Olympic fever

[emdasher]

Meh.


It might have just been the commemorative coins that came with boxes of cereal, but I seem to remember caring more about the summer Olympic games in the past, when they weren't overshadowed by the economic and political issues of the host country. Just like China to take the fun(?) out of it.

[chrisfoll577]

Yeah, between the massive time difference, the chinese regime, the god-awful ugly stadium and my increasing jadedness with the commercialism and non amateurism of the olympics, I'm really not as excited about these games either.

[Gilly]

It's always nice to have something decent on at 1:30 in the morning.

[Fido]

I've never really cared about the Olympics, but this year I'm even less into the Olympic spirit than usual. It's the government. It's also that whenever Chinese nationalism wells up, it does so in very unfortunate ways, and this occasion seems like an expression of that pattern.

I'm all for China's economic development and progress, but I dream of the day that the Chinese government becomes a responsible player on the world stage, not a bad boy. I don't really expect that to happen in my lifetime.

[Fido]

I kinda like the stadium. Is that bad?

[chrisfoll577]

I've never really cared about the Olympics, but this year I'm even less into the Olympic spirit than usual. It's the government. It's also that whenever Chinese nationalism wells up, it does so in very unfortunate ways, and this occasion seems like an expression of that pattern.

I'm all for China's economic development and progress, but I dream of the day that the Chinese government becomes a responsible player on the world stage, not a bad boy. I don't really expect that to happen in my lifetime.

I think you're right about this.  The IOC said the games were going to open up China through world scrutiny. But as the world scrutinizes China's flaws and misdeeds, the Chinese people take offense and inch towards chauvinistic nationalism instead of compelling their government to make positive changes.

[mylo]

the olympics were done forever for me once they ended that mcdonald's promotion where i won, like, 20 cheeseburgers in the summer of '84.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

that's alotta cheeseburger

[dave from knoxville]

[youtube]aqNaAU2vXlI[/youtube]

Then there's this

[Fido]

I loved the senseless interruptions, and the expressions on the faces of the host and one of the other commentators during the guys rambling about symbolism.

[jamesp]

All I'm interested in is the basketball. A lot of the other major sports (track and swimming) feel too tainted, either knowing that people are juicing or that the swimmers are in those super expensive new suits.

[Gilly]

The olympics would be so much better if they could out all the feel good stories. What will there be, around 40 hours of prime time coverage? At the very least 10 of those hours will be telling back stories. I expect to hear a lot about the Lost Boys of Sudan.

[senorcorazon]

I expect to hear a lot about the Lost Boys of Sudan.

Done. One of them is carrying the American flag for the opening ceremonies. Leave it to America to be an ass for a solid 8 years and then pull out a symbolic middle finger in time for the Olympics. U-S-A. U-S-A.

[Fido]

Ain't that the truth.

[Denim Gremlin]

the logo for the London summer games isn't making me that excited for 2012 either



really Enguhland? that's what you're going with? none of your proud countrymen gonna step up and fix this?

Samir, I'm looking at you buddy.