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Anyone watch the opening ceremony last night or any of the events so far?
The opening ceremony was spectacular! The light shows, the choreographed displays, the ‘membrane’ around the stadium, and even the torch lightning.
The announcers sounded kind of stupid though and dropped a few really dumb comments, but oh well.
Yep, all those flashing lights totally make up for the political prisoners and reeducation camps.
I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. On one hand, I don’t like the Olympics being hosted by such a sinister government. On the other hand, we went to Nazi Germany in the thirties and kicked their little asses.
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Yep, all those flashing lights totally make up for the political prisoners and reeducation camps.Though unavoidable, the political crap that got mixed in with this particular Olympics is annoying. China has been doing the same thing for how long now and only now is there a unified international outcry about “increasing human rights violations.”
Sinister government or not, China WILL benefit from the Olympics at least economically and I imagine the people of Beijing at least will see some end to that reward. Especially since China is far more capitalist then they’d like to admit.
i dont think you the country will benefit economically since they spend 43 billion dollars (usd)
ephraim way to throw youre political opinion to a athletic event.
that openning was just badass
Poopie said:
ephraim way to throw youre political opinion to a athletic event.Dude, it was already there. For the last week, whenever I turned on the news, I heard debates about whether the president should go to the events or stay away as a sign of protest. I don’t consider calling the Chinese government questionable in a thread about an event being run by the Chinese government controversial or inapropriate.
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i dont think you the country will benefit economically since they spend 43 billion dollars (usd)Of course the cost spent was outrageous, but also consider the absurd amount of traffic they are going to be getting through there thanks to the event. Tourism is probably on the rise (even though I’m sure Beijing doesnt have too much trouble with tourism on a yearly basis) and all of the people staying there are likely to be patronizing some sort of establishment during there stay. So, it is likely it will have an economic impact on the area, even is only on a local level. Plus, the Beijing soccer team gets a new stadium when its all over. So, that’s got to bring in something.
And while the political aspect of the Olympics this year can be annoying it is certainly an important aspect. It’s been one of the biggest parts of this particular Olympics since they announced China as the host nation. What irks me is that sudden interest in the human rights violations that only seem to be going on because of the Olympics and will probably die out after the event is over. While it might not always be obvious, the Olympics always has a political side.
What I thought was funny in particular was the Chinese government refusing the President of Zimbabwe (I believe it was) on the grounds that he is illegally holding office, has been responsible for various human rights violations, etc etc…
THE Ephraim said:
Yep, all those flashing lights totally make up for the political prisoners and reeducation camps.I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. On one hand, I don’t like the Olympics being hosted by such a sinister government.
Well russia is helping to take the spotlight off that now……..
Cacophony said:
And while the political aspect of the Olympics this year can be annoying it is certainly an important aspect. It’s been one of the biggest parts of this particular Olympics since they announced China as the host nation. What irks me is that sudden interest in the human rights violations that only seem to be going on because of the Olympics and will probably die out after the event is over. While it might not always be obvious, the Olympics always has a political side.Uh, no. Activists have been decrying the Chinese government’s behavior for many years. The Tiananmen Square massacre comes to mind. True, there has been a signifigant increase in the awareness of the government’s human rights violations sinse they got the Olympics, because people don’t like the Chinese government receiving the honor of hosting the games. This is a good thing. The more international pressure put on them, the better. I wouldn’t call the political element of the ’08 Olympics annoying so much as telling.
While the opening ceremony is all about the host country–and is thereby open to political observation–the games themselves are all about the atheletes. It’s pretty fun watching the events, regardless of the hosts. Yesterday, I was watching the men’s gymnastics. This one American (I think his name was Sasha) was an absolute beast on the rings. It must have really messed with his shoulders, swinging around like that. This other American whose name I can’t remember (it was Indian, I think) was on that horse-thingy. It was really cool, like he was breakdancing in the air or something.
I remember watching the ’96 games, and I thought it was annoying how the events kept being pre-empted by the TV channel. They would only show a little bit of an event, then move on to a soap opera-type segment about some athlete’s struggle to get to the games. If I’m watching an event, I want to see the whole thing. Also, Izzy sucked. From what I’ve seen, the ’08 games are being presented much better. It’s all action.
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Uh, no. Activists have been decrying the Chinese government’s behavior for many years. The Tiananmen Square massacre comes to mind. True, there has been a signifigant increase in the awareness of the government’s human rights violations sinse they got the Olympics, because people don’t like the Chinese government receiving the honor of hosting the games. This is a good thing. The more international pressure put on them, the better. I wouldn’t call the political element of the ’08 Olympics annoying so much as telling.Oh, I know. Tienanmen Square. Tibet. People have been *edited*ed over the way China has been running things for a long time now. But, I’ve got money that most of the recent human rights protests that have appeared will fade away when the Olympics are gone. All the Media will switch to the latest craze and stop showing specials on “the dark, poverty stricken streets of Beijing” and a great deal of America that isnt already tied to some organization or that has no overwhelming political motivations will forget about it. That’s what I find annoying.
And if you don’t think the Olympics usually has some political side to it consider any Olympics that was held during the Cold War. How many nations have granted temporary cease fires in light of the upcoming events at certain times during the history of the Olympics only to have the war go from battlefield to Olympics. And you yourself brought up the 1936 Olympics in Berlin which had heavy political motivations for the Germans. It may have fallen off a bit in more recent times, but the way things are going with the Chinese isnt all the different.
As for the events themselves. I watched a fair bit of volleyball yesterday and I found it fairly interesting. Especially to see the differences in play style from both the USA and Japan.
My friend and I both thought it was some hydraulics or something similar so when the people jumped out from underneath the boxes I was pretty surprised.
yeah the opening ceramony was cash
i’ve enjoyed watching a lot of the sports, some beach volleyball, GO LATVIA! and swimming and soccer and so on
oh yeah, there is a female swimmer named Hannah Miley, *edited*ing awesome
YouWinGameOver said:
I know I am wicked late on this thread but I refuse to watch this years Olympics any part of it.Why? Because it is being held in a Communist ruled country??
Cacophony said:
Oh, I know. Tienanmen Square. Tibet. People have been *edited*ed over the way China has been running things for a long time now. But, I’ve got money that most of the recent human rights protests that have appeared will fade away when the Olympics are gone…And if you don’t think the Olympics usually has some political side to it consider any Olympics that was held during the Cold War.
Most serious critics will continue to attack China’s policies, even after the games have ended. I don’t think the pressure put on the Chinese government will abate anytime soon. The more powerful the country becomes, the closer people will watch them. Also, sooner or later, something is going to go down with Iran. Who China sides with will be important.
I am fully aware that the Olympics have always had political implications, but I think when discussing the actual events, it is unfair to the athletes to drag up politics.
I’d also like to reiterate: Izzy sucked.
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I am fully aware that the Olympics have always had political implications, but I think when discussing the actual events, it is unfair to the athletes to drag up politics.Fair enough.
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I’d also like to reiterate: Izzy sucked.I have despised the way the chinese government has treated there people since I learned about china in 7th grade sounds lame i know. I just don’t think anything they could have done to make the olympics bearable for the international athletes could have made me watch. They need to deal with there people first.
YouWinGameOver said:
I have despised the way the chinese government has treated there people since I learned about china in 7th grade sounds lame i know. I just don’t think anything they could have done to make the olympics bearable for the international athletes could have made me watch. They need to deal with there people first.biased much?
Poopie said:
biased much?Well they did shut down a good chunk of their factories and limit who could drive on what days to curb polution. Did it make a difference? No. Their country is the very reason the Clean Air Act was created, too bad it only hurts the US…
And about the economics, the sad truth is that every country (besides the US) hosting the olympics in the past 50 years has had a huge increase in economic power leading up to the olympic games and then a steady decline thereafter. Every country.
MasterP said:
And about the economics, the sad truth is that every country (besides the US) hosting the olympics in the past 50 years has had a huge increase in economic power leading up to the olympic games and then a steady decline thereafter. Every country.US too…. i would say that since Atlanta there has been some significant fall in economic power
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And about the economics, the sad truth is that every country (besides the US) hosting the olympics in the past 50 years has had a huge increase in economic power leading up to the olympic games and then a steady decline thereafterI knew there was an increase, but I didnt know about the decline. Though with the almost non stop economic expansion China has been experiencing will it make that much of an effect?
MajorMajorMajor said:
I for one support RussiaSo you support Russia invading Georgia, using air strikes on Georgia civilians, and all of that?
Cacophony said:
I knew there was an increase, but I didnt know about the decline. Though with the almost non stop economic expansion China has been experiencing will it make that much of an effect?No country can stay in that kind of growth for long. China is quickly approaching the point where it’s going to have to drop the communistic government or start taking hits in the economy. Communism doesn’t work in the real world, never has and never will (barring the Star Trek future). At some point this is going to catch up with the Chinese and they’ll either decline into ruin as Russia did or switch to capitalism and spend another decade adjusting to free markets.
$0.02 worth of stirring the pot (not been trying to, it just happened)-
opening ceremony, when China was marching round and all that in the parade of nations, and even while they were standing in the gathered mass of all the olympian teams, anyone notice the flag in the kid’s hand? (the one that was the earthquake-destroyed school survivor)
Disclaimer: I don’t credit the kid any responsibility, he’s too young to have a clue what any of this issue meant.
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Other issue… for these however many days, I’ll put all else aside and consider the olympic stadiums, arenas, housing, etc. to be as if some separate international entity apart from China, I have and will for every games. The olympic games themselves are about the athletes, and they certainly deserve all the credit for their performances. That’s my thoughts on that
Falcon said:
$0.02 worth of stirring the pot (not been trying to, it just happened)-opening ceremony, when China was marching round and all that in the parade of nations, and even while they were standing in the gathered mass of all the olympian teams, anyone notice the flag in the kid’s hand? (the one that was the earthquake-destroyed school survivor)
Disclaimer: I don’t credit the kid any responsibility, he’s too young to have a clue what any of this issue meant.
————
Other issue… for these however many days, I’ll put all else aside and consider the olympic stadiums, arenas, housing, etc. to be as if some separate international entity apart from China, I have and will for every games. The olympic games themselves are about the athletes, and they certainly deserve all the credit for their performances. That’s my thoughts on that
I missed the flag part, what happened/was wrong with it?
And on the second part, WELL SAID kind sir, you beat me to it…the athletes should not be penalized for competing for THEIR countries somewhere where they did not choose. And I know they can always just not compete or w/e, but the olympics is a time to set aside differences and go out and battle on the track/pool/court or wherever else it is these special people compete. I will be watching it WHENEVER I can, and I will cheer all day long.
YahooEarth.au said:
I missed the flag part, what happened/was wrong with it?I’ll look around for a picture, but the flag was upside down… not like he was holding the flag’s stick from the top by accident, but it was on the stick upside down…
*bump* I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but I’m starting to suspect a massive media cover-up… all around various reputable US and international media sources, any picture of Yao and the kid during the parade of nations (when I find them, there ain’t many) has the flag cropped out. anywho, here’s one from some site I don’t recognize, I’ll try to find a better source later today… I do know that I saw it on tv tho, live and again on rerun on NBC
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