XXVIII Summer Olympics

[Harpoon]

Just gotta say that I'm all giddy now because the opening ceremonies of the Athens Games is on the CBC now and while I'm not in Canada, I can see the border from here and I'm one of the rare few folks around that still has a working TV antenna on the roof so I get to watch the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation coverage of the Olypics which, in my humble (yeah right!) opinion just blows all American coverage of the Olympics out of the water.

It's been doing that for years!!!!


I mean, come on. WHen the Winter Olympics were in Japan I could watch skiing events LIVE at 4 in the morning on the CBC.

NBC had broadcasting rights for the US and they were airing... PAID COMMERCIALS at 4am...

Plus the US coverage is always little "package" pieces about different atheletes and events or the venue rather than actually SHOWING an event.

In the Nagano Games the CBC broadcast women's hockey (a first for the Games) LIVE with no commercial interuption during each period. The first first Olympic Women's Ice Hockey game was between Canada and Japan and I watched the whole thing on TV, every period.

You couldn't have possibly done that in the US, even if you were watching cable coverage....



Long live the CBC!

Eh?

 

[Karlynn]

Just a little "we were there" moment.

The picture is my husband and kids in the old Olympic stadium where the first modern Olympics were held. I guess they are connecting the new and old stadium somehow for the opening ceremonies.

 

[Harpoon]

That's cool. =)


Closest I've ever been was the torch relay for the Atlanta Games. They made a lunch stop here in town. Nearly set a tree on fire when they lit a cauldron that was set beside a stage in the downtown commons.

We "covered" it for the public access channel. I had cameras lined up all along the route and I was in the park with a few other people to shoot the presentations they did along with local media.


I think Toronto, Ont (that's only four, if you drive the speed limit, hours away) was in the running for a games but I suspect they lost 'em to someone, can't remember who.


Cool photo. Must have been really neat to see all the ancient Grecian (sp?) art and stuff...

 

[Karlynn]

Everything is made from marble. It's so plentiful in Greece. The stadium you see in the last picture is all marble. There is a small museum on the Acropolis that has the salvaged frescos from the Parthenon. (The few that weren't ripped off by invading countries) To get on top of the Acropolis you walk up a fairly steep marble path. My ticker got a work out. The path was slick. There obviously aren't many law suits in Greece.

 

[Karlynn]

One more travelog photo

One more travelog photo

Athens was a very cool place.

 

[Karlynn]

Last photo didn't attach for some reason.

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Hehe, the CBC does have great coverage....it's just too bad that we can't actually WIN a medal!

Sorry...we do have one.

 

[Harpoon]

The path was slick. There obviously aren't many law suits in Greece.

Who would you sue? Some ancient Greek architect???




Canda won the first Winter Olympics gold medal awarded for snowboarding a few years back, inspite of an ugly drug testing mess...

 

[Bryan B]

Bunny

Bunny

Ya'll make up for it in the winter olympics.

 

[tommy]

Carly Patterson

Carly Patterson

Our city is going GAGA over it's new hero - Carly Patterson. The mayor promises a parade. Hope to post pictures.

I was laid up with bacterial endocarditis during the 1984 Mary Lou Retton olympics. I watched it wall to wall (except for frequent naps) with a penicillin IV bag hanging on the wall at home. Mary Lou lifted my spirits then. These gymnasts are amazing.

 

[tommy]

Deena Kastor

Deena Kastor

Deena Kastor took the bronze medal in the women's marathon today. Starting temperature was about 90F degrees. She ran a smart race and surged toward the end, moving from 18th all the way up to 3rd with a lot of heart and stamina. She finished less that a minute behind the leader and only about 4 minutes shy of the olympic record. A truly amazing performance! Very emotional for her (and for me to watch).

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

I am loving the women's beach volleyball. But it's hard to keep my eye on the ball.

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Bryan

Bryan

Yeah I think we're more of a winter sports kinda country.

 

[tommy]

Parade for Carly Patterson

Parade for Carly Patterson

Our town gave Carly a parade and reception this morning. My son marched in the parade with the high school band. He is a senior. We couldn't stay for the reception, but there was quite a crowd. It was a thrill to see Carly, and hear the band honor her with marching and playing the Olympic theme music.

Here are some photos. The melaphone player is my son.

 

[Mary]

That's pretty darn neat, Tom. You all must be proud.
Mary