Worst Olympics Ever - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

dlish · 07-25-2008, 08:33 PM

ive never written them off..sure they are a distinct possibility for gold. that goes without saying.

but the fact that they are such a yuong side who have had limited play together does them no favours. they are a chance at gold, but they are definately a chance at flopping out. greece, argentina and spain are strong contenders for gold.

some of these stars also have egos larger than a japanese sumo wrestler, and if they are expecting things to be on a silver platter both on and off the field then they are definately in trouble.

-----Added 26/7/2008 at 01 : 14 : 38-----
looks like gebrselaissie wont be contesting the marathon after all. if the best athletes in the world of this magntude refuse to compete then the beijing olympics wont be the drawcard people expect it. apart from athletics and swimming im not that keen for much else..except the synchronised swimming maybe

Quote:

Ethiopia's two-time Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie has declared himself fully fit and ready for another shot at the 10,000 metres in Beijing.

The Ethiopian legend, who has been battling with calf and tendon injuries, returned to training at the Addis Ababa national stadium on Friday to prepare for probably his final Games outing after winning gold medals in 1996 and 2000.

"I'm feeling very fine at the moment. I just started taking part in sprints and I'm preparing very well to take part in Beijing," he told AFP.

Gebrselassie opted out of the marathon, in which he holds the world record of 2:04:26, for health safety reasons fearing the heavy smog in Beijing.

He concedes that the 10,000m will be a tough race considering the strong challenge from his younger compatriots, Kenenisa Bekele and Sileshi Sihine and a host of Kenyans.

"The competition will be fierce", said Gebrselassie.

"It is not just Kenenisa who will mount the challenge but also several athletes from Kenya and other countries."

Ethiopia's best performance at the Olympics came in 2000 in Sydney where their eight-medal haul included four golds.

guyy · 07-25-2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

I have a friend who is intimately involved in bringing the Games to Chicago in 2016. He's working on the environmental committee trying to make the Games green. At this point, they think that they can make it either carbon neutral or potentially carbon negative (removing more carbon than they use).

Is the CTA involved in this plan? They're either going to put people on the roads or move them around by CTA. I don't see how Chicago's infrastructure could handle either option. The idea of the CTA competing with Tokyo's transit system is not even at the level of a joke. The scheme to make condos and apts. out of Olympic builldings on the S. Side lakefront has to have taken a big hit with the collapsing real estate market. I'm amazed and dismayed the bid has gone this far.

Washington Park is nice and used by actual Chicagoans for their own self-organised sporting events. There are lots of runners and soccer players and little leaguers out there using it every day. I think they should get priority over a bunch of chemically enhanced beings pimping sneakers. And yes, pimping sneakers is what the post-Cold War olympics are all about. Even if it's a blow up stadium, i don't think the park is going to be the same afterwards.

I hate the Olympics for what they do to cities. Tokyo lost much more than it gained from the 1964 Olympics. Yes, that swimming pool is a cool piece of architecture, but think how much cooler Harajuku would be if there more of Harajuku. What the Americans didn't do to the Yamanote in the war, the Olympics finished off. And it didn't stop in Tokyo, either. Route 16 (of Yumin fame) was made to get people to the yachting events in Hayama, and that ruined some nice coast.

As a former resident of Yokohama & Kanagawa prefecture, i paid quite a bit in taxes for the 2002 World Cup. The world cup came and went. The stadium is still there, only there isn't much to do with it now. A few concerts and soccer games, but mostly it sits empty. Yokohama already had an Olympic soccer stadium left over from 1964!

I also go to help finance the crumbling and now largely unused Big Owe in Montreal. Aside from the big debt, Montreal also got such gems as the Mirabel airport -- make that cargo airport -- no, make that amusement park. Any argument that Big Sports benefit their locales should end with Montreal.

The_Jazz · 07-26-2008, 10:05 AM

guyy - the CTA is involved in the plan. There is a transportation committee that has heavy CTA representation.

As for the apartments and condo's, well, the consensus is that the real estate market is a temporary thing, at least by 2016 comparison. Are you seriously saying that the real estate market will still be in the tank so much in 8 years that it will be impossible to rent the units out as apartments? Besides, lakefront real estate is pretty much immune from the burst right now.

Charlatan · 07-26-2008, 04:56 PM

The smog in Beijing should be relatively under control for the Olympics.

They are shutting down all factories for two weeks prior to the events. They are also removing close to 50% of cars from the roads.

Interestingly, they are also making *everyone* learn how to queue properly (every Thursday is learn to queue day) and they have made it illegal to spit on the streets (if you know anything about the Chinese it is their love hoarking up a great loogie and spitting it out).

This is the power of centralized government.

dlish · 07-27-2008, 01:28 AM

ive spent my fair share of time around the chinese community in Sydney and yeah they do like to hoark one back. it really does annoy me.

then again i do see a bit of it here in UAE with the indian sub-class. although there are hefty fines if you get caught spitting on the streets here.

charl - are there fines for not queing on thursdays?

Charlatan · 07-27-2008, 04:02 AM

I don't know if there are fines of they don't practice queueing... I just thought it was odd enough that they have to practice en masse.

dlish · 07-27-2008, 04:36 AM

i dont know how much of this is true, but if it is i can only imagine the chaos.

then again is the media just giving the chinese a hard time?

Quote:

Real-time Olympic results under threat | NEWS.com.au

Real-time Olympic results under threat
By Charisse Ede in Beijing
July 27, 2008 04:36pm

Internet connection proving to be major problem
Speed up to 10 times slower than in Australia
Fox Sports coverage: Beijing Now

INTERNET connection is proving to be a major problem at the Beijing Games, despite Olympic organisers promising uncensored access.

Slow connection speed and apparent restricted access to news websites have riled many of the media outlets already in Beijing 12 days out from the opening ceremony.

The Chinese ruling party is widely known to monitor and limit all internet access within China.

However, two years ago BOCOG media services head Li Jingbo promised in the official China Daily newspaper that there would be uncensored access during the Games, which begin on August 8.

Today, some media in the Main Press Centre (MPC) struggled to view various international news websites, including the BBC's Chinese service and appledaily.com.

Japanese reporters said click-through connections would not work.

Connections drop out frequently and several organisations, including the Australian Olympic Committee, say the speed is up to 10 times slower than in Australia.

One picture takes at least two minutes to send.

There are concerns that once the 22,000 media expected at the Games arrive, connections will become even slower.

The director of BOCOG media, Sun Weijia, today denied access was slow and said reports from other journalists had only been positive.

He said he was confident the service could accommodate the thousands of media expected to flood the MPC during the Games.

"I don't think there's any problems if you want to connect to any media website," he said.

"The information we have received is there is no problem.

"I think in MPC, in this building, all the facilities are being established under our calculation and estimation of the number of media and according to our expectations, it can satisfy needs of many media working together in this building."

In contrast, several international news agencies located in a different area of the MPC have been surprised at the speed of their connections and say they have no problems sending photographs.

jorgelito · 07-27-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlish

ive spent my fair share of time around the chinese community in Sydney and yeah they do like to hoark one back. it really does annoy me.

then again i do see a bit of it here in UAE with the indian sub-class. although there are hefty fines if you get caught spitting on the streets here.

charl - are there fines for not queing on thursdays?

Funny, I have spent most of my life in America and it's always the black and Latino juvenile males that think spitting is a varsity sport. I remember in high school them telling me that spitting was cool and that the girls dig it. Let's not keep blaming things on the Chinese.

Charlatan · 07-27-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

Funny, I have spent most of my life in America and it's always the black and Latino juvenile males that think spitting is a varsity sport. I remember in high school them telling me that spitting was cool and that the girls dig it. Let's not keep blaming things on the Chinese.

I cast no "blame" on the Chinese. I am simply making an observation.

I have lived with, worked with and shared a city with many Chinese who do not hoark up phlegm. But I have to say that the clearing the throat of phlegm and expectorating is a lot more common. These actions are not about "being cool for the ladies" they are about promoting good health.

There are many cultural differences here that I can and have adjusted to, but this is not one of them.

jorgelito · 07-27-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I cast no "blame" on the Chinese. I am simply making an observation.

I have lived with, worked with and shared a city with many Chinese who do not hoark up phlegm. But I have to say that the clearing the throat of phlegm and expectorating is a lot more common. These actions are not about "being cool for the ladies" they are about promoting good health.

There are many cultural differences here that I can and have adjusted to, but this is not one of them.

I certainly agree that hoarking and spitting is a disgusting habit. I don't think anyone should have to get used to it. It's just...gross. And probably unhygenic. I just wanted to point out that people from across all cultures do that. Ever watch American sports? It's a freaking spit fest. I think that's why all the juvenile males and weekend warriors spit here. To emulate that behaviour. I hate it when people spit on the courts here (LA). That's all.

P.S. - I thought it was illegal to spit in Singapore?

dlish · 07-28-2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgelito

Funny, I have spent most of my life in America and it's always the black and Latino juvenile males that think spitting is a varsity sport. I remember in high school them telling me that spitting was cool and that the girls dig it. Let's not keep blaming things on the Chinese.

get it right Jorge..it IS cool to spit. chicks just love guys with phelm.

well maybe it is the latinos and blacks that started the whole spitting thing.. since the chinese are the masters of copying everything under the sun, then they must have copied the nth and sth americans in hoarking one back and giving it a good lunge... anyone seen titanic?

highthief · 07-28-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlish

well maybe it is the latinos and blacks that started the whole spitting thing.. since the chinese are the masters of copying everything under the sun, then they must have copied the nth and sth americans in hoarking one back and giving it a good lunge... anyone seen titanic?

Nah, just different cultural norms. In China, eating with your mouth open and chomping loudly is a sign you are enjoying your food, whereas in the west it is very rude and bad mannered.

dlish · 07-28-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highthief

Nah, just different cultural norms. In China, eating with your mouth open and chomping loudly is a sign you are enjoying your food, whereas in the west it is very rude and bad mannered.

oh i know trust me i know! ive been to too many chinese restaurants with my chinese colleagues that you couldnt count for a lifetime. and yes slurping and chomping is the order of the day. at first i found it disturbing but then yohe u grow accustomed to it.

as for my comment.. it was tongue in cheek. i was taking the piss out by emphasising the prejudice that chinese copy everything...from clothes to personal actions.. never mind.. bad humour

jorgelito · 07-28-2008, 11:34 AM

I dunno, I think spitting may be a male juvenile phenomenon rather than an ethnic one. In the examples I use, the reason why I witness more blacks and latinos spitting is because I have more interaction with them, especially on the football field or basketball court. I see Asians spitting too on the playing fields. However, the Chinese spitting thing stands out. And it's more specifically China. I don't see it in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Macau to the extent that they do it in China. Not really sure why. I think it has to do with the perception that clearing out the phlegm is healthy or something.

The eating thing is just cultural. I think it always will be. There was this Vietnamese guy at work who would burp loudly and proudly after lunch in the office. It was ... odd. But then again, tons of dudes burp loudly and proudly all the time, albeit at the pub etc. I think the only way to get "accustomed" to it is to join in. Most Chinese restaurants are noisy enough in general that I don't notice too much.

The_Jazz · 07-28-2008, 11:39 AM

Should I just change the title of this thread to "Is Spitting Racist?" or can we get back to actually discussing the Games?

Back on topic, there are a bunch of athletes considering wearing breathing masks during the Opening Ceremonies. As I understand it, the OC are the complete purview of the host committee, with the exception of the athletes. The Chinese are certainly going to take mask-wearing seriously. Thoughts on what would happen if a participant is allowed to wear a mask by his country?

dlish · 07-28-2008, 12:00 PM

well theres one aussie swimmer by the name of grant hackett. not too sure how well known he is in the states, but hes won the 1500m swim for the past 2 olympic games, maybe three and a swag of other medals at world championships etc.

he has already said that we will do whatever it takes to not get sick including wearing breathing mask in the street as well as on the plane.

when ive seen news reels and they do takes on people in chinese cities and i see many with masks on. so why is it an insult if you wear it at the opening ceremony as opposed to every day living? i say let the truth be told.

then again if you think you're going to be sick becuase you are out in the open, then you shouldnt be at the opening ceremony

jorgelito · 07-28-2008, 12:11 PM

I think health comes first. If you need to wear a mask wear a mask. I think the Aussies are distributing them to their team in their Olympic Kits. Lots of athletes are staying outside of China (Korea, Japan) to wait for the last possible minute before arriving in Beijing.

I feel like the Chinese government is in denial. They had years to take care of their pollution problems. There's no ideology here - just look outside. But instead, they waited until the last possible minute and it's still no guarantee. In some ways I hope for epic failure, not to humiliate the Chinese people but to hopefully get the government to see that they need better long term planning and not smoke and mirrors. I realize this is supposed to be their coming out party but I feel like it's been in bad faith. But that could be disastrous and counterproductive too. A success, while nice, could just reinforce the government's tactics and policies.

There's an outside chance that the skies could clear in time too. But I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

And no, spitting is not racist, it's just gross.

guyy · 07-28-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cameroncrazy822

Worst Ever.... hello

1972 Munich Olympics (11 killed)... hands down then the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (2 killed 111 injured)

I'd say the worst ever was 1968. 1968 saw a global uprsing of students and dissident elements. The Mexican government decided that it needed to end the local protests before the Olympics. The result was the Tlatelolco massacre. Hundreds were killed or disappeared. But hey, unlike 1972 it was AmericaApproved, so i suppose it really can't be that bad, right?

As for 1936, Hitler and Leni Riefenstahl more or less created the modern Olympics. The fascists were first to discover the political uses of Big Sport, but the Cold War Olympics were more or less the same thing.

highthief · 07-31-2008, 01:59 PM

Welp, 7 members of the Russian team, including the women's 1500M world champ, just got busted for doping along with a Jamaican athlete.

Wonder how many more busts we'll see prior to the Games ...

yellowmac · 07-31-2008, 07:37 PM

I think it's way too early to declare the Olympics a bust before it has even begun. There's lots of compelling stories out there, such as Phelps' quest for 8 golds, the US men's basketball team trying to redeem themselves from their crap-tastic '04 showing, and China trying to overtake the US in medal count. We need to wait until the Olympics are over before we jump to conclusions about it.

dlish · 08-01-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowmac

I think it's way too early to declare the Olympics a bust before it has even begun. There's lots of compelling stories out there, such as Phelps' quest for 8 golds, the US men's basketball team trying to redeem themselves from their crap-tastic '04 showing, and China trying to overtake the US in medal count. We need to wait until the Olympics are over before we jump to conclusions about it.

not that ı have much tıme to reply to thıs..

but the olympıc games arent just about the US winning anything or beating anyone...its not all about me me me.

Charlatan · 08-01-2008, 04:48 PM

Many from the Canadian Olympic team are staying here for the fresher air, the great sports facilities and the fact that it's in the same time zone. There's going to be a party to wish them luck... many that are not competing until later in the games are going to be here until well after the opening ceremonies.

yellowmac · 08-01-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlish

not that ı have much tıme to reply to thıs..

but the olympıc games arent just about the US winning anything or beating anyone...its not all about me me me.

it is, according to NBC Universal.

snowy · 08-04-2008, 08:25 AM

The Games start in four days, and one of the headlines on today's online NYTimes was in regards to the air quality, with these pictures:

Caption: On Monday Beijing’s air-pollution index rose above the World Health Organization recommended maximum for the first time in four days.

Caption: The Bird’s Nest stadium in smog on Monday, top, and under clear skies on Saturday.

Quote:

Beijing Air Thick on Monday click to show

Yuck! I feel badly for the athletes competing in these Games, if pollution levels stay where they are or repeatedly cycle back to this point throughout competition. It's definitely going to put a crimp in things.

dlish · 08-04-2008, 11:06 AM

forget about the pollution... 4 days out and we have a security threat...

16 policemen killed in attack in China

Quote:

Sixteen policemen in China's Muslim-majority north-west have been killed in a suspected terrorist attack, raising security fears four days before the Beijing Olympics.

In one of the deadliest attacks in China in years, two men aimed a truck at police officers jogging near their barracks in Kashgar, a city in the Xinjiang region, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

After the truck hit a roadside pole, the two got out and threw home-made explosives at the barracks, moving in to hack at police officers with knives, Xinhua reported.

It said 14 police were killed on the spot and two died from their wounds on the way to hospital, while 16 others were injured.

Both attackers were arrested, one of them with a leg injury sustained during the raid. Debris from five explosives was found near the barracks, Xinhua said.

"The raid ... was suspected as a terrorist attack," it said, citing local police in the city, which is close to the Tajikistan border and around 4,000 kilometres from Beijing.

The incident threw a shadow over the Olympic countdown, after government warnings that members of Xinjiang's Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking people, were planning to stage attacks to wreck the Games.

Dilxat Raxit, a Sweden-based spokesman for the World Uighur Congress, said he had been in touch with several people in Kashgar who confirmed an attack had taken place.

Anger was rising among the Uighurs about a pre-Olympic crackdown by Chinese authorities, involving numerous arrests, he said, but he could not confirm if the attack was carried out by Uighurs.

"The police and soldiers just arrest them without any rules," he said by telephone.

Beijing Olympic organisers said they did not know yet if there was a direct connection to the showpiece sporting event, which begins on Friday.

"We have to check," spokesman Sun Weide said.

In line with the flow of information in China surrounding security issues, reports were released only through official channels, while local authorities denied any knowledge of the event.

"Everything has returned to normal," an official with the Kashgar People's Armed Police said by telephone. He declined any other comment.

China has said repeatedly that a major terrorist threat emanates from Xinjiang.

"The Beijing Olympics is facing a terrorist threat unsurpassed in Olympic history," the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial last month.

China has deployed more than 100,000 security personnel to provide security for the Games, which run from August 8 to 24.

A senior official said last week the main Olympic threats were from the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in Xinjiang, forces seeking Tibetan independence, the banned Falun Gong spiritual group and overseas pro-democracy forces.

China's state media carries only sporadic reports about violence in Xinjiang, making it difficult to determine the extent of the terrorist threat in the region.

Rights groups and members of the ethnic Muslim Uighur population in Xinjiang have accused the government of exaggerating the terrorist threat as a cover to crack down on all forms of dissent.

It was thought to be one of the deadliest such attacks ever reported in Xinjiang.

"If 16 people died, I would think that this is the highest casualty ever reported for an incident," said Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch and an expert on Xinjiang.

Xinjiang, a vast area that borders Central Asia, has about 8.3 million Uighurs, and many are unhappy with what they say has been decades of repressive Communist Chinese rule.

Two short-lived East Turkestan republics emerged in Xinjiang in the 1930s and 1940s, at a time when central government control in China was weakened by civil war and Japanese invasion.

-----Added 4/8/2008 at 03 : 14 : 31-----
forget about the pollution... 4 days out and we have a security threat...

16 policemen killed in attack in China

Quote:

Sixteen policemen in China's Muslim-majority north-west have been killed in a suspected terrorist attack, raising security fears four days before the Beijing Olympics.

In one of the deadliest attacks in China in years, two men aimed a truck at police officers jogging near their barracks in Kashgar, a city in the Xinjiang region, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

After the truck hit a roadside pole, the two got out and threw home-made explosives at the barracks, moving in to hack at police officers with knives, Xinhua reported.

It said 14 police were killed on the spot and two died from their wounds on the way to hospital, while 16 others were injured.

Both attackers were arrested, one of them with a leg injury sustained during the raid. Debris from five explosives was found near the barracks, Xinhua said.

"The raid ... was suspected as a terrorist attack," it said, citing local police in the city, which is close to the Tajikistan border and around 4,000 kilometres from Beijing.

The incident threw a shadow over the Olympic countdown, after government warnings that members of Xinjiang's Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking people, were planning to stage attacks to wreck the Games.

Dilxat Raxit, a Sweden-based spokesman for the World Uighur Congress, said he had been in touch with several people in Kashgar who confirmed an attack had taken place.

Anger was rising among the Uighurs about a pre-Olympic crackdown by Chinese authorities, involving numerous arrests, he said, but he could not confirm if the attack was carried out by Uighurs.

"The police and soldiers just arrest them without any rules," he said by telephone.

Beijing Olympic organisers said they did not know yet if there was a direct connection to the showpiece sporting event, which begins on Friday.

"We have to check," spokesman Sun Weide said.

In line with the flow of information in China surrounding security issues, reports were released only through official channels, while local authorities denied any knowledge of the event.

"Everything has returned to normal," an official with the Kashgar People's Armed Police said by telephone. He declined any other comment.

China has said repeatedly that a major terrorist threat emanates from Xinjiang.

"The Beijing Olympics is facing a terrorist threat unsurpassed in Olympic history," the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial last month.

China has deployed more than 100,000 security personnel to provide security for the Games, which run from August 8 to 24.

A senior official said last week the main Olympic threats were from the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in Xinjiang, forces seeking Tibetan independence, the banned Falun Gong spiritual group and overseas pro-democracy forces.

China's state media carries only sporadic reports about violence in Xinjiang, making it difficult to determine the extent of the terrorist threat in the region.

Rights groups and members of the ethnic Muslim Uighur population in Xinjiang have accused the government of exaggerating the terrorist threat as a cover to crack down on all forms of dissent.

It was thought to be one of the deadliest such attacks ever reported in Xinjiang.

"If 16 people died, I would think that this is the highest casualty ever reported for an incident," said Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch and an expert on Xinjiang.

Xinjiang, a vast area that borders Central Asia, has about 8.3 million Uighurs, and many are unhappy with what they say has been decades of repressive Communist Chinese rule.

Two short-lived East Turkestan republics emerged in Xinjiang in the 1930s and 1940s, at a time when central government control in China was weakened by civil war and Japanese invasion.

jorgelito · 08-04-2008, 06:01 PM

Forget about the athletes, what about the poor people who live in that smog 24/7/365? Yuck!

That cannot be healthy by any measure.

dlish, China's has had terrorist threats for years but no one from the international arena really took them seriously. At least it's "only" Chinese people who died. Wait for a Tibetan or white person to get killed. Then the shit will hit the fan.

highthief · 08-08-2008, 11:10 AM

And we're up and running! Missed the opening ceremonies due to work but heard they were pretty spectacular.

dlish · 08-08-2008, 11:34 AM

went ahead without a glitch except for the final guy over running the flying carpet at the end.

neatly done.

i do hope they go well and without any glitches. i just dont see the worlds' media being as understanding though.

yellowmac · 08-08-2008, 08:21 PM

I gotta say... that opening ceremony was pretty damn impressive. the chinese really know how to put on a show!

evilbeefchan · 08-08-2008, 11:13 PM

I was in awe with the opening sequence of those flashing table/drum things. It's like they intentionally touched on the "sweat shop" aspect, and turned it into something to be proud of. Still made me feel weird, though.

The running guy and fireworks finale was awesome, though. This is the culture that gave us gunpowder, so I'm glad they didn't disappoint.

As for the rest of the games, I know China is going to do it's best to look good for the next 2 weeks, but I'm afraid of somebody over-reacting during a protest and stirring up some crazy shite. I'm also interested to see if the smog is really going to be a factor.

Anxst · 08-09-2008, 08:54 AM

I was very impressed by the opening ceremony.

I know China is trying hard as can be to put on a great face for the Olympics, and so far they seem to be doing it. We'll see what the deal is with the stabbing that went on of the volleyball player's family, though. You know that's going to be under a microscope.

I hope politics doesn't overshadow the Olympics. It's great that this makes people really look at what's going on in China, good and bad, but I'd like everything to go smoothly for all the athletes.

Halx · 08-09-2008, 10:07 AM

On the first day, we have the father in law of the US Men's Volleyball Coach stabbed to death at a tourist attraction. The mother is in serious condition.

I really hope Kobe Bryant makes it out of there alive.

As spectacular and passionate as China is striving for these Olympics to be, this is a big giant powder keg.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/oly_china_american_killed

Quote:

BEIJING - A Chinese man stabbed the in-laws of the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball coach, killing one and injuring the other while they visited a Beijing tourist site near the main venue where Olympic competitions began Saturday.

The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman of Lakeville, Minn., parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, who is married to men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. Bachman's father was killed.

The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by leaping from a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th-century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xinhua said the injured tour guide was also a woman, it said.

The volleyball teams is "deeply saddened and shocked," said Darryl Seibel, a USOC spokesman.

He said the two victims "were not wearing apparel or anything that would have specifically identified them as being members of our delegation" or as Americans.

The U.S. Embassy said it believed the attack was an isolated act and not directed at Americans or foreigners, given that the Chinese tour guide was also hurt.

jorgelito · 08-09-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halx

On the first day, we have the father in law of the US Men's Volleyball Coach stabbed to death at a tourist attraction. The mother is in serious condition.

I really hope Kobe Bryant makes it out of there alive.

As spectacular and passionate as China is striving for these Olympics to be, this is a big giant powder keg.

Relative of US Olympic coach killed in Beijing - Yahoo! News

Don't over react. Kobe Bryant is quite possibly the most popular athlete in China. Plus he has plenty of security; mostly to keep his fans at bay.

dlish · 08-09-2008, 11:03 AM

regardless, Lakers wont make the finals next year..with him or without him.

id like to see him come out alive..so i can see the dream team come back with another bronze.

dirtyrascal7 · 08-11-2008, 06:09 AM

I have to say, the relay races are my favorite Summer Olympics events (both swimming and track), and so I stayed up late last night to watch the Men's 4x100 Freestyle Swimming Relay. All I can say is... WOWWWW!! It was just an insane race for so many reasons, and the ending was simply unbelievable. If you haven't seen it, you NEED to watch it.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games | Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay Final

Strange Famous · 08-11-2008, 10:21 AM

thats the greatest swimming race Ive ever seen. The American guy MUST have taken a yard off the Frenchmen from 10 yards out - unbelieavble... they had no right at all to win that race.
-----Added 11/8/2008 at 02 : 26 : 47-----
oh - and apparently Phelps gets a big payout if he wins 8 golds... if he does it, I hope he gives a slice to the old guy who swam 4th in that relay.

And the local council swimming pool in Mansfield is now being renamed the "Rebecca Addlington" swimming pool...

Perhaps for the big countries they have so much success that a gold medal doesnt mean that much... but every single British athlete who comes back home as champion of the world is going to be a hero for me.

spindles · 08-18-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Famous

Perhaps for the big countries they have so much success that a gold medal doesnt mean that much... but every single British athlete who comes back home as champion of the world is going to be a hero for me.

There is some side betting going on between the Aussie Sports minister her and Great Britain counterpart, over who will be higher up the medal tally. From what I've read you guys are pouring some big money into sports funding in the lead up to London, and it seems to be paying off. A little back story:

Poms smell Aussie blood as medal haul grows - Off The Field - News - Olympics

Quote:

The British rush of blood to the head has been bolstered by the well publicised, pre-Games wager between federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis and her British nemesis, Gerry Sutcliffe.

The two pledged that the loser would wear the colours of the victorious nation at a public event, sparking some laughter and rather more British outrage.

At the time, Sutcliffe, a Manchester United man, laughed that it might force him to wear an Australian rugby league shirt at Old Trafford, "which could be dangerous, but it's all healthy fun."

I'd say Kate is going to be out and about in GB colours, as we are behind and most of the things we are usually good in (like the swimming) are over already.

On a side note, my Olympic highlight was yesterday - watching the Aussie girls take gold and bronze in the triathalon. Just the ending, where Emma Snowsill is draped in the flag and high-fiving everyone....before she'd even crossed the finish line and seeing the other Emma (whose name I've forgotten) stop to pick up the Aussie flag that was thrown out to her, was just fantastic.

telekinetic · 08-18-2008, 09:51 PM

ugh...judged events should not be olympics, or there should be more than 4 judge's scores that matter. Stupid gymanstics.

dlish · 08-19-2008, 08:48 AM

spindles, if we take it per capita, i think we'll outdo most countries.

with a population of 21 million and with a haul of 35 medals, 11 of them gold, i'd be hard pressed to find a country that'd be as competitive on a per capita count. where the hells canada? hellooooooooo

kutulu · 08-19-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedmosaic

ugh...judged events should not be olympics, or there should be more than 4 judge's scores that matter. Stupid gymanstics.

Someone tosses out this kind of BS line during each Olympics. People who don't understand the event and its scoring go on and on about how its so subjective and this team got screwed. It isn't as if judges just pull a number out of a hat based on how they felt about a performance. They quantify each form break and deduct points accordingly. It is difficult and they don't get it all right but for the most part, the rankings are correct.

I'm a huge baseball fan but I can see that subjective strike zones can kill games. Umpires can blow all sorts of other calls that have huge impacts on the game as well.

07-26-2008, 10:05 AM	#43 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	guyy - the CTA is involved in the plan. There is a transportation committee that has heavy CTA representation. As for the apartments and condo's, well, the consensus is that the real estate market is a temporary thing, at least by 2016 comparison. Are you seriously saying that the real estate market will still be in the tank so much in 8 years that it will be impossible to rent the units out as apartments? Besides, lakefront real estate is pretty much immune from the burst right now. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

07-26-2008, 04:56 PM	#44 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	The smog in Beijing should be relatively under control for the Olympics. They are shutting down all factories for two weeks prior to the events. They are also removing close to 50% of cars from the roads. Interestingly, they are also making everyone learn how to queue properly (every Thursday is learn to queue day) and they have made it illegal to spit on the streets (if you know anything about the Chinese it is their love hoarking up a great loogie and spitting it out). This is the power of centralized government. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-27-2008, 01:28 AM	#45 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	ive spent my fair share of time around the chinese community in Sydney and yeah they do like to hoark one back. it really does annoy me. then again i do see a bit of it here in UAE with the indian sub-class. although there are hefty fines if you get caught spitting on the streets here. charl - are there fines for not queing on thursdays? __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

07-27-2008, 04:02 AM	#46 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I don't know if there are fines of they don't practice queueing... I just thought it was odd enough that they have to practice en masse. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-28-2008, 11:34 AM	#54 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	I dunno, I think spitting may be a male juvenile phenomenon rather than an ethnic one. In the examples I use, the reason why I witness more blacks and latinos spitting is because I have more interaction with them, especially on the football field or basketball court. I see Asians spitting too on the playing fields. However, the Chinese spitting thing stands out. And it's more specifically China. I don't see it in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Macau to the extent that they do it in China. Not really sure why. I think it has to do with the perception that clearing out the phlegm is healthy or something. The eating thing is just cultural. I think it always will be. There was this Vietnamese guy at work who would burp loudly and proudly after lunch in the office. It was ... odd. But then again, tons of dudes burp loudly and proudly all the time, albeit at the pub etc. I think the only way to get "accustomed" to it is to join in. Most Chinese restaurants are noisy enough in general that I don't notice too much. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

07-28-2008, 11:39 AM	#55 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Should I just change the title of this thread to "Is Spitting Racist?" or can we get back to actually discussing the Games? Back on topic, there are a bunch of athletes considering wearing breathing masks during the Opening Ceremonies. As I understand it, the OC are the complete purview of the host committee, with the exception of the athletes. The Chinese are certainly going to take mask-wearing seriously. Thoughts on what would happen if a participant is allowed to wear a mask by his country? __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

07-28-2008, 12:00 PM	#56 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	well theres one aussie swimmer by the name of grant hackett. not too sure how well known he is in the states, but hes won the 1500m swim for the past 2 olympic games, maybe three and a swag of other medals at world championships etc. he has already said that we will do whatever it takes to not get sick including wearing breathing mask in the street as well as on the plane. when ive seen news reels and they do takes on people in chinese cities and i see many with masks on. so why is it an insult if you wear it at the opening ceremony as opposed to every day living? i say let the truth be told. then again if you think you're going to be sick becuase you are out in the open, then you shouldnt be at the opening ceremony __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

07-28-2008, 12:11 PM	#57 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	I think health comes first. If you need to wear a mask wear a mask. I think the Aussies are distributing them to their team in their Olympic Kits. Lots of athletes are staying outside of China (Korea, Japan) to wait for the last possible minute before arriving in Beijing. I feel like the Chinese government is in denial. They had years to take care of their pollution problems. There's no ideology here - just look outside. But instead, they waited until the last possible minute and it's still no guarantee. In some ways I hope for epic failure, not to humiliate the Chinese people but to hopefully get the government to see that they need better long term planning and not smoke and mirrors. I realize this is supposed to be their coming out party but I feel like it's been in bad faith. But that could be disastrous and counterproductive too. A success, while nice, could just reinforce the government's tactics and policies. There's an outside chance that the skies could clear in time too. But I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. And no, spitting is not racist, it's just gross. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

07-31-2008, 01:59 PM	#59 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	Welp, 7 members of the Russian team, including the women's 1500M world champ, just got busted for doping along with a Jamaican athlete. Wonder how many more busts we'll see prior to the Games ... __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

07-31-2008, 07:37 PM	#60 (permalink)
yellowmac Insane Location: left coast	I think it's way too early to declare the Olympics a bust before it has even begun. There's lots of compelling stories out there, such as Phelps' quest for 8 golds, the US men's basketball team trying to redeem themselves from their crap-tastic '04 showing, and China trying to overtake the US in medal count. We need to wait until the Olympics are over before we jump to conclusions about it.

08-01-2008, 04:48 PM	#62 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Many from the Canadian Olympic team are staying here for the fresher air, the great sports facilities and the fact that it's in the same time zone. There's going to be a party to wish them luck... many that are not competing until later in the games are going to be here until well after the opening ceremonies. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

08-04-2008, 06:01 PM	#66 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	Forget about the athletes, what about the poor people who live in that smog 24/7/365? Yuck! That cannot be healthy by any measure. dlish, China's has had terrorist threats for years but no one from the international arena really took them seriously. At least it's "only" Chinese people who died. Wait for a Tibetan or white person to get killed. Then the shit will hit the fan. __________________ "The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter

08-08-2008, 11:10 AM	#67 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	And we're up and running! Missed the opening ceremonies due to work but heard they were pretty spectacular. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

08-08-2008, 11:34 AM	#68 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	went ahead without a glitch except for the final guy over running the flying carpet at the end. neatly done. i do hope they go well and without any glitches. i just dont see the worlds' media being as understanding though. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

08-08-2008, 08:21 PM	#69 (permalink)
yellowmac Insane Location: left coast	I gotta say... that opening ceremony was pretty damn impressive. the chinese really know how to put on a show!

08-08-2008, 11:13 PM	#70 (permalink)
evilbeefchan Addict Location: Alhambra, CA	I was in awe with the opening sequence of those flashing table/drum things. It's like they intentionally touched on the "sweat shop" aspect, and turned it into something to be proud of. Still made me feel weird, though. The running guy and fireworks finale was awesome, though. This is the culture that gave us gunpowder, so I'm glad they didn't disappoint. As for the rest of the games, I know China is going to do it's best to look good for the next 2 weeks, but I'm afraid of somebody over-reacting during a protest and stirring up some crazy shite. I'm also interested to see if the smog is really going to be a factor. Last edited by evilbeefchan; 08-08-2008 at 11:24 PM..

08-09-2008, 08:54 AM	#71 (permalink)
Anxst Condensing fact from the vapor of nuance. Location: Madison, WI	I was very impressed by the opening ceremony. I know China is trying hard as can be to put on a great face for the Olympics, and so far they seem to be doing it. We'll see what the deal is with the stabbing that went on of the volleyball player's family, though. You know that's going to be under a microscope. I hope politics doesn't overshadow the Olympics. It's great that this makes people really look at what's going on in China, good and bad, but I'd like everything to go smoothly for all the athletes. __________________ Don't mind me. I'm just releasing the insanity pressure from my headvalves.

08-09-2008, 11:03 AM	#74 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	regardless, Lakers wont make the finals next year..with him or without him. id like to see him come out alive..so i can see the dream team come back with another bronze. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

08-11-2008, 06:09 AM	#75 (permalink)
dirtyrascal7 That's what she said	I have to say, the relay races are my favorite Summer Olympics events (both swimming and track), and so I stayed up late last night to watch the Men's 4x100 Freestyle Swimming Relay. All I can say is... WOWWWW!! It was just an insane race for so many reasons, and the ending was simply unbelievable. If you haven't seen it, you NEED to watch it. 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games \| Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay Final __________________ "Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past." "Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

08-11-2008, 10:21 AM	#76 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	thats the greatest swimming race Ive ever seen. The American guy MUST have taken a yard off the Frenchmen from 10 yards out - unbelieavble... they had no right at all to win that race. -----Added 11/8/2008 at 02 : 26 : 47----- oh - and apparently Phelps gets a big payout if he wins 8 golds... if he does it, I hope he gives a slice to the old guy who swam 4th in that relay. And the local council swimming pool in Mansfield is now being renamed the "Rebecca Addlington" swimming pool... Perhaps for the big countries they have so much success that a gold medal doesnt mean that much... but every single British athlete who comes back home as champion of the world is going to be a hero for me. __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas Last edited by Strange Famous; 08-11-2008 at 10:26 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

08-18-2008, 09:51 PM	#78 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	ugh...judged events should not be olympics, or there should be more than 4 judge's scores that matter. Stupid gymanstics.

08-19-2008, 08:48 AM	#79 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	spindles, if we take it per capita, i think we'll outdo most countries. with a population of 21 million and with a haul of 35 medals, 11 of them gold, i'd be hard pressed to find a country that'd be as competitive on a per capita count. where the hells canada? hellooooooooo __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy