Olympics, who'll be watching?

[1argoholic]

Hands down I get into Olympics. I'll be watchin, I'll be watchin.

[anthonyrussell]

As it's in my country you bet your backside I will be. I've got tickets to hockey and handball. All the best to Canada and all of you, hopefully we put on a good show.

[ArgoRavi]

As it's in my country you bet your backside I will be. I've got tickets to hockey and handball. All the best to Canada and all of you, hopefully we put on a good show.

Those are two sports I wouldn't mind seeing but that Canadian TV never shows (along with men's soccer). I used to get really excited about the Summer Olympics when I was a kid - the '76 Montreal games are the first Summer Olympics I can remember watching - but they don't have quite the appeal to me as they once did. Nevertheless, I am sure that I will be watching at least some of it every day.

[gilthethrill]

Until a few days ago, I was unaware the Olympics were even on...

[1argoholic]

I also love those two sports that we see little of on Canadian tv. Handball is KILLER!!!

The opening ceremonies were GREAT!!! I've always loved British humour and seeing Mr. Bean was funny as hell. Also being an old punk I loved that The Sex Pistols had a good amount of time on the big screen during the music section. Right in from of The Queen. Actually right in the opening five minutes hearing God Save The Queen and then stopping before And Her Facist Regime. Then a wee bit of The Clash.

See Grey Cup 100 could smoke with Danko Jones.

[Will]

I was ready to start beating my head on the wall as I watched the beginning of the ceremonies. So if Toronto ever eventually does get the Olympics, I can expect nothing less than a full-blown tribute to Sick Kids Hospital and O.H.I.P, but I actually started to enjoy it particularly during the part where they were featuring British music. It was nice to hear certain bands like The Specials, The Jam and OMD and the thing with Daniel Craig and the Queen was neat too. But, I bet Sid Vicious is rolling in his grave knowing that Sex Pistols music was used in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic games!

[anthonyrussell]

I was ready to start beating my head on the wall as I watched the beginning of the ceremonies. So if Toronto ever eventually does get the Olympics, I can expect nothing less than a full-blown tribute to Sick Kids Hospital and O.H.I.P, but I actually started to enjoy it particularly during the part where they were featuring British music. It was nice to hear certain bands like The Specials, The Jam and OMD and the thing with Daniel Craig and the Queen was neat too. But, I bet Sid Vicious is rolling in his grave knowing that Sex Pistols music was used in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic games!

I don't like the monarchy and quite actively campaign for a British republic but hats off to the old girl. She's 86 years old and can at least laugh at herself. As someone who works for the NHS I was really proud to see it get such recognition. It's not without its problems but it's one of our great triumphs as a country as well. Can only imagine what our American friends made of that.

Overall I think it was a great show that showcased British history and our value as a country in one shot. The bit with Lizzie and Bond was a bit sentimentalist and unnecesary for my liking but still enjoyed it.

[1argoholic]

Well it really is amazing how much British influence we do have in Canada when you watch something like that and recognize so much of it. Although I loved Queen back in the day once punk hit that was it for rock for me. Loved the fact that they didn't hide the past good or bad. I'm sure the Queen wasn't a huge Pistols fan. I was a big Specials fan as well and one of the few albums I still have is one of theirs.
I watched on TSN and then later with my wife a delay on NBC. Man we may live close to the US but we sure think differently in many ways. It seemed like the NBC annoucers were lost with some of it. Why does NBC carry so much delayed Olypmic coverage?

[Will]

Does the Queen even know who the Sex Pistols are/were?

[ArgoRavi]

Well it really is amazing how much British influence we do have in Canada when you watch something like that and recognize so much of it. Although I loved Queen back in the day once punk hit that was it for rock for me. Loved the fact that they didn't hide the past good or bad. I'm sure the Queen wasn't a huge Pistols fan. I was a big Specials fan as well and one of the few albums I still have is one of theirs.
I watched on TSN and then later with my wife a delay on NBC. Man we may live close to the US but we sure think differently in many ways. It seemed like the NBC annoucers were lost with some of it. Why does NBC carry so much delayed Olypmic coverage?

That is the million dollar question. We tend to get much, much better Olympic coverage here in Canada than they do in the U.S. despite the fact that the American networks spend far more money to secure the rights.

[anthonyrussell]

There was a clip in the opening ceremony of the famous (well famous here) lesbian kiss from the now cancelled soap opera Brookside from the early 90s. The Americans cut it out of their coverage but it got seen in Saudi Arabia. Found that interesting.

[ArgoRavi]

There was a clip in the opening ceremony of the famous (well famous here) lesbian kiss from the now cancelled soap opera Brookside from the early 90s. The Americans cut it out of their coverage but it got seen in Saudi Arabia. Found that interesting.

I did see that but I did not know where that kiss was from. Interesting, but not surprising, that NBC cut that from their coverage.

[anthonyrussell]

Considering Danny Boyle dedicated a chunk to socialised medicine, I'm surprised the lesbian kiss was even a concern lol.

It appears Hope Solo is a bit cross at someone from twitter as well.

[matchuk]

i cant get into the summer games like i do winter...but im still gonna watch some racing and swimming....

[Will]

i cant get into the summer games like i do winter...but im still gonna watch some racing and swimming....

I suspect many Canadians are in the same boat as you--I simply don't follow enough of the summer athletes to be able to know who might actually contend for a medal, etc.

[1argoholic]

Problem is so much media attention is all about winter sports. Track is huge in Europe as well as cycling so top Canadians are known more overseas. I ran track and cross country back in highschool so I do enjoy track. I watch it all.

Womens beach volleyball is a must. Anytime you can watch athletic bodies like that in bikinis. Hell Yah!

[anthonyrussell]

General attitude here is "watch what you find, you might enjoy it". Been a big supporter of handball and to see so many people getting into it yesterday was great.

There are some sports that I appreciate are sports and people like them but I just don't get like gymnastics and swimming but the basketball, handball and water polo fan in me is going to have a field day. Also hockey starts today so that'll be awesome.

[1argoholic]

We watch what is put on the tube. So far that's been Canada underachieving as per usual. We used to be good in the pool and have some boxing talent. Three boxers? So far not great in rowing. I guess when you expect your athletes to be full time students, have jobs and train this is what you can expect.
We are now buying tons and tons of Chinese crap that I'm sure helps drive their ecomony and thus allows them to have basically professional paid athletes who just train for a living. A prime example is in curling. They came out of nowhere to become a world curling power.
By the way I avoid Walmart with all their cheap chinese made a year away from the landfil CRAP. I try at all costs to not buy goods from there. I remember when clothing actually said Made In Canada or USA.
My rant.

[Will]

Congratulations to Emelie Heymans and Jennifer Abel on winning bronze in women's synchronized 3m springboard!

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/aquatics/n...tml?cid=rsstsn

[argolio]

I bet Sid Vicious is rolling in his grave knowing that Sex Pistols music was used in the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic games!

No one should care. He was a replacement bass player who contributed nothing to their music and was, by all accounts, a terrible musician. And those were his good points.