Olympic GDT - 27 July (Opening Ceremony)

[icarus]

I thought we might as well create separate daily Olympic threads to avoid an unreadable megathread.

Canada's archery team, Crispin Duenas and Marie-Pier Beaudet, take part in the ranking rounds today. It appears that after top ten finishes in both halves, Duenas has finished ranked 8th out of a field of 64. I presume this means he's made the cut and will proceed to the eliminations against lesser opposition.

The women's individual should be underway right now. Beaudet is ranked 21 in the world.

Tonight’s Opening Ceremony, directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, promises to be "spectacular" with real sheep, a cricket match, dancing nurses and Mary Poppins. Hmmm.

I read in the paper this morning that Canadian Olympians were playing street hockey in the athletes village yesterday.

[icarus]

Looks like Beaudet finished with the 29th place ranking. Does anyone know where the cut is made?

[Mango]

Duenas did well with a top 10 finish.

Neat story of the day: a blind athlete broke the world record in archery.

http://www.london2012.com/news/artic...ds-broken.html

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Mango

Duenas did well with a top 10 finish.

Neat story of the day: a blind athlete broke the world record in archery.

http://www.london2012.com/news/artic...ds-broken.html

Yeah I saw that. Unreal.

Dong-hyun's eyesight
•In tests of his vision Im Dong-Hyun scored 20/100 and 20/200 in his right and left eyes respectively
•20/200 means when you stand 20ft from an object you see what someone with 20/20 vision sees at 200ft
•His right eye is better but at 20ft he sees what someone with perfect sight sees at 100ft
•He chooses not to improve his sight with glasses or contact lenses as he has become accustomed to seeing the target this way

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19013793

[Sainters7]

I'm actually decently excited for the Opening Ceremony today. Always watched it growing up, a lot of it can be slow, but every one seems to have that "wow" factor 10 minute(ish) segment thats always awesome. Like Beijing's drums, and Athens' Klepsydra (the "coming to life" ancient Greek portraits, which I'd argue was even better than the Beijing drums, but that's prob just the Greek history nerd in me).

Very interested to see what London's going to do for its "wow" factor segment. Maybe a tea party lazer show..

[GirlySports]

I'm really looking forward to the musical acts today and a great show!

I thought the Beijing Opening Ceremonies were ridiculously bad.

Fake fireworks, fake girl, 2000 guys mindlessly beating on a drum.

I'm a fan of Chinese music and culture and there was none of it. Even the music for the TaiChi demonstration seemed weak.

[Sainters7]

Ohhh right, I forgot all about the controversy after the Beijing ceremonies and how it was fake. Guess that lends more support to my opinion of the Athens ceremonies being much better.

[icarus]

From what little I know about the Opening Ceremony, you can expect:

- sheep, 'British countryside'
- some rock music, including Sex Pistols and Queen
- young people dancing in strange costume (seemingly an IOC requirement)
- Paul McCartney
- Kate Moss walking a catwalk (although this might be in the closing ceremony, IIRC)

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by icarus

From what little I know about the Opening Ceremony, you can expect:

- sheep, 'British countryside'
- some rock music, including Sex Pistols and Queen
- young people dancing in strange costume (seemingly an IOC requirement)
- Paul McCartney
- Kate Moss walking a catwalk (although this might be in the closing ceremony, IIRC)

Don't forget James Bond!

[Resolute 14]

Opening ceremonies are always terrible. On the topic of terrible, shame our broadcast consortium retained that stupid "I believe" song as the opening theme. On the plus side, the consortium allows for all of Canada's best sports people to cover the event.

I should go back and watch the hockey gold medal game.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I should go back and watch the hockey gold medal game.

Speaking of the gold medal game...sounds like Cuthbert won't be doing anything for the Olympics this year.

[icarus]

[GirlySports]

Canada should bring the flag into the stadium using a hockey stick!

[GirlySports]

It's starting!

[pewpew]

zzzzzz

[Barnet Flame]

This is dire so far.

Had to switch over to Eurosport from the BBC.

[GirlySports]

This is like grade 8 social studies

[Barnet Flame]

Nah.

We did Soviet history in Grade 8.

Kanada ruled back then.

[GirlySports]

007 bringing the Queen to the Stadium? Awesome!

[Barnet Flame]

I wonder how much Romney is enjoying the segment on the NHS?