msp2032

There was some discussion about cutting women's hockey from the Winter Games because of concerns of lack of competition!! I wonder if maybe they should consider eliminating women's basketball. The US Women have won the last five golds. There is not reason to believe that they won't win a 6th straight one in Rio. I wonder with the lopsided games, I wonder if some players on the other teams when they play the US are not giving their best effort? The lack of competition is ridiculous!! The fans deserve a tournament that is fun and exciting. Not a lopsided affair each time!! At least the US NBA team's games are more competive now!!

I do not understand why NBC keeps tearing the closing ceremonies to pieces so they can show another premiere of some stupid sitcom!! They did not show the final medal ceremony, the piano and circus segments as well as the playing of the Greek and Olympic anthems. Shame on you NBC!! Is it NBC's decision or are the producers of the sitcoms demanding that their show be premiered!! Somebody needs to tell the producers of the sitcoms back off. Maybe it is time for the IOC/USOC to award the rights to another network(ABC/ESPN would be my preference)

The NBC Commentator noted that the communist Russia era history segment was the "touchiest" portion of the opening ceremony. It probably would be too complicated and political for the director to have gone into too much depth into the Stalin era and Soviet Breakup. It begs a question. If Berlin hosts a future summer games, how would opening ceremony producers do a segment that would touch on WWII, Hitler and the Nazi's as well as Soviet bloc division of Germany and eventual reunification. Could be even more trickier.

I think the IOC should re-name the Opening/ Closing Ceremonies. I understand there are the traditional protocol element(Athletes Parade,opening speeches,lighting of the cauldro etc) But times have changed!! The ceremonies don't seem completely ceremony esq at all!! It really seems more like 3-5 hour concert/ party(a extended Super Bowl Half Time show!!) Don't want to lose the spectators and tv audiences with all protocol!! The term "opening/closing festival or party would be better.

Sounds like it was a spectacular show!! The bear mascot looks somewhat like Misha(A nod to the 1980 Moscow opening/closing festivies?) Too bad that the political grand standing and boycotts prevented many from seeing the Moscow festivies i n 1980. Not a bit surprised who they chose to light the flame. Salt Lake City had Mike Eruzione and the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team light the flame. Russia answered with Tretiak!!

With the military skirmishes with Syria, there is no way the IOC will pick Istanbul. I predict that the bid will likely be scrapped.

The "timing issue" may be what's against tokyo. With the 2018 Winter games in South Korea will the IOC allow the olympics to held in Asia just two years later?

I think there are several reason's why NBC does not want to show much of the parolympics. 1. They don't want to devote the money and the time to air another week and a half of another Olympic style event. 2. They are worried about losing viewers. Viewers could become "Olympic Out". 3. Timing:The Presidential Race and NFL season starting.

Do they use same Olympic Hymn as the regular games when the Paraolympic flag is raised or do they use a different song?

What do you think were the strangest opening or closin ceremonies that you remember? Three stick out in my mind 3.Athens:The pregnant girl with her belly light up. The MRI image of a brain and of course the cigarette shaped cauldron. 2. Torino:The skaters with the flames on their back. The acrobats climbing up the wall. The clown band(or was it the Standford band in disguise?) playing YMCA 1. Albertbville:The Strangest Opening Ceremony I can remember. The people walking on stilts. The giant horns, The women in the snowballs. TThe little girl singing " La Marseille" and the angels floating above as the cauldron went out.

As powerful as Beethoven's piece is, I kinda wonder if it maybe NBC felt it was getting too cliche and repetitious. Ode to Joy seems to not be performed as much anymore at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. They want a more modern and contempary score.

One of the parts of the Opening ceremony I got a little confused by was the segment(The NHS segment was it called?) where the children where sleeping in the beds and then the various figures came out(Mary Poppins, Captain Hook etc..). Was it suppose to be about a child's dreams or related the children who went through the London blitz bombings of 1940?

I wonder what are people's thoughts about if Berlin, Germany were to bid for the 2036 summer games(assuming that Germany does not win any bids before). It would be the 100th Anniversary of Jesse Owen's remarkable gold medal run. I think Germany is one nation that deserves a another chance to host. Yes, Hitler and the Nazis were around, but that was a completely different country. Another Berlin games could send a message that while the German people will never be able to put the past behind, there is a beacon of hope for the future. My vision for the Opening Ceremony would there would be somekind of tribute to Jesse Owens as well as other multi cultural athletes in Germany that made their mark. Another idea that would be interesting would be the Opening Ceremony could be built around Wagner's Ring Cycle or Grimm's Fairytales

Last night's closing ceremony broadcast was a shame!! Why screw the viewers enjoyment by wanting to televise a show about monkey's? It does not surprise me that they did this(they did it in Vancouver by showing The Marriage Ref.) They owe an apology for yet another embarassment. Show the thing live!!

I have noticed that NBC does not use Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" anymore for their closing montage. I think they last used it either in 2004 or 2006. Why is this? Is "Ode to Joy" not significant anymore? I though it was pretty moving and fitting piece to end the Olympics coverage. ABC used it during it's coverage of both 1984 Olympics and Calgary 1988.