2012 Summer Olympics: The Thread

[Andy Shandy]

I quite enjoyed it despite my usual cynicism to those sort of things. It was rather British though so I can see why others may not like it. Favourite bits were Mr Bean and the James Bond and The Queen bit. Least favourite was probably the Arctic Monkeys bit, mainly because I think they're terrible.

 

[DirtyJunkieScum]

Don't wanna start a shitstorm here, but everytime I've heard the Americans talk about the Olympics, especially in the media, it's been to criticise how we're managing it. Don't really get that. Who the fuck's Mitt Romney to comment on this?

The people in question like to be "number one" and are generally pretty partisan, especially the Republican crowd, so they are naturally going to rip on everyone else. Especially since "Daddy" is this tiny little cold, rainswept shithole that managed to take over 1/4 of the planet. They may be the worlds only super power but they'll still never live up to their Dad's legacy, I think it kind of rankles them so they try and shoot down the old man whenever they can.

Anyway, that's my trolling done for this thread.

OT: Only saw a little bit that I was forced to watch round a mates house. The flame thing was quite clever I suppose. From what my mate said there were so many insider references you probably wouldn't have a clue what was going on if you weren't British or even from the East End of London but he was very impressed, said it was pretty trippy and out there and seeing as it was directed by Danny Boyle that's not much of a surprise.
So in general I think it pleased the home crowd, which is good, everyone was pissed off with having to foot the bill for this crap so at least we've been forced to pay for something we liked even if we'd rather not have had it at all.

 

[Tiger King]

when the ceremony began and I saw the green fields and cottages I did think is this it!?
but it did morph and evolve and at the ending of the industrial revolution scene I was really impressed.

parts did drag though. The nhs part and the digital part were a bit boring personally.

I think it was pretty good personally. Ive read comments on various forums saying "chinas was better" and yes china did a very very good job and it was a long time ago so I can't really remember it but what was the uk to do to be just as good?
have 2012 people bang drums in military efficiency like china did?

the uk made a show that represented Britain and I feel they did that.

did anyone else think of lord of the rings during the industrial part?

 

[Wadders]

Now that the British are done making a fool of themselves on the world stage, a question for our British escapees. Will you be ever able to live this down?

Now that you've understood just how much Britain's given the world, might you actually go and read a history book? -_-

The opening ceremony was demonstrating all of the things Britain did FIRST and BEST; which pretty much covers the entire founding of the modern world.

You are a very angry young man, I understand what the British contributed to the modern world. And that their music is still a basis for ours today. The ceremony was still shit.

You must understand that we British are very self deprecating, but the moment anyone foreign speaks out against us we go fucking mental.

Anyways, the ceremony was good I thought (once we got past the Hobbiton stage). Your lack of appreciation may be due to the fact you're not British, and as such you wont have had much of a connection with the things it was portraying / celebrating about Britain.

besides, it's our Olympics. We'll do what we wan in our opening ceremony because its about us, if foreigners didn't get it or like it, then big fucking deal

 

[Aris Khandr]

Can anybody expain what hell was it with the music? Heroes? Enola Gay? Dark Side of The Moon? Come Together? Were they trying to be "eccentric" or just thick.

It might have something to do with the lyrics you hear in the songs. "Come together right now over me". You don't think that might inspire a bit of the Olympic spirit? "We can be heroes just for one day" for the athletes that, win or lose, will be their nation's heroes that day? "Hey Jude" is an extremely well known song, and entirely about going out and doing your best. This is exactly what they were going for, British songs that the international community would also know, that contain words to inspire the athletes and viewers in a spirit of peace and togetherness. You know, exactly what the Olympics are about.

 

[Andrew_C]

Can anybody expain what hell was it with the music? Heroes? Enola Gay? Dark Side of The Moon? Come Together? Were they trying to be "eccentric" or just thick.

It might have something to do with the lyrics you hear in the songs. "Come together right now over me". You don't think that might inspire a bit of the Olympic spirit? "We can be heroes just for one day" for the athletes that, win or lose, will be their nation's heroes that day? "Hey Jude" is an extremely well known song, and entirely about going out and doing your best. This is exactly what they were going for, British songs that the international community would also know, that contain words to inspire the athletes and viewers in a spirit of peace and togetherness. You know, exactly what the Olympics are about.

As I said in response to j-e-f-f-e-r-s:

"Heroes" is a song about how nice it would be if we weren't a bunch of fucked up druggies.
"Dark Side of The Moon" is about insanity.
"Enola Gay" is an anti-nuclear protest song framed as a regretful love song/break-up song to the bomber that dropped the A-Bomb on Hiroshima.
"Come Together" - Who knows? drug filled orgies? World Peace? World Peace through drug filled orgies? your guess is as good as mine.

Just because they are great songs, which they are, doesn't mean they are appropriate for an Olympic opening ceremony.

Of the 4 above "Enola Gay" is the only remotely appropriate one, but still IMHO an odd choice.

You can't just think "Oohh, that's a great lyric". You have to think what the song is about and I don't think drug abuse and insanity are appropriate themes.

And I have nothing against "Hey Jude", certainly one of the better choices.

 

[-|-]

Like most brits, I was expecting a cringe-inducing cheese fest, but the end result was actually rather good. Made me proud to be british and more than a little homesick.

 

[-|-]

You can't just think "Oohh, that's a great lyric". You have to think what the song is about and I don't think drug abuse and insanity are appropriate themes.

Personally I think they are great themes for the Olympics.

And I have nothing against "Hey Jude", certainly one of the better choices.

Yep, everyone can sing "na na na na na".

 

[Andalusa]

I was a bit puzzled by the ceremony, it wasn't a simple sit and watch kind of thing, I suppose actually being there would have given it the atmosphere it lacked watching it on the telly. No, it was straight forward and to the point, at the same time it had a deep underlying message of British pride, unity and generosity. As I understand it, most, if not all, of the performers were volunteers?
Progression of the country.. technology, culture and diversity. We weren't going for amazing or spectacular, it was supposed to be different, which it was.
The conclusion was absolutely amazing, the way the cauldron worked..

I don't have a great sense of national pride, I didn't care for the jubilee and the opening ceremony is all I'm going to watch of the olympics.. but I found it breath taking.

 

[Ryotknife]

It is was nice ceremony and all. A lot of hard work went into it and they didnt hold anything back.

But....was this really the place for it? at the Olympics? Rather than "welcome athletes to the Olympics....English style!" the whole thing was basically "here is everything you possibly need to know about Britian."

Course I can not exactly blame them. The opening ceremony has become the new arms race of the 21st century...

 

[Krazie_Thug_Nutz]

Now that the British are done making a fool of themselves on the world stage, a question for our British escapees. Will you be ever able to live this down?

Now that you've understood just how much Britain's given the world, might you actually go and read a history book? -_-

The opening ceremony was demonstrating all of the things Britain did FIRST and BEST; which pretty much covers the entire founding of the modern world.

You are a very angry young man, I understand what the British contributed to the modern world. And that their music is still a basis for ours today. The ceremony was still shit.

Yeah..the ceremony was pretty hilarious haha.

But, I havnt really watched much of the Olympics, Ive never really cared about them that much, everyone knows the US is the best anyways

 

[andrat]

Sounds like London dropped the ball with the opening ceremony. Didn't see it yet, but I haven't heard anything good from thoes who have. Sounds like China made a hell of a lot better attempt and execution.

Read through the thread. With the exception of one Yank, the rest of us seem to have quite enjoyed it.

Canadian reporting in, (please don't lump us in with the Americans). While I thought our ceremony for the Vancouver 2010 was better, and possibly I'm biased, yours wasn't all that bad. It wasn't good, but not how poor the earlier guy made it out to be.

 

[AnarchistFish]

They may be the worlds only super power

China.

The ceremony was still shit.

You must understand that we British are very self deprecating, but the moment anyone foreign speaks out against us we go fucking mental.

Dude amen.

 

[mayney93]

at first i was liek


but then i was liek

 

[DirtyJunkieScum]

They may be the worlds only super power

China.

...eh... they may be a rising star, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them a superpower just yet.

 

[AnarchistFish]

They may be the worlds only super power

China.

...eh... they may be a rising star, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them a superpower just yet.

They have the 2nd highest GDP in the world, the largest population in the world, by far the largest army in the world, they own a shitload of western debt and the whole of the west depends on their immense manufacturing sector.
They finished being "rising stars" years ago. They own us now.

 

[Aris Khandr]

So, events. Who is watching what? I freely admit that my main interests are football and gymnastics.

In the women's foil event, Italy has taken home the gold, silver, and bronze medals. So that's an interesting bit of trivia for later. A man from Kazakhstan took home the gold in cycling. I hope they double checked that they had the national anthem right.

We've already had three world records set at these Olympics, including a world record in archery set by a South Korean man who is legally blind.

 

[DirtyJunkieScum]

They have the 2nd highest GDP in the world, the largest population in the world, by far the largest army in the world, they own a shitload of western debt and the whole of the west depends on their immense manufacturing sector.
They finished being "rising stars" years ago. They own us now.

They are an industrial power and economic power and they have a big army that lags behind technologically, but they don't have the global political or cultural influence.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

Anybody watching the events today? Just saw Italy sweep the podium in women's fencing, pretty exciting matches.

Hope the US can pull something out for the road race I am watching but the Brits seem like a solid bet.

For US coverage I have found Greco-Roman wrestling on MSNBC later on but I'm not seeing Judo, Taekwondo or Freestyle wrestling and just a little bit of boxing. Why do they get surprised when all they cover is gymnastics, track and swimming and then the ratings are low? Show me some fights!

I'm actively trying to watch a lot of the weird sports I know nothing about as well. I've never watched high level table tennis or badmitton before so those might be fun. Also I am fairly excited for the triathlon and some swimming finals to see if Phelps and Lochte can bring us back some more gold medals. Any events you people are eagerly awaiting?

And, just because I know you Europeans are big fans of soccer, who gets the gold in men's and women's this year? I put a solid bet on the US ladies but I don't know enough about the men's event to pick a winner. I guess I predict... North Korea for the gold, why not?

And the US damn well better get some wrestling gold even if I don't get to watch it. I love Olympic wrestling.