XXX OLYMPICS (FOR EVERYONE)

So, I thought I would open this thread for everyone to post on their observations on the Olympics, as a daily event thread. So go guys..tell us all what you are watching, and whatever on this (non-Aussie thread..haha) one! I will post some history of the Olympics when I get a chance from my reads and a recent visit to the archeological site at Olympia and Athens. I have some beautiful pics, but no way to post them here.

Add them to your Facebook and share the link to your account then, or open up a Photobucket account and post the pics on a public page....

Don't have a facebook account....just too private for me to share.
But a sharing photosite, a great idea..will try to find one that is easy to upload and post. Thanks Ingrid.

I am watching Brazilllllllllllll
Gold Medal - Judooooooooooooooo
Sarah Menezes - you go girl!
and Felipe Kitadai - bronze medal - judo tooo
I am so proud of you guys!!!!
David - I wanna see your pictures.

Yep, China and Brazil have the early lead in the medal tally. Brazilian women are really good at Judo.

Here are links to the constantly updated medal tally

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/21/michael-phelps-london-2012

Michael Phelps got beat by Team mate Ryan Lochte in 400m medley. Hope he wins some more medals ..will make him the winniest Olympian ever if he wins 3 more medals this Olympics

We really know how to immobilize people lol lol lol

I have heard that a Lebanese lady won something Gold in Foil :P

Woo hoo!!! Aussie's won a gold!!! Go ladies!!!

Karla, We have to fear Brazilian women. :)

Abed: Your hunger games readiness Avatar- WOW!

If someone wants to watch highlights of opening ceremony and daily US video highlights of the sports they are competing in, try this NBC website:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/2012/opening-ceremony-the-isles-of-wonder.html

Up to date medal tally link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries

David, we have to fear American men.:)

Apparently Phelps didn't want to compete in this Olympics, but his mom pressured him into it and he started training 9 months ago... it shows. We're not seeing his best, and I know I'm not the only fan feeling disappointed.

Loved watching the girls' gymnastics yesterday. Go Gabbie! She's my favorite. Such a graceful young woman with a beautiful smile.
Jordyn Wieber - sad to see her go. Anyone else find it weird the girls on her team didn't hug her when she didn't make the cut? Poor thing was miserable...

Well, Michael Phelps looked like his old self again in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay yesterday. He's not the one who lost the race. It was his teammate, Ryan Lochte, who choked away Team USA's big lead (almost a body length) on the final leg. I think the French final leg swimmer was amazing in his winning performance. Sweet revenge from the upset in Beijing.
I think Phelps will give us another winning performance tomorrow or the day after
Remaining events for him:
200-Meter Butterfly on July 31
200-Meter Freestyle Relay on July 31
200-Meter Individual Medley on August 2
100-Meter Butterfly on August 3
100-Meter Medley Relay on August 4

He is the best "fly" swimmer in the world, it will be difficult to see him lose these events on 7-31 or 8-3. He needs 2 more medals now, any color to make history. He won 7 Gold's in Beijing, so I am hopeful he will get at least half in London.

OLYMPIC HISTORY FINALLY MADE!

Phelps made history today climbing to the prestigious status of the most "medalled" Olympian in history.....took in his 18th (silver) and 19th (Gold/relay) yesterday... 15 GOLD, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze.....out of a total of 21 olympic Finals.....simply AMAZING.
(3 more swims to come this Olympic before he retires).
GO PHELPS GO!

GO PHELPS!

"Well, Michael Phelps looked like his old self again in the men's 4x100 freestyle relay yesterday. He's not the one who lost the race. It was his teammate, Ryan Lochte, who choked away Team USA's big lead (almost a body length) on the final leg."

Yeah, that was painful to watch.

Great Britain got their first gold today in the womens rowing pair!!
6 medals now.

Sometimes I wonder if Michael Phelps is a fish.

Congrats to the rowing girls fot bringing in thr first Gold Medal fot GRB!!!

Karla I agree with you!

Congrats to Michael Phelps! That is awesome!!!

I think that Michael and Ye from China should reproduce!!! Imagine what their kid could accomplish lol

Thx Liz.

2 Golds now and 9 medals overall...we are getting there slowly.

That young chinese female is a star...and the americans going well too.

I'm a bad American, I have no idea what medals we have. lol I haven't been paying attention to the Olympics at all :(

USA Women's Gymnastics won gold last night :)

YESSSS. How did I miss that, gymnastics is my favorite apart aside from the beach volleyball!

Tidbit: Phelps broke the record held for 48 years by Larisa Latynina.
One feat he will never duplicate: In 1958 Latynina earned 6 of her 18 medals, including 5 gold, with 4 gold & a silver for individual events, WHILE HIDING THE FACT THAT SHE WAS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT!

Put that in your Hunger Game & chew on it.

Wow... okay thats pretty impressive.

Also heard the other day that three countries were disqualified in Tennis I think it was, for trying to lose? In the Olympic games.. really? Kind of blew my mind a little bit. I know Indonesia was one of them.. can't remember the other two. Did anyone else hear about this?

^ It was Badminton, used to be my favorite sport, as a school/college kid.

Eight women players from the most talented playing teams of Indonesia, South Korea and China were charged with "throwing away" group stage contests to secure an easier draw in the Olympics.
Essentially, they were accused of easily giving away a match in the pre-tournament qualifiers, so they could be placed in a favorable draw for the actual competition. A strategy generally preached by the coaches. I wonder why the coaches were spared?
The Japanese soccer coach was caught publically giving the same advice to his team in the qualifier. FIFA did not take action, despite the controversy.

It raises a big question and puts a black mark on the spirit of the Olympics.

Been watching on and off for 2 days and gymnastics and girls swimming is my favorite!

Gabby Douglas (USA) just won Gold for gymnastics! Her performance was incredible, I swear she had the brightest smile ever :)

Can't wait for Track & Field tomorrow!!

True! Track and field is going to be a much watched event too.

Another amazing Olympian that I watched race 2 days ago was Bradley Wiggins, the most successful British Olympic athlete ever in terms of medals won. He took a record seventh Olympic medal - and a fourth gold by winning the men's timed trial bike race.......within 10 days of his tour de France victory. It was amazing to watch him. The British must be very proud of him. They even issued an instant stamp (available next day) commemorating his victory......dazzling speed of the Royal Mail service.!

Loool Larry

True story. She discussed it in an interview last week.
Her daughter says about those medals: "my mom and I won those together. "

LS, I feel like when I read your posts I'm reading a newspaper...

I was watching a little track & field this morning.

Gabby had such a gorgeous quote after winning - 'I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him, and all the blessings fall down on me.'

Yes, that was wonderful.
With that smile & exuberance she'll win America's hearts as well as Olympic gold.

"'I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him, and all the blessings fall down on me.'"

AH! That gave me tears reading just now. Wow.

I knowww it's beautiful. I figured you'd like it Britt, I actually thought of you when I first read it lol

My eyes have been on Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon, was fortunate and lucky enough to have her wave to me when I was in Sheffield a year ago...:)

Currently second after 3 events, an awesome time this morning in the 100m hurdles with the fastest time ever run in the Heptathlon and the same time that won gold in the specialist event 4 years ago in Beijing!!

GB going strong, with 8 gold medals now and 22 overall!

If you were an American, you would be really very proud of the swim team's accomplishments today:

- Katie Lydecky, a 15 year old high school sophomore, became the youngest ever American (or the youngest athlete from any country since 1996), to win an Olympic Gold in swimming...almost broke the world record. She was unbelievably amazing, hard to describe the emotions from a spectator's viewpoint...
It was heartfelt to watch the entire US swim team give a standing ovation to this young lady, the youngest member of the US Olympic team, or to see her on the medal stand, with tears of joy that didn't stop rolling off her cheek...

-Missy Franklin, a 17 yr old high school senior broke the WR in 200 meter backstroke and took her 3rd Gold in the London Olympics.
Both women were simply amazing to watch.

-Michael Phelps, came from way behind (7th at the 50 meter turnaround) to win his Final individual event Gold in the 100 meters butterfly....another miracle, but not entirely surprised, having seen his prior Olympic performances.
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But, the most fascinating match of the day was Roger Federer battling out Del Potro in Tennis semifinals for a marathon 4 1/2 hrs, the longest match in olympic history for this sport. The third set, just kept going and going, and going...I only watched a portion, but cannot remember seeing anything this fascinating with long volleys in the World of Tennis in recent years.
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"LS, I feel like when I read your posts I'm reading a newspaper..."

^ Haha CD (? Temps), are my posts that "boring"? I must have been a reporter in my past life then. A little surprised on your comment, as I did not expect someone from your generation to still read newspapers, with so much social media and TV around.
I generally watch 4-5 hrs of recorded programming of the day's events, late at night on my DVR.

(Edited to reverse order, separated by lines)

I did not say your posts were boring, and I didn't mean it as a rude comment, I was just saying.

Were you addressing me when you said.. 'If you were an American...' That was quite offensive.

I am actually very aware of all the US has accomplished in the last few days. I've been watching the Olympics often and I am quite impressed actually. There are indeed so many young athletes who are doing so well, why wouldn't one be proud of them?

^Take it easy. A total misinterpretation on your part. The expression above has a big divider line inbetween! So, it is not for you. It was an expression of National pride for all Americans....and no one in particular.
I am not into offending people. A second day of misunderstandings of what is simply written....

I will reverse the order, so it does not offend you or any Americans (that includes me).

And, I did not feel that your comment was rude either, actually if you re-read mine, the way it was written, it has a little humor in it. Nor did I say or imply anywhere that people are not paying attention to this great event.

Peace folks! Do not read deeply in to innocuous lines. They are not abstract like you beautiful poetry!
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I think it is best that I stay off the main boards, if this is what you folks think of my posts.

Class: intangible n. Great Brtain's Jessica Ennis, who led 188 points going into the 7th event, the 800m, not her strong suit. She could have come in dead last & still claim gold. Instead, she took the lead most of the way, then reclaimed it to win the event running away. "Our Jess" indeed.

It was super saturday for team GB...6 Gold and 2 silver in one day!!!! Amazing

Proud to be british, and a golden girl in Jessica Ennis!!!!!!!!!

Well done Andy Murray!!