Olympics - Will they go pear shaped? - Page 2

Kingmaker2 · 08-08-2008, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

Yes, the Chinese opening ceremony is very impressive. I keep wondering "how do they do that?"

Of course it's also total propaganda and horribly mawkish at times. What we need is Terry Wogan doing the commentary in the same style he does Eurovision.

But then aren't all Olympic cermonies propaganda and makish?

I suspect London will be exactly the same on that front, lots of children, lots of attractive faces, plenty of smiles.
Could you imagine it done any other way?

Mathom · 08-08-2008, 16:17

I liked the way it was so unashamedly Chinese. They got one of their top film directors to produce the ceremony and you could tell, as it was like watching one of his films with all the big set pieces. Course, the fireworks were top-notch as you'd expect! It only fell apart when they tried to be all modern and PC at the end with that dove dance thing.

The one bizarre thing was the Scots pipe band they recruited to play while the teams marched in! I liked that because it was surreal.

You can bet the London ceremony will include extensive steel drum bands of children from London schools, some cheesy X Factor star, and David Beckham.

slimsid2000 · 08-08-2008, 16:20

The trouble with these Chinese opening ceremonies is that 2 hours later you feel like another one.

livestrong · 08-08-2008, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by slimsid2000

The trouble with these Chinese opening ceremonies is that 2 hours later you feel like another one.

Not after having to wait for all the teams to get through their bit!

As for coverage I'm lucky we have tonnes of coverage out here.

Alastair · 08-08-2008, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

I liked the way it was so unashamedly Chinese. They got one of their top film directors to produce the ceremony and you could tell, as it was like watching one of his films with all the big set pieces. Course, the fireworks were top-notch as you'd expect! It only fell apart when they tried to be all modern and PC at the end with that dove dance thing.

Yes, I bet the London show isn't so unashamedly British. If we do a similar show about British history it will probably have to include apologies for oppressing the rest of the world during the years of empire.

Joking aside, it's going to be interesting to see how we present ourselves to the world in 2012.

livestrong · 08-08-2008, 16:46

Whether they go pear shaped or not remains to be seen.. I have however got a few friends who were in Bejing only last week and the stories they were told by locals and what they saw first hand were unbelievable...

My understanding is that Amnesty Internationals statements about Human Rights abuses getting worse couldn't be more accurate. At the end of the day I'll be interested to see whether it is the "China the Chinese Government want to portray" or the "reality" that everyone takes notice of.

RiffRaff · 08-08-2008, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

....it's going to be interesting to see how we present ourselves to the world in 2012.

Not sure, but I bet there'll be a couple of red double-decker London buses somewhere in there.....

cgksheff · 08-08-2008, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

.........
The one bizarre thing was the Scots pipe band they recruited to play while the teams marched in! I liked that because it was surreal.

"......... The band originally thought the invitation was a practical joke.
........."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/7549580.stm

discodown · 08-08-2008, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

The one bizarre thing was the Scots pipe band they recruited to play while the teams marched in! I liked that because it was surreal.

I'm fairly sure that bagpipes are a chinese invention, I could be wrong though. Hang on a mo...

...I'm wrong, the origin of them is unclear

pk014b7161 · 08-08-2008, 20:22

the london olympics will take the people,s breath away when they realise how much its cost

cgksheff · 08-08-2008, 21:08

London 2012 .. day before ceremony:

"There you go. One super stadium!"
"Track?"
"Nah. You never said anything about a track!"
"I'll tell you what. Here's my mate's number, he can do a good deal on tarmac."

"But you'll like what I did with the Long Jump ....... Bark Chippings."
"Nah. You don't want sand, with cat pooh and all that!"

Grissom · 08-08-2008, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFoot

Is there an online stream anywhere?
Keep trying to find a site that will show me the Judo action as it happens, but no luck yet.

Full Judo-only listings :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cmqdc/episodes/2008

onlyjoanna · 08-08-2008, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

Yes, the Chinese opening ceremony is very impressive. I keep wondering "how do they do that?"

Of course it's also total propaganda and horribly mawkish at times. What we need is Terry Wogan doing the commentary in the same style he does Eurovision.

I'm happy you like it. It's not difficult for a collectivist country,and China got huge population.

but seems that Chinese are not satisfied with the opening ceremony because it go on with the same style when we celebrating,

though the foreigners like it. but the uniforms for atheletes are definitely not what I expected, British atheletes did better in uniform

onlyjoanna · 08-08-2008, 21:18

quite annoyed with the commentator, she's too judgemental, not only always try to combine Olympic with politic, but also keep judge each country, back-seat driver!

Grissom · 08-08-2008, 21:19

By the way you can get a download on BBC site and it then tells you when your favourite things are coming on and gives you the latest info and results :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olym...ey/7479984.stm

Go download that monkey

callippo · 08-08-2008, 21:43

they only wanted to beat Korea which is the last Asian Olympics most people can remember, there being comparitively few people that remember Tokyo in 1964 (before my time).

this is why they wanted the Olympics so badly. They knew when they got it, when people think of East Asia in future, they'll think of the culture that dominates the place, the Chinese one, and not the upstart Japanese and Korean ones.

thornbird100 · 09-08-2008, 10:19

The Beijing Olympic opening ceremony was successfully held at the Bird's Nest at 20:00 o'clock Beijing time. I watched it live on TV and as a Chinese, I think it was a great success. So how about you? Have you watched the ceremony? If you have, would you like to share your opinion with us?

RiffRaff · 09-08-2008, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

You can bet the London ceremony will include extensive steel drum bands of children from London schools, some cheesy X Factor star, and David Beckham.

Probably Myleene Klass too.
Why not?
After all, she's on everything else......

RiffRaff · 24-08-2008, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiffRaff

Not sure, but I bet there'll be a couple of red double-decker London buses somewhere in there.....

Well, I was half right, and four years early!