2010 Winter Olympics (Official Thread?)

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Can someone explain why Ski Jumping is a judged sport?

"He jumped further, but his form was off".

They don't give style points for the long jump, and I don't see how this is different.

well why would they broadcast something with no commentators?

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

well why would they broadcast something with no commentators?

I don't understand your question.

Track and field, swimming, baseball, basketball, hockey, curling, slalom, luge...none of these are judged but they still have commentators.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

well why would they broadcast something with no commentators?

[richteer]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

No one watched the opening ceremony besides me?

Other than the minor technical glitch at the very end (prior to the lighting of the Olympic cauldron), it was a very impressive show. David Atkins did a spectacular job of encapsulating all of the elements in a production that defined who and what it means to be Canadian. Despite the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the organizers honoured his memory throughout the show. It was every bit as memorable as the Beijing opening ceremony, but it resonates with me on a deeper level because of my being Canadian.

We watched it. I only intended to watch the last person with the torch light the cauldron so I started watching just before 18:00. I didn't realise that the cauldron lighting would happen 3 hours later! Still, even though I'm not particularly interested in sports, it was (for the most part) a pretty impressive show. From the moment the snowboarder jumped through the Olympic rings to The Great One lighting the external cauldron, most of it was cool viewing.

Jenny and I are thinking of taking a trip to Vancouver (it's 5 hours away) for a day or two, just so that we can say "we were there".

Let's win some gold medals on home turf: go Canada!

[Moviefan1203]

I was so glad to see Apolo Anton Ohno tie Blair's medal record last night with three more events to go the odds are in his favor that he'll get his seventh. If that happens he will be atop the record books in American Winter Olympic history. He really seems to be a genuinely good guy, and I couldn't be happier for him. GO USA!!!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Canada had a disappointing day yesterday! 2 Gold medal hopefulls, but only 1 Silver achieved. Congrats to Jenn Heil...you did great! That run by Kearney was super fantastic and she deserved the win!

John

[Ashamed Pegasus]

That was hysterical the way S. Korea lost silver and bronze in Speed Skating... I expected there to be a crash near the end but not between team mates...

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Ashamed Pegasus

That was hysterical the way S. Korea lost silver and bronze in Speed Skating... I expected there to be a crash near the end but not between team mates...

I know, I was literally jumping for joy when I saw that crash happen. After the stunts those Koreans have pulled in the past with disqualifications, I don't feel bad for them one bit. Besides, the US got two medals out of that crash. GO USA!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I know, I was literally jumping for joy when I saw that crash happen. After the stunts those Koreans have pulled in the past with disqualifications, I don't feel bad for them one bit. Besides, the US got two medals out of that crash. GO USA!!!

Wow! That's a really unsportsman-like statement to make!

John

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by John72953

Wow! That's a really unsportsman-like statement to make!

John

It's not unsportsmanlike. I'm a huge Ohno fan, and the sportsmanship of the Koreans in the past do not make me feel bad for them. Besides I'm American, and very few things make me feel better than seeing American athletes win medals. And let us not forget, short track speed skating is a sport of crashes and changes by the second. It's just the way the sport is John.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It's not unsportsmanlike. I'm a huge Ohno fan, and the sportsmanship of the Koreans in the past do not make me feel bad for them. Besides I'm American, and very few things make me feel better than seeing American athletes win medals. And let us not forget, short track speed skating is a sport of crashes and changes by the second. It's just the way the sport is John.

It has nothing to do with you being an Ohno fan or an American. As a Canadian I also love to see our athletes win medals, but to rejoice in the misfortune of others is poor sportsmanship.

And yes, I'm fully aware that short track speed skating involves a lot of crashes.

John

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by John72953

It has nothing to do with you being an Ohno fan or an American. As a Canadian I also love to see our athletes win medals, but to rejoice in the misfortune of others is poor sportsmanship.

And yes, I'm fully aware that short track speed skating involves a lot of crashes.

John

Honestly if it had been anyone but the Koreans, I certainly wouldn't have reacted that way. I don't like how they had been behaving in the past, and you can't feel bad for what happened to them. It was karma. For example, I was very happy with Kramer's win in the 5,000m yesterday. I think you would have to be heartless to not be happy for him with the emotion that was pouring out of him after he won the Gold. As an American, I have a huge amount of respect for the way the Netherlands dominates long track speed skating. Winning is a wonderful thing and the Dutch have it down in that sport. It's impossible not to tip your hats to the Dutch and to Mr. Kramer. He was completely gassed in every aspect when he finished and deserved that Gold medal.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Honestly if it had been anyone but the Koreans, I certainly wouldn't have reacted that way. I don't like how they had been behaving in the past, and you can't feel bad for what happened to them. It was karma. For example, I was very happy with Kramer's win in the 5,000m yesterday. I think you would have to be heartless to not be happy for him with the emotion that was pouring out of him after he won the Gold. As an American, I have a huge amount of respect for the way the Netherlands dominates long track speed skating. Winning is a wonderful thing and the Dutch have it down in that sport. It's impossible not to tip your hats to the Dutch and to Mr. Kramer. He was completely gassed in every aspect when he finished and deserved that Gold medal.

Tell you what...because you mentioned The Netherlands I won't any longer discuss our obvious different look at things and say...you are most entitled to your opinion.

I mention The Netherlands and was very happy as well. Having been born there I know full well the history of that sport and have been following the team for decades. They truly have been, are and will no doubt continue to be the powerhouse in that discipline.

So it's all good now!

John

[Scooby Blu]

Been having a blast watching the Olympics on my 60" Kuro Elite.
Just stunning!

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by John72953

Tell you what...because you mentioned The Netherlands I won't any longer discuss our obvious different look at things and say...you are most entitled to your opinion.

I mention The Netherlands and was very happy as well. Having been born there I know full well the history of that sport and have been following the team for decades. They truly have been, are and will no doubt continue to be the powerhouse in that discipline.

So it's all good now!

John

Very well said, John. We must agree to disagree my friend. I wish you the best of luck in this years Olympics. May the countries you support have a very fruitful Olympic games.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by John72953

Sports Illustrated has forecasted a bigger medal haul for Canada than for the U.S.A. I'm not so sure about that, although I do believe its possible.

Being Canadian I sure hope we surpass our expectations and do well! The Hockey Gold in Salt Lake City was a tremendous source of pride for all Canadians and a very emotional win. Doing it on home ice this year could be even sweeter!

Anyway, good luck to all of the athletes and I hope eveyone enjoys the games!

John

unfortunately unlike every other country we always tend to screw up when the games are at home.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

No one watched the opening ceremony besides me?

Other than the minor technical glitch at the very end (prior to the lighting of the Olympic cauldron), it was a very impressive show. David Atkins did a spectacular job of encapsulating all of the elements in a production that defined who and what it means to be Canadian. Despite the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the organizers honoured his memory throughout the show. It was every bit as memorable as the Beijing opening ceremony, but it resonates with me on a deeper level because of my being Canadian.

I was not that impressed, also I did not like that "fake" lighting of the Olympic flame to start the games, followed by putting Gretzky in a car to drive him to the real one (but I did not stay up to watch what he did to light it).


PS don’t get me wrong, some stuff where cool, like using projectors to change the look of stuff (like the Killer whales on the floor, changing those screens and the “flower” in the ceiling to make it the aurora, streams with salmons swimming up stream, trees)….

[Grumpz]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

unfortunately unlike every other country we always tend to screw up when the games are at home.

We choke all over the place, whether we host or not. It's sad to see hopefulls fail, but it's even worse because we don't usually have any surprises either from non hopefulls.
Either way, GO CANADA GO!

[Anthony P]

agree with Go Canada, and I think the media does tend to overestimate how our Atheletes can do so everyone is on the way to the podium even when you need to assume that ours have the best and many others have the worst games of their life. But I disagree with none hopfulls, Just look at Lapointe yesterday in the moguls, she came #5 which was an extremely greate placement for her and for someone that would mnot have been there if we where not the host and had an extra place.

But what I meant was that usualy every other country has done better then usual when they host the games, every other country has won gold when they host, we have had two prior Olympics and both times we did worst then usual and don't have a home won gold. John posted that SI thinks we can do better then the US, I don't think we ever done that, and unless history of Canada hosted games changes, it can't happen this time.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by John72953

It has nothing to do with you being an Ohno fan or an American. As a Canadian I also love to see our athletes win medals, but to rejoice in the misfortune of others is poor sportsmanship.

And yes, I'm fully aware that short track speed skating involves a lot of crashes.

John

I don't really see it as being unsportsmanlike. When you are watching sports there's always an "enemy" and a hero. Depending on how the "enemy" is as a person you might react differently, but if them falling lets your team win a medal, than why wouldn't you be happy or cheer? The race isn't over until it's over so they were perfect until that moment.

Being happy because someone gets hurts and being happy because someone fell are too different things. In the case with the speed skating, I was happy they fell as well but it would have been different if it was a freak accident and they got injured.

They weren't supposed to race as a team, and in that race, they did and tried to get an unfair advantage and in the end Karma bit them in the arse.