Beijing Olympics Thread

[Dion]

Foreigners detained over 'Free Tibet' protest at Olympic venue

BEIJING - Chinese police detained four foreigners near Beijing's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday after they unfurled giant "Free Tibet" banners, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Activist group Students for a Free Tibet said four activists from Britain and the United States managed to put up Tibetan flags and two 140-square-foot banners near Beijing's iconic "Bird's Nest" stadium.

The pressure group released pictures of activists tying the banners to an electricity pole with the Olympic village in the background.

The banners, which read in English "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet" and "Tibet Will Be Free", were up for an hour before Chinese police managed to bring them down, said a statement from the group.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage...StoryId=127438

[Phanuthier]

^ Thats sort of asking for it. I'm pretty sure everyone and their dog knows that big brother is watching and they arn't given the same freedom of speech as home.

Anyways, I hope people learn to accept that some countries have different values then others, and if you constantly look to compare and say "well we do it this way back at home and its better" then you are taking away from some real another countries culture that you could learn alot from. Look past all the "we did it this way back home and its better" and you will have a blast, China is going to put on one awsome show.

Anyways, as for the pollution, I wonder how big of a problem it is? I know 10 years ago, some players had a tough time playing in Calgary in the winter because of the elevation and how thin the air is; and playing sports in the winter, there definately is a noticeable difference, but I got used to it. As a pro athlete in shape, I wonder if it'll affect their performance and how much?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

^ Thats sort of asking for it. I'm pretty sure everyone and their dog knows that big brother is watching and they arn't given the same freedom of speech as home.

Anyways, I hope people learn to accept that some countries have different values then others, and if you constantly look to compare and say "well we do it this way back at home and its better" then you are taking away from some real another countries culture that you could learn alot from. Look past all the "we did it this way back home and its better" and you will have a blast, China is going to put on one awsome show.

It's one show i won't be watching. I was disghusted that the 08 Summer Olympics were given to a country guilty of human rights violations. Eve worse is thier censorship of what the media can print or show.

Anyways, as for the pollution, I wonder how big of a problem it is? I know 10 years ago, some players had a tough time playing in Calgary in the winter because of the elevation and how thin the air is; and playing sports in the winter, there definately is a noticeable difference, but I got used to it. As a pro athlete in shape, I wonder if it'll affect their performance and how much?

They interviewed someone on the CBC News and he predicts the times will be a lot slower due to all the smog and pollution.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

As much as I disagree with China's actions in recent events, once the Olympics start on Friday let's try to keep this thread about the Olympics, and not an on-going political debate. There's already a multi-page thread regarding this, if that's what people are seeking.

I agree 100%. Olympic is supposed to be a sporting event not a political event or any other sorts. Yes China have problem with human right stuff but other country does too. So, yes during the Olympics let's just stick to Olympic sports and leave the other stuff on the "Off Topic Section".

As for the Olympics, I used to get so pumped up watching the Olympics but kind of cool off lately not because of the quality of the competitions but the thought of someone cheating the system ie: steroids and other stuff. Makes you wonder how long will the winner keep his/her gold medal before they announce this person is a cheater.

Anyways, as for the sports itself I will watch basketball. It's too bad that Canada did not qualify. It always makes me wonder why Canada doesn't qualify for the Olympics. We are one of the biggest country in the world and I am sure we can find some good Canadian basketball players. I guess most of them plays and concentrate on hockey.

How many medals are we going to get? I am not sure. I guess our strength is gymnastic, swimming(we are probably okay), track n field and maybe baseball. I am not sure. I guess I'll just have to wait.

GO CANADA!!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Dion

It's one show i won't be watching. I was disghusted that the 08 Summer Olympics were given to a country guilty of human rights violations. Eve worse is thier censorship of what the media can print or show.



They interviewed someone on the CBC News and he predicts the times will be a lot slower due to all the smog and pollution.

I watch the Games for the Canadian athletes. I don't really care where it's held!

[LockedOut]

Olympics have started. Canadian's women's soccer is on CBC TV right now and other games are online at cbc.ca. Tomorrow early morning men's soccer start. cbc.ca has the games online.

[GirlySports]

Canada barely squeaked out a win. Played quite nervously.

---

Watched The National last night and they talked about all sorts off issues. From the 1989 massacre to the 1-child policy (which was pretty disturbing). Looks like they can pretty much report on anything and have it aired back to Canada.

The feature on the Canadian men's hockey team was pretty cool!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Anyways, as for the sports itself I will watch basketball. It's too bad that Canada did not qualify. It always makes me wonder why Canada doesn't qualify for the Olympics. We are one of the biggest country in the world and I am sure we can find some good Canadian basketball players. I guess most of them plays and concentrate on hockey.

Canada is a very small country population-wise. California has more people. Mexico City has more people. Most of our best athletes are playing hockey or other sports.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Canada is a very small country population-wise. California has more people. Mexico City has more people. Most of our best athletes are playing hockey or other sports.

And funding. Countries like Italy and Australia fund heavily through donations and lottery money. You will see Canada do well in Vancouver 2010 because all the money is going into the Own the Podium program.

Very few countries are good at both summer and winter games. I think Canada is doing the right thing and putting their limited resources into the winter games and hope for the best in the summer games.

[Vernie_30]

Anyone know how much athletes are paid for winning a medal for their country?
More specifically the gold for countries like Canada, US and China.
I heard a rumour that China is paying a million US for gold and US is paying 250K for gold.
I googled for awhile and i can't find anything.
If anyone can find that info or even silver and bronze and any other high paying countries would be much appreciated.

GO CANADA!!

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Anyways, as for the sports itself I will watch basketball. It's too bad that Canada did not qualify. It always makes me wonder why Canada doesn't qualify for the Olympics. We are one of the biggest country in the world and I am sure we can find some good Canadian basketball players. I guess most of them plays and concentrate on hockey.

Well it would certainly help if our NBA players actually participated in the national program. We'd have a competitive team with guys like Nash and Magloire playing. Maybe not in that US/Spain/Italy/Greece/Argentina category, but definitely in that next group with Germany, China, Australia, and others. I don't get why these guys are so reluctant to play for the national program. Guys like Leo Rautins and Jay Triano (currently not involved, I guess) are by all accounts upstanding guys and give the program a lot of integrity, and it's not like Magloire and Nash are cocky or unpatriotic, but there's clearly no interest there.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Canada barely squeaked out a win. Played quite nervously.

I can't believe this is the only comment on the first game of the Olympics, although I guess it was on quite early in Canada. I had Canadian friends over last night to watch the game on Slingbox, was a lot of fun. Kara Lang's goal was a great header. If it wasn't for a crossbar and a defensive gaffe the score would have been 3-0 Canada. As it is 2-1 is a great way to open. China will be tough to beat at home, and Sweden always gives our team trouble but if they play like they can there is no reason why our girls can't go 3-0 in the preliminaries.

[GirlySports]

During the Parade of Nations during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics will parade in the arena, preceded by their flag. The flag is borne by a sportsperson from that country chosen either by the NOC or by the athletes themselves to represent their country. It is considered a great honor to bear the country's flag in the Parade of Nations.
The following is a list of flag bearers, listed by country. The list is sorted by the order in which each nation appears in the parade of nations. Greece, as the progenitor of the Olympic movement, always marches first, and the host nation, in this case the People's Republic of China, marches last. All other nations march in name order in the language of the host nation, which in this case is the Chinese language.
Nations are "alphabetized" in order of the number of strokes in the first character of the country's name in Chinese.

Number of Strokes!??!!??

Canada = 加拿大

Errrr i think that's 7 strokes in the word... somewhere in the middle cause some words have like 14 strokes.

[octothorp]

I'm surprised to be saying this, but I give the US athletes serious credit here in their choice of flagbearer: Lopez Lomong is a former Sudanese refugee running in the 1,500 m. It's a subtle and yet powerful way of drawing attention to China's implicit support of the violence in Darfur, and while Lomong's story on its own is enough to make him flag-worthy, I'm sure that US athletes see this choice as a way to show their concerns about China's poor human rights record.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapc...rer/index.html

[The Goon]

I really just need to know when the women's beach volleyball is on.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by The Goon

I really just need to know when the women's beach volleyball is on.

Even better, we need to know when Brazilian twins Bia and Branca hit the pool in synchronized swimming:

http://www.mahalo.com/Bia_And_Branca_Feres

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Even better, we need to know when Brazilian twins Bia and Branca hit the pool in synchronized swimming:

http://www.mahalo.com/Bia_And_Branca_Feres

I don't think they're there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_...nized_swimming

I don't see them on any of the official athletes lists.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't think they're there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_...nized_swimming

I don't see them on any of the official athletes lists.

Hopefully they made the trip:

http://machochip.com/2008/08/bia-and...s-are-into.php

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't think they're there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_...nized_swimming

I don't see them on any of the official athletes lists.

killjoy....

[HelloHockeyFans]

The globe thing at the opening ceremonies was pretty neat... and on to the parade of nations.