LA84
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Posts posted by LA84
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This year's anthems were recorded by the Beijing Symphony Orchestra:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/bocog/bocognews/h...214470155.shtml
And in Athens, the anthems were arranged by Peter Breiner and played by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (not the New Japan Symphony Orchestra, which played the anthems -- I believe -- in Nagano instead).
The Athens anthems were even published on CD:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-National-An...d/dp/B0009JMEGU
Thanks for the info - I knew that - don't know why I put the New Japan thing!
And thanks for the links -
Germanys I thought sounded good. I'll look forward to hearing Canadas to see if they do it traditional or a little more like the rendition in Torino which I thought was good.
And yes, once again God Save The Queen is soooo sloooowwwww!
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At this moment, I think Abebe Bikila is the GREATEST Olympian of all time.
W/o coaches, without fancy sports science to set him up, WHO can run 26.5 miles of Roman roads BAREFOOT? I know I can't. Bikila's the only one who ever did and NO ONE else ever will.
That is GREATNESS!!
^^^
cosign
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I'm pretty impressed with the arrangements of the anthems.
Sounds like similar arrangements the New Japan Symphony Orchestra used in '04 but this time ours, at least, sound a little more powerful.
Anyone know who is playing this years anthems?
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I think the Chinese have more to lose in fudging the girls' ages than they have to gain. They have hundreds of candidates to choose from. The Chinese gymnastics officials would not risk this kind of trickery ONLY to have it blow up on their faces later on -- AND THEN GET SANCTIONED from their bosses in the Politburo. They would lose their careers, their special perks, maybe even their lives.
They have done it before - about 5-8 years ago I believe. Other countries have as well.
People will do anything when they are pressured to win. Remember '76 when the Soviet fencer was discovered to have a button on his epee to score points?
And of course our own Marion Jones, etc. scandals.
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That is the most juvenile thing you have ever posted.
God I hope Canada eventually wins a medal.
Phelps is probably the greatest swimmer ever but I don't think so as the best ever Olympian.
Now if he goes to London and adds to his gold medal total I might revise my assessment. But at this point, from the U.S. I put Bonnie Blair, Al Oerter, Carl Lewis, Sammy Lee, Greg Lougannis and Pat Cormick in that category as best ever.
I do take pleasure, however that Ian Thorpe has to eat his words now.
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Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty - I thought these were western values!
Where in any of my posts did I declare that the Chineese cheated? However, when I go to a lunch meeting today and my staff is discussing whether the Chinese gymnasts were legal or not (without me saying anything) it kind of tells me there are questions. And the world press is questioning it. So there are questions out there.
Maryjane - you are better than that. The filing of a protest I was referring to is the same procedures that the Koreans did 4 years ago when they protested Paul Hamms gold - with the International Gymnastics Federation or whatever it is called. Apparently the U.S. is not going to file such a protest, but as good as the Chinese girls were - and they were better than the US gymnasts - there will always be a question mark whether they cheated or not.
Hey - it wouldn't be an Olympics unless there was a figure skating or gymnastics controversy!
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No, I'm with you! It's a great achivement within swimming, but I am sick of hearing about him. If the BBC go to the lengths they have for PHelps, god knows what lenghts they would go to for a British swmmer... Personally, I don't think it can compare wth a Steve Redgrave who got a gold in 5 games in a row - and there are others from other countries who have greater achievements in my honest opinion!
I agree. It is quite an accomplishment and good on him. But I don't consider him the greatest. People like Steve Redgrave and Al Oerter I would put into the "greatest" column.
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how about complaining? think of the heated france / canada final.
I almost lost my drink from laughter on that one . . .
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By the way, I don't understand a single point about How Gymnastics chould be called CHEATING as this sport generally based on team work/talent/professionalism unlike others involved heavily with strength and power....or even dopping?
You need to read a little more closely before making such posts. We were talking about what is potentially a cheating that occurred on the Chinese Ladies Gymnastics team. The International rules are that the gymnasts have to be 16. There is speculation and what appears facts evolving that show that the Chinese may not have followed the rules.
Here's a definition of "Cheating" btw:
1 a: to practice fraud or trickery b: to violate rules dishonestly <cheat at cards> <cheating on a test>
Whatever~I'll rather be interested in BBC than this kind of ''exclusive'', it seems like TODAY USA working for Chinese government.Well feel free to surf the internet and find the source that you prefer because it is all over the news today
In the end, it was about performance. China clearly did better than the USA team. And if it was indeed true that some of the Chinese gymnasts were below the age requirement, then their superb performance becomes even more laudable.As I said, they did do a better job than us - no question there. However IF there was cheating (and there may not have been - that will only be discovered if a protest is filed), it is not laudible when one has an age advantage over all the other teams in the competition.
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The Americans did screw up. However, they should still have the gold. Unless Chinese math works differently than the rest of the world:
From today's USA Today:
This is where China's math and the rest of the world's math diverge. Yang Yilin, a medal contender in the all-around, was born Aug. 26, 1993, according to the official 2004, 2005 and 2006 national registration lists previously posted on the General Administration of Sport of China website, the Associated Press has reported. That means Yang is still 14, with her 15th birthday approaching.
But, interestingly enough, on the 2007 registration list, her birthday became Aug. 26, 1992.
How about He Kexin, a medal favorite on uneven bars? In articles and registration lists from 2005, 2006 and 2007, found by The New York Times and the Associated Press, she was born Jan. 1, 1994. Oh-oh.
But her Chinese passport says she was born Jan. 1, 1992. (Doesn't this happen with aging Hollywood actresses, only in reverse?)
And Jiang Yuyuan, another pillar of China's team? A list of competitors at a 2007 provincial competition listed an Oct. 1, 1993, birth date.
The passport? No problem. Nov. 1, 1991.
No matter how significant the other evidence, those passports, issued by the Chinese government, trump all. "The International Gymnastics Federation strictly verified their passports and confirmed that their ages met the age rules for participating in the world championship, World Cup and Olympics," the Chinese Gymnastics Association said in a statement.
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The Bay Area's Natalie Coughlin cruised to an early lead in the 100-meter backstroke, taking gold in the same event she won at the last Olympics, becoming the first woman to do so. Bravo!
I have to include the medal ceremony. Natalie is from where I live, Vallejo, Ca. We don't have much to celebrate now because the city is bankrupt. But she has given us a huge shot in the arm. Thanks Natalie.
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Everything I've heard said its US vs China for gold and everyone else is playing for 3rd.
That's what I have heard as well. Although if they perform like they did for the qualifying round, China will probably get it.
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I am shocked. The U.S. Men's Team was half alternates (the Hamms were out) and we still finished where we did.
Bravo!
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So Phelps is now up there with Paavo Nurmi, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz and Larysa Latynina as winner of Nine Gold Medals.I am so tired of the Michael Phelps story, BORING!.
Yes, of course I understand. Unless this was someone named Jean Pierre Pelletier from Canada then of course, you would expect the whole world to be enthralled.
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great round of finals today with the relay a real classic. Really France should have won from this point though
BUT THEY DIDN'T
:lol: So much for "crushing." -
So Michael Phelps wins his first Gold Medal. I am so rooting for him because I want to see Ian Thorpe eat his words!
And to wipe the smirk of Mark Spitz's face!And then, the organizing committee, who payed millions of dollars to host the opening, can't figure out how to work an iPod, or whatever they are using and screws up our National Anthem during the medal ceremony.
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I re-watched parts of this (since I did not watch all of it live) and need to revise my previous posts.
The technology and precision that went into this was second to none. Picture perfect.
The fireworks were spectacular.
I put aside my Western preferences and was impressed as to the show the ceremony put on for the Chinese people.
The Cauldron lighting I stand by what I said earlier. It has now moved to #2 on my list of all time best. It was like Lillehammers's cauldron wrapped in Atlanta's while the Los Angeles "drainspout" was attached for the actual lighting except, this time, it moved at lightening speed. Fantastic.
Bravo.
The soldiers who lifted the flag were highly disturbing with their goose-steps. Precision perfect but still -
I guess I kind of understand now why the people who attended Berlin '36 and Moscow '80 were so impressed. Precision perfect and except for those poor cheerleaders circling the track when the athletes entered (all who should receive medals for being able to do that for 2 hours!
) it just left me cold overall. Athens soothing blue and water was much better in that respect of making the rest of the world feel welcome. I just realized this is my 8th SOG Opening Ceremony I have watched SOMEWHAT live in this case on 08-08-08
I'd put this at about the 4th best of the ones I saw live (somewhat), 5th if I include Moscow which I did not see live.
Good job.
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The only shamefull aspect of the night was when George Bush got cheered. I know asian culture is brought up to be polite and respectful to guests, but really......
I know what you mean. I could not believe that the athletes from around the world cheered China's President. Politeness is one thing, but please . . .
that was shameful. -
There is no such thing as "best ever." It's a matter of preference.
I found this ceremony to be a long snooze. I think I was border with Athens ceremony tho.
Frankly I thought the lighting of the cauldron was the second best ever, following Barcelona. Imaginative, good choice of lighter - very impressive.
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Atlanta and Lillehammer just called. They want their cauldrons back
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Well, altruistic and admirable as his motivations are, they are his own agenda which is in conflict with the host (gov't) of these Olympics Games.
For somebody dealing in int'l causes, he's very naive if he thought that Beijing would allow someone who would embarrass them to come in. If he were to come to my house and embarrass me, I too would ban him. Duh!
People like him, well-intentioned as they are, still haven't learned the art of finesse and that in-your-face doesn't work w/ entities like China.
HORSE FRITERS (Thank you Col. Potter, MASH 4077th)
Then China has no place on the world stage.
IF - this were 2012 and Britain kicked ANYONE out of London then they would be vilified. What if some activisted group wants to protest the clubbing of seals? Does one think they will have their passports denied in Vancouver? Not.
This is BS. "Respecting" China's government's recent actions goes totally against what they promised in 2001.
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I'm sorry - I was distracted as to how Peking kept their promise to go less pollution'ist for these games with that beautiful blue sky.
As opposed to Toronto - what dreadful place.
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USA chooses Lopez Lomong, a 23-year old Sudanese-born naturalized-American T&F athlete.
So much for the Michael Phelps - Dara Torres choices.
Also, unlike another country, the US relishes its diversity and DOES NOT mind giving the flag-bearing honor to NOT even a natural-born American. And he was voted on by the various team captains -- very Gree....err, democractic of us!!
OMG Baron - I think this is the first time I have to disagree with your wisdom
It just rakes my ass that it is considered more PC to have a political figure carry our flag than an actual American, who competed and won 9 medals between '84 - '92, and 2000 and is now the oldest Olympic swimmer ever .
Let's just have Beckham and Posh carry in the torch if Chicago wins 2016. If her fake boobs can hold up, of cours.
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why was Cheek's visa revoked? any valid reason?
Why The Sour Grapes?
in Beijing 2008 Summer Games
Posted
Spot on. Los Angeles and Salt Lake are two of my favorites because it touched on American culture and my country. Do I think they were the best - yes. Were they? To some yes, to some no. Do I expect others to think they were? No. It just has a special place for me.
This whole bashing Bejing's ceremonies is much ado about nothing. The embellishments they did are just upping the technology bar that started with probably Barcelona and has continued from there. I mean the drummers in Athens were not both live but it didn't take away from the ceremony and I really liked that part.
As for the replacement of the little girl, that is a bit odd simply because lip synching is normally only done by the artist who actually sang it. But to turn it into a scandal is a bit much.
P.S. - I love their torch and the torch lighting. And how creative to take Lillehammer's cauldron, Wrap it tightly in Atlanta's cauldron and attach the L.A. spout for the actual lighting!