Machine? I'm tired of them whining that winning silver or bronze is a failure. (WTF? Hey, media folks, if you think our athletes are losers for not getting gold, you can always give their silvers and bronzes to other athletes who would have given their left arms to be on the podium. No? Didn't think so.)

I'm also tired of them sticking close-ups of distraught athletes, or asking, "Are you upset because you didn't win/didn't get a medal?" Uh, duh, what do you think? (The part during the ladies' diving competition where they followed the Canadian lady into the back room after she missed her dive and watched her being miserable was *totally* inappropriate.)

For three, as much as I'd love to be able to see the Games, I have to admit that the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are much more fun to watch in non-US countries, because their ceremonies are steeped in raw energy, history, tradition, and culture, as opposed to crass commercialism.

Yeah, I'm in a bitter mood.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Drunken Chinchilla]

OMG why has no one posted about amazing Miss Kelly Holmes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only did she get gold in the Womens 800 M but sailed through on the 1500 M too! She's been so close to getting medals in the past three olympics but never quite got there, so pleased for her  

Also Mens relay! Wow who'd of thought we'd win that from the heats? Certainly not me