Summer Olympics

[Brian.]

The players are still penalised by the ref but I don't think they are set a minimum number of kicks they have to achieve during a round. I know they have changed the scoring system and also made the ring smaller since the last olympics. This change in the scoring system is why they decided not to pick Aaron Cook (they claim) despite the fact he is the world number 1 at his weight category.

[poppyshake]

Yeah, go Jade!

I think it's a shame, amongst all the rampant Boltism, that David Rudisha's 800 metre win and World Record is being somewhat overlooked. It was stunning!

I am NOT a rampant Boltist The 100m mens sprint is always the one to watch though and because the races were scheduled so close together the focus was always going to switch. Nothing is taken away from David .. he was stunning and from what the commentators said .. he prefers the quiet life and is happy that Usain takes the limelight (though again .. very noble of Usain to refuse to talk during the Kenyan national anthem .. just as he did before with the American anthem.)

There are an awful lot of Brit Gold medal winners that have had to take a back seat too .. some of them I haven't heard about since they won their medals whilst some are all over the coverage and papers (and trying to sell us shampoo and face cream) every day. As much as I enjoyed Katie Taylor's boxing match and could see that the Irish crowd were loving it, I didn't see why it was reported as the more stunning win (nearly all news reports claimed it as more exciting than Nicola's bout in a.. if you think this was exciting then what came next was more) .. maybe because it was Irelands first Gold .. I can see that but the stunning win was Nicola's .. she obliterated her opposition.

Anyway, well done David! .. that was indeed a most special race and a world record too outstanding.

[chesilbeach]

I'm happy to being a fan of Bolt too - at least he's got personality, he's entertaining and humorous, and genuinely seems to love what he does, I can't understand why anyone wouldn't be a fan. I loved his build up to the final, when they came on to the track, and he was chatting to the girl in the next lane responsible for carrying out the athlete's kit, a moment I'm sure she'll NEVER forget made all the more special by this amazing athlete engaging with her.

 

But that doesn't take away anything from David Rudisha's absolutely outstanding run in the 800m. It was gobsmackingly good, but he's a different kind of person, and doesn't seek the limelight, so he's bound to be less well known outside of the athletics field. It was also an incredible run from GB's Andrew Osagie - I don't know if it's true, but I've just read the most amazing stat on Twitter (hence the disclaimer that I don't know if it's true) but although he came last in the 800 metres final, his time would have won him Gold at the last three Olympics.

 

The trouble is that the 100m is always going to take centre stage compared to any other race because it's so fast, so competitive, and such a close run thing - compare it to the 800m which is a more considered, tactical event, and the hype will always be about the excitement of the 100m.

 

This isn't meant as a tirade against you Steve, just get carried away with myself at times, but I can confirm that in the chesilbeach household there was as much palm sweating, nervous pacing watching the 800m as there was for the building to the Boltster!

[Inver]

Fantastic hockey this afternoon from our GB girls....well done on securing the bronze medal with an awesome 3-1 victory over New Zealand. So glad they came away with a medal, well deserved after all their hard work. First medal in 20yrs for them.

[Talisman]

It's worth mentioning that with the Games closing on Sunday (I don't know what I will do with all my free time!), the London 2012 shop have a special offer of free postage on anything ordered before 12th (normal price £4.95). Simply enter code SPORTFREE at the checkout. In particular, if you have the money there are some great signed pictures.

[Karsa Orlong]

This isn't meant as a tirade against you Steve, just get carried away with myself at times, but I can confirm that in the chesilbeach household there was as much palm sweating, nervous pacing watching the 800m as there was for the building to the Boltster!

 

S'okay, Chesil, I know that My comment wasn't aimed at anyone on here, and it certainly wasn't aimed at Bolt - it was simply about the media presentation

 

 

ETA: and yeah, the women's hockey team did really well

Edited August 10, 2012 by Karsa Orlong

[Karsa Orlong]

Well done to Ed McKeever - cracking start to the day

 

Fingers crossed for Tom, now

[poppyshake]

I am NOT a rampant Boltist The 100m mens sprint is always the one to watch though

It wasn't the 100m .. but it was the double, or the double double

 

Fingers crossed for Mo today .. want to see him do the Mo-bot again

Fingers crossed for Tom, now

Yes, it's been an incredibly long wait .. one of the earliest events and then one of the last. Go Tom!! Well done to Ed

 

I feel panicky .. the Games are almost over. How will we cope?

Edited August 11, 2012 by poppyshake

[Talisman]

I feel panicky .. the Games are almost over. How will we cope?

 

I know what you mean - I won't have an excuse to hover around the big screen TV at work anymore when the boss is in ! We still have the Paralympics to look forward to though.

[poppyshake]

:boogie: I'm crying again :boogie: Well done Mo!! .. fantastic and fantastic commentary by Crammy

[chesilbeach]

You're not the only one Kay. GO MO!!!!!!

Edited August 11, 2012 by chesilbeach

[Karsa Orlong]

Well that's sorted out my vote for Sports Personality

 

When did Crammy become such a frelling brilliant commentator?? I think last week's "It's gooooooooold!" when Mo crossed the line will stay in my memory forever, but tonight wasn't far behind

Edited August 11, 2012 by Karsa Orlong

[karen.d]

The footage of the BBC Olympics panel watching Mo race last night was really funny, but I have to admit that we were jumping up and down as much too!

 

I'm so sad that the Olympics finishes today. I don't usually like sport, but there has been so much variety of events, that every time I watch there has always been something different. Plus I think the opening ceremony fired everyone's imaginations.

 

I'm consoled by the fact that the Paralympics starts in a couple of weeks, which I'm really looking forward to.

[Karsa Orlong]

Mwaaaaaaah! Well I suppose I can now catch up with all the stuff that's accumulated on the Sky box

[Kell]

We like to think so too. When was the last time the Olympics were held in the UK?

1948 was the last time London played host to the Olympics - the first Olympics after WWII and known as "The Austerity Games" because everyone was so broke after the war and still trying to rebuild the economy. GB won 23 medals - 3 of them gold.

 

I'd say we've had a major improvement since then - LOL!

 

I'm not a sports fan. I don't enjoy watching sports at all, but I've watched LOADS of the Olympics this time round and loved every second of it! The opening ceremony was awesome (especially loved Her Majesty's entrance - well done, Ma'am!) and the industrial revolution section, although I did spot an error in the "Children's Literature" section - they showed The Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - a character created for the film and who did not appear in the book - LOL!

 

I was a little disappointed by the closing ceremony, but I did love Freddie Mercury's appearance - I only wish they had let him sing with Queen instead of having Jessie J do it (although she did a very good job of it). I had been hoping for a hologram of Freddie (after seeing a video of a section of a show where a live rapper did a duet with a dead rapper via hologram and it was AWESOME!) but having him on the big screen was brilliant. The man has been dead for 21 years and can STILL hold an audience in the palm of his hand - the man is a legend!

 

Dare I say it, I'm looking forward to the next Olympics! I might even watch some of the paralympics in a few weeks!

[Karsa Orlong]

I might just've ordered a complete set of the first day covers of the stamps

[Raven]

I feel like the two security guards at the end of The Truman Show. What is on TV tonight?

[Inver]

We think Mr Wiggins should get the Sports Personality thingy.

[Raven]

It's going to be close this year, so many worthy candidates (for once).

 

I reckon Mo Farah may just tip it though.

[chesilbeach]

Tricky to call, I think. Obviously a lot of cycling fans out there with Mark Cavendish winning last year, which could either sway it in Wiggo's favour or it could swing the other way in that because a cyclist won last year, people will vote for a different sport this time.

[poppy]

We've just been awarded one more gold medal. Valerie Adams, our shot put silver medalist, has received the gold after the Belarussian Nadzeya Ostapchuk was excluded from competition following a positive test for metenolone, an anabolic steroid.

[poppyshake]

Well done to Valerie it's good to see that cheats continue not to prosper.

 

I liked the closing ceremony .. mostly. The lighting and fireworks were just spectacular. There were one or two things that niggled (there always is .. if there wasn't Alan would have to check for a pulse ) Some artists mimed while others sang live ... weirdly George Michael seemed to do one of each (first one live second one mimed). It doesn't really matter but considering the flack Macca got after the opening ceremony .. it makes me cross when I see artists getting praised for their performances when they were basically singing over vocal backing tracks. Got all sorts of excited thinking that Kate Bush was going to make an appearance .. was still hoping for it towards the end of the song (because I could hear it was a different recording) but alas no and you can't blame her .. there's probably nothing to gain but criticism. Russell Brand was unexpected and again it was mimed but it was a bit of a surprise and I quite liked it. Lovely to see both John and Freddie being included in a way which made them seem part of the celebrations (though once I'd been successful in imagining there were no countries I couldn't see the point of the Olympics ) It seemed like fun and a bit of a knees-up. I liked Muse .. though that Olympic theme isn't really known so it was hard to engage with it (I thought it was to be played before the medal ceremonies but all I ever heard was 'Chariots of Fire'). I did like the aggressive choir though .. they were great. Also loved Stomp .. though they are a bit tinnitus inducing.

 

Lovely shots of the athletes .. especially that shot of the gorgeous Tirunesh Dibaba .. so beautiful and serene in her outfit. Would much prefer to look at her than Kate Moss/Naomi Campbell & co (surely they should still be serving their doping bans ) I can't have been the only one hoping one or the other of them would trip .. where is Zola Budd when you need her?

 

It does seem flat today .. Alan watched the closing ceremony back having been at work yesterday and we also watched Mo on 'The Cube' because we didn't see it before when it aired but really miss all the sport. Kylie said it would feel a bit flat and it does.

 

Clare will be presenting Paralympics 2012 which is a big plus but they are on Channel 4 which is a bit of a negative (I never watch it normally ... ever) .. I hate advert breaks. Still, ITV were a bit of a revelation with the French Open Tennis so hopefully Channel 4 will be too.

 

My mind changes all the time about Sports Personality of the Year .. whoever gets it thoroughly deserves it though.

[poppy]

The talented and very graceful ........Paulette Huntinova

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sifDmYLuMfY

[Raven]

Clare will be presenting Paralympics 2012 which is a big plus but they are on Channel 4 which is a bit of a negative (I never watch it normally ... ever) .. I hate advert breaks.

 

Channel 4 are usually pretty good with their sports coverage, I suspect they will do quite a good job.

[Karsa Orlong]

Must admit I wasn't overly impressed with the BBC's highlights programme last night - seemed a bit rushed. They could've taken a week or two and done a better job, I think. Calling Becky Adlington's bronze medal " . . . okay" and then mispronouncing Christine Ohuruogu's surname as "Orahoogu" was pretty poor, imo. I hope the dvd/blu-ray coming out in October is a bit better!

 

 

ETA:

 

So a couple of questions for those who followed the Olympics:

 

Did it get you into a sport that you never thought you'd be interested in?

 

(For me, definitely Handball, so exciting!)

 

and

 

Is there any particular memory that will stay with you (other than gold medal winners)?

 

For me, as mentioned upthread somewhere, the interview with Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter after they'd won a silver. For anyone who hasn't seen it:

 

 

Still breaks my heart . . .

Edited August 14, 2012 by Karsa Orlong