2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

[Dan!]

With the eve of the start of the Summer Olympics upon us, what are your thoughts?


What events are you looking forward to the most?
Which bore you the most?
What will be the major stories?
Who is overated?
Will the focus stay on the games or on Chinese politics?

[Andi]

What events are you looking forward to the most?

Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics, Soccer

Which bore you the most?

The thing with the dancers using balls and/or ribbons.

What will be the major stories?

Usually the ones that don't matter one bit.

Who is overated?

No answer for this one!

Will the focus stay on the games or on Chinese politics?

With the press involved? lol Are you kidding me? Will they even mention the games? :P

[sandyandporter]

With the eve of the start of the Summer Olympics upon us, what are your thoughts?



What events are you looking forward to the most? Gymnastics, swimming, diving, track & field, volleyball (court and sand)

Which bore you the most? bored by sports? I don't understand the question

What will be the major stories? HOPEFULLY the athletes themselves. Especially the swimmer (name escapes me) who was just diagnosed with cancer and is delaying treatment till after the games. Phelps will be a big story as he goes for a medal record. I think there will be some big stories in track as we have a great shot at a new world record in the men's 100.

Who is overated? The men's basketball team. If they don't get a gold they'll be a disgrace.... again!


Will the focus stay on the games or on Chinese politics? I think quite a bit on the games as they may feel censored if they don't. This will depend alot on which station is broadcasting.

[The Unknown Gomer]

I'm more of a Winter Olympics sort of person, and don't usually watch a LOT of the summer games, except for the opening and closing ceremonies, if that much of it.

I do like the gymnastics though, and will usually tune in for at least a little of that. :)

The games haven't even gotten going yet, and the US has already offended China, did you see that? I think it was the cycling team, they got off the plane wearing facemasks to protect against the air pollution. Apparently China didn't care for that. The cycling team has already taken it upon themselves to apologize, that they meant no disrespect. Can't really blame them though, the air quality there - even though China has been trying to improve it in time for the Olympics - is still not great, the last I heard.

[Dan!]

For those of you who really get into the spectacle of the Olympic games, here is an interesting looking game. Might be fun.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080807&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2

[sandyandporter]

For those of you who really get into the spectacle of the Olympic games, here is an interesting looking game. Might be fun.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/080807&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2

I wish I would have known about this before! I'm headed out of town in the morning (Unity Fest to see my first Third Day concert in case I haven't mentioned it) so I have no time to research and pick my team. Let's plan on having a group of us do this for the next Winter Olympics! You're in charge of remembering Dan!

[Dan!]

I wish I would have known about this before! I'm headed out of town in the morning (Unity Fest to see my first Third Day concert in case I haven't mentioned it) so I have no time to research and pick my team. Let's plan on having a group of us do this for the next Winter Olympics! You're in charge of remembering Dan!

I know. I wish I had seen it sooner. I'll try and think of a way for us to play, maybe to start the second week, when track and field starts up.

In the meantime, I'll tie a string on my finger to remember Vancouver, 2010.

[ausgirl]

Love the Olympics - love to cheer LOUD for my team - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.


Most looking foward to swimming - though I've just found out the finals are in the middle of the day because a certain country (who shall remain nameless) paid enough to have them set for their primetime evening viewing *sigh* - usually finals are held in the evening. I can see myself having to schedule lunchbreaks for certain times of the day next week!
Also looking foward to rowing, football, diving, marathon, atheletics, basketball (watchout dream team!), softball, hockey, gymnastics.....well just about everything!!
Not real sure about the syncro swimming though!

Bring it on baby, bring it on!!!!!!!!

[The Unknown Gomer]

...The games haven't even gotten going yet, and the US has already offended China, did you see that? I think it was the cycling team, they got off the plane wearing facemasks to protect against the air pollution. Apparently China didn't care for that. The cycling team has already taken it upon themselves to apologize, that they meant no disrespect. Can't really blame them though, the air quality there - even though China has been trying to improve it in time for the Olympics - is still not great, the last I heard.

There was a thing on the weather channel about Beijing's air quality. They said that a good rating is 100. NYC apparently, even with all of their traffic and such, rated something along the lines of 16. Beijing? 200+ :eek: Can't say as I blame the cycling team for wearing those masks after seeing that.

Love the Olympics - love to cheer LOUD for my team - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi.

USA! USA! USA! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/happy105.gif

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/score010.gif http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/score010.gif http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/score010.gif

[Dan!]

Here are a couple of sites that will enhance your Olympic experience. The first is the NBC site. It has a cool tool to allow you to see what your local satellite or cable service is showing as well as an exhaustive list of event times and results. It also posts the Beijing time vs where you are (they are 11 hours ahead)

The second is the official Olympic site. It has lots of info as well as games to play. Have fun!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html

http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp

[The Unknown Gomer]

I still have mixed emotions about China being awarded the Olympics in the first place, but have to say that despite that, they did put on a knock down drag out Opening Ceremony last night. Very artistic and high tech. That LED mat was something else. :cool:

Of course, Sarcastic Family that we are, there of course WERE some comments made during the evening about how much lead there probably was in their props, as well as the threat of being "detained" if the performers didn't show up for rehearsals on time during the weeks before the show. :o ;)

[rossid]

Good stuff today. USA over Japan in women's volleyball. That stuff on sand is trash. Bicycling near the Great Wall. Michael Phelps in the 400 IM prelims with the final tonite. American women sweep the sabre fencing competition.

See my post under Around the Horn regarding Michael Phelps.

[EmmoGomer]

Watching todays' highlights. I forgot how much I enjoy the Olympics!!

[mcgreen311]

Go Latvian beach volleyball team!* Although I prefer the court, I will not say that the stuff on the sand is trash!;)

*I was rooting for them. I'm so unpatriotic!

[sandie]

I won't be rooting for any team. :P

Before the Olympic Games, the politics were predominant. And the smog. Now, we're into the sports events.

I like watching the swimming events, as Australia has always been so strong in swimming. The gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics and diving events are lovely to watch - so skillful and elegant. Although I'm not a shooting fan, I saw Michael Diamond get a gold medal in Sydney in shooting and would love to see him get another.

Because my son is a kayaker, and I've seen many of Australia's and the world's top canoeists and kayakers in action here in Penrith, I'm interested in canoe/kayak - flatwater and whitewater. :) :) :)

[ausgirl]

I won't be rooting for any team. :P

Before the Olympic Games, the politics were predominant. And the smog. Now, we're into the sports events.

I like watching the swimming events, as Australia has always been so strong in swimming. The gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics and diving events are lovely to watch - so skillful and elegant. Although I'm not a shooting fan, I saw Michael Diamond get a gold medal in Sydney in shooting and would love to see him get another.

Because my son is a kayaker, and I've seen many of Australia's and the world's top canoeists and kayakers in action here in Penrith, I'm interested in canoe/kayak - flatwater and whitewater. :) :) :)
I was going to ask Sandie, did you get to go to the 2000 games?

[sandie]

Yes!!! :D

I went to a day of athletics at Olympic Park, saw Michael Diamond's last round where he got his gold (wonderful - he is so accurate) and watched two days of Flatwater Kayaking here in Penrith, including the finals.

Michael became one of the youngest Volunteers two weeks before the games, as he'd just turned 14. He spent 11 days with flatwater kayaking officials and athletes. Michael was in the Weighing and Measuring group which checked all the kayaks, and then this group was at the finish line and carried the kayaks away from the water. He has pins, signatures, two lightweight miniature kayaks made by the Romanian Assistant Coach for fundraising purposes, and a uniform that is too small now! Also, an unusual Field of Play jacket for poor weather. He went to a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony and was one of the lucky Volunteers who got a ticket to the Closing Ceremony, went to Homebush straight after the Flatwater finals and sat below the Cauldron in one of the most expensive seats. :)

I, of course, got up before sunrise each day to drive him to the meeting point close to our home, and home again in the afternoon. :P

Did you get to the Sydney 2000 Games?

[truster]

... they did put on a knock down drag out Opening Ceremony last night. Very artistic and high tech. That LED mat was something else. :cool:

Agreed. The guy "running" on the mat was even cooler!

But every time they did a wide shot of fireworks (or things of the sort), I was thinking "that air's gonna light on fire!" :o

[rossid]

No problem rooting for the underdog. I wanted USA to win but the two guys could do nothing.

I forgot 2000 was in Sydney.

[The Unknown Gomer]

Agreed. The guy "running" on the mat was even cooler!

But every time they did a wide shot of fireworks (or things of the sort), I was thinking "that air's gonna light on fire!" :o

LOL. Funny the way the Chinese government calls it just "haze". Just a wee bit of an understatement.

I liked the giant fireworks "footprints" that "walked" their way across town from old Beijing all the way over to new Beijing and into the new stadium. It was like a big invisible Jolly Green Giant was making his way across town. :cool:

[ausgirl]

Yes!!! :D

I went to a day of athletics at Olympic Park, saw Michael Diamond's last round where he got his gold (wonderful - he is so accurate) and watched two days of Flatwater Kayaking here in Penrith, including the finals.

Michael became one of the youngest Volunteers two weeks before the games, as he'd just turned 14. He spent 11 days with flatwater kayaking officials and athletes. Michael was in the Weighing and Measuring group which checked all the kayaks, and then this group was at the finish line and carried the kayaks away from the water. He has pins, signatures, two lightweight miniature kayaks made by the Romanian Assistant Coach for fundraising purposes, and a uniform that is too small now! Also, an unusual Field of Play jacket for poor weather. He went to a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony and was one of the lucky Volunteers who got a ticket to the Closing Ceremony, went to Homebush straight after the Flatwater finals and sat below the Cauldron in one of the most expensive seats. :)

I, of course, got up before sunrise each day to drive him to the meeting point close to our home, and home again in the afternoon. :P

Did you get to the Sydney 2000 Games?
Nah, and looking back, I wish I had,,,.... oh well, I will definitely be there should Brisbane decide to bid for 2020 - don't want to think how old I will be then!

[ausgirl]

Yes!!! :D

I went to a day of athletics at Olympic Park, saw Michael Diamond's last round where he got his gold (wonderful - he is so accurate) and watched two days of Flatwater Kayaking here in Penrith, including the finals.

Michael became one of the youngest Volunteers two weeks before the games, as he'd just turned 14. He spent 11 days with flatwater kayaking officials and athletes. Michael was in the Weighing and Measuring group which checked all the kayaks, and then this group was at the finish line and carried the kayaks away from the water. He has pins, signatures, two lightweight miniature kayaks made by the Romanian Assistant Coach for fundraising purposes, and a uniform that is too small now! Also, an unusual Field of Play jacket for poor weather. He went to a rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony and was one of the lucky Volunteers who got a ticket to the Closing Ceremony, went to Homebush straight after the Flatwater finals and sat below the Cauldron in one of the most expensive seats. :)

I, of course, got up before sunrise each day to drive him to the meeting point close to our home, and home again in the afternoon. :P

Did you get to the Sydney 2000 Games?
Woo hoo!!! Australia has just won our first Gold of these meet. Well done Stephanie Rice and nice record smash too.

And special note to Korea who just got their first ever medal in swimming, which was of course Gold!!!!

[sandie]

Excellent! :D I haven't been near the TV or news today.

[sandie]

Marg: It's a pity you didn't get to the Sydney Games. It was an amazing experience.

D: We don't root for any team! (Different word meaning.) However, Aussies and Kiwis are always amused when Americans do. :P

[Greyshades]

I am currently watching an astonishing display of athleticism. This event is so very intense. Absolutely amazing displays of court prowess!

I'm talking, of course, about badminton.

And I'm not in the least bit serious about anything I've just said.

[truster]

I am currently watching an astonishing display of athleticism. This event is so very intense. Absolutely amazing displays of court prowess!

I'm talking, of course, about badminton.

And I'm not in the least bit serious about anything I've just said.

So does that mean that you're watching a less-than-intense match of tennis? ;)

[sandie]

For an amazing display of athleticism, you could watch the Synchronised Swimming. ;) I wonder who thought that sport up!

[Greyshades]

My bad. I was serious about the one part about it being badminton. Nice catch. ;)

I absolutely cannot watch synchronized swimming. I get a kink in my neck.

[sandie]

I think it is kinky! :P

Try Men's Canoeing, C1 Flatwater for sheer strength, or Whitewater Kayaking or Canoeing for agility and the skill to read a good line on the course.

[Greyshades]

Now, synchronized canoeing. That would be cool. With the ribbon thingys they use in gymnastics.

[sandie]

Rolling with laughter, here.

I can't imagine the muscular blokes with ribbons on the end of their paddles. The boats would have to be coloured to match. :P

[ausgirl]

For an amazing display of athleticism, you could watch the Synchronised Swimming. ;) I wonder who thought that sport up!
I went to a women's conference thing on Saturday. It was Olympically themed and thy had a display from the first ever men's syncro swimming team.

I tell you, I have never laughed so hard in all my life - I hope someone youtubes it!

[sandie]

I can imagine! Not my cuppa tea at all.

[Yoshi]

Loved the Aussie Hockeyroos... 4-1 down, 5-4 win... Can't keep a good team down for long!!

[danbos]

The mens swimming relay was one of the most amazing swimming races I've seen. The last guy for the US, his name escapes me, but he was flying that last little bit. And when you've got people beating the old world record and not even getting a medal, you know you've got some talent in that pool.

[Yoshi]

Look out USA... He're come the Aussies... (At least in the woman's basketball!)

[Yoshi]

But certainly not in the Mens... :S

Anyway...

Not Aussie, but wasn't Michael Phelps' something to write home about? That guy's a machine!

And a personal favourite... Go the Kookaburras in the field hockey.. :D

[Yoshi]

big badda bump...:D

Go the Aussies... Steph Rice in the pool, you legend...:D

[TN3Dmom]

American James Blake just beat Roger Federer in the QF's. His first career win against him, and it comes at the olympics. I just scared my coworkers with the happy dance!!!! On to the semis, where I think he should win vs Gonzalez from Chile. Then he'll have to face either Rafa (Spain) or Djokovic (Serbia), unless one of them is upset. I smell a medal for the American!!!!

Interview with the obviously elated Mr. Blake at this link. Go James!

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/tennis/news/story?id=3534435

[sandie]

Yes, Stephanie Rice.... three gold medals. :)

[Les_Is_More]

More evidence emerges about under-aged gymnast on China's womens team. Story here (http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news;_ylt=Al2SlXIBQ9VBikS f5iyqPPCVTZd4?slug=ap-gym--underagechinese&prov=ap&type=lgns).

Any thoughts or opinions?

[Dan!]

Really not suprised. It reminds me of the Soviet bloc days when they cheated like crazy and never held accountable.

[ausgirl]

Hmmmm, interesting, 2 unknown chinese women who have not made any appearances in worlds or other swim meets come 1, 2 in swimming.......AND the girl who came 3rd was drug tested, but not 1st and 2nd......

Do I smell a rat????

[The Unknown Gomer]

I find myself wondering how much of anything that China is doing in these Olympics is legit. From having stuff that they said was happening live be actually a mix of CGI and stuff that was filmed earlier (so much for that really cool part of the ceremonies, with those big giant firework footprints that "walked" across the city, which was one of my favorite parts... turned out to be one of the things faked :rolleyes: ), to the cute little girl who was singing the national anthem turning out to just be lip-syncing it while another girl - who apparently had a much superior voice, but just wasn't "cute" enough to put on camera - actually sang it. Nothing like being told by your government that you're not pretty enough to represent your country at the Olympics, but hey, you can still SING the anthem, just so long as nobody sees you. :rolleyes:

And the whole underaged gymnast thing. That one reporting organization was lucky they saved a copy of the webpage that actually said the girl was supposedly underaged, since once the story leaked, suddenly just that one webpage was no longer online. Go figure. :rolleyes:

Already heard several news bits about how the Chinese judges keep supposedly giving biased scoring to give their own players the edge. But you get that in every olympics, I think.

And gotta love the British journalist who got thrown to the ground and hauled into a van for questioning by Beijing police, just for trying to cover the "Free Tibet" protest the other day. They kept trying to get him to say what his thoughts were about Tibet and it wasn't until he was finally able to pull out his olympic credentials that they just opened the door of the van and he was able to walk away.

Yeah, China was really a brilliant choice to be host country to the Olympic games.

[Andi]

I was up until 1:00 in the morning...yes - watching gymnastics.

Great competition last night! These girls are fantastic! And I am real tired today.

Hey - let's do it again tonight!

*looks for my super-sized coffee cup*

[The Unknown Gomer]

Of course the thing that's going to stand out in MY mind as winning the award for Bad Sportsmanship at these games, at least until something more pathetic comes along, is the Swedish wrestler who came in third, won the bronze medal, got up on the podium and accepted it, and then because he thought that, again, the judging was unfair, and he really deserved and expected the gold medal, he took off the bronze medal, said it wasn't the gold so he didn't want it, dropped the medal on the floor, got off the podium and left.

:rolleyes: Waaah waaaah waaah! Someone needs to just grow up a bit (of course, would YOU want to tell him that to his face!?! LOL :eek:). He says he's done with the Olympics now. Goodbye and good riddance and don't let the door hit you on the butt as you leave.

[Andi]

Karen - you crack me up. And hey - didn't you say in an earlier post that you typically don't even watch the olympics? :P

[The Unknown Gomer]

Karen - you crack me up. And hey - didn't you say in an earlier post that you typically don't even watch the olympics? :P

LOL. I don't, really. I've really only seen 5 minutes of it here, 5 minutes of it there, just see what's being aired right before we turn the TV off for the night, that sort of thing. And the stuff that I actually DO like, the gymnastics, I've not seen any of that yet. :(

But I get some of my email via yahoo, and they've got EXTENSIVE coverage going on the home page, so each time I check my mail there, I get the latest in nitty gritties on what's happening at the games. Important stuff, like what Phelps has playing on his iPod. Or what that black blat is on the shoulder of the beach volleyball player on the US women's team. Or why swimmers shower off immediately after swimming a race. :P

Found out this morning why the beach volleyball girls are in bikinis and the beach volleyball guys are in shorts and tee shirts (it's not as sexist as one thinks, actually!)

So I'm kind of being force fed Olympic trivia when I check my mail, whether I like it or not. LOL. :D

[3D NC fan]

I was up until 1:00 in the morning...yes - watching gymnastics.

Great competition last night! These girls are fantastic! And I am real tired today.

Hey - let's do it again tonight!

*looks for my super-sized coffee cup*

I was up late too, so pass that mega size cuppa joe this way. :)

Glad to see Nastia win gold and Michael Phelps continues to blow everyone else away in the pool. GO USA!

[rossid]

Local girl Shawn Johnson - all-around women's gymnastics silver medalist from last night. Here is a story that is five years old - http://www.kcci.com/video/17202983/index.html Check out her flips at age 11.

[sandie]

Yes. Wasn't the women's gymnastics great? :)

I also watched Jacqui Lawrence get a silver in K1 Kayaking. Like most Aussie kayakers, she trains here in Penrith at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium. The Chinese course is certainly turbulent. One of the top competitors went for a swim during the final. :(

[ausgirl]

Of course the thing that's going to stand out in MY mind as winning the award for Bad Sportsmanship at these games, at least until something more pathetic comes along, is the Swedish wrestler who came in third, won the bronze medal, got up on the podium and accepted it, and then because he thought that, again, the judging was unfair, and he really deserved and expected the gold medal, he took off the bronze medal, said it wasn't the gold so he didn't want it, dropped the medal on the floor, got off the podium and left.

:rolleyes: Waaah waaaah waaah! Someone needs to just grow up a bit (of course, would YOU want to tell him that to his face!?! LOL :eek:). He says he's done with the Olympics now. Goodbye and good riddance and don't let the door hit you on the butt as you leave.
This man did not deserve to even be competing - someone needed to put him over their knee and smack him soundly!!!

[ausgirl]

LOL. I don't, really. I've really only seen 5 minutes of it here, 5 minutes of it there, just see what's being aired right before we turn the TV off for the night, that sort of thing. And the stuff that I actually DO like, the gymnastics, I've not seen any of that yet. :(

But I get some of my email via yahoo, and they've got EXTENSIVE coverage going on the home page, so each time I check my mail there, I get the latest in nitty gritties on what's happening at the games. Important stuff, like what Phelps has playing on his iPod. Or what that black blat is on the shoulder of the beach volleyball player on the US women's team. Or why swimmers shower off immediately after swimming a race. :P

Found out this morning why the beach volleyball girls are in bikinis and the beach volleyball guys are in shorts and tee shirts (it's not as sexist as one thinks, actually!)

So I'm kind of being force fed Olympic trivia when I check my mail, whether I like it or not. LOL. :D
So what is the reason for the shirts/shorts, bikinis thing???

[The Unknown Gomer]

This man did not deserve to even be competing - someone needed to put him over their knee and smack him soundly!!!

Actually, he wasn't even planning to. He apparently got into a knock down drag out shouting match with someone about an hour before the match, and at that point hadn't planned on competing at all, but then someone talked him into it. They should have left well enough alone. :rolleyes:

So what is the reason for the shirts/shorts, bikinis thing???

It's a comfort thing, apparently. With all the time they spend flopping down on the sand after hitting the ball, getting all that sand, plus all the sweat from playing, stuck under a tee shirt, they said it was really REALLY uncomfortable. Plus playing in a bikini gives them complete freedom of movement without extra clothes to get in the way. They said that the guys usually just practice in board shorts themselves, but someone, the officials or the tv guys or somebody, said that while they were actually competing, that they needed to wear something more than just the shorts, to give them something with enough room to put their names on.

Something like that anyway. :)

[truster]

HOLY FREAKIN CRAP. Michael Phelps won tonight by a .01 SECOND MARGIN. That was amazing! (not to mention lucky...)

Oh, and Unknown Gomer (sorry, I don't know your name): I love the pic of Achmed that you have for your avatar. :)

[ausgirl]

This man did not deserve to even be competing - someone needed to put him over their knee and smack him soundly!!!


I withdraw this comment, seems he was really mad at a judge who wasn't ruling fairly - won't say what country the judge or his competitor was from:rolleyes:

[The Unknown Gomer]

Oh, and Unknown Gomer (sorry, I don't know your name): I love the pic of Achmed that you have for your avatar. :)

Heh heh. I watched one of Jeh-fuh-fuh's dvds for the first time over the July 4th weekend, and have been hooked ever since. Especially since I actually drive one of those "pretty powder blue sparkly" Priuses that he seems so fond of. (No chihuahuas, and no Christmas decals though... yet. :P ) *Neep! Neep!*

"Achmed... spelled: A....C....Phlegm..." :D

~ Karen ~

PS: Anyone reading the Mother Goose and Grimm cartoons this week? One of the characters is actually IN China for the Olympics. Plenty of political satire to be found there. ;)

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0812.gif

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0813.gif

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0814.gif

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0815.gif

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0816.gif

[sandie]

LOL.

Today, Grant Hackett swims the 1500 metres at midday. Can he make it three gold medals at three Olympic Games?

[rossid]

Wish I had a picture. Emphasis mine.

http://www.iowastatefair.org/newsroom/press_release.php?id=15



For Immediate Release
June 30, 2008
Lori Chappell
515/262-3111 ext. 204

IOWA OLYMPIAN SHAWN JOHNSON HONORED IN STATE FAIR BUTTER

The world-famous Iowa State Fair butter cow will share the spotlight this year with another internationally recognized figure, a butter sculpture of Iowa Olympian Shawn Johnson. Both figures will be on display in the Agriculture Building’s 40 degree cooler throughout the Fair, August 7-17.

Johnson, the 16 year old gymnast from West Des Moines, will represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Johnson qualified for the Olympic Team alongside Texas native Nastia Liukinof after an impressive victory at the Olympic Trials in June. Butter sculptor Sarah Pratt of West Des Moines plans to incorporate a balance beam into Johnson’s pose.

The 2008 Iowa State Fair is set August 7-17 – “U Gotta Love It.” For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or check out www.iowastatefair.org.

[Jason]

So can Phelps get his 8th gold for this Olympics?

[sandie]

Probably. Will he have a butter cow, too, if he does? ;)

[Jason]

Will he have a butter cow, too, if he does? ;)

Let's hope not.

And congratulations to the Aussie women swimmers in their relay win the other day!

[sandie]

Yes, it was unexpected and much faster than they'd swum before. Thanks.

[sandie]

Grant Hackett is one of our best and most respected swimmers. He swam faster in the semi-finals than he did four years ago to win Gold in Athens. It will be a wonderful feat if he can win his third 1500 metre final.

[Aussie3rddayfan]

LOL.

Today, Grant Hackett swims the 1500 metres at midday. Can he make it three gold medals at three Olympic Games?

Of course he can; he's Grant Hackett. Mind you he'll have to work for it.

So can Phelps get his 8th gold for this Olympics?

I hope not. Australia's in that race too; and he said he feared them...

[sandie]

What a race! Mellouli from Tunisia, of all places, went out in the last 300 metres and got the gold. Grant Hackett, silver. It would have been nice to see him get his third gold, but it was not to be.

[sandie]

Australia wins the 4 by 100m Women's Medley in a World Record time. USA comes second.

[sandie]

The USA wins the Men's 4 by 100m Medley, with Australia second, and Michael Phelps gets number 8.

[Tracey]

PHELPS GETS NUMBER 8 GOLD WOOHOO GO TEAM USA!

going to bed now i promise lol

[ausgirl]

So can Phelps get his 8th gold for this Olympics?
Yes it would seem so - I think he has an outboard motor!! :)

[sandie]

Lol.

[ZippyApplePants]

Yes it would seem so - I think he has an outboard motor!! :)

LOL! :D :P

[Jason]

Yes it would seem so - I think he has an outboard motor!! :)

:D

[Jason]

Australia wins the 4 by 100m Women's Medley in a World Record time. USA comes second.

Congratulations to the Aussie women!

[kiwisongbird]

New Zealand has two gold, one silver and two bronze - way ta go kiwis! :)

[sandie]

I hadn't heard about the Kiwis. Well done. :)

[rossid]

Thank you for mentioning these...

What a race! Mellouli from Tunisia, of all places, went out in the last 300 metres and got the gold. Grant Hackett, silver. It would have been nice to see him get his third gold, but it was not to be.
I felt bad for you Sandra.

Australia wins the 4 by 100m Women's Medley in a World Record time. USA comes second.
Congrats. I recall, however, that Torres swam 52.2 seconds and Trickett 52.8.

The USA wins the Men's 4 by 100m Medley, with Australia second, and Michael Phelps gets number 8.
Not like the prior gold. Did not realize Lezak was 32.

[kiwisongbird]

Yeah, we usually get a few - it'd be interesting to see the percentages per capita - I think we're usually way up there! :) Oops, just showing off...

[ausgirl]

Yep, I think we'd be right up the top too - we do all right we 'small' nations!

[sandie]

You're both right. Australia and New Zealand have both done well in terms of our populations. Here's an interesting site:

www.billmitchell.org/sport/medal_tally_2008

As of the time I've posted-

Population Weighted:
1 Jamaica
2 Slovenia
3 Australia
4 New Zealand
5 Slovakia

There's also the argument that more affluent countries can put in more resources to win more medals.

As of now-

GDP Per Capita Ranking:
1 North Korea
2 China
3 Zimbabwe
4 Ethiopia
5 Ukraine
26 Australia
48 New Zealand

[ausgirl]

You're both right. Australia and New Zealand have both done well in terms of our populations. Here's an interesting site:

www.billmitchell.org/sport/medal_tally_2008

As of the time I've posted-

Population Weighted:
1 Jamaica
2 Slovenia
3 Australia
4 New Zealand
5 Slovakia

There's also the argument that more affluent countries can put in more resources to win more medals.

As of now-

GDP Per Capita Ranking:
1 North Korea
2 China
3 Zimbabwe
4 Ethiopia
5 Ukraine
26 Australia
48 New Zealand
Yeah gone are the days in Australia where the Olympic competitor works 9-5, 6 days per week, trains outside work hours and pays their own fair to the games!!!

Well at least for the popular sports!

[sandie]

It's different for the less popular sports. Michael occasionally trained in the early morning on the river for kayaking. We'd see a couple of the Canoeists (Olympic prospects) paddling in the darkness, with a light on the canoes, in cold Winter conditions. Then they'd go to work after doing their training.

[The Unknown Gomer]

Argh. I actually stay up and hang around to watch the vault performances for women's gymnastics for the first time last night, and wouldn't you know it, Alicia gets hosed out of a much deserved medal by a Chinese gymnast who botched her landing and ended HER vault on her KNEES. :mad: No, Alicia's landing wasn't perfect either, but at least she managed to stay on her feet.

I know they take other things into consideration, but when even the pro commentators say that she was robbed, you know something is amiss.

At least they got the floor routines scored right...

[ausgirl]

Thing is, I agree she seems to have been robbed, but no country that had a competitor in the event had a judge - so China didn't have a judge - however, that's not to say the other judges weren't biased to the home country.

[SmileyFreak1981]

Gymnastics scoring is baffling with this new judging system. While I like the start value being separate from execution, I do not like the way judging is conducted. Some of the judges don't have experience judging that level of gymnastics because they come from countries that don't have that level of gymnastics (since judges cannot be from the same countries as competitors), which is obviously reflected in the scores they give. This is when you get situations like tonight with Nastia Liukin getting silver instead of gold because of a judge that, as far as I am concerned over-deducted Nastia's routine, and the FIG's tie breaking structure.

I understand that they were trying to eliminate bias and make the scoring more fair, but in my opinion, they've created very little improvement.

[The Unknown Gomer]

From my usual Yahoo.com Olympic source:

How a tie becomes 2 different medals
By The Associated Press
Aug 18, 1:12 pm EDT


Here is how He Kexin of China and Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin finished with the same score on the uneven bars but different medals:

WHERE IT STARTS: Liukin and He each scored a 16.725. They had identical 7.7 start values (the measure of a routine’s difficulty) and 9.025 execution scores. The execution mark is based on the perfect 10.0 scale, and is arrived at by tossing out the highest and lowest of the six judges’ marks, and averaging the remaining four.

THE FIRST TIE-BREAK: The four deductions that counted are added together and averaged. He and Liukin were still tied.

THE SECOND TIE-BREAK: The three-lowest deductions are added together and averaged. He had .933 in deductions and Liukin had .966, meaning He had .033 less in deductions—and was declared the winner.


I didn't see any of it, which is probably just as well, it would have irked me off all over again. Tried to stay up for the gymnastics last night but fell asleep on the couch, and by the time I woke up they were still yakking about the vault thing from the night before, so I went to bed.

It still throws me every time I read about there being a He in the women's gymnastics. LOL. The first time I heard the name, I thought, wait, I thought we were talking about WOMEN'S gymnastics, not the men's! Then I realized that the girl's last name was "He". :D

[Les_Is_More]

The judging in women's gymnastics has been so terrible I almost can't watch it because it just ticks me off the way the judges rob well deserving gymnasts better scores. I'm not just talking about the Americans. In the vault the other night, I thought the lady from Germany should have won and Sacramone should have gotten third. Oh well, when He Kexin gets disqualified for being 14, then I will feel much better.

[EmmoGomer]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TEAM GB!!!! We are so proud of the UK team - 3rd in the medal table...........who'd have thunk!! lol

[The Unknown Gomer]

Finally got me some of my favorite gymnastics last night. :D I missed the uneven bars the other night, but got the balance beam last night (good thing, too, wasn't that the last gymnastic event?). And USA took Gold and Silver *yaaaaay!*, and rightly so. Most of the other gymnasts seemed a lot more wobbly than I remember them usually being, those that didn't fall off the beam all together.

Then came Shawn and Nastia. They were in a whole different category all by themselves I thought. And maybe it was just because Nastia is taller and as such looked more graceful and limber when she was doing all those flips and twists on the beam (and since I was multitasking on the PC at the time I might have missed something during her performance that put her in second), but I actually thought she did a slightly better job than Shawn did. But Shawn was the first performer that actually looked like I remember Olympic balance beam gymnasts looking like in past years.

So finally got to see one of my favorite two gymnastic events AND my first medal ceremony of the Olympics to boot.

[Les_Is_More]

Finally got me some of my favorite gymnastics last night. :D I missed the uneven bars the other night, but got the balance beam last night (good thing, too, wasn't that the last gymnastic event?). And USA took Gold and Silver *yaaaaay!*, and rightly so. Most of the other gymnasts seemed a lot more wobbly than I remember them usually being, those that didn't fall off the beam all together.

Then came Shawn and Nastia. They were in a whole different category all by themselves I thought. And maybe it was just because Nastia is taller and as such looked more graceful and limber when she was doing all those flips and twists on the beam (and since I was multitasking on the PC at the time I might have missed something during her performance that put her in second), but I actually thought she did a slightly better job than Shawn did. But Shawn was the first performer that actually looked like I remember Olympic balance beam gymnasts looking like in past years.

So finally got to see one of my favorite two gymnastic events AND my first medal ceremony of the Olympics to boot.

I also thought Nastia performed better on the beam. However, Shawn had a higher start value which was larger than Nastia's better execution score.

I was pumped to see Horton get the silver in high bar. He well deserved it.

[Dan!]

I just got through watching the replay of Bolt's 200M record breaking win. Wow! I feel like I just watched something that seemed almost superhuman. He runs so effortlessly. It was good to see him run harder and seem almost humble in this win as compared to the 100M.

[rossid]

North Korea has the highest GDP per capita? Is that per person in the Olympics? They are not that affluent are they?

Plus People's Republic of Korea (South) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North), if I've got them right, are very confusing names. I just know the S.K. flag when I see it plus they are a very competitive county in the summer games.

Shawn Johnson?
Oh I could go on but here:
http://www.kcci.com/video/17233618/index.html
There are two videos with her and one with her mom talking about shopping. Search "Shawn Johnson's mom" in the last seven days.

[The Unknown Gomer]

The lastest from Yahoo about the underage Chinese gymnast situation... :rolleyes:

Between this and all their human rights issues and all their lead filled toys, I'd really love to boycott everything Chinese.

But their buffets are just so darn GOOD! ;)

IOC’s gymnastics probe falls well short
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 29 minutes ago

AP - Aug 22, 1:19 am EDT

BEIJING – At least when the NCAA runs one of its bogus investigations of Big State U, it sends some people out in the field, conducts some interviews and then after a few months (or years) claims that the Ferrari Enzo the star tailback was driving really did come from grandma back home and not the booster or the agent.

The International Olympic Committee apparently sees no need for such pause or pretense.

The “investigation” it ordered into whether some Chinese gymnasts were under the minimum age of 16 was concluded after just a few hours Friday.

The not-so stunning verdict: The Chinese are innocent.

Please move along, now. Nothing to see here.

“We believe the matter will be put to rest and there’s no question … on the eligibility,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. “The information we have received seems satisfactory in terms of the correct documentation – including birth certificates.”

While you slept, the IOC swept.

Sorry, the matter isn’t being put to rest no matter how many whitewash inspections are done. A real investigation does not take hours. It takes days or weeks or however long is necessary.

What exactly did they do except look at the same questionable info – government-issued passports – they had previously been presented? Did they ask He Kexin if she was 16, cross your heart and hope to die?

The Associated Press says the Chinese turned over information to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) on Thursday evening. It included the current and former passport, ID card and family residence permit for the double-gold medalist. All had the same and proper birth date.

That was enough for FIG, which by Friday morning had declared everything fine.

No word on the old websites, interviews with friends and families, a trip to the birth hospital or discovery of old school records. Nothing.

Perhaps this would have amounted to little and perhaps He and the others are, indeed, 16 – but this was nothing but the most ridiculous kind of propaganda.

A 12-hour investigation? Really? No one at the IOC or FIG has even the sense to think, “Perhaps we should at least pretend to care before simply clearing the gymnasts?”

The investigation by FIG was so fast word of its start didn’t make the Chinese government-controlled English newspaper China Daily. No news is good news.

This in the face of mounting evidence from multiple media and citizen investigations in America and England that showed more and more old registration forms, gymnastics websites and athlete logs that showed three of the six Chinese gymnasts used to list birth dates from 1993 and 1994, which would make them too young to compete at the Olympics.

In an effort to protect young athletes before their bones and muscles fully formed, FIG mandates that to compete in the Beijing Games a gymnast must be born in 1992 or before.

First came stories in The New York Times, The Associated Press and the Times of London that listed He’s birth date as a too-young Jan. 1, 1994. Then private citizens got involved. The latest was from a New York computer expert going by the name Stryde Hax who combed old Chinese documents on the web that found even more of the same.

Just last December government controlled media wrote stories about He calling her a 13-year-old “little girl” and a “star of the future.” The future became now when she showed up at the Olympics with a Chinese passport that claimed she was born Jan. 1, 1992.

There were also suspicions about two of her teammates. The birth date of Yang Yilin was listed on official national registration lists posted by the General Administration of Sport of China website for three years from 2004 to 2006 as a too young Aug. 26, 1993, according to the AP.

On her passport her birth date is Aug. 26, 1992.

Jiang Yuyuan’s birthday was Oct. 1, 1993, as recently as a registration list for a 2007 competition. On her passport she was born Nov. 1, 1991.

Perhaps the birth date of one gymnast could be confused one time, but half the team on multiple occasions? Considering 2000 Chinese bronze medalist Yang Yun later admitted on state television she was 14 that year, the IOC or FIG should have been all over this.

Instead, they did nothing until the USOC requested action. Then they just brushed it aside.

Having younger, and presumably smaller and more nimble athletes, can be a significant advantage in some gymnastics disciplines. Romania’s Nadia Comaneci scored seven perfect 10s in the 1976 Games when she was just 14, before FIG set the age limit.

This investigation isn’t fair to the sport of gymnastics, which will forever look suspiciously on the competition here. It isn’t fair to the United States, Romania and Russia, who all deserve to move up one spot on the medal stand if China used ineligible athletes.

And it isn’t fair to China, He and her teammates, who if innocent don’t deserve this to hang over their heads forever.

The IOC and FIG have never been about fair, though. They’ve been about kowtowing to the powerful and cashing the checks. They have so lost their way, have become so insulated by the power, they can’t even fathom no one is accepting a kangaroo court investigation.

Even the NCAA is smarter than that.

[rossid]

To the the NCAA is smarter says it all.

But very weird that different sports have their own rules. You can be 14 and on a country's diving team.

President of the IOC was clear in a three-part interview with Bob Costas during NBC's coverage: medals will be taken away if the age rules were broken. Even the host country, such as Greece in 2004 when two athletes did not show up for drug tests, are not immune. All I saw was part one.

MEN'S BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL GOLD!!! Both close matches with players of legal age methinks.

Just confirmed what I thought: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Openly-gay-diver-wins-gold?urn=oly,102974

[Gapeach3DFan]

To the the NCAA is smarter says it all.

But very weird that different sports have their own rules. You can be 14 and on a country's diving team.

President of the IOC was clear in a three-part interview with Bob Costas during NBC's coverage: medals will be taken away if the age rules were broken. Even the host country, such as Greece in 2004 when two athletes did not show up for drug tests, are not immune. All I saw was part one.

MEN'S BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL GOLD!!! Both close matches with players of legal age methinks.

Just confirmed what I thought: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Openly-gay-diver-wins-gold?urn=oly,102974
The diving team does have a different rule, though, D. The FIG raised the age limit because even though younger athletes are more limber, they are also more prone to injury. Gymnasts have a higher risk of injuries than divers. But, that doesn't really matter. The teams know the rule. IF they break it, they shouldn't be rewarded for it. I realize it looks like we are upset just because the US team stands to gain two gold medals if China is disqualified. But, I would be vert disappointed if it was the US team that had done that. I am disappointed in the track athletes from the US that admitted to steroid use in Athens. I actually feel bad for the people of China, too. It puts a stain on their games.

BTW, I was also excited to see Bolt race, even though he did beat the Americans. The fastest man did win. That's how it should be.

[Dan!]

With the Summer Games now over, what moment was most memorable to you? Mine was watching the USA Men's volleyball team win Gold on the last day. Made me tear up.

By the way, question for the Aussies. I have wondered for some time what the stars on the Austrailian flag stand for.

[Jason]

By the way, question for the Aussies. I have wondered for some time what the stars on the Austrailian flag stand for.

I'm only an honorary Aussie but ...

# Southern Cross The Southern Cross in the second quarter (also known as the top or head) and fourth quarter. Consists of five stars in a more or less kite-like pattern - Alpha Crucis (7-point), Beta Crucis (7-point), Gamma Crucis (7-point), Delta Crucis (7-point) and the smaller Epsilon Crucis (5-point). The outer diameter of each of the 4 major stars is 1/7 the width of the fly and the inner diameter is 4/9 outer diameter; the diameter of Epsilon Crucis is 1/12 the width of the fly and the inner diameter is 4/9 the outer diameter. The constellation of the Southern Cross is a significant navigational feature of the southern hemisphere, strongly places Australia geographically and has been associated with the continent since its earliest days.

# Commonwealth Star The Commonwealth Star or Star of Federation, central in the third quarter or lower hoist, has seven points to denote the six states and the combined territories of the Commonwealth. The seventh point was added in 1909. The outer diameter is 3/10 the width of the Union Jack (3/5 the width of the fly) and the inner diameter is 4/9 the outer diameter.
- http://www.csu.edu.au/australia/flag.html

[ZippyApplePants]

With the Summer Games now over, what moment was most memorable to you? Mine was watching the USA Men's volleyball team win Gold on the last day. Made me tear up.

By the way, question for the Aussies. I have wondered for some time what the stars on the Austrailian flag stand for.

Yes, it was great for the Men's team to get the Gold after what happened. :( Other than that, I think my avatar says it all. :)

[sandie]

Jason: You beat me to it. The Southern Cross is very distinctive in our skies. The New Zealand flag also features it. Planes, companies, radio networks etc have all been named the Southern Cross.

This site is good-

www.southernskies.com.au/astronomy/cross.htm - 15k -

[ausgirl]

With the Summer Games now over, what moment was most memorable to you? Mine was watching the USA Men's volleyball team win Gold on the last day. Made me tear up.

By the way, question for the Aussies. I have wondered for some time what the stars on the Austrailian flag stand for.
Yes we are priveledged down under - to have our very own constellation that can't be seen from elsewhere in the world.

I also like to think the southern cross represents Jesus on the cross, head, feet hands and side where he was stabbed to check if he was dead. Don't know how significant or true that is, but something I like just the same.

[ausgirl]

Yes we are priveledged down under - to have our very own constellation that can't be seen from elsewhere in the world.

I also like to think the southern cross represents Jesus on the cross, head, feet hands and side where he was stabbed to check if he was dead. Don't know how significant or true that is, but something I like just the same.
My most memorable Olympic moment was Sally Maclellan's hurdling silver medal. For me, her excitement and thrill personified all that is supposed to be the Olympics.

The bags of medals might be special, but to some, they seem expected and not that exciting.

[Dan!]

One more question for the Aussies...why are the team uniforms green and yellow instead of red, white and blue?

[sandyandporter]

USA Men's Volleyball gold medal round. Most exciting thing I've ever seen in my whole life!

[sandie]

One more question for the Aussies...why are the team uniforms green and yellow instead of red, white and blue?

Australian sporting teams have worn green and gold for over a century. They are the colours of the Acacia (Wattle). Acacia Pycnantha (Golden Wattle) is the National Floral Emblem, and Australia's Coat of Arms has stylised wattle branches and flowers on it. Acacias flower in Winter to early Spring, and the golden balls on the green bushes are very showy in the bushland.

This site has a lovely photo of the Golden Wattle, and there is a link to Australia's Coat of Arms as well:

www.worldwidewattle.com/infogallery/symbolic/nationalcolours.php