2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China - Page 4

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Yeah, but then I also eliminate the "not a sport" sports, and I don't even want to open that can of worms. As to statistical gymnastics (pun intended) used to make the US the leader, I personally prefer the Winter Olympics. Which means I can hardly be called US-centric because the US medal totals in the winter are traditionally much less than the summer games.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

So you eliminate the sports that the USA isn't good at?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Nope. It is usually to the detriment of the US. Rhythmic gymnastics, ballroom dancing, synchronized anything.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Gotta love the headline on Yahoo:

The Chinese pulled a Milli-Vanilli during the Opening Ceremony - Fourth-Pla... - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Yep and the rumours that some of the spectacular opening ceremony firework displays were filmed days earlier and CG enhanced, oooh.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

After these farcical Olympics are finished we will be reading reports about how the family of the musical director got a bill for the bullet that is used on him.

The only good thing about the Chinese government making a mockery of the "grand event" is that it reveals what a carnival sideshow the Olympics have become.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Part of the reason it takes so long is the use of video to reexamine routines that they evidently have questions about. It seems really unfair to the athletes who have to wait while the review is going on as it halts the rhythm of the event and interferes with their pre-event routine. They have to be up and ready to go within :30 of getting the ready signal, but they are left just pacing waiting for the word that they can go.


And the pressure that was on that kid (Sasha Artemev) to perform was amazing. He was originally left off the team because of how inconsistent he had been on the pommel horse. He was the team's best performer on the apparatus when he is on, but he blew like 3 of 4 tries during the trials and was left off the team. So for it to come down to him was an amazing story. And he had one of those crazy waits while they reviewed the previous attempt. Of course, the whole US team really stepped up and Jonathon Horton was rock-solid all night.

I don't understand the scoring system. We are told that a mid to high fifteen score is a great score, but then there are scores in the sixteens that are really great scores. And it depends on the event whether a 16 or 15 is a great score and on some events a high 14 is good. How is anyone supposed to keep track of that?

Did anyone see the kayaking? Togo earned its first ever medal when Benjamin Boukpeti took the bronze in the K1 event. Stuff like this is one of the reasons I love the Olympics. He was so excited when he knew he had earned a medal that he snapped his paddle.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Damn, you pre-empted me.




I agree. What was wrong with the old scoring system restandardised? When you alter a behavioural measure, you keep the same scoring system when you revamp the test. Why not the same in gymnastics?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

OK -- move over imperialists, make room for the lil guys ;-)

Boukpeti: Togo's hero in Olympics



BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Like a spring, Benjamin Boukpeti burst on to the Olympic stage, winning Togo's very first Olympic medal.

Without the Olympics, Boukpeti might still remain nobody. The 27-year-old snatched a bronze in men's K1 slalom (Umm... Kayaking. I had to look it up. --H) with a result of 173.45 seconds, combining semifinal and final here on Tuesdday.

[...]

Boukpeti's father is a Togolese while his mother a French.

"I was born in France with my brother while my two sisters born in Togo. My father and mother used to teach in Togo,"said he, who lives in Toulouse of France.

On why he chose to represent Togo rather than France, Boukpeti said: "I started young for the French team selection. This is a very hard selection process. I suffered injuries and once I recovered I was too old for the French team. Because of this I decided to try for the Togo team."

Beijing Games was not his Olympic debut, four years ago in Athens, Greece, Boukpeti finished with a 18th place, failing to advance to the final. The result was then the best for Togo in Olympics.

"In Africa it's all about soccer but in France they have a lot more money to build training courses and facilities. I have two worlds."

That's why Boukpeti has been training in France, together with Fabien Lefevre, silver medalist of the event.
"Deep down, I tried really hard. A long time ago I beat him in competition, so I thought now would have been a good time to do it again. I would have loved to have beaten him again,"said Boukpeti.

Though a Togolese, Boukpeti has been to Togo only once when he was very young. (WTF is up with that?! --H)

"But now I have a very good reason to go back." (Yeah mofo -- we forgive you for being "tsi gbe" i.e., "lost in the wild", as we call those who have lost their roots in some foreign land ;-) Woezon! (Welcome back!) --H.)

Boukpeti: Togo's hero in Olympics_English_Xinhua



--
H --

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I prefer the sports that have non-human scoring i.e. swimming/track where the clock/tape is the judge or scores where the points decide the outcome.

Although I am always amazed at the athleticism of the woman's/men's gymnastics and diving but I wish they had a more objective way to judge.

Watch the movie Stick It for a fun look at this.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

And the ironic thing about the whole thing was that the Chinese government made lip-syncing illegal back in 2005 because it deceives the audience. I specifically made a big stink of it over at stevehoffman.tv because it goes against almost everything involving Chinese show business. In fact, one of the biggest names to pull "Milli Vanilli's" in Chinese cinema, Jackie Chan, also performed at the opening ceremony. I didn't see his performance broadcasted though.

To be fair, the opening ceremony wasn't a concert....it was just a show. Still, it was a stupid move. I am certain with a population of over 1 billion people, there's a kid out there who can sing AND look good.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Paraguay's Leryn Franco

Personal 2007 calendar Photo Gallery by Martin Crespo at pbase.com

You're welcome!

Since CG work was used in the Opening Cermonies, does that mean that George Lucas had a hand in it?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Congrats to the gentleman from Togo, H. He should be proud, for winning a medal is a great accomplishment for anyone, nevermind being the first from your country to ever win.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Ok, so it is a fast pool:

China's Olympic Swimming Pool: Redefining Fast : NPR

Swimming World Records Shattered In Beijing : NPR


RE: Paraguay's Leryn Franco

So she is a javelin thrower?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Yes she is, and she can play with mine anytime.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

WHEN DOES SHE COMPETE
(and i thought Stephanie Rice was hot)

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

From CNN...

Lin was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl, 7-year-old Yang Peiyi, who was heard but not seen, apparently because she was deemed not cute enough.

"The reason was for the national interest," said Chen Qigang, the ceremony's musical director, in a state radio interview. "The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression. ... Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects."

Why don't you tell us how you really feel, Chen?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

The American performance in the 4 X 200 was just sick.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Yeah, it was probably closer to 12:30. I didn't get to bed until 2AM and it's all kind of a blur between 12:30 and then.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

It's unfortunate that the Chinese women's gymnastics team has such a cloud over it (some of those girls barely looked 12, much less 16...) but the better team clearly one tonight. After the Chinese fell apart on the balance beam, I thought the US might have a shot. But their confidence was already shaken, and the mistakes compounded. Most of the American girls looked really snobby, too.

That swimming relay was insane. Nice to be able to end the broadcast with "The Star Spangled Banner".

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

I think having the girl lip sync was pretty lame, but as far as I know, the only CGI's part of the fireworks was the aerial shot with the "footprint" fireworks leading up to the stadium, which I realized was CGI when I first saw it. I think Bob Costas even said as much during the broadcast, so I don't see what the big deal is about that. The Opening Ceremonies were still stunning.

Until we find out that the mass choreography was faked as well!

Also, there is no way some of those Chinese gymnasts are old enough.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Thanks Jeff. I think the way it played out is rather funny

--
H

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

The US team put on a great display especially when you consider the difference in training methods. The Chinese select girls at the age of three and take them from their parents to train full time. Then when they turn 12 they can compete in the Olympics!

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

After hearing how the Chinese take these kids at 3yrs old from their families to train full time to become Olympic gymnasts. Its amazing the US is even close. One girl on the Chinese team said she only saw her family once a year. Holy moley!

**Marianne, you beat me by a couple of minutes.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Do I get a gold medal?

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Only if you submit to a drug test.

The only way I'm keeping the time difference straight is Phelp's schedule. Here's his last 3 races:

• Race No. 6 -- 200 individual medley: Friday morning Beijing time, Thursday night in the U.S.
• Race No. 7 -- 100 butterfly: Saturday morning Beijing time, Friday night in the U.S.
• Race No. 8 -- 4x100 medley relay: Sunday morning Beijing time, Saturday night in the U.S.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Beijing time is UTC+8 (no Daylight Saving Time since 1991). Eastern Daylight Time is UTC-4. 4+8=12, so Beijing is exactly 12 hours ahead of the east coast US. That being the case, simply take the time on your 12-hour clock and flip the AM and PM.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Did anyone catch Andrea Joyce's "interview" of the Gymnastics team captain after the competition. What a low brow bit of work from Joyce, who basically brow beat her until she was choking back tears. Everyone saw what a difficult time she had in the competition. This isn't some politician you are calling out. Tacky work from Joyce.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

Ditto. In general, the "interviews" have been horrible.

Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China

NBC's coverage has been horrible, period (par for the course whenever they've broadcast the games).

I'm very thankful I live in an area where I can get the CBC coverage from Canada. Leagues ahead of NBC.