Olympic Games

[Pacion]

Is anyone interested/does anyone care?

Apparently London, Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid are in the final race to host the 2012 Games.

I am so hoping that London does not get it :oops: I know, I know! I could be shot for treason but heck, the transport system can't get me to work with minimal trauma on a day to day basis, housing/accomodation is expensive as it is AND, to add insult to injury, Londoners will have to pay a "special tax" towards the Games :evil: (according to the last information I have on this subject which is several months old, I will confess).

I know that Sydney did a great job on the Games but, I don't think hosting the Games is for everyone/city :(

[pygmalion]

Orlando, where I live, hosted several World Cup soccer dgames back in 1996, think. My assessment? Not worth it. A lot of inconvenience for the benefits, I think.

[Laura]

I'm kind of rooting for Moscow. They had the games back in 1980 but due to the political climate a number of countries, the US included, boycotted. It would be nice to have it there again, with everyone going.

[pygmalion]

That would be nice. 8)

[jive2keys]

i'd like to see the olympics in france.

[cocodrilo]

I like to visit countries just BEFORE they're hosting the Olympics. The city is cleaned up, there are more recognizable signs in English, etc. Prices go up during and after the games, generally speaking, so BEFORE is a better time to hang out. Decided to visit Greece late last summer as it's going to be a mess during the games (and it's usually strike-o-rama anyhow!!!). It was so funny- the locals didn't seem to care less about the games(hey, they've got the economy to worry about right now!) and construction hadn't even started on the stadiums when I left (9/16/03). It will be amazing to see if they if they can pull it off. I hear they will still be cooling the asphalt off the day before the marathon is scheduled to be run!!!

As for me, I will watch the Olympics on cable, from the comfort of my own home. Don't have to worry about terrorism, icky toilets or traffic jams!

[pygmalion]

Good point. And you always have an excellent view. :wink: :D

[Sagitta]

To tell you the truth I don't get really excited about the Olympics, in particular about the competition to host the games. That is just an interesting tidbit for conversation purposes. However, since this is the first time I watch the games after I started dancing I'm interested in knowing what dance events they have. Do they? I know for the winter games they have ice skating and that always blows my breath away. Then for the summer don't they do some sort of water choreography for some event? That's as close to dancing that I can get. Oh, there is the gymnastics thing they do to music too...Anything else, anyone?

[etchuck]

I'd probably say based on the fact they chose really big internationally known cities for this particular Olympics cycle... I'm going to guess Paris would be the frontrunner since it hasn't hosted a summer Olympics in almost a century (London is the next oldest but that was 1948). Moscow is 1980, but we'll see whether they'll work on their bid. New York I think has no chance because of the proximity to various other games in North America in the short term (Vancouver hosts the Winter Games in 2010 I think).

But France has hosted the World Cup and several Winter Games before, so I really don't think Paris is going to be out of the question for that competition. Besides, a lot of history in going back to France (Coubertin of course), so it would make some sense to me.

What I was waiting for was a big thread on South Africa hosting the World Cup. :)

[spatten]

Is it just me, or did the Olympics lose a lot of there awe when they split the summer and winter games and did them every two years?

Back when the Olympics came round every 4 years - it seemed much more of a special occurence.

Scott

[Laura]

To me the Olympics lost a lot of their awe when NBA and NHL players and professional "Grand Slam" level tennis players started playing. Having all these pros in all these sports has led to all other Olympic-recognized sports having pros or de facto pros in them, and I wonder what the point is anymore. On the one hand, it's democratized elite sports because you don't have to be rich to participate any more, but on the other hand it's made everything seem to be about money -- even to the point where I've run into USABDA Championshp-level couples who aren't even National finalists who won't do demonstrations for less than a certain sum of money. What ever happened to giving back? We don't ask you to come tire yourself out by working as a deck captain or ticket-taker all day, so would it be so much trouble to drop your appearance fee and do a show for us once every few years?

Yeah, I know it's kind of weird that I have this attitude because I support the movement to remove the rules and separate amateurs from professionals, but that's because the system is so messed up now that there's no way to fix it and I'd rather have a system that I don't particularly like that works and has understandable rules that everyone can follow than to continue on in a virtual farce.

I, too, thought it was cooler when ALL the Olympics were every four years. The change was made for television purposes -- the US televsion networks pushed hard for the change, and since selling the TV rights to the largest TV market in the world is quite lucrative...well, there you have it. Nowadays, sports are accepted or rejected or even dropped from the Olympic program partly based on their ability to draw a TV audience in general and the US audience in particular.

Money money money money.

[cocodrilo]

Is it just me, or did the Olympics lose a lot of there awe when they split the summer and winter games and did them every two years?

Back when the Olympics came round every 4 years - it seemed much more of a special occurence.

Scott

It did take a bit of the "mystique" out of the games when they decided to hold them every 2 years, but I believe the main reason they opted to do it this way is so that athletes could participate in both winter AND summer events(you see a lot of speed skaters trying cycling, etc) .

[TemptressToo]

I like the two year change of Summer to Winter Olympics. Technically, if you follow a specific sport, it DOES feature in an Olympics every four years.

Myself, I follow gymnastics and figure skating...thus, it is a four year rotation for each.

[Genesius Redux]

I'd like to see Madrid get the games. I couldn't imagine them in either NY or London.

I don't have a problem with the games being opened--for years athletes from the Soviet Union had a major advantage because of the sponsorship they had without being "professional." The games should be about the best of the world's athletes in competition!

[cocodrilo]

I'd like to see Madrid get the games. I couldn't imagine them in either NY or London.


NY or London! What a mess that would be, taking the traffic problems into consideration...Surely the construction would go more swiftly than in Athens, though! :?

[cocodrilo]

P.S. Guys-
I was thinking of volunteering for several weeks in Athens during the Olympics, so I checked out their website. One would not only have to provide their own accommodation & board, which is not unreasonable, but there WAS no accommodation even at THAT point in time(I was looking into it way back in October!). The Olympic planning committee will even have cruise liners in the Piraeus Port to act as hotels! There are a gazillion hotels in the city of Athens and its suburbs, but apparently they are booked solid! :shock:

[Sagitta]

Talk about good planning!!!!

I'm sure people will be renting their homes and apartments, cocodrilo, to make a little extra cash.

[pygmalion]

Watching from the comfort of my livingroom is starting to sound even more appealing. Can you imagine how bad the traffic will be? :shock:

[peachexploration]

I was in the Atlanta area during the Summer Olympics in 1996. It wasn't so bad in the beginning until some idiot lit a bomb. :? That's what scares me the most about events like this. Other than that, it was a very nice atmosphere when I was there. Traffic was crazy and people made alot of money renting out their homes but Atlanta was like that even before the Olympics. :lol: Side note: My home town Brunswick and the Golden Isles, GA (St. Simons, Island) is hosting a G8 Summit in June. Everyone is scared to death for those same reasons. People are told to stay in the house for that week. Buy enough can goods and bottle water. Security is absolutely stiffling because it will be hosted by the President and because of the problems they had before when it was held in another country. Mind boggling. :? At any rate, I'll be watching the Olympics from my home as well. :?

[Pacion]

The games should be about the best of the world's athletes in competition!

Yes, as in the original games. What gets my goat and cooks it with a dash of lemon and pepper :shock: is when I hear that the material the athletes run on cost several million dollars :shock:

The latest now is that to "help" the London bid, they want to have "VIP road lanes" for the "VIP" :roll: "athletes" and "dignitaries" to have for their sole use to get them across London - a journey that would normally take about 1.5 hrs in off peak time, would then take about 30 mins :shock: as the vehicles they will be travelling in will have the equipment to change the traffic lights to speed them through. Now, that, amongst other things is starting to is starting to cook my goat's grandparents too! I work in this city, pay my taxes and have to endure all manner of stuff and yet these people who have done nothing for my city will get to move around "effortlessly"? As each day goes on, in the desperate attempt to win the Games, seems as if the officials are cooking up some really dodgy schemes AND to add insult to injury, they want money to be taken out of my hardearned salary to pay for that insult :shock:

[Pacion]

P.S. Guys-
I was thinking of volunteering for several weeks in Athens during the Olympics, so I checked out their website. One would not only have to provide their own accommodation & board, which is not unreasonable, but there WAS no accommodation even at THAT point in time(I was looking into it way back in October!). The Olympic planning committee will even have cruise liners in the Piraeus Port to act as hotels! There are a gazillion hotels in the city of Athens and its suburbs, but apparently they are booked solid! :shock:

I think that is pretty standard. Keep looking, you never know what you might find. I presume you don't know anyone there?

I was very fortunate and was in Sydney during the Games. It was one of THE most amazing experiences in my life and I am really pleased I was there for it. At the same time, it gave me an insight into the "greatest show on earth" but left me with a bitter taste :( Neputism is still rampant, the costs skyrocket and well, even though the Games in Sydney were the "best ever", a lot of the volunteers who were supposed to have been sent medals/badges (I have forgot) to commerate their involvement never received them (the Committee had run out of money :roll: ). In addition, it is so COMMERCIAL!!! IMO it takes away from the real origins of the Games - what was originally a dirt track is now a multimillion dollar surface/facility, not even mentioning the drug taking or falsifcations (eg the spanish basketball team (I believe it was) that claimed to be disabled in order to take part in the ParaOlympics and they weren't?)

Sydney worked incredibly well because they had land that they were able to develop. They built an "Olympic Park" with several venues/stadiums within walking distance (okay, about 15-20 mins walk, but at least once you were there, you were there for the whole day). I heard that the problem with Atlanta was the sites were dotted over the city so that the athletes had to travel across the city, along with the crowds.

Some friends came out for the Games and I was lucky to find a very nice apartment for them about 2/3 weeks before they were due to come over. The cost for two weeks at this particular apartment? The equivalent of approximately 3 months rent :shock: They were paying in US Dollars and the Australian Dollar is weaker than the US Dollar therefore "they could afford it". But I was stunned by what people were telling me they were asking for in rent. Many Sydneysiders did leave Sydney and were able to rent out their properties for some amazing rates.

The other thing is the cost of the tickets :shock: They cost a small fortune and what I saw with Sydney was that there was no guarantee that the seat you got was the "best one" for the money you paid. My friends bought what they were told were "A" tickets for different events which were supposed to have been the "best seats". I went to the diving finals with them and our seats were at the opposite end of the diving board :shock: and in order to see anything, we had to look at the screen provided. Same thing applied for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Those who had the "B" tickets seemed to have better seats than those who had the "A" tickets. :(

Having experienced the Games, my advice to anyone would be: be in the city where the Games are being held. The atmosphere, parties and evening is truly amazing. BUT stay in, have a few friends over and watch the events at home (go to a couple if you want). Sometimes the view you get on the television (plus the replays :wink: ) is better than the view you might have paid several hundred dollars for :(

[cocodrilo]

P.S. Guys-
I was thinking of volunteering for several weeks in Athens during the Olympics, so I checked out their website. One would not only have to provide their own accommodation & board, which is not unreasonable, but there WAS no accommodation even at THAT point in time(I was looking into it way back in October!). The Olympic planning committee will even have cruise liners in the Piraeus Port to act as hotels! There are a gazillion hotels in the city of Athens and its suburbs, but apparently they are booked solid! :shock:

I think that is pretty standard. Keep looking, you never know what you might find. I presume you don't know anyone there?

:(

No, I DO know someone there, but there is no way I would expect her to let me impose on her for 3 weeks!

Yes, people will be renting out apartments and houses for exorbitant prices. The average cost of a DECENT hotel room in downtown Athens is $100(for 2)- I'm wondering what it'll be during the games...

When the winter Olympics were held in Nagano, there were reports of tickets being snapped up by scalpers and sold at outrageous prices at the venue. It was funny, because no one was buying the tickets!!!!
I stayed in the warmth & privacy of my own home(bloody cold here in winter) and watched the games live on TV!

Speaking of a waste of the taxpayers dollars(or,er,euro), how 'bout that nice baseball stadium being built in Athens? The game is practically nonexistent in Greece,(they're avid soccer fans) so what will they do with it when the games are over? Citizens are a bit peeved. A lot of people don't think baseball should be in the Olypmics at all... :?

[Pacion]

:lol: re the baseball stadium. I don't remember it being in the Sydney Games. But, I am sure the Greeks will find another use for it :lol:

[cocodrilo]

:lol: re the baseball stadium. I don't remember it being in the Sydney Games. But, I am sure the Greeks will find another use for it :lol:

Yeah, maybe they'll move the Monastirakiou flea market there, ha ha!!!

[ntoqiakt]

Hiya there,

If you're still looking for accommodation I have nice apartment for rent for 2-4 people. It's very close to the Olympic Stadium and it is well connected via public transport to the most of the other main venues. Have a look at this website:

bluehexagon.net/athens2004
[Edit: active link disabled due to commercial content]

T

[pygmalion]

Is anyone following the Summer games? Is anything in particular expected to be good, riveting opr emotional?

The TV coverage starts with opening ceremonies tonight, right?

[Sagitta]

Well. I have no TV, will follow some via pc, I think.

[cocodrilo]

YOU BET! I love to watch sporting events! I'm rooting for both the Japanese and the Americans! I've got summer break at the universities, so I've got the beer chilled and I'm ready to watch the games!!! :D

[pygmalion]

I saw/heard on BBC News that the opening ceremonies went without a hitch. I believe the ceremonies are being broadcast in the US with a time delay, to fit into the evening prime TV viewing time slot. (I'm not sure, because all the local channels are showing hurricane coverage. :? )

[cocodrilo]

It was on at 2:45am this morning, so I recorded it! I'll watch it tomorrow night(going to see Manolito tonight!)....

[pygmalion]

Have fun. Come back and give us a review when you can. :D

[tasche]

Well first of all I dont understand why NY is bidding for the olympics. Apart from the Yankees every other sport is played in NJ

So fars the benefit a host city gets I'm on the fence on that one. they always sai the '84 olympics was good for LA alot of the stuff built is still in use and I think that rather than building a special atheletes village they out them all up at the dorms at ucla.

Though one thing that really bothered me was several times during opening they mention the flame travelled to 6 continents wth? When I went ot school ( not THAT long ago ) there was only 5 and for the life of me I can't figure what the 6th one would be.

[Sagitta]

Me too! :? Any ideas on the 6th anyone?

[pygmalion]

Here's a link to a map of the 2004 Olympic torch relay. Hope this helps.

http://www.london.gov.uk/torchrelay/about.jsp

[Sagitta]

Here's a link to a map of the 2004 Olympic torch relay. Hope this helps.

http://www.london.gov.uk/torchrelay/about.jsp

Thanks! But nope. :(

[Pacion]

Me too! :? Any ideas on the 6th anyone?

It would seem there are actually seven continents :lol:

North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica and Oceania (Australia).

Ohhhhh how I love Google :lol:

This is the link I got the above info from: http://www.uen.org/curriculum/html/ourworld/index.html

Based on the link that Pygmalion posted, the flame went to all the continents with the exception of Antarctica.

[pygmalion]

Yup. I guess I misunderstood the question. I thought the question was which six of the seven continents did the torch travel. *shrug*

[Sagitta]

I now completely understand. :oops: :notworth:

Thanks. :)

[Pacion]

Sagitta, are you ready to declare yourself as a "Googler" as yet :twisted:



:banana: :lol:

[Pacion]

I heard that the Ceremony came off without one hitch :shock: how amazing is that! lol, Athens has one over on Sydney now which came off with only one "official" hitch - the top of the torch stuck just after Cathy Freeman lit it. So, instead of raising to the top to settle at the top of that side of the stadium, it stayed there. The music for that moment kept playing, and playing, and playing. The technicians then managed to release it manually :lol: one can laugh now but I believe a few people broke out in sweats :lol: The funny thing was, it worked during the rehearsals with no problems at all.

Oh, a funny story from the Sydney Games. Cathy Freeman was on the field as a result of the athletes parade. She tried to leave as she knew she had to go and get ready/change for the torch lighting. But the volunteers who escorted the athletes on were told not to let anyone leave the field and had locked arms to 'contain' the athletes. So, they stopped her from leaving :lol: It was only when someone was sent to look for her did the volunteers realise and let her through :lol:

[pygmalion]

Yup. I guess I misunderstood the question. I thought the question was which six of the seven continents did the torch travel. *shrug*

The continent thing has a new wrinkle. I just checked in with my big sister by phone (after reading this thread) so, out of curiosity, I asked her how many continents there are. Five! Sometime between the time she was in elementary school and the time I entered elementary school, somebody appears to have redefined the world map. My guess? Political reasons. *shrug* Isn't it funny how, when you dig a little deeper, everybody can often be right? :wink: 8)

[Pacion]

The continent thing has a new wrinkle. I just checked in with my big sister by phone (after reading this thread) so, out of curiosity, I asked her how many continents there are. Five!

:lol: I guess the five would make up - North America, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe & Asia (Europe & Asia being one as there is no water separating them?)

Any geography students/teachers here? What say you :wink:

[Pacion]

Okay, here is something else I found, thanks to my best friend Google :lol:

How many continents are on the earth?
A continent is one of several major land masses on the earth. There is no standard definition for the number of continents but you'll commonly find that the numbers six or seven are used. By most standards, there are a maximum of seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Most students in the U.S. are taught that there are seven continents.

In Europe, many students are taught about six continents, where North and South America is combined to form a single America. Thus, these six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Many geographers and scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid landmass). Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.

The National Geographic Society recognizes seven continents

Source: http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzcontinents.htm



So, it seems that North & South America are considered as one.

Therefore, in order to have the five, it would be - America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia (leaving out Antarctica and "North/South" :D )

[tasche]

I know in south america they teach thats theres only 4 as they count both americas asone.

Athens opening cermony didn't gooff without a hitch I mean the person who lit the torch was a fill-in. The athelete that was suppose to have been in a motorcycle accident yet no motorcycle has been found :roll:

[Pacion]

I know in south america they teach thats theres only 4 as they count both americas asone.
America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia (leaving out Antarctica and "North/South" )
Do you happen to know what those four are? Because even if they teach both Americas as one, there is still a continent missed out/combined with another :?

Athens opening cermony didn't gooff without a hitch I mean the person who lit the torch was a fill-in. The athelete that was suppose to have been in a motorcycle accident yet no motorcycle has been found :roll:

All of that is stuff that happened BEFORE the ceremony, not during :wink: which is what the observation and my comments have been directed at :D Historically there has been a problem with lighting the torch at the stadium for example. Don't quote me :oops: but I have a recollection of one Ceremony where the torch was to have been lit by an archer. The archer missed :oops: and had to try a second time :oops: Will have to Google :wink:

I think that focussing on the Greek athlete as preventing the Ceremony as going off without a hitch negates the hardwork of the volunteers, performers, technicians, choreographers - everyone involved in putting the whole show together :cry:

[MacMoto]

I know in south america they teach thats theres only 4 as they count both americas asone.
America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia (leaving out Antarctica and "North/South" )
Do you happen to know what those four are? Because even if they teach both Americas as one, there is still a continent missed out/combined with another :?

I'm guessing that's America, Eurasia (Europe & Asia combined), Africa and Australia.

Another possibility is America, Eurafrasia (Europe, Asia and Africa combined), Australia and Antarctica. Apparently some scientists insist that, since Europe, Asia and Africa are all connected by land (like North and South Americas), these three should be regarded as one super-continent.

[pygmalion]

This is really an interesting topic. It seems that there is no absolute truth anymore. Everything is relative. Cool, I guess.

Did anybody actually watch competition footage? What's up?

[tasche]

In South America I belive the say its the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Does the fact the torch/flame looked like a big joint be classified as a hitch?

[pygmalion]

ROTFL! :lol: :lol:

[Pacion]

Though one thing that really bothered me was several times during opening they mention the flame travelled to 6 continents wth? When I went ot school ( not THAT long ago ) there was only 5 and for the life of me I can't figure what the 6th one would be.

The plot thickens :twisted: From the Athens 2004 website itself:
The Olympic Torch Relay International Route united all five continents for the first time.

:lol: :banana: this is so funny - forget what we/Google says. Athens say 5, the announcers say 6 - I love it!

[Purr]

Here are cities the torch visited:

Ancient Olympia
Sydney
Melbourne
Tokyo
Seoul
Beijing
Delhi
Cairo
Cape Town
Rio de Janeiro
Mexico City
Los Angeles
St. Louis
Atlanta
New York
Montreal
Antwerp
Brussels
Amsterdam
Geneva/ Lausanne
Paris
London
Barcelona
Rome
Munich
Berlin
Stockholm
Helsinki
Moscow
Kiev
Istanbul
Sofia
Nicosia
Athens

The torch visited Australia, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Europe. That's six continents, and that's my final answer, Regis. :wink:

[cocodrilo]

Returned to our hotel after seeing Manolito y su Trabuco(GRRRRRREAT!!!) after midnight and we were glad to see the Japanese judo players pick up 2 golds! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the games!

[Pacion]

The torch visited Australia, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Europe. That's six continents, and that's my final answer, Regis. :wink:

Is "Purr" turning into a "Growl" :shock: :lol:

[Purr]

The torch visited Australia, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Europe. That's six continents, and that's my final answer, Regis. :wink:

Is "Purr" turning into a "Growl" :shock: :lol:

Mew.

[tasche]

So now they've changed what used to be 5 into 6 are they going squeeze another ring in there?

[pygmalion]

Good question. I think the logo still has five rings. Silly me. It never occured to me that those rings represent continents (maybe because I was always taught there are seven? :? :lol: ) This is getting confusing.

[Pacion]

So now they've changed what used to be 5 into 6 are they going squeeze another ring in there?
Good question. I think the logo still has five rings. Silly me. It never occured to me that those rings represent continents (maybe because I was always taught there are seven? :? :lol: ) This is getting confusing.
From the Olympic Charter in force July 2003 (so it does not look like they will be amending the logo anytime soon :wink:) PS. I did not have to Google this one :wink: :lol: )
12 Olympic Symbol*
1 The Olympic symbol consists of the five Olympic rings used alone, in
one or in several colours.
2 The five colours of the rings are mandatorily blue, yellow, black, green
and red. The rings are interlaced from left to right. The blue, black and
red rings are situated at the top, the yellow and green rings at the
bottom. The whole approximately forms a regular trapezium, the shorter
of the parallel sides forming the base, according to the official design
deposited at the IOC headquarters and reproduced below.
3 The Olympic symbol represents the union of the five continents and
the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic
Games.