The Olympic Thread

[stevegull]

I wouldn't actively ban horse events at the olympics. But I would ban the BBC, without fail, putting the damn thing on BBC1 whenever it's on!! They are obsessed! I know it's probably because we've done quite well in it, but I would much prefer watching some kayakers going for gold!

[stevegull]

All the events are covered, Steve. You can go to one of the many extra channels they've opened to make sure you can see whatever sport you wish. You could also access them via Freeview or online through the BBC Sport page. Personally I think they've done a fantastic job.

Unfortunately, and I think i am one of very few, my freeview doesn't allow me universal coverage to events. I get the pick of about 3 on the TV, although I guess I could access them online; I've just prefer watching sport on TV. When I went to my friend's house to see the sports he had access to on the red button I was so surprised and impressed with the range of events available.

[stevegull]

Wow this order of comments is messed up on mine. Is this just my problem?

[Southampton Gull]

I wouldn't actively ban horse events at the olympics. But I would ban the BBC, without fail, putting the damn thing on BBC1 whenever it's on!! They are obsessed! I know it's probably because we've done quite well in it, but I would much prefer watching some kayakers going for gold!

All the events are covered, Steve. You can go to one of the many extra channels they've opened to make sure you can see whatever sport you wish. You could also access them via Freeview or online through the BBC Sport page. Personally I think they've done a fantastic job.

[Dave]

One of the very reasons i have little interest in the Olympics these days is currently being shown live NOW!
Some posh tvvat on a horse, wearing atop hat ffs (the posh tvvat, not the horse) prancing around doing pirouettes to what the commentator has just described as 'lovely music' wit a massive mark foe 'artistic impression'.
Ballroom dancing on horses is not sport.

Not sure there is anything posh about the girl who won the dressage, born and bred in Enfield with a common accent to boot, unlike the ex-eton and very posh lad who came fourth in the 110 hurdles.

I did watch it only because it was in the olympics normaly have little or no interest in anything to do with horses that includes the grand national, is it a sport not sure about that.

What I am sure about is it must take a great deal of skill to control a horse like that, and it's been in the olympics for longer than I can remember.

[Dave]

Being honest I enjoyed every minute of the olympics been glued and watched as much as being a n/shift worker has allowed to watch.

Think whoever was behind bringing the games here and organzing it, over seeing the running of the games has done a fantastic job, and medals table prove we can compete and can be good at sports.

The biggest thing for me is we drop this national sense of self-loathing we have, that we can't organize a pee up in a brewery, we are crap at everything, and are just a total embarrasment on a world stage, to the these olympics from a British/English point of view on and off the field have totaly dissproved all of that, been a total succsess.

[Plymouth Gull]

Farah wins again. Awesome.

[GazTheGull]

I was one of the lucky ones, in terms of Olympic tickets. I had the first event of the Olympics, where GB Women beat New Zealand 1-0, and Brazil women beat Cameroon 5-0. There were some cracking goals, including Steph Houghton's free kick against New Zealand and a wonderful typical Brazilian goal in the second game. However, the following week, I was back at the Millennium Stadium to watch Mexico beat Switzerland 1-0 in what was a generally awful game, but a good finish by Oribe Peralta secured the win (more on him later). The second game I got to see in that session was where GB beat Uruguay 1-0. If I am completely honest, it was a thrilling match while I was inside the stadium because of the atmosphere et al. But when I watched it back (to see if I could see myself on the TV), it was awful. Some great play by Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair to set up Daniel Sturridge, who later missed a sitter from closer than a yard only to be saved by the offside flag (or the ball went out for a goal kick from the cross).

The following Friday (the 3rd), I had the pleasure of watching Beach Volleyball. It was such a party atmosphere inside the stadium and got on TV a couple of times thanks to two drunk aussie's behind us who had face masks on. And yes, I did get to watch the women, but one of the Austrian women looked like a man .
On the Saturday, we had tickets for the athletics in the morning (in hindsight, I wish we'd got the evening), but we got to see Jess Ennis and Usain Bolt compete which was a plus. The stadium security was brilliant, much quicker than anyone had expected, and even the queues for the toilets were lower than I had anticipated, a block of toilets next to every staircase. The view we had wasn't great for the morning session, but I did get Craig Pickering's autograph as I was sat behind him (Google him, if you don't know who he is). That really doesn't compare to when I got to sit next to Linford Cristie for a whole day of athletics back in February, but that's another story.

We were staying in Norfolk during the games, horrible place where only old people live, for easier travel down to London, so we went back there until Tuesday, where we again had tickets for athletics, but this time in the evening session. We saw the World record holder for the 800m, David Rudisha, and also saw Robbie Grabarz get bronze in the high jump. Aside from this, there were 1500m finals, Andrew Osagie coming second in his 800m heat, the 400m medal ceremony and the German discus gold medallist doing the hurdles. We also got to see Sally Pearson run an Olympic record in the 100m hurdles final which was incredible.

Following this, we had another few days before we were scheduled to come back to beloved Devon, but me and my Dad still had one last event to go to. The Men's football final. Despite considering hard over whether to sell our tickets outside the stadium, some were willing to offer upto £500 for our £95 tickets, we got into the stadium and found we were behind a goal and looking straight down the middle of the pitch. The stadium ended up being a massive carnival as both Mexico and Brazil fans had brought in drums and suchlike. The game its self wasn't very interesting but seeing the likes of Neymar, Hulk and Thiago Silva up close was amazing. The view we had for Oribe Peralta's second goal was great but other than that, all the other goals were down the other end.

I'll post up some pictures later on, once they've uploaded.

[GazTheGull]

Some pictures from the Olympics:
Beach Volleyball:



Olympic Stadium (Saturday Morning):




Oscar Pistorius:



Usain Bolt:



Jess Ennis:


Olympic Stadium (Tuesday Evening):




Robbie Grabarz:




100m Hurdle Semi-Finals:


David Rudisha:


Veronica Campbell-Brown and Richards-Ross:


Mad German:


Sally Pearson:


Men's 1500m Final:


Mexico vs Brazil - Men's Football Final:

[AustrianAndyGull]

OK Gazz we get it mate, you went to the feckin Olympics!

[AustrianAndyGull]

What a rousing closing speech by Lord Seb Coe. Shame he wasn't humble enough to thank the taxpayers for paying for the Olympics and his gravy train ticket though. Still, he's a Lord now so he couldn't give a flying f**k about the people that actually make this country work. It's over now thank bugger.

[GazTheGull]

Haha, couldn't decide which stuff not to post, so I just did it all. Might upload the 2nd Mexico goal in a mo (from where I was sat anyway) :~D

Can't wait for Rio 2016, some people I know might be competing for Team GB (UK Top Juniors)

[ferrarilover]

Gaz, can you stick the remainder of your photos somewhere that I can get to them, they look brilliant?

Matt.

[Gullscorer]

Why does the British media insist on putting GB third in the medals table? Russia had many more medals than GB..

On the other hand, the US media lists in their headlines: 1. USA... 2. China... 3. Russia... and that's it!
The rest nowhere..!!

[GazTheGull]

Gaz, can you stick the remainder of your photos somewhere that I can get to them, they look brilliant?

Matt.

What do you mean?