Summer Olympic Games - London 2012

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

You seem to be on top of the track and field events. Any potential upsets I should look out for? And what do you think will happen in the 100M? Blake or Bolt? Gatlin got a shot?

In the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles, look for an American named Kellie Wells to get into the medal chase if she hurdles well. She won't defeat Sally Pearson again (although Wells did beat her a few weeks ago in a Diamond League race in London), but she could be in contention for silver or bronze. Lolo Jones I think will final, but she won't medal. I have in the 100 meter hurdles:

Gold- Sally Pearson, Australia
Silver- Dawn Harper, United States
Bronze- Kellie Wells, United States

The Men's 100 I have Blake, Bolt and Tyson Gay to medal...in that order. Gatlin has a shot to sneak in there though. Tomorrow is the Women's 400 Meter final and I think Sanya Richards-Ross will finally win a gold medal in that event. She came really close in Beijing but faltered in the end to finish with the Bronze.

[The Englishman]

Originally Posted by FreeRadical

Team GB got 6 gold medals today, the most gold medals in one day for the UK since 1908!

Possibly the greatest day in British sporting history!

Jessica Ennis and Katerina Johnson-Thompson

I'm loving it....

[regwec]

Great day for GB.

I was with my girlfriend watching the test match against South Africa at Headingley today, and the Olympic news filtered through the beer-marinated crowd like a warm, bubbly jet stream. Watching KP knock his sexiest ever century at the same time made it just perfect.

[Sakuraba]

Originally Posted by The Englishman

I'm loving it....

What events have you been to?

The Aquatic Center looks amazing, but I heard you can't see the crowd on the other side because the ceiling swoops down over the pool.

[Sakuraba]

I was thinking, what happens if Phelps is a year or two older?

He was 15 in Sydney, didn't medal there. But if he's a little older he would have medaled there, dominated Athens and Beijing just the same, and probably had a similar finish here in London. He actually could have more medals. I still have a feeling that he'll compete in a limited program in Rio. We'll know in a few years.

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

I was thinking, what happens if Phelps is a year or two older?

He was 15 in Sydney, didn't medal there. But if he's a little older he would have medaled there, dominated Athens and Beijing just the same, and probably had a similar finish here in London. He actually could have more medals. I still have a feeling that he'll compete in a limited program in Rio. We'll know in a few years.

I just don't know with him. He seems to be at peace with his decision so getting him back for Rio sounds like a challenge. On the otherhand, he's such a competitor that I could see him getting bored with not swimming and return for maybe one individual event and a relay or two.

[BatSpider]

Is there any way the next olympics not be on NBC?

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by BatSpider

Is there any way the next olympics not be on NBC?

Nope, they have the rights through the 2020 games.

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

I was thinking, what happens if Phelps is a year or two older?

He was 15 in Sydney, didn't medal there. But if he's a little older he would have medaled there, dominated Athens and Beijing just the same, and probably had a similar finish here in London. He actually could have more medals. I still have a feeling that he'll compete in a limited program in Rio. We'll know in a few years.

I don't see him returning but who knows? Now that he's retired, the mantle of World's Greatest Active Olympian could go to Usain Bolt if he repeats his Beijing performances in London.

[FreeRadical]

Originally Posted by The Englishman

I'm loving it....

And there's still over a week to go! Jessica and Mo are not finished yet!...

One thing I've noticed while watching the Olympics on TV, is the atmosphere in the venues and stadium whenever Team GB are playing is amazing. It's nice to see the UK get together like this, compared to last year.

Sorry to any US viewers, don't know what they are drinking over at NBC. Over here in the UK, we have 24 HD live Olympic channels from the BBC. Even parts of the world that are under-developed are getting live coverage.

[Sakuraba]

Originally Posted by Webfoot Hero

Nope, they have the rights through the 2020 games.

The finalists are Istantinoplebul, Madrid, and Tokyo. I love those finalists. Barcelona was a great Olympics, Tokyo is culturally and athletically rich, and Istanbul would be the first Games in a Muslim country. Any of those choices would be great.

Originally Posted by Dr. Evil

I don't see him returning but who knows? Now that he's retired, the mantle of World's Greatest Active Olympian could go to Usain Bolt if he repeats his Beijing performances in London.

Missy the Missile, baby

[Sakuraba]

Originally Posted by FreeRadical

And there's still over a week to go! Jessica and Mo are not finished yet!...

One thing I've noticed while watching the Olympics on TV, is the atmosphere in the venues and stadium whenever Team GB are playing is amazing. It's nice to see the UK get together like this, compared to last year.

Sorry to any US viewers, don't know what they are drinking over at NBC. Over here in the UK, we have 24 HD live Olympic channels from the BBC. Even parts of the world that are under-developed are getting live coverage.

We can watch it all live in HD on NBC's website, and they live broadcast a lot of sports. They just don't televise the events and athletes that people want to see until primetime.

[FreeRadical]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

We can watch it all live in HD on NBC's website, and they live broadcast a lot of sports. They just don't televise the events and athletes that people want to see until primetime.

That's good to hear, I thought you needed a cable subscription to watch the live broadcast on NBC's website.

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by FreeRadical

And there's still over a week to go! Jessica and Mo are not finished yet!...

One thing I've noticed while watching the Olympics on TV, is the atmosphere in the venues and stadium whenever Team GB are playing is amazing. It's nice to see the UK get together like this, compared to last year.

Sorry to any US viewers, don't know what they are drinking over at NBC. Over here in the UK, we have 24 HD live Olympic channels from the BBC. Even parts of the world that are under-developed are getting live coverage.

That's mainly possible because of the resources at BBC's disposal. Plus, with the time zone differences, showing everything live on so many channels in the US would be a big-time money loser for NBC.

[Dr. Evil]

Holly Mangold is as big as her brother.

[FreeRadical]

Two of my favourite songs from the opening ceremony:

This was played during the Industrial Revolution section:

'And I Will Kiss' by Underworld and Dame Evelyn Glennie

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

This was performed during the final run with the torch and the lighting of the cauldron:

'Caliban's Dream' by Underworld

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

[FreeRadical]

Originally Posted by Webfoot Hero

That's mainly possible because of the resources at BBC's disposal. Plus, with the time zone differences, showing everything live on so many channels in the US would be a big-time money loser for NBC.

That's true, NBC is relying on primetime and advertising while over here, we have to pay a TV licence and the funds go to the BBC. Since there are no commercials on the BBC, and ratings arn't as important, we have coverage 24 hr on the main BBC channel (BBC One).

Didn't I read somewhere that NBC paid $1billion for the Olympic tv rights up to 2020 in the US? The BBC only paid £60million.

[Sakuraba]

^^
I like the second one a lot. It sounds like Olympic music, it's very fitting. Certainly better than that crackling version of Hey Jude that Sir Paul served up.

[Sakuraba]

So I've been doing some reading about the 2024 Games. It's never to early!

This is probably going to be the U.S.'s Games. The USOC had some revenue dispute with the IOC (apparently the USOC didn't share much in Atlanta or Salt Lake!), and that's what hampered Chicago's bigs and made them the first boot during the final round of voting.

That revenue dispute is now cleared up. So we're probably getting 2024, with the lead cities being Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by FreeRadical

That's true, NBC is relying on primetime and advertising while over here, we have to pay a TV licence and the funds go to the BBC. Since there are no commercials on the BBC, and ratings arn't as important, we have coverage 24 hr on the main BBC channel (BBC One).

Didn't I read somewhere that NBC paid $1billion for the Olympic tv rights up to 2020 in the US? The BBC only paid £60million.

I think the BBC only paid that amount because it went in with a union of other European public broadcasters and the IOC awarded them the contract over a higher, private bidder.

[FreeRadical]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

^^
I like the second one a lot. It sounds like Olympic music, it's very fitting. Certainly better than that crackling version of Hey Jude that Sir Paul served up.

Yeah, the opening ceremony music is on an album called 'Isles of Wonder'. It's on iTunes. It has a good mix of songs since Underworld who usually work with Danny Boyle were the musical directors of the ceremony.

[FreeRadical]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

So I've been doing some reading about the 2024 Games. It's never to early!

This is probably going to be the U.S.'s Games. The USOC had some revenue dispute with the IOC (apparently the USOC didn't share much in Atlanta or Salt Lake!), and that's what hampered Chicago's bigs and made them the first boot during the final round of voting.

That revenue dispute is now cleared up. So we're probably getting 2024, with the lead cities being Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

It's very likely, especially since Rio de Janerio did bid for 2012 but lost, and eventually got 2016 after bidding again.

So far the only continent in the world that never hosted the Olympics is Africa...

[Sakuraba]

Originally Posted by FreeRadical

It's very likely, especially since Rio de Janerio did bid for 2012 but lost, and eventually got 2016 after bidding again.

So far the only continent in the world that never hosted the Olympics is Africa...

Casablanca is supposed to be making a strong bid for 2024, but I don't think they can match the American money that the IOC will be staring at. It'd have to be a Casablanca or South Africa. South Africa hosted the World Cup, and the IOC loves stuff like that.

I just want to say also that the Brits have done a fantastic job hosting these games. I've loved the venues and the crowds have been pretty awesome. Not always full, but raucous.

I'd rate these as being behind Beijing, but right there with Barcelona as second best Games since the Boycott Era.

[Webfoot Hero]

Originally Posted by Sakuraba

Casablanca is supposed to be making a strong bid for 2024, but I don't think they can match the American money that the IOC will be staring at. It'd have to be a Casablanca or South Africa. South Africa hosted the World Cup, and the IOC loves stuff like that.

I just want to say also that the Brits have done a fantastic job hosting these games. I've loved the venues and the crowds have been pretty awesome. Not always full, but raucous.

I'd rate these as being behind Beijing, but right there with Barcelona as second best Games since the Boycott Era.

Beijing had nice venues but many were quiet, except for when there was a Chinese team or athletes. The London Games seem to have been much more manageable for fans from other nations to get to.

[Sakuraba]

From my experiences watching events emanating from Japan, Korea, and China, it seems to be more mental than emotional spectators. And they certainly don't attend events they don't like. As a big tennis fan, I know well the failure of the ATP to host the Tour Finals in Shanghai. Empty seats galore. And the continued attempts of holding a masters event there.

But Beijing was a spectacle and had tons of memorable moments.