DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Summer Olympics 2008 Thread

Is anyone else excited about the Olympics? Seems like the attitude these days is pretty ho-hum towards the games, but I've always enjoyed them.

We've got the Men's basketball team trying to recapture gold. We've got the men's soccer team with a possibility of a getting a medal. There's the gymnastics team which is pretty strong this year. The track athletes and swimmers look to dominate again. Of course this year will be more interesting, because of all the pollution problems. I wonder if some will be able to compete better in the smoggy conditions? What do you call the smog equivilent of a mudder? a smogger?

Then there's also Beach Volleyball! Which means plenty "shot of the day" pictures for the thread! And remember refs ... these won't be some cheap, sleezy tabloid pictures of athletes showing off more than they normally would ... or some vanity magazine shot where they are deliberatly trying to expose too much. These will be photos straight from the respectable Associated Press, about dignified international Olympic Competition.

Anyways, back to the Olympics ... I always find the stories I enjoy most are the ones where the underdog comes out of nowhere to claim a podium place. I usually prefer it to be an American underdog, but it's still just as thrilling to see anyone do it. One of the most exciting things to see some no-name, have the race/event of their life, and break-down in tears or shock ... even if it's just for the bronze medal.

So anyone else watching? Or is this going to be similar to the Tour de France threads?

I have always enjoyed the Winter games more, Over the last few years I havent watched, all they talk about is drugs, roids, scandles, this person is cheating that person had thier metals taken away, it's not what is was back then.

I really liked them a LOT as a kid. But as I got older, I knew that who won depended more on the judges nationalities, than the athletes performances. So I became quite soured on them.

I was actually willing to give it a try once again to see if much has changed. Well, until this.....................................


Athlete/activist Joey Cheek banned from China

So much for tolerating dissent.

The Chinese government, which so far has issued a grand total of zero permits for its own citizens to protest legally during the coming Olympics, has revoked the visitation visa of U.S. speedskater and Winter Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek.

Cheek, an organizer of Team Darfur, a group of Olympic athletes seeking to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis in the African nation, was to arrive in Beijing Wednesday to help make the group's case that China is undermining efforts to end suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Cheek was informed by embassy officials Tuesday that his visa was withdrawn and that the government needn't provide a reason, a spokesman for Team Darfur told the Los Angeles Times. Another of the group's founding members, former UCLA water polo player Brad Greiner, also got a call and was asked to meet with Chinese embassy officials on Wednesday.

Cheek, inspired by the prior humanitarian work of speedskating legend Johann Olav Koss of Norway, donated all of his $40,000 bonus money for winning a gold and silver medal at the 2006 Turin Games to Koss's Right to Play foundation, a sports group working to improve the lives of children in disadvantaged areas around the globe.

Other athletes met his challenge, and so did their sponsors: Cheek wound up earning $1 million in charity earmarked for Darfur relief, and is considered a hero among many athletes and others in the sports world. His latest endeavor, Team Darfur, is an effort to raise money and awareness of the Darfur crisis by selling wristbands to athletes and fans. More than 70 Beijing Games athletes from around the world have signed on to Team Darfur.

Cheek released this statement on Tuesday:

I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games. The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur. Team Darfur's main efforts have been to advocate for an Olympic Truce for Darfur, and to raise awareness about the crisis and ask for lasting peace on behalf of the children of Darfur.

The Olympic Truce captures the spirit of the Olympics: around the Games, the world should come together to work for peace and speak out against conflict. The Chinese government's efforts to suppress athletes, even those who are competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, who speak about essential human rights issues, is a violation of that core Olympic spirit.

Cheek and others have criticized China for buying oil from Sudan, and selling the Sudanese weapons that reportedly are used in Darfur.

Now he's banned from China, latest Olympic host, for the crime of pushing the joint causes of fair play and human rights -- both key tenets of the Olympic Charter.

UPDATE: If you were expecting the IOC to take a stance against an Olympic host denying a gold-medal winning Olympic athlete entrance to an Olympics, think again.

An IOC spokeswoman, contacted by the New York Times, essentially washed the organization's hands of the matter, saying it's all up to the Chinese:

Emmanuelle Moreau, a spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said she was aware of Cheek's visa situation but said she could not comment. Because Cheek is not a current Olympian, "visa applications from non-accredited persons do not fall within the I.OC.'s remit and we are therefore not best placed to answer you on this question," Moreau said in an e-mail message.

A spokesperson for the Beijing Organizing Committee, meanwhile, had no comment, the Times reported.

So this is how it's going to go. The Chinese government will simply stonewall and deny complaints about any controversial facets of "its" Olympics -- from the polluted air inside Olympic venues to the outright banning of prominent Olympic athletes from the Games -- and the IOC will plead impotence.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/olympics/2008/08/athleteactivist_joey_cheek_ban.html

So now I have had my question answerred without bothering.

I'll definitely be watching - though not looking forward to the typical NBC coverage - 15 minutes of sports, 20 minutes of fluff and 25 minutes of commercials per hour.

Bummer that the US Ladies soccer team got spanked 2-0 today to start the games...

Im a little confused about the location. Why would you pick a site to host outdoor athletic contests, in an area that has arguably, the worst air quality in the world

Now im not a trainer or a doctor, but would'nt you want to pick an area with good air quality

Perhaps im missing something

Joey Chesnut is banned from the games? Man, they really are sore about losing the Hot Dog Eating Title.

I'm not sure when it changed for me but I used to like the Summer Olympics. Now, I won't watch a single second of footage. I'd rather watch the World Cup....and I can't stand soccer. Maybe it's all the steroids, all the long-winded vignettes on the telecasts or how the events themselves are tired and played out. The NBA All Star team was something fun to watch in ’92 but now I want us to lose because we walk around like we’re the best thing ever (when it's not really a fair right - well, especially in 92).

I still get down with the Winter Olympics. I like the snowboarding and skiing events.

Im in, I cant wait.

I'm usually slightly interested at the start but then I get really interested as things get going and personalities start to emerge.

The Men's US Soccer team won their first match today 1-0! That's a key first step. If they can hang tough in their next two matches, they would advance to the second round.

Awesome news, I hadn't seen wany updates yet today due to work...it always gets in the way of fun.

I will be watching as much as I can...

Hopefully, as you mentioned, the US will have some of the good underdog stories at these games..

No volleyball pic

When is womens diving slated??

Anyone know where there is a complete schedule of the events?

ESPN has an Olympic coverage page, plus a schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/schedule

You might have to wade through all the "Will Brett Farve win the shotput event?" polls and such though.

Nice, thanks.

Incredible introduction

Who has the next summer olympics? London?

We gotta help the British burry this ceremony.........

Some of this stuff is straight up intimidating

By far the best opening ceremonies I've ever seen.

That "earth" globe with the runners on out in space was sweet.

How friggin' nuts was that opening ceremony?! It was like a fever dream.

I missed it, can you describe it all in detail one thing at a time?

lol, I was just kidding.

I didn't see it, went grocery shopping. Sounds like I should have, though.

I don't know about anyone else... but the drums, were downright scary. I have no other way to describe it... they were just frightening.

I didn't think the drums or anything about the opening ceremonies was really that intimidating ... at least not half as intimidating as Yao Ming carrying their flag.

Really enjoyable though. A lot of people I know hate the opening ceremonies, because they're a little bit too "artsy" and possibly boring. I think it's a good insight into the host countries culture and national pride. I always enjoy, and this one one of the more enjoyable ones.

I like artsy stuff and don't normally enjoy the opening ceremonies. I looked around the internet yesterday morning and saw pics and was very excited to see it. I was not disappointed one iota. That was some phenomenal stuff. How cool would it be to have one of those 'membranes' around CBS? I can't imagine anyone doing a better job presenting the beauty of their country's culture to the world but I am anxious to see what London answers with.

I'm excited to see Phelps and the other swimmers. The Syndey Olympics really turned me into a swimming fan. Other than that, I'll watch whatever I can, when I can. Love the Olympics and hoping these will be a success.

I didn't see the opening ceremonies, but I'm not too upset. I don't get into that kind of thing. I did hear they were really pretty cool, though. It's tough for me to get too excited about the Chinese, but I should get used to it as they're on their way to becoming our overlords.

Anyway, I wish I had been born to see this at the Olympics, quite possibly my favorite picture from all of history:

lol, looks like he is about to smack her ass

Beach Volleyball was just on. USA vs Netherlands.

j/c

It looks to be that tomorrow is going to be one of the biggest events in the Olympics.

Team USA vs Team China in Men's basketball.

They are already saying that over one BILLION people are expected to watch this game.

This is the biggest basketball game ever perhaps as far as viewers go.

I always look forward to swimming and gymnastics. Those gymnasts are amazing in some of the stuff they pull off. The track and field too is fun to watch.

USA vs China should be a fun thing to watch. Hopefully we mop the floor with them

My only worry with this game is who replaces dwight howard. Dwight will be more then enough for Yao.