the Olympics!! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**mermaidnz** · 08-08-2008, 11:37 PM

since i couldnt find a thread

omg, the opening ceremony was awesome! congrats China you really kicked some ass with that. the only let down- and im sorry americans- was their disgracing walk around the stadium. why on earth did they feel the need to practically walk single file around the stadium so everyone can see them? every other country walked 10 or so across the track and didnt have to hog the limelight. the officials were even telling the yanks to get back in the lines and spread out. made me angry!!

i cant wait to watch more of the games

**TheJake** · 08-09-2008, 12:12 AM

cause the world loves us

I thought it was absolutely amazing. It will be an insanely hard opening ceremonies to top!

**AKguacamole** · 08-09-2008, 12:16 AM

That was amazing!!! I just finished watching the whole 4 hours of the ceremony. I didn't notice the American line thing...but that's pretty funnny

**maracle** · 08-09-2008, 12:21 AM

I saw a good chunk of the parade of nations and the finale, but I missed about half of it overall including the beginning and all of the performance stuff (the clips I saw looked amazing).

I haven't figured out if there's anywhere you can watch it online? The beijing2008.com website and olympics.com both suck, it's near impossible to figure out when anything is going to be on. I'm guessing they'll be patrolling sites like youtube with a vengeance too

**travelpunk** · 08-09-2008, 12:28 AM

Try here- www.nbcolympics.com/video

**maracle** · 08-09-2008, 12:53 AM

It's not on there, maybe they just don't have it up yet.

**TheJake** · 08-09-2008, 01:43 AM

well after two hours of messing around I've finally determined that due to my being a Linux user, there will be no online olympics watching for me. Very very annoying.

**BedtimeontheMoon** · 08-09-2008, 03:03 AM

I saw it all too! It was amazing!!! I didn't notice the single file thing though? But I have to agree that this will be tough to top in coming years. Very creative and beautifully done.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 08-09-2008, 11:52 AM

Definitely the most amazing opening ceremonies I have seen. All the clips I saw of the U.S. contingent showed them grouped up not single file but I think we only saw the beginning of each country's walk-in. I imagine most of the athletes just wanted to take it all in, its not something you do everyday. Unfortunately having a 400+ member contingent probably clogs up the works more than the smaller teams. Oh well, everyone knows we Americans are self-centered, limelight hogging jerks, so what can you expect?

**joe7f** · 08-09-2008, 12:09 PM

^The ducks always envy the swans

Oh and the Chinese went all the way around the arena.

Mindblowing opening ceremonies! The London crew must have thrown up their crumpets and tea. They have no chance of topping that.

--Joey

**mbo108** · 08-09-2008, 12:23 PM

I agree with what almost everyone has already said! Loved the opening ceremonies, its was insane!...what I saw of the Americans they were grouped up just like everyone else..I did like how instead of sitting in some luxury box, George W Bush looked like he bought tickets on Ebay.

I am so insanely jealous of the athletes getting to live in the Olympic Village. That's gotta be like the worlds best hostel ever. 204 countries? damn.

oh and i heard in Sydney they supplied 75,000 condoms...and ran out 1 week into the games and had to get an emergency supply of another 25,000...which ran out again. nice.

**pinknic38** · 08-09-2008, 02:13 PM

I LOVE the Olympics! I was obsessed with the 1996 Atlanta ones... I'm a big women's gymnastics fan cos I was really into gymnastics when I was a kid.

The women's team qualifications are on tomorrow all day and you can best believe my ass will be parked in front of the TV all day! :D

**c0urt** · 08-09-2008, 03:20 PM

watching judo and track cycling.

**aliz** · 08-09-2008, 04:04 PM

this is the first time in two years that I've felt really pissed off I don't have a tv

**joe7f** · 08-09-2008, 05:20 PM

That's cool Nicole, I was also obsessed with Atlanta (I was traveling around the country at the time at Holiday Inns with my Dad while he was working collecting the little "Iggies" or "Whatzits") but Barcelona was what really caught my attention.

It is pretty cool that a bunch of 10 year old kids will be thinking the same thing about Beijing.

--Joey

**MolsonGirl** · 08-09-2008, 07:09 PM

It's hard being in Australia and only catching snippets of the Canadians and their performances.. but I'm still watching

**aliz** · 08-09-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe7f

That's cool Nicole, I was also obsessed with Atlanta (I was traveling around the country at the time at Holiday Inns with my Dad while he was working collecting the little "Iggies" or "Whatzits") but Barcelona was what really caught my attention.

It is pretty cool that a bunch of 10 year old kids will be thinking the same thing about Beijing.

--Joey

I love that everyone has a different games that they identify with. for me of course it was sydney 2000 (fun fact for those who don't live in Aus, the postcode of Sydney's main post office is 2000). They moved the school holidays to coincide with the olympics and my family and I went to so many events, it was awesome.

**mermaidnz** · 08-09-2008, 07:38 PM

ok, so i just spent like and hour looking for a video that show USA walking in a line, and couldnt. so i had to video it off my tv haha

ive posted it up on Youtube under mermaidnz username or

maybe that link works?

i noticed the US tv version up online, and doesnt show it, so for all i know, australia could have done the same thing and our tv didnt show it.

**mermaidnz** · 08-09-2008, 09:57 PM

haha my partner just laughed at me for going such lengths to prove a point :D

**The Monsignor** · 08-10-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliz

this is the first time in two years that I've felt really pissed off I don't have a tv

Ditto!!

Heard the U.S. team got a pretty good round of cheering when they came in! The Iraqi team got a better ovation, though...