Olympics Poll

[Karen]

You are somewhat older than me, but maybe the parochial schools - never swift to change curriculum or anything else - were still teaching outdated social studies/history texts in your high school!

[cassiesmom]

I saw a very brief clip of Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina on the balance beam followed by a clip of Gabby Douglas. The reporter talked about how women's gymnastics has changed in the years between them. I also heard on the news that Larisa Latynina was at the swimming event where Michael Phelps won his 19th medal, breaking her record and how happy she was for him. I wonder if the girls on the current gymnastics team will be back 4 years from now. I hope Phelps is still around 4 years from now!

[Grace]

I saw a very brief clip of Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina on the balance beam followed by a clip of Gabby Douglas. The reporter talked about how women's gymnastics has changed in the years between them. I also heard on the news that Larisa Latynina was at the swimming event where Michael Phelps won his 19th medal, breaking her record and how happy she was for him. I wonder if the girls on the current gymnastics team will be back 4 years from now. I hope Phelps is still around 4 years from now!

Article from the NY Times about Larisa Latynina - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/sp...pagewanted=all

Interesting bit I read in another article - in 1958 when she competed in the World Championships, she was 4 months pregnant. She didn't tell anyone because they would have taken her off the team - and she won 5 of the 6 events she entered!!

[cassiesmom]

I wonder why cricket is not an Olympic sport. It's more popular in other parts of the world than it is here. As far as venues go, could they use the same field for cricket and soccer games? I also wonder why lacrosse is not in the Olympics. Seems like every high school around here that has a field hockey team also has a lacrosse club. I miss women's softball but I don't miss baseball.

[carole]

I am a bit ashamed to say i have not watched the olympics this year usually they are on a channel which screens my favourite programmes, so i end up watching them and enjoying them, but this year they have put them on a different channel, still i am pleased that us kiwis are doing rather well in the rowing especially, congrats to all who have done so well.

[Grace]

A wonderful example of the Olympic spirit -

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/lo...-1226442722824

[cassiesmom]

I had goose bumps watching Oscar Pistorius! Wowie wow!

A little Olympic humor (source unknown but I think partly from Bob Costas, I got this from a friend from church)... the camera operators covering the trampoline event had a very up-and-down day; the crews covering tennis and volleyball reported great shots over and over; and there were so many who wanted to cover gymnastics that they had to flip for it.

[RICHARD]

Wow, what an end to the Woman's soccer game.


Wow.

[carole]

RICHARD did you see our valerie in the shotput miss out on a gold, such a shame ,she was the current holder of the world title,still a silver better than nothing.

[RICHARD]

RICHARD did you see our valerie in the shotput miss out on a gold, such a shame ,she was the current holder of the world title,still a silver better than nothing.

The coverage here is terrible, as usual.
The broadcasters have spread the coverage over 5 networks, three I do not get and list the events like this..

9:00 to 5:00
Equestrian, track and field (finals), volleyball, men's quarterfinal rowing and dog racing.


You are stuck watching hours of sports for a three minute snippet of an event you wanted to see -you can stream over the computer, but that is unreliable.

The other problem is that the world didn't show up to these games. It seems like it's either Micheal Phelps, the gymnastic team or some other US athlete that has a twitter page or commercial deal...

[Grace]

The NY Times has a great daily schedule available. Shows what is going on at the time you access, plus what is coming up later in the day. http://london2012.nytimes.com/schedule

As for livestream, I use http://www.nbcolympics.com/online-li...-28/index.html

Pick the sport you want, then the day. The time shown is the time it will be here - not there. I've been using it with few problems.

[cassiesmom]

I watched some canoeing and kayaking video clips from the NBC Olympics Web site. I didn't realize how fast the kayakers were going till I saw the people behind them following the race on bicycles! Wow! I learned some canoeing as a kid at summer camp and liked it a lot. The kayaking looks fun to me.

[cassiesmom]

I'm enjoying the rhythmic gymnastics team event. To me it's part gymnastics, part ballet and a little Cirque du Soleil. I'm sorry the Olympics are over! I wonder if Adele will be in the closing ceremony? I heard that Sir Paul might be back along with Sir Elton John, the Who, George Michael and Annie Lennox.

[Miss Z]

I stayed in London a little longer this summer for the Olympics, and I have to say it's been a blessing upon the city and Great Britain on the whole. The atmosphere was just electric. London is always very cosmopolitan, but having so many people from around the world walking its streets was fantastic (other than, perhaps, when we Londoners are stuck behind them on the tube ). Most certainly an experience I'll never forget. One of my best friends was even lucky enough to be a performer in the opening ceremony. A nation is proud. To all those in this country that have been rubbishing it for the past 4 years - well, that showed you!

I had tickets for the first round of the team dressage, and I saw the men's marathon swim in Hyde Park. I'll post the pics up soon.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I stayed in London a little longer this summer for the Olympics, and I have to say it's been a blessing upon the city and Great Britain on the whole. The atmosphere was just electric. London is always very cosmopolitan, but having so many people from around the world walking its streets was fantastic (other than, perhaps, when we Londoners are stuck behind them on the tube ). Most certainly an experience I'll never forget. One of my best friends was even lucky enough to be a performer in the opening ceremony. A nation is proud. To all those in this country that have been rubbishing it for the past 4 years - well, that showed you!

I had tickets for the first round of the team dressage, and I saw the men's marathon swim in Hyde Park. I'll post the pics up soon.

And what a wonderful job you all did! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!