The Olympic Thread

[Johnny Mac]

I've really been enjoying it all so far.

Although it has caused me some problems. I got laid off again 2 weeks ago. Basically the firm I work for have had to put all their work on hold until mid September. So no work to do and I lose my job.
There are restrictions on construction work, I work in demolition so me and loads of others cant work.
Not good. Extremely p!ssed off.

Feel for you mate, don't like to hear that kind of story. Hope it works out.

Thanks mate.

[gwEm]

more unsporting behavior:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-19094680


I loved the track cycling yesterday - really exciting.

[nfe]

What's unsporting about it? It's just a guy being an arse. It has nothing to do with sport. Every negative act committed by a sportsman isn't 'unsporting' simply by association.

I have zero interest in the Olympics but I'm really enjoying the hyperbolic journalism. Really hoping for a British athlete to test positive for doping just to see the McCarthy-esque witchhunt.

[gwEm]

What's unsporting about it? It's just a guy being an arse. It has nothing to do with sport. Every negative act committed by a sportsman isn't 'unsporting' simply by association.

i guess: bad loser, disrespectful or whatever.

[AndyR]

I've managed to almost completely avoid it all so far.

[nfe]

I've completed avoided it until yesterday because I find most of it tedious but I enjoy the athletics with its pacier jumping between events. Quite enjoyed it.

Totally indifferent to who wins, but I like folks don't outrageously impressive stuff.

[Ian Price]

Really hoping for a British athlete to test positive for doping just to see the McCarthy-esque witchhunt.

I must say that is a strange thing to hope for. I hope for no positive tests whatsoever.

[Philly Q]

Holy cr@p!  What a day!  What an evening!   :D



I am feeling unapologetically jingoistic.

[gwEm]

Holy cr@p!  What a day!  What an evening!   :D



I am feeling unapologetically jingoistic.

Yes, I'm warming to the event more and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4PoRiC1Zxc

[WezV]

i wonder how much the people in the daily mail offices are squirming after our recent wins

after the opening ceremony the published this article - now withdrawn
http://www.freezepage.com/1343493744VDGIBPHPUW

ut it was the absurdly unrealistic scene – and indeed one that would spring from the kind of nonsensical targets and equality quotas we see in the NHS - showing a mixed-race middle-class family in a detached new-build suburban home, which was most symptomatic of the politically correct agenda in modern Britain.

This was supposed to be a representation of modern life in England but it is likely to be a challenge for the organisers to find an educated white  middle-aged mother and black father living together with a happy family in such a set-up.*

Almost, if not every, shot in the next sequence included an ethnic minority performer. The BBC presenter Hazel Irvine gushed about the importance of grime music (a form of awful electronic music popular among black youths) to east London.

This multicultural equality agenda was so staged it was painful to watch.

* just like Jessica Ennis perhaps?

Born in Sheffield, Ennis is one of two daughters born to Vinnie Ennis and Alison Powell, and has a younger sister named Carmel. Her father, originally from Jamaica, is a self-employed painter and decorator; her mother, a social worker, was born in Derbyshire.

how about Mo?

Born Mohamed Farah in Mogadishu, Somalia on 23 March 1983, Farah moved to Djibouti after the outbreak of the Somali Civil War. He later moved to Britain at the age of 8 years old, speaking barely a word of English. Farah's father was born in England and grew up in Hounslow; his parents met after his father went on holiday to Somalia.

In April 2010 Farah married his longtime girlfriend Tania Nell, in Richmond, London. Farah has a stepdaughter called Rihanna  and he and his wife are expecting twin daughters in September 2012.

He is a fan of Arsenal F.C., a Muslim and is an active supporter of the Muslim Writers Awards.

[nfe]

Really hoping for a British athlete to test positive for doping just to see the McCarthy-esque witchhunt.

I must say that is a strange thing to hope for. I hope for no positive tests whatsoever.

I just think the way it'd be reported would be a joy to read. We've got some appallingly jingoistic coverage as it stands. The reaction to a British athlete doping would be hysterical.

Also keen to see how the Daily Mail reports Mo Farrah's win tomorrow. Asylum Seekers BAD Medal Winners GOOD. Must cause some consternation trying to word that report in their office.

[WezV]

Also keen to see how the Daily Mail reports Mo Farrah's win tomorrow.

here you go ;)

[nfe]

:lol:

[Ian Price]

Really hoping for a British athlete to test positive for doping just to see the McCarthy-esque witchhunt.

I must say that is a strange thing to hope for. I hope for no positive tests whatsoever.

I just think the way it'd be reported would be a joy to read. We've got some appallingly jingoistic coverage as it stands. The reaction to a British athlete doping would be hysterical.

Yeah - I agree with you there. I do get a little embarrassed at some of the BBC highlight coverage, especially the Gabby Logan bits when she has either Thorpe or Johnson in the studio. Still don't want to see British athletes cheating although the press reaction would be interesting.

[Philly Q]

Really hoping for a British athlete to test positive for doping just to see the McCarthy-esque witchhunt.

I must say that is a strange thing to hope for. I hope for no positive tests whatsoever.

I just think the way it'd be reported would be a joy to read. We've got some appallingly jingoistic coverage as it stands. The reaction to a British athlete doping would be hysterical.

Yeah - I agree with you there. I do get a little embarrassed at some of the BBC highlight coverage, especially the Gabby Logan bits when she has either Thorpe or Johnson in the studio. Still don't want to see British athletes cheating although the press reaction would be interesting.

To be fair, the Gabby Logan programme seems to be specifically intended to highlight the achievements of "Team GB" in particular.  I don't see anything wrong with that, it's nice to have a bit of a feelgood factor in the country, it'll disappear soon enough.  

And I like Michael Johnson and Ian Thorpe!  I always hugely admired Johnson as an athlete and I like his intelligent "voice of reason" persona as a pundit.  Thorpe has been excellent too, I like his sense of humour and he's not afraid to speak his mind (although his habit of saying "Look..." at the start of every sentence is mildly irritating)

Oh, and I hope we don't see any British athletes testing positive.