Jonafin
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Posts posted by Jonafin
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Totally off the point, but I like Gaga. Though I don't get her connection to the Olympics.
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Rio's handover is the most easily predictable. Riots of colours, samba, carnivals, noisy music, scantily clad women etc
Hi Kevzz,
Well, having never been to Rio let alone Brazil (though I do really want to go).... as with most of the world's population who tune into watch the ceremonies... I don't particularly find anything wrong with that. The handover, is a chance for them to introduce themselves. I say the more samba the better. Brazil is what it is.
I would like to see at least 1 float, samba, capoeira dancers and something relating to the beach atmosphere of Copacabana.
Sydney's and Beijing's handover stand out to me, even though they showcased a few stereotypical cultural depictions of their countries... which is not a bad thing.
Reading people discussing Rio's handover brings it all home how close London 2012 is and how quickly it will be over. Those few weeks are gonna fly by...too true daveypodmore..... I relized that at the 100 day mark, I was willing it to come but at the same time trying to delay it as much as possible, 2 weeks are definately not long enough....
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Sydney was my first OC that I saw, from that my favourite segments would have to be:
- The multicultural segment and the climax at the end of the segment where the performers stood in an outline of Australia.
- The entire cauldron lighting segment (celebrating women at the Olympics, i think)
- The national anthem, I know I am biased, but i reckon its up there as one of the best renditions of any anthem performance.
For Athens:
- The costumes in the historical parade. I particularly liked the hydra puppet.
- The giant head appearing from the centre of the ground and the DNA helix structure.
- I like the cauldron, simple and clean.
On a side note, at the closing ceremony.... the handover to Beijing (with those girls playing "Mo Li Hua") and the giant red lanturn were also memorable for me. Oh, and the millions of fake wheat planted into the stadium floor.
The Beijing ceremony was a grande experience, my most memorable segments would have to include:
- Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan performance of "You and Me", the smiley face fireworks and the kids on the umbrellas.
- The dream like music during the illumination of the rings on the floor and as they rise into the air.
- The dragon pillar segment, all those ladies in those costumes dancing. The giant scroll was great as well!
Vancouver was interesting.... at the opening: the failure of the 4th cauldron arm and how they turned it into something humourous at the closing ceremony. The welcome by the indigenous nations (plus, the guy in the wolf costume, was hot). Alanis Morisette's performance of "Wunderkind".
I can't wait to see what London has coming up.
- The multicultural segment and the climax at the end of the segment where the performers stood in an outline of Australia.
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Hi,
now that the games are completely in the pages of history we can look forward to the future cauldrons... but
Does anyone have any idea of what became of the Beijing 2008 Cauldron? Like are they still displaying it someplace, or is it locked away in some warehouse destined to collect dust? Or completely dismantled and reused for other things (this would be really sad if they did this).
??? Sydney's cauldron was turned into a fountain, still want to go see it... not too sure on Athens. Is there any legacy left by the cauldron and is there any more examples from past games?? Also, just wondering where that big painting from the opening ceremony went... like its final resting place??
Any information would be great!
Cheers.....
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So these wonderful games are coming to an end, I just want to say Congratulations to all the Athletes... you guys did a top job!! Also, want to say congrats to the organising commitee for another job well done!!!
This is the first time I actually took time out to watch the events, and am glad that I did. My favourite events would of had to be the Cycling and the Aquatics, Murderball was also interesting!!
Looking forward to the closing ceremony, it should be another great party atmosphere.....
Thanks Beijing!! Bring On London!!!
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Great Pics, thanks Mr. X
I think that my favour segment of the Opening Ceremony would have to be those dancers in the white dresses, beautiful!! The final torchbearer section was also great!!!
I am sure that Vancouver 2010 will do their best!
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Australia grabs another Gold Medal thanks to Ken Wallace in the K-1 500m, Wallace managed to pull through from behind the leader, van Koeverden in the last stages of the race and win it!
Still can't wait for the Women's Basketball final between our women and the Americans. Should be excellent!!! Fingerscrossed that our men's Hockey team can at least manage to get the Bronze.......
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YES!!!! Steven Hooker takes the Gold Medal in the Men's Pole Vault.... brilliant and well deserved effort!!!!
He also took out the Olympic Record as well, at 5.96m......... Congrats to him!!!! 
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There has been quite a few here in Australia, though I can't say all of them hit their mark. But to me, the top 2 would have to be this QANTAS commercial. It just has this inspirational feel to it, even though I am not an athlete, it sums up what the rest of the population has to say to an Athlete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82vJ6cr8oPU...feature=related
The other one that I like, is the Bendigo Bank ad, I can't seem to find a link to it on here, but it has a yellow boxing kangaroo talking about the Olympics, funny and cute!
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I hope you do well, I like Australians.
Just can`t understand how the cycling went so wrong. and the means swimming team. You will come back probably.
I think South America deserve their time to shine in 2016.
Yeah that was a real shame....
, but again, we can only do better! Personally, I rather Chicago get it. Besides the main goal of the swim team for next time is to come back running and blow the Americans out of the water...... fingers crossed that it can happen in the future!!! -
I think Australia will never do as well as in Sydney or Athens for a very long time. Hmm Cycling you won I think 4 or 5 golds in Athens? you only got 1 silver this time. Do you know what happened?
and the swimming, if liesel jones and trickett dont perform in London, where does Australia get their medals? Australia relied on swimming for its haul, now the mens team nearly didnt register on the medals table and the women had to rescue the team.
i`m not being heavy on Australia sorry. but I think they can only expect a modest total in london and the games in Rio in 2016.
You never know, 4 years is enough time to come back from where we are right now, more talent is yet to be found...... and why do you think its going to be in Rio for 2016?? But anyways, I am sure that we will do well in all the Olympics to come.
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I`m German, not British. I just study in London, and I HOPE Germany beat both Australia and GB.
In that case, as long as either Australia or Great Britain beat Germany, than I am happy!
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Wont the Australians be disappointed to be beaten by the great british team?
Speaking as an Australian myself, I am not dissapointed that 'Great Britain' is doing better in the medal tally, matter of fact, I say "Well Done!!!". I know that there is an innate sense of rivalry between these two countries, but I rather think that this will make us even more determined to beat them in 2012. We definately have to regroup and learn from these games, in order to maintain our place in the Olympics in the future, hopefully we can only get better.
But maybe for Team GB it will be the case in 2012, of "Letting them have their cake and eat it too..."
Oh, Congrats to Anna Meares in the Women's Sprint, a silver medal!! Lol, at least we got one in
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Damn, no medals for Australia yet, but hey its still just the first day and our main events haven't happened had a final yet.... so fingers crossed for a lot more medals.... USA has definately got a hard job in front of them, especially considering the strength of China at these games (home town advantage and all that).... personally, I would rather see China top the medal tally, though I love the USA, it would just be refreshing to see another country in the top position, kinda knock the Americans off their high hats, give them something to work for in future games..
.... maybe in Chicago... but yeah, still along way to go.... -
Congrats Samuel For Spain!!! Well done, again, another miss for the Aussies
.... still an out standing effort though!! -
Another thing that we can be sure of, is the after "The Cauldron Goes Out" Party..... which by looking back at past Closing Ceremonies, will of course have many Chinese singers, hopefully that will include some Hong Kong and Taiwanese singers as well..... maybe a few international acts...... wat ever they got plan, it will be one hell of an after party!!!!
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LOL all athletes will be carrying a torch and it will seem like a torch-wielding mob going on a witch hunt!
What I have in mind is not something so literal. Maybe they can somehow activate/ encourage the flame in reaching the cauldron by doing some simple action together on the field eg. clapping, thumping their feet or setting off some ignition-popper given to them before they parade into the stadium.
Something that doesnt need rehearsing, something simple and spontaneous which turn all the focus to the thousands of athletes on the field during the climax. Cos to me they seem like some human props at the end of the show, filling up the empty field.
As interesting as your ideas sounds, it kinda of wouldn't fit into an opening ceremony. The athletes will be too excited just by the fact of just being in the stadium and 'clapping, thumping their feet' isn't exactly a show stopping moment. Lol, anyways, they can cheer and shout to "encourage the flame". As far as providing all of the athletes some kind of ignition device, that would be costly and again, kinda tacky.... I don't think that the "human props" as you think of them, think that they are what you say they are, after seeing the reaction from the Australian contingent, I believe that all the athletes are again, just thrilled being there... they are there coz they achieved something great, they are not there to be entertainment (that is what the cultural segment is for....), besides, the Ceremony is also a celebration of the athletes, so by having them in the centre, they become an integral part of the stadium....... they make the atmosphere in any Opening Ceremony uplifting... hmmm, you know, even though some people here hated it, I just relised that this Ceremony didn't have that big white sheet come down over the athletes.... I personally didn't mind it......
Watever they choose to do, i highly believe that the main way of lighting the cauldron will still be 1 or a few people lighting the cauldron either directly i.e Sydney or indirectly i.e Torino..... you can't beat this tradition, or prestige bestowed upon that chosen person(s) and I doubt, no matter how "different" these 2012 games are, this tradition will stay, albeit with a London flavour....
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Yeah, the only Red I see is splashed in the rainbow motif... but anyways, I am still happy with the venues look, lol, my farourite colour is blue anyways, so its great!!!
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The Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008, would have to be one of the most memorable ever for me. I loved the start with the drums, the scroll, the Dynasty Ladies (weren't they just so pretty!!!!).... the moving type feature was also a great moment.
My family and I especially love the picture that was painted by the athletes.... very creative and I wonder where they are going to display it??
Was it just me, or did anyone not see the part with the Terracotta Warriors?
I was lookin for them in the performance, but it appears to me that they had a costume change of some sort... i think that this was during the puppet Opera sequence....anyways, I won't compare this Ceremony to the others in the past, namely Sydney and Athens, coz they are all different... with very special moments in each........
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Hey,
I am proud to announce that Australia's flag bearer will be, no other then, 3 times gold medalist ......
James Tomkins
Here is some info on him from the Australia Olympic Website....
http://www.olympics.com.au/TheTeam/TheTeam...5&teamId=17
Can't wait to see him and the rest of the Aussie team march into the 'Birdnest', tommorow night.....
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Ok, the US flag bearer will be an ahtlete named, Lopez Lomong.... he was one of the 'Lost boys of Sudan'
here is the link,
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug...p&type=lgns
I think that this is a great and unexpected choice....
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Australia's flag bearer will be known tommorow, during or after the Australia Vs Serbia, soccer preliminary match on Thursday evening, so unless some one beats me to it, I will post who it is after I see who it is...... my guess is that it won't be a swimmer......
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.... phoenix theories.
And strange that they haven't removed the inflatable condom.
Well there is the way that they are going to light the cauldron, maybe the phoenix theme will tie into that... I am guessing that they won't take down the "inflatable condom" till at least after the 'official' unveiling during the Opening Ceremony, anyhow it should be gone the next day.
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OK, so the program will be unknown until the end... Why do they do that?
Thanks very much
P.S.: Spanish Olympic Committee website had its "own Opening Ceremony program" but it was only about protocol: flags, anthems, oaths... without the artistic part
One could guess that the reason why they don't post any of these "programs" out early, is so it can make people aniticipate the show more, or just so they can surprise them. I mean, knowing what's in a show, kills the feeling of seeing it, do you know what I mean? Besides, if anything we know far too much.... with that Korean broadcast and by frequenting this forum...
, if anything, trying not to find out is harder then wanting to find out everything..... especially with the news blasting out every bit of news regarding the Olympics..... Is athan your real name, or is it short for Nathan? or perhaps a mispelt Athens?
Closing Ceremony
in London 2012 Ceremonies Discussions
Posted
I had to wake up at 5am this morning to watch the ceremony and even got to work late... do I regret it..... NOPE!!! I LOVED IT!!!
While Sydney 2000 will always hold a special place in my heart, London's Closing was AWESOME!!! All the songs were great, I loved Emeli's performance, the Spice Girls were great too IMO and I was genuinely sad to see the flame go out. I didn't get the fire-bird segment, but the ballet dancers were interesting.
Eric Idle's segment was hilarious and I loved the Giant Inflatable Octopus that came out during Fat Boy Slim's performance. Also, was a surprise to see BOND during Russell Brand's part.
Bit strange for me seeing Take That, without Robbie Williams.... but all in all, great performances.... Well Done London!!!