2008 Olympics

[MrsCat 6]

The Netherlands just kicked some serious booty in the Women's 4x100 freestyle relay.

Canada came in 8th but with a new team best time.

[Arlington 5]

No other country who will host the games should even attempt to out-do the ceremony in Beijing! The beginning with the lit up drums, woah! And the boxes moving like waves, and the lit up people, there were so many amazing things. Maybe a bit extravagant, but as they've been saying China was trying to impress the world. Whether I agree with Chinese politics or not, no country will be able to touch that opening ceremony. Unless they want to spend way too much money. I don't think it should be attempted.

Ha ha! I'm not seeing the UK (2012) doing that! Anyone want to bet whether Elizabeth II will still be Queen? I say "yes." As long as we're betting, how about the 2016 site (selection in Oct. 2009--a little more than a year away): (1) Chicago, United States; (2) Madrid, Spain; (3) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (4) Tokyo, Japan. I'd go with "Brazil." The others are tired.

[MrsCat 6]

Anyone else notice that there are lots of empty seats at all the venues so far? Watched gymnastics and now beach volleyball, and there are so many empty seats. Too hot? Can't afford a ticket? Not events that the chinese like? What's goin' on?

[IAMX 3,055]

U.S. jumping out to an early lead in medals.

Pulling for the locals and Greece to come out with plenty.

Not watching, myself, for two reasons:

1. Don't want to end my streak of not turning on the TV since the first week of June (not even the 49ers/Raiders could convince me to)

2. Don't like China, and don't want to support them and their censorship by watching it

[Jenn! 918]

####### why isn't there 24-hour olympic coverage?

Michael Phelps was awesome last night!

China/US bball today, right? That will be exciting!

Edited August 10, 2008 by Jenn!

[Yiyi and Chris 0]

Yeah... Sucks... In the middle of girl gymnastics the covarage ended... #######!!!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I think it has to do with China's censorship of media coverage there.

But it's ok you can watch the footage all online if you have Windows Vista.

[Jenn! 918]

IIRC, coverage wasn't 24 hours for Turin either.

Windows Vista?

I just checked and I am able to watch with Windows XP no problem!

Edited August 10, 2008 by Jenn!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

IIRC, coverage wasn't 24 hours for Turin either.

Windows Vista?

I just checked and I am able to watch with Windows XP no problem!

Post the link!

[Jenn! 918]

IIRC, coverage wasn't 24 hours for Turin either.

Windows Vista?

I just checked and I am able to watch with Windows XP no problem!

Post the link!

On the NBC site: http://www.nbcolympics.com/?forcereload=true

I had to install SilverLight for Firefox.

Cool - you can choose 4 events to watch at once...

Edited August 10, 2008 by Jenn!

[Marilyn. 340]

NBC withholding live Olympic events from west coast viewers

NBC went to a lot of trouble in order to get major Olympic events like swimming and gymnastics on the air live in primetime in the United States. Now, after getting their wish, the Peacock Network is inexplicably showing those events on tape delay on the west coast.

Because the time difference from Beijing to the United States wouldn't allow NBC to air live coverage of events from China, swimming and gymnastics finals were moved to the morning in Beijing. The network paid $894 million to broadcast these Olympics and didn't want a redo of 2000, when every major event in Sydney was shown on tape delay (it's no coincidence that the ratings for those Games were the lowest in history).

But after enduring months of tough negotiations with the IOC to get the events moved, NBC is doing exactly what they tried to avoid: showing events on tape. Tonight's swimming finals with Michael Phelps, Dara Torres and Katie Hoff were not shown live in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, nor will they be shown for the entirety of the competition. NBC will instead run the east coast feed three hours later; at 8:00 p.m. PT. So, at the moment (midnight on the east coast), viewers on the other side of the country still haven't seen Phelps shatter his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley.

This is a baffling decision by NBC. It's hard to recall any other occasion when a sporting event has been shown live in one half of the country, but not the other. It's unheard of. Sure, some sporting events start at weird times on the west coast, but that's the norm and people adapt. Like earthquakes, wildfires and actors-turned-governors, it's just how things are. That's why bars have breakfast buffets and bloody mary specials during football season for 10:00 a.m. kickoffs. If live mid-day weekend telecasts are good enough for the NFL and college football, why not the Olympics?

If the network plans on continuing the delay of the west coast feed, they're subjecting themselves to viewer backlash, poor ratings and upset advertisers. Essentially, NBC strong-armed the IOC into changing around a bulk of the Olympic schedule in order to broadcast live events in two time zones. Great business decision, guys. Why not just push Jay Leno out the door too while you're at it. (Oh, wait.)

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/b...4?urn=oly,99683

[pedroh 21]

yea nbc fukced up big time.. so what that the events are shown at a weird schedule? I'm sure fans would have got up earlier to watch something..

[SaadBell 0]

Michael Phelps was awesome last night!

He was smoking last night, basketball team looks good this time, I don't want a repeat of last time, made our basketball team look like a bunch of losers. We should take the gold in basketball there should not even be a question.

[amiquechu 0]

I just watched like 30 seconds of the "beach" volleyball. It looked like they were playing on a court that was the color of sand. #######?

I played volleyball up through college so it's my second favorite olympic sport to watch (after basketball). It was so freakin' frustrating to see Rogers and Dallhauser lose to the 2nd to last seeded team!!

[amiquechu 0]

No other country who will host the games should even attempt to out-do the ceremony in Beijing! The beginning with the lit up drums, woah! And the boxes moving like waves, and the lit up people, there were so many amazing things. Maybe a bit extravagant, but as they've been saying China was trying to impress the world. Whether I agree with Chinese politics or not, no country will be able to touch that opening ceremony. Unless they want to spend way too much money. I don't think it should be attempted.

Ha ha! I'm not seeing the UK (2012) doing that! Anyone want to bet whether Elizabeth II will still be Queen? I say "yes." As long as we're betting, how about the 2016 site (selection in Oct. 2009--a little more than a year away): (1) Chicago, United States; (2) Madrid, Spain; (3) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (4) Tokyo, Japan. I'd go with "Brazil." The others are tired.

I bet Brazil, too. South America and Africa are the only two (populated) continents who haven't hosted an olympics since I've been alive...they're due!