The 2008 Olympics has recently come to close ready, steady and set to hand over to London ready for 2012 as the U.K gets ready to host. Is the UK up to the mark with rumours of an ever-decreasing budget?
This medals table that Daine from the UK sent to us mid week would suggest that the GB is ready in terms of athletics after our global performance:
LOL! Team GB did better than most expected afterall as did China, with the way they hosted the games, right?
So, how was the 2008 Olympics for you? Do tell – highlights, best events and most memorable moments per-lease as we look forward to 2012!
I don’t understand your board.
France won 40 medals, not 29.
p’tit prainces last blog post..John Pedro, tu fais chier!
Erm. It’s humour!
in fairness the french are not noted for humour- have you seen Allo Allo? although the way they capitulated in ww2 was hilarious
Bienvenue parmi les fleurs et les ronces M. de St Exupery!
Most memorable was Michael Phelps and the wrestler who walked away from the ceremony. I did not watch any of the broadcast, just highlights on the computer…oh my, how life has changed.
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Well done to all nations
What happened to Australia or Van Diemens Land before England claimed it
I loved the games, especially the opening ceremony. I think that will be hard to top. They did a really great job, both in terms of the arts and performance. I have to say I was quite critical about the whole idea of the games in China. But I felt this was something else, something beyond politics. For one moment we could and did all just forget about what we are doing in our “separate” lives and joined in a common purpose. We all do share a common purpose whether we are aware of it all the time or not. We do not want to be afraid and hate, and judge and condemn each other. We all need to find and give love, express and give our best, because that is what we are. Fear and hate is not what we are. We are not the goo
After seeing the opening, I said to myself, I love the Chinese, I want them to come out of their isolation. I want them to win. They are great. Of course, this world is one of opposites, so I could point out all the things that are wanting. But, I believe, at some point we all just want to put down our toys and be free from our need to justify fear and hate and judgment, because it can`t be justified. Love prevails.
I liked watching the games, and all the success by all the athletes. London will have to find its own expression. Comparison always kills. Just be yourself. Then you can let everyone else be himself, too. Love and appreciation prevail.
Albans last blog post.."There Must Be Another Way" by Ray Comeau
I agree Alban
I was a bit unhappy that the chinks never gave the tibetans a good pasting though. seriously. they had lots of chances to level them
Yeah, me too. They show us what we all, on a smaller scale, do, too. We think we can exclude and hurt others without suffering ourselves. Yet hat is a delusion. No one in his right mind would do that if he realized he is crucifying but himself.
I believe the games will teach many in China a lesson which is that there is a better way. The question is only, how long will they take to learn it. No one can do it for them, that is for sure.
Nice analogy Alban and welcome back to flowers!
If GB is the 2012 host for the games, I will be there! Yes!
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It still surprises me the average opinion that permeates about the Chinese in the West.
Most with that opinion have never been there and the closest they have come to experiencing China is a eating spring roll on a Saturday night. I’ve seen many ‘human rights’ abuses in the West yet we still consider ourselves to be holier than holy. Show me one major Western country that hasn’t had heavy handed police abusing their populace in recent times, especially at things like the G8 summit, demonstrations, etc.
Having experienced living in China for over 4 years the press and the reality are vastly different and of the restrictions in place, most have little bearing on daily life.
From speaking to my Chiense family and Chinese friends living in China about the olympics prety much all of them loved the experience and are really happy they were allowed to host them. As for pushing this event to drive change, many don’t really want or see the need for major change. Sure there are some areas they’d like to see altered and some people who are majorly unhappy all societies have this.
For once it was nice to actually see the media stop digging for stories that half the time aren’t there and focus on the good. China is changing rapidly but for some reason us ‘experts’ in the West seem to want them to remodel their whole society and law structure to an unrealistic and very rapid timescale – are we that sure our model is correct, high crime, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, murder, assault, etc.
The main one that the media seemed obsessed with was displaced people, mainly down to lower level corruption. I note that there is little coverage about people displaced by compulsory purchase orders in the UK (sure you get some cash but you are forced, against your will to leave your home), little about unenforced displacement by economic mismanagement and irresponsible selling of mortgages that has led to massive jumps in reposessions in both UK and US, yet, on a less aggresive scale these are very similar events. Its a matter of scale really, the principle is the same, enforced displacement.
A lot comes down to perspective and who is feeding you your ‘facts’. Certainly half of what I read and see bears little resemblance to actual general modern life in China.
Overall the Olympics in China has and will lead to more reform and improvements within China, they just need to be given time and encouragement to get on with it. Pillocks climbing up buildings with stupid slogans do much more harm than good, as does continuous bad press and uninformed snesationalist journalism, you merely refocus them inwards and dilute the message of reform.
Back to the actual question in hand; I think the highlight for me came from a particularly surprising area. Boris Johnson.
He actually showed a great degree of sense and political know how when he was interviewed and asked about China and its human rights, “I don’t think we are going to achieve what we want by showboating and grandstanding. I think we should use the opportunity of the Games to open up China to the world and show China why people care so much about this around the world.”
Well said that man, much more likely to get a result than swinging a moronic and uninformed banner from a lamp post.
For all the others who continually beat the ‘Bad China, naughty China’ drum, will you stop buying Chinese products? Aren’t you glad North Korea is playing ball (China never given the credit for sorting that one out)? Did you know they are the second highest invstors in green energy globally? Remember these guys had a fully developed society when your ancestors lived in huts made from cow excrement.
Cheers for this Gareth,
Surely Beckham and the London bus made up for Boris’s flag waving? He did a great job and talked alot of sense – mabe he’ll be PM by 2012?
London wil never compete with China in terms of $40 billion budgets but red busses, phone boxes,cheeky chappies and Mary Poppins – you can’t put a price on that!
Now that the Olympics is over what do China as a nation have to aim for in terms of pulling together? Serous question – is there another ‘big thing’ looming or is it a case of cracking on with life?
Oooo..Mary Poppins, loving it..too bad I have been missing out from the Olympic and the only thing I know is my country does end up in rank number 71..only one Silver, too bad none of the athletes get a Gold medal or else he/she would be a millionaire now..a million would be given to those manage to get a Gold medal..
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Seriously – 1 milion for a gold?
2012 – i do hope we’re ready but i do worry so…. budgets, build times, its difficult enough getting a plumber… imagine the scene – a phone call “there’s a hole in the olympic sized swimming pool” (ruth madoc hi-de-hi voice optional)
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I’m going through Olympics withdrawal. Well, actually it’s more like Misty May/ Xue Chen withdrawal.
Can’t wait for London in 2012 and Vancouver in 2010.
My favorite memories:
- Michael Phelps and all 8 of his gold medal runs. His 7th was perhaps the most exciting as he seemed beaten by half a length and yet somehow, some way got his finger down first.
- The “redeem team” actually making us proud. It’s been since the days of Magic, Michael, and Bird that our basketball team really made us proud. This team was very easy to root for. Newfound respect for Lebron, Kobe, and company.
- U.S. Men’s volleyball going on for their first gold in 20 years despite their coaches family being murdered after the opening ceremony. And it’s not like they were expected to win – they weren’t even picked to contend for a medal.
- Speaking of volleyball – I don’t think I’ll ever forget where I was when I first saw Xue Chen’s tan, rain soaked body on the beach volleyball court. Wow!
- Misty May and Kerry Walsh winning back to back gold – then Misty dumping her mom’s ashes all over the court, only to be covered up by the tarp. Loved her response “well, wherever that tarp goes now, Mom will be there.”
- Shawn Johnson beaming from ear to ear as she earned her gold.
- Dana Torres tearing up on the medal stand after the 41 year-old won silver in the water cube.
- China’s inhuman, unbeatable divers that made everyone else look amateurish. Most of them I couldn’t tell man from woman, but Guo’s pretty hot.
- Bolt’s run in the 100m and 200m sprints
- Jacki Chan singing during the closing ceremony (who can honestly say they’ve lived without hearing a tune sung by a martial arts legend?).
- Nastia’s gold in women’s gymnastics
- the ugliness that was Cheng Fei. I was so happy when she fell.
- Her name escapes me….but the U.S. track and field girl who ran down the Russians in the final stretch of the women’s 400m relay. That was like watching Curlin pass Street Sense.
yeah, but it’s Xue Chen I’ll miss the most.
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Cheers for sharing K!
well isnt that just typical ..
They left us off the list completely.. amazing what fear will do… hehehhe
highlights..
I did actually watch and although the telecast down here left a bit to be desired…
like interrupting the Gymnastics to broadcast the AFL is just..
but the Aussie Diver who won the 10m GOld medal with the highest ever score 4 perfect 10s and 112 in one dive… is just one.. our polevauter who broke the Olympic record, our first ever Gold in mens K1 andit goes on….
we came 6th in the world with Gold medals
not to shabby for a population of 21 million….
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI
We SMELL fear here in the UK AC – we smell it!
Aussie will be in the table in 2012 though, surely?
Howdy Flowers – Hope all is well.
You guys will have to come up with something out of the box/extraordinary to put on a great opening ceremony.
One way could be by “Gosmelltheflowers” sponsoring the games and showering the crowd with petals, every 10 mins…heheheh
We pets do like flowers too, and look forward to the flower shower.
As always you guys are the best.