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Olympics

CaissaCaissa Shipmate
in The Circus
Possibly the first scandal of these Olympic Games even before the opening ceremonies. I think if they look too closely they will find that many countries engage in this activity.
https://www.tsn.ca/soccer/canada-s-men-s-and-women-s-soccer-teams-have-relied-on-drones-and-spying-for-years-sources-say-1.2153674
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Comments

  • RoseofsharonRoseofsharon Shipmate
    I was surprised at the punishment given, I assumed that all sorts of devious ways of gathering information about opposing teams would be carried on by a number of countries.
    Not very sportsman like though, is it?
  • HedgehogHedgehog Shipmate
    First scandal, if you don't count VAR disallowing a goal two hours later...
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    The opening ceremony was very different and really rather good IMHO. Celine Dion singing Edith Piaf's Hymne a L'amoure was wonderful.
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    I couldn't be bothered with the ceremony but I will watch the events, especially the athletics
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    The opening ceremony was looong (as they always are), and it was a shame about the rain.

    However. The silver horse galloping up the Seine was bloody amazing, and I totally cried at Céline Dion, singing for the first time after being so unwell.

    Teddy Riner has come a long way since he used to fall asleep at the back of husband en rouge's middle school music lesson :smiley:
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    Yes, the silver horse was incredible, other-worldly. I enjoyed most of it, and some of the dancing was wild..
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited July 2024
    But it was too long. According to interviews on Radio 4 this morning, spectators by the river claimed that they couldn't see very much (including the big screens) due to the security barriers, and that there were longeurs in the programme. Their verdict was that "it was better on TV".
  • RoseofsharonRoseofsharon Shipmate
    I really wonder who the opening ceremonies are aimed at (other than showing the previous holders of the Games they can out-do them with cost and spectacle). Do those actually attending see all the theatricals? Could anyone on the ground follow the progress of the torch bearer leaping about across the roofs of Paris?

    Watching it on the TV, and presumably on the big screens, is confusing, dodging about from place to place and angle to angle, with the commentary not necessarily keeping up. I was actually made nauseous by a camera shot that was circling something apparently floating on the Seine.
    As for the actual events, I am not averse to watching some - although I will get narky if my personal TV schedule gets messed about yet again.

  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    I found it very cute that small countries had wee little boats, well, it's practical, obvs.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    edited July 2024
    Capetonians entranced by the magical spectacle of the opening of the Paris Olympics. Many stayed up until the early hours of the morning just to keep watching.
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    I thought that was the Last Supper staged by drag Queens, on a long table. Naughty.
  • RoseofsharonRoseofsharon Shipmate
    quetzalcoatl wrote: »
    I found it very cute that small countries had wee little boats, well, it's practical, obvs.
    I was concerned about the lack of life vests. I was happier that the athletic heroes in small boats later in the evening were wearing them

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    I’ll admit I found much of the opening ceremonies a bit weird. Interesting, but weird. And I found the hooded/faceless man particularly weird, along with the flaming piano on the rock in the river. (Though I have to say, at least trying to figure out the piano that burned but was not consumed distracted me from “Imagine.” I really dislike that song.)

    I enjoyed the teams on the boats, but overall the ceremonies felt very disjointed. I’m not sure the decision to forgo the stadium worked out.

    And good grief, the Olympic Anthem just goes on and on and on.


  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    No one will ever match Beijing. The countdown sequence with the performers creating the western and Chinese numerals in parallel: you reach the final number, a single stroke in both cases, but one perpendicular the other horizontal. In that moment you see the beginning, and the divergence, of two civilisations.
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    Ah, but the French had Marie Antoinette holding her head in her hands, multiple times, I think, formidable!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I confess I was watching it in between doing the Grauniad crossword, but I was quite impressed with what I saw - especially the silver horse. Agree that the whole thing went on too long though.
  • RoseofsharonRoseofsharon Shipmate
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    the flaming piano on the rock in the river. (Though I have to say, at least trying to figure out the piano that burned but was not consumed distracted me from “Imagine.” I really dislike that song.)
    Ah, that was the something the camera shot was circling around and that made me feel nauseous - not helped by "Imagine" which I also dislike intensely.

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Roseofsharon wrote: »
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    the flaming piano on the rock in the river. (Though I have to say, at least trying to figure out the piano that burned but was not consumed distracted me from “Imagine.” I really dislike that song.)
    . . . not helped by "Imagine" which I also dislike intensely.
    Thank you! I’ve long thought maybe I’m the only one who can’t stand it.


  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    Nor me.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    What do people feel about the furore caused by the "blasphemy" of the "gay Last Supper"? I must be blind, for I didn't pick up the allusion while I was watching the ceremony.

    I do have the feeling that this is an uproar which was generated by a few individuals, with others (such as Catholic bishops) feeling obliged to add their comments.

    FWIW there must have been countless re-depictions of Leonardo's fresco over the years, admittedly not on such a broad stage as Friday night. And was the "blasphemy" more to the painter than to Jesus, anyway?

    I don't feel that this was in the Charlie Hebdo Muhammad category!
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    I think any serious discussion of this is going to have to go to Epiphanies, but I'll just say I think it's interesting that the source of the outrage is "those people" being around the Lord's table.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    What do people feel about the furore caused by the "blasphemy" of the "gay Last Supper"? I must be blind, for I didn't pick up the allusion while I was watching the ceremony.
    I didn’t pick up on the allusion either.

    My main reaction to all of that was “Seems odd to have something like this going on that no one who’s actually there can see.” It was part of what prompted me to say upthread that I’m not sure the decision to forego the stadium worked.

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    According to a post that's been circulating on Farcebark, it wasn't meant to be the Last Supper at all; it was a depiction of the ancient Greek Bacchanal - because the Olympics were originally in ancient Greece.
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    That does make rather more sense thematically.
  • Gill HGill H Shipmate
    Anyone who watched the actual ceremony accompanied by the helpful commentary we got in the UK would know that it had nothing to do with the Last Supper painting. The Greek gods assembled firstly either side of a runway/catwalk to watch a fashion show, and later to enjoy a meal where an enormous cloche was opened to reveal Dionysius (or a near-naked blue smurf as we initially thought). I wasn't remotely reminded of any depiction of the Last Supper.

    I'm just glad the pearl-clutchers never got to see the menage a trois video...
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
    Moving on to the actual sports... The French team have three gold medals already. This is not normal for us.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    edited July 2024
    Indeed you have, including a stunning swim by Leon Marchand in the men's 400m IM 🇫🇷

    ION the British eventers are leading before the showjumping.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    edited July 2024
    While this did not happen during the Olympics, it sure reflects the Olympic spirit.

    A few years ago, the Israeli women's Lacrosse team easily defeated the Kenyan women's team, but they noticed that the Kenyan team was at a major disadvantage, its team members did not have cleats. The Israeli team decided to do something about that. It got the foot sizes of the Kenyan team members and bought cleated shoes for them.

    The Kenyan team went on to beat the Belgium team and more.

    I know this is not necessarily an Olympic story, but I could not think of any other place to put it.

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-lacrosse-team-buys-cleatless-kenyans-new-shoes/

  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    I’ll admit I found much of the opening ceremonies a bit weird. Interesting, but weird. And I found the hooded/faceless man particularly weird, along with the flaming piano on the rock in the river. (Though I have to say, at least trying to figure out the piano that burned but was not consumed distracted me from “Imagine.” I really dislike that song.)

    I enjoyed the teams on the boats, but overall the ceremonies felt very disjointed. I’m not sure the decision to forgo the stadium worked out.

    And good grief, the Olympic Anthem just goes on and on and on.


    I, too, despise “Imagine.”
  • ChastMastrChastMastr Shipmate
    Gill H wrote: »
    Anyone who watched the actual ceremony accompanied by the helpful commentary we got in the UK would know that it had nothing to do with the Last Supper painting. The Greek gods assembled firstly either side of a runway/catwalk to watch a fashion show, and later to enjoy a meal where an enormous cloche was opened to reveal Dionysius (or a near-naked blue smurf as we initially thought). I wasn't remotely reminded of any depiction of the Last Supper.

    I'm just glad the pearl-clutchers never got to see the menage a trois video...

    What is this ménage a trois video?
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    American announcing during an Olympic swimming event: “He ran away from the field!” Paired with, “It’s one thing to win a gold medal, but another to do it on your own soil!”

    C’mon, man.
  • mousethiefmousethief Shipmate
    Mark me down as hating "Imagine." What a dreary, painful, aggravating melody. Not helped by Lennon's nasally singing and kumbaya lyrics.
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    Yes, it baffles me why it's exhumed on certain occasions, as if it's saying something important.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    Another Imagine refusenik here
    Looking at the first hit singles of the individual Beatles post-split is illuminating:
    John - Give Peace a chance ☹
    George - My Sweet Lord 👏😊👏
    Paul - Another Day listen here 👏😊
    Ringo - It didn't come easy 😊
    I think Imagine is the worst of the lot by a signifiant margin.
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    Canadian Women's soccer team scores deep in stoppage time to beat France 2-1. They just might make the round of 16 despite being docked 6 points.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    Love Imagine -- LOVE it. Hugely important song. So glad it was used for these Olympics. There really was no appropriate alternative.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    Team Gold and Individual Bronze in Three Day Eventing with medals presented by The Princess Royal, which was a nice touch. 🥇🥉
    Gold in downhill mountain biking. 🥇
    Silver for Tom Daley and Noah Williams in the 10m synchronised diving. 🥈
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I prefer Freedom Come All Ye which was used at the opening of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Gentle Hostly Oink

    If you want to discuss the merits or otherwise of Imagine, here is not the place.

    Thank you.

    Piglet, Circus host
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    Let's recognize Canada's second gold medal today instead.
    https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/canada-s-mcintosh-wins-gold-in-400m-im-for-second-medal-at-paris-2024-1.2155449
  • Wesley JWesley J Circus Host
    Well done, Britain, on the eventing! This pleases me! A good equestrian tradition upheld.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    @Caissa Yes, a fantastic swim, she just destroyed the field, and all the more impressive in a slow pool.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    What I find amazing is the cyclist who had a puncture, his team fudged changing the wheel, he set off 36 seconds down - and won!
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    Do they change the wheel? I thought you just get a new bike instantly.
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    In other words, they have a car loaded with new bikes, driving at the back. As far as I could see, he got off the old bike and got on the new one, in one movement.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited July 2024
    Not in mountain biking (for one thing, a car can't follow). From the "Indy": "On the third of eight 4.4km laps, Pidcock was forced to stand still for half a minute while a frazzled mechanic changed his punctured front tyre and rivals whizzed by. ".
  • quetzalcoatlquetzalcoatl Shipmate
    Yes, you are right. I saw a film of him getting on a new bike, but that must be fake.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    Our men successfully defended their title in the 4x200m freestyle relay, and with the same team who won in Tokyo. Duncan Scott's time on the final leg would have won the individual 200m gold - amazing. 🥇🍾🇬🇧
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited July 2024
    Thrilling tennis from Dan Evans and Sir Andy too - he's not getting to retire quite yet!
  • alienfromzogalienfromzog Shipmate
    mousethief wrote: »
    Mark me down as hating "Imagine." What a dreary, painful, aggravating melody. Not helped by Lennon's nasally singing and kumbaya lyrics.

    Could not agree more. Awful, awful song. Hate. Hate.
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