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Posted

Sadly not. :(  circumstances would not allow this Olympic cycle. But I really hope to visit Los Angeles…  these games really reignited my love for this event. 

I returned to GamesBids after a lull of about 7/8 years recently. It’s lovely ‘seeing’ so many familiar faces.  hope everything is well in your life and you are happy. 

Posted
6 minutes ago, Michelle said:

But I really hope to visit Los Angeles

Me too. I am just hoping I can convince my husband. 

7 minutes ago, Michelle said:

 hope everything is well in your life and you are happy. 

Yes, all good here. I got married in 2019 and now live in the countryside (Yorkshire Dales). Are you still in Belgium? 

Gamesbids was a really special place for me when I joined in 2003. It opened up so many new friendships across the world and I have some really great memories. I also cringe at some of the posts I made and how I behaved. There were reasons for this that I won't go into. I like to think I am a lot less highly strung these days. 

Thankfully, I found my soulmate in 2010 and after London I became disenfranchised with the argements and bickering that seemed to dominate the boards. I pop in very occasionally for information but rarely post as I don't have the time. 

 Hope you are well and happy, too. 

Posted
3 minutes ago, Lee said:

Me too. I am just hoping I can convince my husband. 

Yes, all good here. I got married in 2019 and now live in the countryside (Yorkshire Dales). Are you still in Belgium? 

Gamesbids was a really special place for me when I joined in 2003. It opened up so many new friendships across the world and I have some really great memories. I also cringe at some of the posts I made and how I behaved. There were reasons for this that I won't go into. I like to think I am a lot less highly strung these days. 

Thankfully, I found my soulmate in 2010 and after London I became disenfranchised with the argements and bickering that seemed to dominate the boards. I pop in very occasionally for information but rarely post as I don't have the time. 

 Hope you are well and happy, too. 

Wow. Congratulations. This is amazing news 💒🤵‍♂️🤵‍♂️

im so glad you found the one. No better feeling.

You’re not wrong about this board over the years. I’m pretty sure I have fallen out (and thankfully made up) with quite a few people over the years. I think we were all so passionate back in the day, and that can usually bring a little fire at times. Not saying I’ve lost the fire entirely haha. But I suppose I’m a lot more mellow… I think we all are with time. A little grace never hurt anyone! 

No, not Belgium. I split my time between the U.K. and Copenhagen these days. I’m no longer working, tiny ones came along and occupied my time. But I’m better for it. 

I’m going to try and post here as much as I can in the lead up to Milano 2026 and beyond. Rio, Tokyo and the pandemic generally really deflated a lot of people… so I wasn’t around for much of that. But after Paris I feel more engaged than ever. 

so when and if you can, pop in and give us your thoughts and opinions. You were absolutely one of the best posters back in the day. With invaluable contributions. 

Posted
2 minutes ago, Michelle said:

Not saying I’ve lost the fire entirely haha

I really hope not. You always made me laugh with your comebacks. 

 

4 minutes ago, Michelle said:

You were absolutely one of the best posters back in the day.

That's kind of you to say. I certainly count you as one of the most knowledgeable and considered posters. 

 

6 minutes ago, Michelle said:

, tiny ones came along

Congrats Michelle. How many children do you have? I always struggled with the prospect of parenting as I had too many issues myself that I didn't want to pass on. I admire the sacrifice of those that do though. It must be a wonderful feeling. 

 

9 minutes ago, Michelle said:

I split my time between the U.K. and Copenhagen these days

Wow. I do love Copenhagen. Have been several times but my wallet always suffers from the strain of the prices there. I think only Norway and Switzerland are more expensive. Sadly, all countries I love to visit. 

Posted
6 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Get a room -- you two!!  ;)

Rude. 😂

I still have your book, Baron. Any more of that and it's going on the wood burner. 🤣

Posted
15 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Hi Lee! 
Ha!  And it's selling for $2,024.00 now on eBay!  Goes up each year!  ;)

Hi Baron! Is that for the gold leaf pages edition? 😂

Posted
1 hour ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Signed, LIMITED gold-leaf edition with Titanium covers!!  With a lock of gran-gran-gran-pere's hair no less!  

Damn. I was looking for the 2 locks of hair edition. You were so close to a sale there. 😂

  • Haha 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Lee said:

Congrats Michelle. How many children do you have? I always struggled with the prospect of parenting as I had too many issues myself that I didn't want to pass on. I admire the sacrifice of those that do though. It must be a wonderful feeling. 

 

Wow. I do love Copenhagen. Have been several times but my wallet always suffers from the strain of the prices there. I think only Norway and Switzerland are more expensive. Sadly, all countries I love to visit. 

Honestly, I think everyone is like this. They wonder if they will project onto their kids - while that’s inevitable, watching them develop with their own set characters is the joy. Don’t rule it out, however you know what you want and I’ll leave it with you. We have two boys, Anton and Elio.

You’re right about Denmark, it’s super expensive here … but no more than other big cities tbh. London is equally the same. We found a way to make it work here, we fell in love with the cultural blend of old and new. And it’s super bike friendly which is a big plus to us. (We moved here due to my partners work primarily). However It feels very much like home now. 

Norway is another gem. Oddly enough I’d love to visit the Faroe Islands someday. Maybe  when I get some more free time :) 

Posted

Jimmy Fallon really has a special way of destroying memes. She was becoming an ICON for us Zoomers. 

On a lighter note, I think it's really a testament to how incredible Paris' games were that they brought so many members back to this forum and seems to have left us all with really tender memories and emotions. I wanted to sit with my feelings for a few days, and the interaction between Lee and Michelle really cemented this impression. 

My verdict: A+, easily the best games since London 2012, and arguably one of the best games of the modern era going back to LA84. Sure, the ceremonies could've been better and the irony of the food not being good is *rich* (given Chirac's comments back in 2005!), but these complaints all pale in comparison to the sheer triumph and majesty of these games. In these two weeks Paris has given much-needed life and vibrance to the Olympic movement and I frankly cannot remember the last time I was more excited and optimistic about the future of these games.

  • Like 2
Posted
3 minutes ago, mr.bernham said:

and the irony of the food not being good is *rich* (given Chirac's comments back in 2005!),

Yeah, I also said just as much in another Paris thread last week, when I posted an article about that very topic. I still claim that it was payback by the Brit's over that Chirac food comment back in '05. :lol:

Posted

Well might as well join the bandwagon. Don’t know if anybody on here can remember me, but I used to post as Safrican back in the early and mid 2000s. I remember a few heated arguments in the bid race for 2012 - I was steadfast that Paris had it in the bag. How things have turned out. It’s been such a long time that I can’t even remember my previous account details, thus the new account lol.
 

As for Paris 2024, just loved it from start to finish. The unique approach to the opening, the stunning venues, the way Paris was at the heart of it all, the great crowds, I can go on and on. Really enjoyed it and up there for me with my all time favourite Barcelona 92. Heck it got me posting here again, though I have been lurking.

After the disappointment of Tokyo and with everything going on in the world it felt like such a tonic. I still am very enamoured with the Olympic movement and the ideals behind it. Over the past decade or so it has just felt as though the world has fallen out of love with the Olympics and it felt that maybe just maybe Paris 2024 brought some of that magic back.

  • Like 1
Posted
4 hours ago, Michelle said:

. We found a way to make it work here, we fell in love with the cultural blend of old and new. And it’s super bike friendly which is a big plus to us. (We moved here due to my partners work primarily). However It feels very much like home now. 

Do you speak Danish yet, Michelle? 

We lived in Frankfurt for 18 months due to my husband's work but I struggled to get past anything but basic German. I find German particularly hard to get my head around. I have lots of vocabulary but struggle with the grammar rules. 

What makes things worse is that my husband is very good with languages. He speaks German fluently and in lockdown he learnt Dutch. He is now studying French and intends to move onto Swedish.

4 hours ago, Michelle said:

We have two boys, Anton and Elio.

Great names. Elio is very unusual. 

 

Posted
2 hours ago, mr.bernham said:

I wanted to sit with my feelings for a few days, and the interaction between Lee and Michelle really cemented this impression.

I do the same with every summer games. I can't help but look in and smile as I read the regular posters discussing ceremony and venue details. Sadly, I think the shine has gone off the bid process. After London we lost that real battle between cities to fight for the right to host. I do miss those days. 

Posted
31 minutes ago, Safrican2 said:

I remember a few heated arguments in the bid race for 2012

I expect I was in the thick of that. Your username is familiar but I have a terrible memory. The boards were really alive during that time.

Posted
34 minutes ago, Safrican2 said:

Well might as well join the bandwagon. Don’t know if anybody on here can remember me, but I used to post as Safrican back in the early and mid 2000s. I remember a few heated arguments in the bid race for 2012 - I was steadfast that Paris had it in the bag. How things have turned out. It’s been such a long time that I can’t even remember my previous account details, thus the new account lol.
 

As for Paris 2024, just loved it from start to finish. The unique approach to the opening, the stunning venues, the way Paris was at the heart of it all, the great crowds, I can go on and on. Really enjoyed it and up there for me with my all time favourite Barcelona 92. Heck it got me posting here again, though I have been lurking.

After the disappointment of Tokyo and with everything going on in the world it felt like such a tonic. I still am very enamoured with the Olympic movement and the ideals behind it. Over the past decade or so it has just felt as though the world has fallen out of love with the Olympics and it felt that maybe just maybe Paris 2024 brought some of that magic back.

Of course I remember you - welcome back. As @mr.bernham said, it’s a great sign of how great these games were that it inspired so many of our past regulars to fall in love with the games again pop back in.

Posted

I think the IOC made one of the most intelligent choices in giving both France and the USA games back to back. London, while a truly special Olympics, was preceded and followed by problematic Olympics. Paris is going to be followed by LA. If the Italians can pull off another Torino level Olympics for 2026 the narrative around the Games could change dramatically.

I travelled during the second week of the Games so missed much but what I did see and the engagement as I sat at overpriced bars here and there was not something I would have seen previously. NBC's ratings are also significantly up from initial reports. 

Posted

Enjoyed Paris 2024 as much as London 2012. After Rio's problems and the COVID-affected Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Games, I was happy the Olympics are back! First time since PyeongChang 2018 I enjoyed an Olympic Games.

NBC's TV ratings are also up in the US which is good especially a US-hosted Olympics in 4 years time and the last two Olympics preceding Paris drawing historically low ratings.  

Posted (edited)

For “balance”:

"The Paris Games weren't flawless, an endless series of scandals" - Moskovsky Komsomolets

"The most shameful Olympic Games in history. The Paris 2024 organisers managed to offend hundreds of millions of people with an opening ceremony and a parody of the Last Supper. And then the Olympics became increasingly embroiled in problems, scandals and even crime. Vomiting athletes, champions with male chromosomes in women's boxing and worms in food." - Komsomolskaya Pravda

 

Edited by Sir Rols

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