2008 Olympics (Opening Ceremony + Other Discussion)

[Arnwyn]

That brings up a point, does Canada have a network covering the games on their own or are they stuck with NBC's crap?

We have the - far superior in every conceivable way - CBC to cover the games in Canada (along with TSN - Canada's version of ESPN - that covers lesser-known events).

We can, though, watch NBC as well. Because we can directly compare, rest assured that the NBC coverage really is quite dreadful.

 

[drothgery]

We can, though, watch NBC as well. Because we can directly compare, rest assured that the NBC coverage really is quite dreadful.

I've watched almost nothing on NBC's main channel (except for half-watching stuff while I was actually refreshing my web browser). Most of what I've actually watched has been on the 'Olympic basketball channel' or the 'Olympic soccer channel' that showed up on my cable last week or CNBC or USA -- where they're actually showing some things live.

And if a senior exec with NBC's sports programming department isn't a huge diving fan, is there some other logical explanation for some of their programming decisions? I mean, the event doesn't feature Americans likely to do well. The Chinese medal favorites (who always actually won) were largely teenage waifs, not athletic women in bikinis. There's not a lot of interest in the sport here. So why was it dominating the first hour of coverage almost every night?

 

[Orius]

We have the - far superior in every conceivable way - CBC to cover the games in Canada (along with TSN - Canada's version of ESPN - that covers lesser-known events).

We can, though, watch NBC as well. Because we can directly compare, rest assured that the NBC coverage really is quite dreadful.

Well, you probably saw me pan their coverage of the Opening Ceremonies above. It sucks that any other network didn't have enough money to outbid NBC for something like 20 years of exclusive Olympic coverage.

And if a senior exec with NBC's sports programming department isn't a huge diving fan, is there some other logical explanation for some of their programming decisions? I mean, the event doesn't feature Americans likely to do well. The Chinese medal favorites (who always actually won) were largely teenage waifs, not athletic women in bikinis. There's not a lot of interest in the sport here. So why was it dominating the first hour of coverage almost every night?

Cause it's a decision by an NBC executive. It's been a long time since Brandon Tartikoff has run the network; instead these days its run by the suits from that classic SNL sketch about Star Trek, and it really shows.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Chinese spin? Not really, that’s the correct format.

From wikipedia:
“The IOC medal tally chart is based on the number of gold medals for country. Where states are equal, the number of silver medals (and then bronze medals) are counted to determine rankings.”<O</O
<O
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games#Medals_per_country

Wikipedia is spin, too. The IOC doesn't officially rank countries, though you are correct that the medal table is organized by golds first. From www.olympic.org (the official IOC website):

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not recognise global ranking per country; the medal tables are displayed for information only.

Furthermore, the results that we publish are official and are taken from the "Official Report" - a document published for each Olympic Games by the Organising Committee. However, for the first Olympic Games (until Antwerp in 1920), it is difficult to give the exact number of medals awarded to some countries, due to the fact that teams were composed of athletes from different countries.

The medal tables by country are based on the number of medals won, with gold medals taking priority over silver and bronze. A team victory counts as one medal.

What I find interesting is that if the Soviet Union were still in existence, it would beat the USA in total medals, though still fall behind both the US and China in golds (26/25/57 = 108 as of 10PM 23 AUG Beijing time).

 

[drothgery]

What I find interesting is that if the Soviet Union were still in existence, it would beat the USA in total medals, though still fall behind both the US and China in golds (26/25/57 = 108 as of 10PM 23 AUG Beijing time).

Probably, but that's kind of hard to figure. I mean, at first glance you'd think you could just add up the ex-Soviet states. But then you have to subtract out any case where two ex-Soviet states won medals in a team sport (because you can only have one) or otherwise more Russians, Ukranians, and others combined won than the Soviet Union could have entered. And then you've got to reshuffle where a Soviet team might well have done better than the Russians (or other best ex-Soviet team) than they did (Women's gymnastics might well have beat the Romanians for bronze with just Ukranians and Russians; Argentina probably will beat Lithuania for bronze in men's basketball, but add the best of Russia's team and they might be playing the US for the title instead of Spain -- they'd still lose, but they'd medal).

 

[Villano]

Well, the Olympics are over and the final medal count is up: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/GL/95A/GL0000000.shtml

However, if the Chinese Women (*cough*Toddler*cough*) Gymnastics team is disqualified for being underage, it would result in:

China loses 2 gold and 4 bronze.
The US gains 2 gold and 1 bronze, but loses 2 silver.
Russia gains 3 bronze.
Romainia gains a silver, but loses a bronze.
Great Britain gains a silver.
Ukraine gains a bronze.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

The Closing Cerremony was good. I was wondering what London would do. Good choice in Jimmy Paige, but I was expecting something more elaborate.

 

[Wycen]

I find it odd that the US stations are listing the medal board ranked by total medals won, instead of the usual gold medals won, just so the US be ahead of China.

The Organization of the games *lost* one of the 10 poles of the Brazilian competitor (Fabiana Murer), who was at the time ranking 3rd in the event. Since the poles are adjusted to specific heights, she tried to make do with another pole but missed all three jumps.

On other news, the crew in the Beijing Airport drove a cart over the equipment bag of the Brazilian fencing competitor, breaking all of her gear. She was reimbursed and had to buy equipment on the rush.

These are the kinda stories I think make it interesting to watch.

 

[Redrobes]

Thought Id give a british angle on things. I always get excited by the olympics and think that the politics should not get in the way of the sport. The opening ceremony was magneficent but it really was chest beating on an epic scale though why not. Apart from the goose stepping flag bearers I thought it was excellent and agree with the firework + CGI and with our collective opinion on dubbing the girl - very poor. Not as poor as the rampant xenophobic TV commentating on it tho.

I reckon Phelps was outstanding and the man of the games. Bolt too maybe though not by half as much.

Our medal count was amazing given our country's pathetic attention to sport generally. About the rankings, we have always had gold, silver bronze listed by golds first but we get the total count too. I think its quite cool that the US won using their method of counting and that China won using theirs. All happy bunnies and nobody has to get nailed to anything.

BBC covered evry event as though it was a UK thing. Last UK person goes out, no more coverage. Its a global phenomenon and it sucks. I would like to see the best people regardless of country. At least show most of the finals.

The end ceremony was fabulous except for about 8 minutes. Big red London bus - yeah ok. Jimmy Paige and some nobody singer - slightly dodgy. Young girl trampling over bunch of hoodies - not good at all. Beckham... what again ! We were terrible at olympic footie and havent even qualified for euro finals. Mayor of London, shirt out hands in pockets slouching down next to emaculately dressed IOC and Chinese president - just embarrasing.

2012... I just hope to watching it from another country. Give me strength, its going to be bad. Just look at the Lisa Simpson logo.

 

[Redrobes]

Its double posted again...