London 2012: What will you be watching?

[Eliz]

I am back home now and once again without a television.

You Tube is blocking all Olympic videos in an effort to sell On Demand viewing.
Maybe I will have to go back to the beach house?

[Tripitaka of AA]

How about this for the time being Eliz.

[Eliz]

Oh, that could be addictive.

USA and USA for women's Beach Volleyball finals. Confession: I did not even know that we had two women's teams competing in the Olympics.

I do not know who I want to win. Part of me would love to see Misty and Kerri retire 3x champions and part of me would love to see the "other" team upset the apple cart.

[Silent memory]

Mark Worsfold, 54, says he was handcuffed by Surrey police officers 'for not smiling' while watching men's cycling road race

A man with Parkinson's disease who was arrested during the Olympic men's cycling road race while sitting beside the route has said he wants a "letter of exoneration" from Surrey police, claiming their treatment of him was disproportionate.

Mark Worsfold, 54, a former soldier and martial arts instructor, was arrested on 28 July for a breach of the peace shortly before the cyclists arrived in Redhouse Park, Leatherhead, where he had sat down on a wall to watch the race. Officers from Surrey police restrained and handcuffed him and took him to Reigate police station, saying his behaviour had "caused concern".

"The man was positioned close to a small group of protesters and based on his manner, his state of dress and his proximity to the course, officers made an arrest to prevent a possible breach of the peace," Surrey police said in a statement.

Worsfold, whose experience was first reported by Private Eye, claims police questioned him about his demeanour and why he had not been seen to be visibly enjoying the event. Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2010, suffers from muscle rigidity that affects his face. He was released after two hours without charge or caution.

"It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson's," he said, adding that he realised the officers were working long hours and trying to control the event properly, but they had not, in his case, acted correctly. He said he did not want to make further comment until he received a response from Surrey police.

Worsfold, who teaches martial arts in Leatherhead, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last February for the Save the Rhino charity.

http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian...arrest-smiling

Heard it all now. Smile or get arrested. Blunt tools in Surrey Police I think.

[Ramirez]

that sounds more like something that would have occurred in Beijing...not the London Olympics

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

[Tripitaka of AA]

The Women's Modern Pentathlopn Medal ceremony is just happening. I think that may be the last event of all. The Handball was won by the French, the Basketball by Team USA. A Ugandan won the marathon.

I banned all other TV in the house for the last 16 days. I loved it all. I am the happiest couch potato in the land. I finally worked out how to use the BBC online coverage. It was fantastic. To be able to choose live feeds of every sport whenever I wanted. To get Catch-Up versions of those same feeds within an hour or so of the completion. To get dozens of TV channels, in HD, of those same feeds. The online site could give me "Extras" of profiles for each and every athlete, whenever I wanted - while I was still watching the feed. I could take a slice of every sport, chew on it, tste it in real time or be fed the morsels of highlights that the Broadcasters decided I needed. I think I probably watched as many different sports as humanly possible - and I don't consider myself a sports fan by any means.

I saw tears of despair, tears of joy. Youth in its first bloom, veterans in their final bid for glory. Now I'm watching some of the main channel programming, as they draw the coverage to a close (BBC1). Great moments from the games, set to music. Always one of my favourite parts of this type of TV.

[Silent memory]

Instead of The Who playing out they should have opted for Eric Idle singing his song. Mind you the cannon shot at the beginning was funny as well. And how can you not chuckle and nuns on rollerblades and Romans doing the can can with Bollywood dancers also.

[Tripitaka of AA]

Of the people that sang live - not all of them did - Eric Idle actually had one of the strongest voices and kept in tune the most. That song has had some good use over the years, after its first appearance as the play out song for Brian and the rest of the crucified masses at the end of "Life of Brian". In an Olympic context I shall remember it best for the failed bid by Manchester to host the 2004 Games (IIRC), where a stadium full of people were gathered to hear the decision of the IOC - which went to Athens. Instead of leaving on a downer, the whole crowd joined in that song and got to end on a high after all.

On this News page there is a link to a video of the Team GB miming to Queen's "Don't Stop me Now" which is pretty good.

[Jonathan Randall]

Got this fine graphic from my nephew:

AmericaOlympics1.jpg

[Silent memory]

Not in the 100M you didn't.

In context: If Yorkshire where Mr. Noble and I live were a country, our small patch of England would have come 12th. Yorkshire produced most of the GB winners. So an area smaller than NYC had more medals per person. It was so good we even came third to two larger countries with better facilities and doctrines.

[Jonathan Randall]

Not in the 100M you didn't.

In context: If Yorkshire where Mr. Noble and I live were a country, our small patch of England would have come 12th. Yorkshire produced most of the GB winners. So an area smaller than NYC had more medals per person. It was so good we even came third to two larger countries with better facilities and doctrines.

Oh, sorry. I was including our Allies in this graphic - GB and Canada.

[Tripitaka of AA]

Oh Will, fancy rising to the bait, you should know better . Some of the stories from the olympics can be a source of national pride, but so many of them are individual effort that require no particular flag. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the spectacle and efforts of competitors from all over the world, regardless of which flag they flew. In fact, my least favourite part of the coverage, once again, was when comentators and pundits focussed too much on the fortunes of Team GB athletes instead of recognising the achievements of their competition. Tom Daley is young, his behaviour at the 10m platform Finals crossed the line for me and revealed a rather selfish and ungracious attitude. David Boudia was amazing and kept his composure throughout, it was his moment to shine, not Tom's. A bit of guidance from the Coaches would have been appropriate. The GB gymnast who got equal points for his pommel horse, but was given the Silver, went straight over to the Gold winner and congratulated him sincerely... that was way better.

Britain has always been a great place for sporting spectacle, because the audiences appreciate good performances regardless of a competitor's flag/team/gender/etc. Wimbledon has been enjoyed by players from all over the world for its knowledgable and appreciative audiences... but it all goes horribly wrong if there is ever a Brit with a chance of doing well. Suddenly it can all get a bit partisan, which spoils the mood.



On a different note... I noticed a funny bit of ****-up at the Opening Ceremony which I forgot about. I've looked at it on Catch-Up just to check. Paul McCartney comes on at the end and sings Hey Jude, and the sound gets messed up. He starts playing, then sings the opening lines, which are rather quiet but some of the audience must be hearing it as they join in... then after a few bars a louder version comes out of the sound system. The guy on the Sound Desk manages t cut the second sound and turns up Sir Paul. I assume that the out of synh sound was a recorded version - maybe from a sound-check - which was only meant to be used if the live sound was off. It seemed too far out of synch to just be down to sound delay from one end of the stadium to the other, and the singing voice was better on the recording.

I wonder how many people around the world were freaked out by the visual for the Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" song at the closing ceremony, when the tightrope walker shook hands with a dummy who then caught fire. Inspired by the album cover photographs, but disconcertingly similar to images from demonstrations around the world where people set fire to themselves for a cause

[Ramirez]

Most international sports are of British origin...football (association and rugby), cricket, rounders(lol...just kidding) , formula 1, golf....

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

[Ramirez]

Almost forgot...hockey. we just put it on ice....an unfortunate thing we do with Scotch too.

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

[Silent memory]

Oh Will, fancy rising to the bait, you should know better .

But it is fun to do though. My bridge does get lonely.

I wonder how many people around the world were freaked out by the visual for the Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" song at the closing ceremony, when the tightrope walker shook hands with a dummy who then caught fire. Inspired by the album cover photographs, but disconcertingly similar to images from demonstrations around the world where people set fire to themselves for a cause

Shame the remaining band did not turn up to sing shine on you crazy diamond. Just to see the look on the faces of the competitors as classic rock blasts out. Or even this:

[Eliz]

On a different note... I noticed a funny bit of ****-up at the Opening Ceremony which I forgot about. I've looked at it on Catch-Up just to check. Paul McCartney comes on at the end and sings Hey Jude, and the sound gets messed up. He starts playing, then sings the opening lines, which are rather quiet but some of the audience must be hearing it as they join in... then after a few bars a louder version comes out of the sound system. The guy on the Sound Desk manages t cut the second sound and turns up Sir Paul. I assume that the out of synh sound was a recorded version - maybe from a sound-check - which was only meant to be used if the live sound was off. It seemed too far out of synch to just be down to sound delay from one end of the stadium to the other, and the singing voice was better on the recording.

You noticed WAY more than I. Hahaha

He was off key in the beginning and that is all I noticed. The commentators let it go saying, "What an emotional performance ... !!!"

He ROCKED!!! It really was a great performance. The camera's panned the athletes and they were all holding hands, singing and moving to the music.

I felt sad for the athletes (like Michael Phelps) that could not participate as their events would be only a few hours after the ceremony. One commentator said it best. "For many [smaller] countries, the Opening Ceremonies ARE the Olympics. A chance to come before an international audience and celebrate their athletic accomplishments. There are only 3 medals per event and most of these countries will go home with no medals."

[Silent memory]

Almost forgot...hockey. we just put it on ice....an unfortunate thing we do with Scotch too.

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

Why not try scotch hockey. Canucks on alcohol doing hockey. Just to make things more fun, use that stripe thing on the floor that makes people walk to the left. Drunk players on a crazy ice rink doing hockey.

Who would not pay to watch that?

[Ramirez]

What makes you think canucks aren't loaded when they play hockey as it is? How else would you explain grown men putting on garters , short pants and blades on their feet to carry around cudgels while moving at 30 miles per hour on ice?

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

[Silent memory]

What makes you think canucks aren't loaded when they play hockey as it is? How else would you explain grown men putting on garters , short pants and blades on their feet to carry around cudgels while moving at 30 miles per hour on ice?

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!

Trust me. Someone, somewhere will read that and try and refine it more than normal. Maybe lasers or some tigers unleashed at some point. Just be glad it is not curling they have to do.