The olympics 2012
The Opening
I enjoyed the Opening, I don't normally. I'm not sure if a statement was being made about England's green and pleasant lands 'making way' for the industrial revolution. I did like the rise of industry though, very well done, overseen by capitalists and suffragettes and all.
I like the nod to the NHS, though it went on a bit too long and was a bit...strange. Hundreds of kids jumping on beds, crazy.
Then there was the subtle Tardis entry noise in the middle of the Bohemian Rhapsody. Heh.
I was impressed that Tim Berners-Lee was given a place. I had heard rumours, but there he was - centre stage - with thousands of people saying 'thanks!'
And I think it's probably worth stating another highlight: Jasmine Breinburg.
The Main Event
Naturally I enjoyed the track and field as always, as well as the gymnastics and swimming as usual. I tried watching a diversity of sports though, I found fencing enjoyable this year. Specifically the foil, though. The other swords resulted in very quick points which was less interesting to watch.
I'm particularly proud of calling the men's 200m winning time. I should have put money on it.
Somebody I used to train and compete alongside was there too (it didn't happen often: different disciplines and levels of competition and all). He was a very tall shot putter called Carl Mysercough. He didn't make it through qualification, I suspect he won't be in Rio. He was banned over the last two Olympics, for banned drug related offenses (he protests his innocence).
Was surprised that GB won the long jump. It was on OK distance, 8.31, but that would only have won a handful of Olympics in the past several decades (granted, Carl Lewis and Mike Powell were competing in that time) and it would have come a very respectable second in the infamous 1968 Olympic Long Jump (where Bob Beamon defied the laws of gravity and came a hand's width from 9m (a hand's width over 29ft).
The 100m was awesome, and damn Asafa Powell for pulling up and denying us a 100% sub-10s Olympic final. We're still some way of a 100% sub-20s 200m. And of course, the 4x100m was also awesome, both the ladies from USA and the men from Jamaica. Sub 41 for the ladies, sub-37 for the men (that's a speed of 10.8 m/s!). Ridiculous, pure madness.
The Closing ceremony
Three song lyrics stood out for different reasons:
'...and no religion too', glad to see Lennon unexpurgated after Cee-Lo Green's infamous 'sanitization' (see here if you aren't aware of it). Added to the other 'heretical' lyric 'Imagine there's no countries' - being played to end the Olympic Games!
'life's a piece of shit' - interesting that was left in, when there are established radio friendly versions ('spit', I believe it is).
'Forget about the price tag...', insert cynical remark about the Olympics...
Otherwise the closing ceremony was an unremarkable, boring hodgepodge of random cultural references with no relation to one another other than BRITAIN!!!! and no narratives of any real kind. It was like someone trying to emulate Half Man Half Biscuit, but with neither the brevity nor the wit.
I was appalled when the paraded huge billboards with pictures of ladies around, it took me a while to even realize that this was an attempt to portray fashion.
There were a few moments when it looked like it might redeem itself, but it just found ways of disappointing. I guess Kim Gavin just wanted to play it safe where Danny Boyle really went all out, it was a hard act to follow.
I enjoyed the Opening, I don't normally. I'm not sure if a statement was being made about England's green and pleasant lands 'making way' for the industrial revolution. I did like the rise of industry though, very well done, overseen by capitalists and suffragettes and all.
I like the nod to the NHS, though it went on a bit too long and was a bit...strange. Hundreds of kids jumping on beds, crazy.
Then there was the subtle Tardis entry noise in the middle of the Bohemian Rhapsody. Heh.
I was impressed that Tim Berners-Lee was given a place. I had heard rumours, but there he was - centre stage - with thousands of people saying 'thanks!'
And I think it's probably worth stating another highlight: Jasmine Breinburg.
The Main Event
Naturally I enjoyed the track and field as always, as well as the gymnastics and swimming as usual. I tried watching a diversity of sports though, I found fencing enjoyable this year. Specifically the foil, though. The other swords resulted in very quick points which was less interesting to watch.
I'm particularly proud of calling the men's 200m winning time. I should have put money on it.
Somebody I used to train and compete alongside was there too (it didn't happen often: different disciplines and levels of competition and all). He was a very tall shot putter called Carl Mysercough. He didn't make it through qualification, I suspect he won't be in Rio. He was banned over the last two Olympics, for banned drug related offenses (he protests his innocence).
Was surprised that GB won the long jump. It was on OK distance, 8.31, but that would only have won a handful of Olympics in the past several decades (granted, Carl Lewis and Mike Powell were competing in that time) and it would have come a very respectable second in the infamous 1968 Olympic Long Jump (where Bob Beamon defied the laws of gravity and came a hand's width from 9m (a hand's width over 29ft).
The 100m was awesome, and damn Asafa Powell for pulling up and denying us a 100% sub-10s Olympic final. We're still some way of a 100% sub-20s 200m. And of course, the 4x100m was also awesome, both the ladies from USA and the men from Jamaica. Sub 41 for the ladies, sub-37 for the men (that's a speed of 10.8 m/s!). Ridiculous, pure madness.
The Closing ceremony
Three song lyrics stood out for different reasons:
'...and no religion too', glad to see Lennon unexpurgated after Cee-Lo Green's infamous 'sanitization' (see here if you aren't aware of it). Added to the other 'heretical' lyric 'Imagine there's no countries' - being played to end the Olympic Games!
'life's a piece of shit' - interesting that was left in, when there are established radio friendly versions ('spit', I believe it is).
'Forget about the price tag...', insert cynical remark about the Olympics...
Otherwise the closing ceremony was an unremarkable, boring hodgepodge of random cultural references with no relation to one another other than BRITAIN!!!! and no narratives of any real kind. It was like someone trying to emulate Half Man Half Biscuit, but with neither the brevity nor the wit.
I was appalled when the paraded huge billboards with pictures of ladies around, it took me a while to even realize that this was an attempt to portray fashion.
There were a few moments when it looked like it might redeem itself, but it just found ways of disappointing. I guess Kim Gavin just wanted to play it safe where Danny Boyle really went all out, it was a hard act to follow.