The Olympics: Beijing - Opening Ceremony

Ah man I missed most of it but it looks like it amazing....to be there would have been epic. Thanks for the video Phoenix!

I tuned in as Team USA was walking into the stadium (sidenote: **** they looked good in their official jackets/berets/etc!) and kept watching until the ending after the cauldron was lit... Watching it on TV was breathtaking, I can't imagine what it must have been like to actually [B]be[/B] there! And, okay, did anyone else get a little choked up when they explained who the little boy walking with Yao Ming was?

I didn't watch the opening, but i've watched the swimming today as well as beach volleyball.

[quote=roomie;24939]And, okay, did anyone else get a little choked up when they explained who the little boy walking with Yao Ming was?[/quote] YES! That was so amazing to me. I read an article one time about the idea of the group and the individual in western vs eastern cultures that talked about how people in eastern cultures are really focused on belonging to the group whereas people in western cultures try to be individuals. The story of that little boy demonstrates that perfectly to me.

[quote=roomie;24939]I tuned in as Team USA was walking into the stadium (sidenote: **** they looked good in their official jackets/berets/etc!) and kept watching until the ending after the cauldron was lit... Watching it on TV was breathtaking, I can't imagine what it must have been like to actually [B]be[/B] there! [/quote] It was absolutely spectacular. A few of us were watching while commenting in the chat box and we all echoed your sentiments. You could truly see where the 100 million went. I would feel confident saying it was the greatest live performance spectacular of all time, and by leaps and bounds (and I have seen a Phish festival or two in my days!) To put things in perspective, here are parts of the opening ceremonies in Atlanta and Los Angeles: [CENTER]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAorxMlUZTo [B]1996 Atlanta Opening Ceremonies[/B] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90GoFrLvVI [B]1984 Los Angeles Opening Ceremonies[/B] [LEFT]Yes, it can be argued that these events were from decades past, but there is no question the Chinese event was so massive in scale that even if you removed all the technologies involved and moved it back in time, it would have still trumped all predecessors by a large margin with its scale, ingenuity and cultural magnificence. [B]Key Statistic:[/B] Fifteen thousand performers! Yes, [I]Fifteen thousand... [/I] [/LEFT] [/CENTER]

Spectacular (large) photos from the opening ceremonies.

Wow, it all looks so pretty and colorful...I haven't even watched any of it though...I didn't know it was on already, LOL.

Did everyone get to see the [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/sports/olympics/11phelpsweb.html?hp"]men's 4x100 freestyle relay[/URL] last night? That is what the Olympics is all about! We are talking "Disney movie" epic comeback! I was on the edge of my seat for the entire race and when Jason Lezak touched the wall first, I lost it. I need to find the entire race online and hope they do a full replay because that is worth watching again and again and again! [B]Update:[/B] I found a video, but who knows how long it will remain online. This one has Simplified Chinese characters so it will throw the copyright police off the trail for a bit. [B]BTW: [/B]It is narrated in Chinese. [CENTER] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oluW-hIMX50 [B]Beijing: Men's 4x100 Freestyle Video[/B] [/CENTER]

This has to be the picture of the day: [IMG]http://vevmo.com/images/pool01a.jpg[/IMG]

[quote=Bacchus;25054]This has to be the picture of the day: [/quote] Truly amazing!

**** yeah WTG Michael Phelps!!! REPRESENT!! :D :D

He won and broke some world records in the process so congrats Phelps!! But what is that guy in the blue blazer doing? Thinking about jumping in? lol

[quote=GoldenWarrior;25067] But what is that guy in the blue blazer doing? Thinking about jumping in? lol[/quote] HAHAHA, yea that's what it looks like! But that had to be the greatest swim race I ever seen! (Not that I've seen many...lol) I bet France thought they had it one. hehe.

[quote=Bacchus;25045]Did everyone get to see the [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/sports/olympics/11phelpsweb.html?hp"]men's 4x100 freestyle relay[/URL] last night? That is what the Olympics is all about! We are talking "Disney movie" epic comeback! I was on the edge of my seat for the entire race and when Jason Lezak touched the wall first, I lost it. I need to find the entire race online and hope they do a full replay because that is worth watching again and again and again![/quote] I did see the race last night, it was amazing. The last leg, that Lezak swam was incredible. The whole race was just great. Go Phelps.

Big night tonight! [LIST] [*]Hoff - [B] 10:14 p.m. Women's 200m Freestyle -- Final [/B] [*]Phelps - [B] 10:21 p.m. Men's 200m Butterfly -- Final [/B] [*]Hoff - [B] 11:12 p.m. Women's 200m Individual Medley -- Final [/B] [*]Phelps - [B] 11:19 p.m. Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay -- Final[/B] [/LIST]

[quote=Bacchus;25416]Big night tonight! [LIST] [*]Hoff - [B] 10:14 p.m. Women's 200m Freestyle -- Final [/B] [*]Phelps - [B] 10:21 p.m. Men's 200m Butterfly -- Final [/B] [*]Hoff - [B] 11:12 p.m. Women's 200m Individual Medley -- Final [/B] [*]Phelps - [B] 11:19 p.m. Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay -- Final[/B] [/LIST] [/quote] Thanks for the update, you know where we will all be tonight.

These Olympics have been truly amazing to watch! I keep telling my daughter this is history in the making!! How about the men's gymnastic team taking home the bronze without the Hamm's. GO USA!!!! ([SIZE=1]I once got in trouble at work for saying...USA....USA.....USA!!!![/SIZE])

Cullen Jones swam the 3rd leg of the 4X100 relay. By the way he's an NC State Alumnist. At least the Wolfpack is making a showing in the olympics even if they can't do anything in collegiate sports

[quote=LilysMom;25433]These Olympics have been truly amazing to watch! I keep telling my daughter this is history in the making!! How about the men's gymnastic team taking home the bronze without the Hamm's. GO USA!!!! [B]([/B][SIZE=1][B]I once got in trouble at work for saying...USA....USA.....USA[/B]!!!![/SIZE])[/quote] Now that's just wrong....your work must be communist!!!

[quote=OtherPplsDrama;25435]Now that's just wrong....your work must be communist!!![/quote] Yeah I guess the red wallpaper might have been a sign :P That is unfair because we all know if you're watching something like that you're gonna get into it.

[quote=LilysMom;25433]These Olympics have been truly amazing to watch! I keep telling my daughter this is history in the making!! How about the men's gymnastic team taking home the bronze without the Hamm's. GO USA!!!! ([SIZE=1]I once got in trouble at work for saying...USA....USA.....USA!!!![/SIZE])[/quote] I watched the gymnastic team last night. Not something I would normally give the time of day, but it was exciting and great to see that they beat expectations and came away with a medal.

Wow, the guys 4x800 just blew the world record apart by 5 seconds... That's nuts!

[quote=killer_tofu;25469]Wow, the guys 4x800 just blew the world record apart by 5 seconds... That's nuts![/quote] This has been definitely been a historic Olympics already which is probably what China wanted but probably with their guys dominating a bit more than they are.

[quote=killer_tofu;25469]Wow, the guys 4x800 just blew the world record apart by 5 seconds... That's nuts![/quote] I know it was a **** of a race, the totally wiped the whole field out.

Even my pre-teen boys are so into watching with me....Did anyone catch the diving last night WOW.....the optional dives.....I thing back 3 or 3 and a halfs with 1 and a half twists....oh my goodness....these kids knocked my socks off!

The men's relay was truly an amazing event to watch, I told my kids this is something that will probably be talked about your whole lives and you got to see it. That a record for this event under 7 minutes may not ever be broken again! Also Congratulations to the USA womens Gymnastic team for taking home the silver Medal!! USA.......USA......USA.......USA......

[quote=GoldenWarrior;25470]This has been definitely been a historic Olympics already which is probably what China wanted but probably with their guys dominating a bit more than they are.[/quote] Yeah true that, there's record breaking every time you turn around. Well, so far Team China has been doing their home country justice, If I'm not mistaking I think they have the most gold medals out of all other countries.

[QUOTE=hotboih;25590]Yeah true that, there's record breaking every time you turn around. Well, so far Team China has been doing their home country justice, If I'm not mistaking I think they have the most gold medals out of all other countries.[/QUOTE] China has the most golds, but America has the most overall medals.

*joins LM* USA! [SIZE=3]USA![/SIZE] [SIZE=4]USA![/SIZE] :D