Rio 2016

[Eastlondoner62]

The opening ceremony starts at midnight, I am quite looking forward to it. Hopefully team GB make us proud once again!!

[thewintersoldier]

Aug 5, 2016 20:16:50 GMT Eastlondoner62 said:

The opening ceremony starts at midnight, I am quite looking forward to it. Hopefully team GB make us proud once again!!

Anything to make me forget the Euros

[mondraker275]

I assume most events will start around 5pm our time, and so most my evenings will revolve around finding something from the array of options. Some of the sports I find interesting include Volleyball, Hockey, and the BMX. THere are some random ones like archery that can be interestinf at times. THe golf is one I will avoid, and looks like the golfers themselves have avoided.

Generally hope that the Brazillian authotities, make sure that there is a 'legacy' left behind so that the people of RIo and Brazil benefit in the long term. Obviously there has been some Housing built and Transport system improvements, and so that is good. It would be a shame if they hosted the World Cup and the Olympics back to back and not gain from it. I like how Russia will similarly host the World Cup in 2018 and then the Olympics in 2024, I guess this saves money. If this continues I cannot wait until 2028 when Qatar hosts the Olympics and the Marathon in 45 degree heat.

[mondraker275]

In my attempts not to discriminate against any sport I watched several sports for one match or so on Day 1. I came across Equestrian Dressage. I mean if you dont know what that is, I did not, I still dont know in fact. The excitement and interest is equivalent of someone boarding a bus and tapping in. Well, maybe I am making Dressage sound interesting, as sometimes when you tap in you could get the drama of an empty oyster and the red signal! Dressage does not even have that level of intrigue and drama.
Dressage is a disgrace, I mean a disgrace. There was barely anyone in the stadium, probably because the Brazilian Authorities dont have enough money to pay people to come and see it.

[vjaska]

Aug 7, 2016 8:27:56 GMT mondraker275 said:

In my attempts not to discriminate against any sport I watched several sports for one match or so on Day 1. I came across Equestrian Dressage. I mean if you dont know what that is, I did not, I still dont know in fact. The excitement and interest is equivalent of someone boarding a bus and tapping in. Well, maybe I am making Dressage sound interesting, as sometimes when you tap in you could get the drama of an empty oyster and the red signal! Dressage does not even have that level of intrigue and drama.
Dressage is a disgrace, I mean a disgrace. There was barely anyone in the stadium, probably because the Brazilian Authorities dont have enough money to pay people to come and see it.

I watched a bit of it at the London 2012 games (on TV I might add) and just laughed solidly at it - I still don't understand what it's all about lol.

I do like the showjumping events though - used to watch it as a kid on a Sunday afternoon.

[snoggle]

Aug 7, 2016 8:27:56 GMT mondraker275 said:

In my attempts not to discriminate against any sport I watched several sports for one match or so on Day 1. I came across Equestrian Dressage. I mean if you dont know what that is, I did not, I still dont know in fact. The excitement and interest is equivalent of someone boarding a bus and tapping in. Well, maybe I am making Dressage sound interesting, as sometimes when you tap in you could get the drama of an empty oyster and the red signal! Dressage does not even have that level of intrigue and drama.
Dressage is a disgrace, I mean a disgrace. There was barely anyone in the stadium, probably because the Brazilian Authorities dont have enough money to pay people to come and see it.

I'm not much of a sports fan but how about a bit of "live and let live"? Getting a horse to move / "dance" in such precise moves is no mean feat. Takes a great deal of skill on the part of the rider and horse. Most people have no exposure to horses these days but I imagine (haven't checked) that dressage is a skill that goes back many centuries through the military and aristocracy. It's been an Olympic sport since 1912.

I suspect Brazil may not have the same equestrian history that the UK and some European nations have. Are you going to decry the beach volleyball in the same vein because it's something the Brazilians will be good at and are likely to support?

I just hope the Games manage to take place without any serious disruption or terrorism. If they do then that will be an achievement in its own right given the international situation and also the domestic backdrop in Brazil itself.

[RT3062]

I would imagine getting a horse to do that would take a great deal of trainning. I watched a bit of the ladies rugby 7s last night. The only gripe i have is the terrible poverty that alot of brazilians are living under. My personal thought is it would be much better if they could do something about that than hosting olympics.i thought the same about london to be honest how many children and families could be taken out of poverty for the billions that cost. But thats just me and my socialist beliefs.

[RT3062]

Aug 6, 2016 2:48:13 GMT thewintersoldier said:

Aug 5, 2016 20:16:50 GMT Eastlondoner62 said:

The opening ceremony starts at midnight, I am quite looking forward to it. Hopefully team GB make us proud once again!!

Anything to make me forget the Euros

being scottish ive learnt to forget major tournaments before they have even started. Get easy after a while

[Eastlondoner62]

Well Done to Adam Peaty and Jazz Carlin for bagging the first medals for the country. Hopefully Andy Murray will bring in the third soon!

[sid]

Team GB seem to be doing well but I really can't get interested in things like kayaking, synchronized diving or shooting

Oh well the Premier League is back at the weekend

[mondraker275]

Its over already. All those years and all that money... Congrats GB, for a small set of countries to finish second ahead of China and other more populated countries is amazing.

Binged watched almost everything:

Best: Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Track cycling
Surprisingly liked: Gymnastics Rhythmic and Gymnastics Trampolining
Worst/Disappointing: Judo, Wrestling and Equestrian Dressage

[snoggle]

Aug 22, 2016 17:01:09 GMT mondraker275 said:

Its over already. All those years and all that money... Congrats GB, for a small set of countries to finish second ahead of China and other more populated countries is amazing.

Binged watched almost everything:

Best: Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Track cycling
Surprisingly liked: Gymnastics Rhythmic and Gymnastics Trampolining
Worst/Disappointing: Judo, Wrestling and Equestrian Dressage

I didn't watch any of it live apart from the keirin race that had two false starts. I saw other bits via the BBC News website.

I still find Usain Bolt amazing to watch and his personality, as it comes over on the telly, is great. That photo of him glancing sideways while zooming ahead in one of the preliminary races was also brilliant.



I have no idea how they do those gymnastics moves - Max Whitlock on the pommel house and the new American female star, who does that "bounce" move off the floor.

I also liked Mo Farah doing a mini "meep meep", like the Roadrunner, on the home straight of the 5,000m. Time to just speed up a bit and win.

[sid]

Aug 22, 2016 17:01:09 GMT mondraker275 said:

Its over already. All those years and all that money... Congrats GB, for a small set of countries to finish second ahead of China and other more populated countries is amazing.

Binged watched almost everything:

Best: Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Track cycling
Surprisingly liked: Gymnastics Rhythmic and Gymnastics Trampolining
Worst/Disappointing: Judo, Wrestling and Equestrian Dressage

I watched bits and pieces of it but most of it just went over my head and I really cannot see how golf, football and tennis can be an Olympic sport!

[Deleted]

I think Team GB done our Country proud. Well done to them all.