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Trogdor
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posted August 25, 2008 10:34 AM |
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A rant about the recent 'olympics'
So, the Olympic games have been and gone, medals won and a few tempers lost, not to mention a weightlifting competition full of injuries, emotional moments and a dash of hilarity. So what does this mean for us viewers? The ones who stayed awake just to catch the action?
The first thing that comes to mind whether or not anyone can declare the 2008 event at Beijing to be the best ever. Both affirmative and negative sides had their arguments. China, as we all know, has more human rights abuses than Lindsay Lohan has had trips to rehab. As much as we wanted the Chinese government to be a lot nicer to that little nation we know as Tibet, that didn't happen at all. Furthermore, the Chinese also supported the conflict in Darfur. The pollution in Beijing was through the roof and despite their many efforts to clean up the air (they seem to care more about the environment than human rights), the smog was still there.
As for the positives, the venues were, to say the least, quite impressive, and I heard that the village was the best anyone has ever seen. Also, there were a lot less drug-related controversies than what had happened at Athens. The opening ceremony, despite the singer and some of the fireworks being fake(the Chinese even fake their own inventions sometimes), was a sight to behold. I didn't much of the closing ceremony (DAMN YOU DEXTER MORGAN) but from what I heard there was a high standard.
As for the athletes, there was a mixed bag of both good and bad sportsmanship. Sure, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps dominated the land and water respectively, but what happened when they celebrated kinda weirds me out a bit. We all remember that jerk wrestler who tossed his bronze medal and stormed off, but we should at least remember the little-known competitors who won medals. The kayaker from Togo who won bronze sticks in my mind.
Overall, I thought the games was one of the best ever, but definately not the best because of China trying to be a 'look at me' kind of nation.
One thing that does bug me though is that the rumour of Stephanie Rice kissing Michael Phelps at a party and rumours that they might be a couple. If this is true then I'd be shattered, because I know that Steph and Eamon Sullivan was a great, fun-loving couple. Perhaps their so-called 'split' was more to do with the 'I think we should see other people' theory than just to concentrate on Beijing.
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TitaniumAlloy
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posted August 25, 2008 10:45 AM |
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Yeah, China has human rights abuses, but it's kind of hypocritical to make a big deal out of it when America does as well.
Sport should be kept separate of politics.
Just think of the Russia/USA water polo match during the cold war 
Oh, and Michael Phelps and Stephanie Rice? Dreaming.
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Mytical
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posted August 25, 2008 10:56 AM |
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Ok TA, name a nation that hasn't had human rights issues in the past. MAYBE Sweden, but they might have just hid it better. So, don't throw stones if you live in glass houses .
Still the Olympics is about coming together in the spirit of competition. When you have so many human rights issues it makes one wonder.
Some places are actively trying to get better, China one of them (or so I heard)..and that is a good thing. However, it is a long hard road. Once they have reached the destination, then I will watch the Olympics when it is there. Until then..no Olympics for me.
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VokialBG
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posted August 25, 2008 11:05 AM |
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Edited by VokialBG at 11:45, 25 Aug 2008.
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Why results in swimming, athletics, etc. were not possible 20-30 years ago? Its not cuz the human evolution. It's thanks to the chemistry.
But no one will blame US or Chinese sportsmen for Doping.
Quote:
Michael Phelps
One of the "immune" doping guys
Also remember Greece 4 years ago? They won so much medals (6 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze), 4 years after they have not even a gold medal, just 1 silver and 2 or 3 bronze.
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TitaniumAlloy
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posted August 25, 2008 11:30 AM |
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Quote:
Ok TA, name a nation that hasn't had human rights issues in the past. MAYBE Sweden, but they might have just hid it better. So, don't throw stones if you live in glass houses .
Huh?
What stones did I throw?
In fact, I was saying the same thing; other countries have human rights issues as well and so it's unfair to solely attack China to the level that it is.
Besides I live in Australia and we don't have ny human rights issues that I'm aware of.
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angelito
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posted August 25, 2008 01:55 PM |
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I guess we all will know in 1 or 2 years what went wrong with many of the athlets / countries here.
In my opinion, many suspicious things happened, which need an explanation.
Only a few things which made me think a bit:
Eastern european countries are well known for their wins in the past in "weight lifting". Only a few examples:
- Turkey won 3 gold and 1 Bronze in Athens 2004, in Bejing they won 1 Bronze and didn't place any other participants in the Top 8!
- Bulgaria won 5 medals in 2004, this year they even didn't send ANY athlet for that discipline!
and so no...
Look at germany and their swimmers:
We won 5 medals in Athens, and gained some 4th or 5th places. This time only 1 woman gained 2 medals, while the rest was so "impressiv" slow, compared to their best times, not compared to the winnners in that specific race....
Usain Bolt.....the biggest laugh for me. They don't have any anti-doping department their, he was tested around 2 times the last 2 years. On his semi final 100m race, other participants said he even didn't made much of a warm up, or big stretching. He runs same times in April as in August...His last 15m in the 100m finals are quite a copy of the ones from ben Johnson 1992 in Barcelona (the way he "stopped" forcing and raising his hands), and he still ran world record....
Boxing....
The irish Boxer in the final fight vs the chinese boy said: My only chance to win this fight would have been to knock out the point referees" (he lost the fight 0-15 )
Gymnastics....
You really think all of the chinese girls were at least 16 years old?..lol And let's not talk about the points given to some of their exercises...
We will see how many medals (especially golden ones) China will gain 2012 in London. They've won 28 golds in Sydney, 32 in Athens and 51 in Bejing. So I guess if they're really that good, they will gain around 65. If chemestry won't develop the same way, they will end up with 20 I suppose..
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TitaniumAlloy
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posted August 25, 2008 02:38 PM |
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In events like gymnastics and diving there is always a massive home-ground advantage.
Like when the Australian guy did the best dive ever in history to win the gold medal (112 out of possible 114) and the crowd is completely silent
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Asheera
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posted August 25, 2008 08:14 PM |
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This thread shouldn't be in OSM?
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zamfir
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posted August 25, 2008 08:35 PM |
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Quote:
This thread shouldn't be in OSM?
Oh, the sacrilege.
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Azagal
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posted August 25, 2008 08:37 PM |
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Quote:
This thread shouldn't be in OSM?
Actuall I'm pretty sure it should be. I mean politics in china? Isn't that OS material?
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VokialBG
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posted August 25, 2008 09:06 PM |
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Edited by VokialBG at 21:19, 25 Aug 2008.
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Quote:
- Bulgaria won 5 medals in 2004, this year they even didn't send ANY athlet for that discipline!
Yes, there was a big scandal, thanks to the athlet's coach. The athlets were not guilty.
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