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2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

post #1 of 440
8/8/08 at 3:19pm
Thread Starter 
I don't know about anyone else here, but I am so excited that the Olympics has started. This is when I am glued to the TV more so than usual, and watch sports that I don't normally watch. I've been a huge fan since the 2000 Games in Sydney, and was a casual fan before that (starting with 1988 in Seoul).

Programming note: Coverage of the opening ceremony starts at 7:30 EST, a half-hour earlier than usual.

I always love the opening montages that NBC has done in the last few Olympics. Their coverage after that, is a whole another story.

But for now... Let the Games begin!
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post #2 of 440
8/8/08 at 6:11pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Oh my God!!! That was the most intense 10 minute opening i have ever seen. And it ain't over yet!

tyler
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post #3 of 440
8/8/08 at 9:17pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

the torch lighting was just aout the craziest thing have ever seen.

when that guy first started around the stadium the wire switched or moved and it scared the stuff outta me.

aftr that it was just completely awe all the way around the stadium.
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post #4 of 440
8/8/08 at 9:33pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

The torch thing was neat, but not as cool as when it was lit by an archer or when Muhammad Ali was carrying it in the stadium. I wonder if the guy had some glue on his hand to keep from dropping it while hanging from the wires- he had to hold it a long time.

I'm curious why some places which are not countries have their own Olympic teams, such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa... also curious why a team is called Great Britain rather than the UK, which I thought was the official name of the country.
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post #5 of 440
8/8/08 at 9:39pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

i disagree on the archer thing.
that was about 3 seconds and it waa pretty obvious the arrow just went over the torch and didnt actually light the torch.
this guy was on a wire holding him above the rim of the stadium for the entire inside circumference of the building.

to each his own.
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post #6 of 440
8/8/08 at 9:51pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I watched part of the opening ceremonies on CBC tonight (a repeat of the morning's live broadcast). I missed the beginning, but that's not too serious as the ceremonies run for so long that my mind usually starts to drift in another dimension halfway through.

On top of coverage on CBC, Bold and TSN, the CBC's Olympic Web site also offers eleven channels of live streaming video, most without any commentary whatsoever.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
That's how I saw China win the gold in women's weightlifting, 48 kg class. How a woman weighing less than 48 kg can successfully lift 117 kg is beyond my comprehension!
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post #7 of 440
8/8/08 at 10:09pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood
I'm curious why some places which are not countries have their own Olympic teams, such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa... also curious why a team is called Great Britain rather than the UK, which I thought was the official name of the country.
Perhaps Olympians from Northern Ireland compete with the Irish team instead?

Astonishing opening ceremony. Although that was on a tape delay, it looks like NBC is airing a greater number of events live this time around. USA women's basketball is on MSNBC live right now.
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post #8 of 440
8/9/08 at 6:57am
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Great opening ceremonies, from the countdown with the drums to the lighting of the cauldron. Just unbelievable.

I am about to start watching some of the events.
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post #9 of 440
8/9/08 at 7:43am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I read all the hype on the opening ceremonies and man did it deliver. Excellent show. Now to watch the hours set to Tivo.
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post #10 of 440
8/9/08 at 9:53am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood
I'm curious why some places which are not countries have their own Olympic teams, such as Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa... also curious why a team is called Great Britain rather than the UK, which I thought was the official name of the country.

Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:
Athletes from Northern Ireland who also hold Irish citizenship under the pre-1999 article 2 of the Irish constitution can choose whether they want to represent Great Britain or Ireland at the Olympics.

Some athletes from Northern Ireland compete for Ireland and some for Great Britain. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So, if they had called the team United Kingdom it would automatically include all athletes from Northern Ireland.

The full name for the UK is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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post #11 of 440
8/9/08 at 10:10am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I DVRed the opening ceremony, looking forward to watching it later. I did catch the tail end of the parade of nations, and the lighting of the torch. Some amazing stuff, I knew China would deliver, but there they just blew my mind.

It's gonna be a fun two weeks.

--
H
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post #12 of 440
8/9/08 at 10:54am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I'm not actively watching the Olympics this year but I figured I'd be able to catch interesting spots on Hulu. Nothing there. Checked NBC's website and find they have video online but require some new video plug-in to watch, which I'm not inclined to use.

Oh well. Maybe they'll show up on YouTube in a few days.
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post #13 of 440
8/9/08 at 11:05am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Beautiful opening ceremony. We were sad to miss a trip to Beijing a couple of years ago due to an illness but watching the Olympic coverage in gorgeous hi-def helps to make up for it.

During the parade of athletes my wife and I became anxious for the competition to start so we voted on the ugliest team outfits. Cuba got our votes although the competition was close from a couple of other countries.

Also, I can't remember their name but the small country with the lampshade hats got our vote as most likely to be the life of the party.
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post #14 of 440
8/9/08 at 1:44pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Amazing work. My mother is quite proud of her native country. I don't have quite the connection she does, but I admit I got a little misty with the torch piece. That may be because it was being carried by Li Ning, who was a big part of the first Olympics I ever experienced (albeit on TV). My dad's name is Ning also, so a running joke in our family has now been resurrected!
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post #15 of 440
8/9/08 at 2:28pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Anyone know a time and channel the oppening ceremony will be replayed in HD?
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post #16 of 440
8/9/08 at 2:51pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

it was replayed last night at 2:29 am on nbc. Universal hd has replayed it in the past.
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post #17 of 440
8/9/08 at 3:20pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Ahhhhh..Beijing.
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post #18 of 440
8/9/08 at 3:31pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
I read all the hype on the opening ceremonies and man did it deliver. Excellent show.

It was an amazing ceremony but Costas said the thing cost 300 MILLION dollars to produce. If this were any other country the organizers would have been kicked out of the country for being fiscally irresponsible, especially if it were on the taxpayers' dime.
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post #19 of 440
8/9/08 at 3:43pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I knew Zhang Yimou has put some of the most breathtaking visuals ever on film, but wow, I was really impressed with what he was able to do live.

~T
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post #20 of 440
8/9/08 at 4:26pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Wow, I didn't know that Zhang Yimou was directing. No wonder it was the best OC ever. Simply amazing. This will be the first OC that I go back and re-watch.
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post #21 of 440
8/9/08 at 4:34pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
It was an amazing ceremony but Costas said the thing cost 300 MILLION dollars to produce. If this were any other country the organizers would have been kicked out of the country for being fiscally irresponsible, especially if it were on the taxpayers' dime.

Actually they might even make a profit:

Cost-Sharing
Despite a jump in the Olympic spending, many believed the Beijing Games would not incur financial deficit.

A source close to the Olympic operation told the EO that market development earnings for the Games had exceeded expectations. He said the Beijing Games could have the potential of becoming "profitable".

It was learned that the Chinese government once thought of providing direct subsidies for the Games, but as market exploration and development gained momentum, the plan was dropped.

The EO learned that major sources of funding for the Games came from IOC appropriation, mainly drawn from telecast copyrights and the Olympic partner programme, which included sponsors like Coca-cola, General Electric Company, Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, McDonald's, and Lenovo China.

The above is from an Aug 4, 2008 report here:

Taking Stock of Beijing Olympic Finances

From the same link they also mention this:

However, one scholar who studies the economics of Olympics, said China was less concerned about profits or losses, he added best returns from the Games was to enhance China's international image.

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post #22 of 440
8/9/08 at 7:35pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thi Them
I knew Zhang Yimou has put some of the most breathtaking visuals ever on film, but wow, I was really impressed with what he was able to do live.

~T

I just saw that on tape and the combination of MASSIVE scale and extreme precision totally blew me away. How about that totally amazing sequence with the "movable typefaces"? All done under human control?
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post #23 of 440
8/9/08 at 8:24pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Of course the opening was impressive. Every four years there is an effort to be better than before.

But for me, it is the competition—and a time to remenisce about games and competitors of times past. Today’s technology allows me to record multiple sessions and watch them, speeding by commentary that I dislike. As I watch and write, I have a glass full of vino in hand:

“23 September 2000, Olympic Games” in a circle around the logo of the Sydney games. I have a similar glass for every day I attended. Fun to watch either in person or on TV.
Of course the opening was impressive. Every four years there is an effort to be better than before.
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post #24 of 440
8/10/08 at 9:51am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Yeah I didn't know it was Zhang Yimou either. When that woman was dancing while being carried by a horde of people, I said to my girlfriend, hey she looks like she's dressed like Zhang Ziyi in House of Flying Daggers and she's about to play the "Bean/Drum game"

An absolutely stunning opening ceremony!
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post #25 of 440
8/10/08 at 10:06am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
It was an amazing ceremony but Costas said the thing cost 300 MILLION dollars to produce. If this were any other country the organizers would have been kicked out of the country for being fiscally irresponsible, especially if it were on the taxpayers' dime.

The things is that we all paid for the Beijing Olympics - every time we bought something at WalMart (or almost anywhere else!).

The 2012 Olympics will be held in London - I don't expect it will be quite as spectacular but, on the other hand, not so many people will have their houses bulldozed and there will still be plenty of stray cats and dogs around!

2012 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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post #26 of 440
8/10/08 at 11:23am

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Will the opening ceremony be broadcast again any time soon?

Although I have no HD display at the moment, I still have an HD cable box for some reason (keep forgetting to return it) and the HD channels still look much better than their SD conterparts, and more importantly, are widescreen.

But I mistakenly recorded the stuff in SD full screen .

Will they show it again?

--
H
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post #27 of 440
8/10/08 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
Originally Posted by Holadem
Will the opening ceremony be broadcast again any time soon?

Not that I'm aware of.

Other news: The US Men's basketball team getting off to a good start, blowing the home team away.
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post #28 of 440
8/10/08 at 12:16pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Is it just more or does anyone else think the camera work for water polo isn't up to snuff? It just doesn't seem as sharp and crisp as in past Olympics. Plus, I'm disappointed that they apparently don't have any cameras mounted underwater. I always though those underwater shots that showed all the clutching and grabbing and kicking that went on really went a long way in demonstrating just how difficult a sport it is.
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post #29 of 440
8/10/08 at 12:19pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Quote:
But I mistakenly recorded the stuff in SD full screen

Don't feel entirely awful. At this point I'd take it anyway I could see it. I had to work the evening shift Friday and the power went out at home, so my TiVo went dead. Even though it kicked back on, I only got to see about the last 45 minutes. Worse, I didn't even check my programming guide or I would have seen that it was re-broadcast at 2:00 am.
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post #30 of 440
8/10/08 at 1:23pm

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Sorry man. My cable was out as well on Friday evening but I got it back on time for the 2am re-broadcast.

I will forever be grateful to NBC for setting up an Olympic soccer channel. I've just been lining up game after game -- I dunno how I am gonna sleep these next couple of weeks . Watching Nigeria vs Japan right now while recording Ivory Coast vs Serbia. Yay.

--
H
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