XXIX Olympic games coverage

[Brolan]

Yep, the IOC allowed NBC to rearrange the swimming schedule so that all finals are being held in US prime time. So much for the vaunted Olympic spirit; it can be bought by anyone with enough money, apparently.

...

With all the scandals involving the IOC it's clear they are all about bribes and money.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Looking forward to seeing the olympics, even though it will be odd since the swimming, one the sports I really care about, will be broadcast EARLY around here since US networks (I can only assume that means NBC) had demanded that it be held at a time that worked for the US audience.

Agreed. Hopefully this never happens again, as the swimming finals should be at night.

Yep, the IOC allowed NBC to rearrange the swimming schedule so that all finals are being held in US prime time. So much for the vaunted Olympic spirit; it can be bought by anyone with enough money, apparently.

It probably helps that many of the sponsors are American as well.

So what if there are lots of American sponsors. Hopefully this is only an one off situation.

 

[Orac Zen]

It probably helps that many of the sponsors are American as well.

And that makes it okay...how? It's a world event; it's not held for the convenience of one country, regardless of how much money they tip into people's pockets.

With all the scandals involving the IOC it's clear they are all about bribes and money.

Oh, absolutely, but even the IOC isn't usually quite this blatant.

 

[firehawk12]

Realistically, would the Olympics even exist if it weren't for the sponsors?
I'm sure Coke and MacDonalds has so much money tied to this it'd make my head spin.

 

[tomalak301]

For the love of god the Olympics have barely started and people can't stop complaining. Boo fucking hoo.

 

[firehawk12]

Well, here's one thing. I like that the CBC internet feeds are just direct feeds from the cameras on location without any other commentary.

That said, I still wish there was just an archive that you can watch. That'll probably happen at the next Olympics.

 

[Orac Zen]

For the love of god the Olympics have barely started and people can't stop complaining. Boo fucking hoo.

Expressing an opinion is complaining? Or am I expressing the "wrong" opinion?

 

[tomalak301]

Well, here's one thing. I like that the CBC internet feeds are just direct feeds from the cameras on location without any other commentary.

That said, I still wish there was just an archive that you can watch. That'll probably happen at the next Olympics.

I'm watching the NBC feed and it's great. There's a good badminton match going on right now.

Orec,

Sometimes it is. I get accused of this all the time and the in pretty much all posts in this thread really does send a vibe of complaining.

 

[Orac Zen]

Orec,

Sometimes it is. I get accused of this all the time and the in pretty much all posts in this thread really does send a vibe of complaining.

It's all in the interpretation and where one lives, I suppose. I simply said I don't care for things being rearranged to suit TV interests in one country. It would suck if we did it, too - not that we'd ever be in a position to do so. If you want to call what I and others have said "complaining", knock yourself out. But this is an international board and sometimes people are going to offer opinions that don't suit you. That's the way it goes. It hardly represents some sort of attack on you or the country in question.

Incidentally, two people in the thread used the "" graemlin - besides yourself, of course. There's a lot more than two posts in this thread. And neither Emher or I was complaining. We were offering an opinion. No more or less.

Oh, and my username is spelled Orac.

 

[Peacemaker]

Here's an interesting factoid. Our women in this procession wore/will be wearing outfits designed by a designer from Project Runway Season 5. She won the competition broadcast this past Wednesday night. PR broadcasts in Bravo, one of NBC's sister networks. Talk about product placement. Go figure.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

That said, I still wish there was just an archive that you can watch. That'll probably happen at the next Olympics.

That would be nice. Imagine if there was a meetup in London before or after the games.

Anyways, currently watching the women's basketball.

Found that there is another channel, and they are currently showing women's handball.

There are also doubts over the men's cycling road race starting or not. Also found which site I'll check for times of when thinks start. Much better than the Yahoo7! site.

 

[tomalak301]

Oh, and my username is spelled Orac.

My apologies.

It's just that coming into this thread, it's pretty much been a lets bash NBC fest and the olympics have just started. Why wouldn't NBC want to capitalize on the dramatic story and show the US team. I don't know about anyone else, but I really couldn't give a damn about a guy from Germany (No offense to the Germens) when I could root and cheer for Michael Phelps going after Spitz record or Wilkensen doing her thing in the Diving. I enjoyed the swimming coverage last year and in sydney because you had this stories. You met these people and the emotion was there. You see them work hard and when they are standing on the podium and the national anthem is playing, that's a cool thing.

I'm not trying to be an NBC apologist (I am mad that pretty much everything isn't going to be live on the West Coast because of the damn east coast bias again) but I think the last several olympics, they've done a good job balancing the drama with the sport and showing other countries as well as america. Also, there is so much coverage this year that I'm wanting to give them a chance. Blasting them or anyone else before the olympics really start is kind of stupid in my opinion.

As for delaying the Opening Ceremony, I think if there was one thing I wish NBC did was give people a choice. I mean they have, what 10 universal channels. What's going to be on Bravo that is so important, Project Runway. If NBC can delay thier shows to bring the olympics, why can't Brovo. I don't hear people complaining about the lack of America's Got Talent the next two weeks. If NBC universal is going all out, than go all out. Hell, suspend scifi programming and put the olympics on Scifi too. What we're going to get the whole "The olympics aren't scifi" thing? Well, they are part of NBC universal, and for these two weeks, screw scifi. What's even airing other than Eureka (Which can easily be rearranged) and Stargate Atlantis.

As for shifting the swimming, yeah that was a bit peculiar. They should be at night.

I'm giving NBC the benefit of the doubt though, despite wishing they could please thier entire audience, but you can't please everyone. I just hope it's a damn good olympics, both the drama story element and the sports element. Oh, and Go Phelps and go USA.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I love how they go to a commercial and when they come back they explain how we missed The Virgin Islands during the break like they are showing the opening ceremonies live.

I am grateful to have CBC in my cable lineup, it gives a very different perspective, especially when you watch the same events on both.

 

[firehawk12]

Found that there is another channel, and they are currently showing women's handball.

I really, really want to watch Handball, but I've never been able to see it because I don't think Canada even has a Handball team. Gyarg.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Found that there is another channel, and they are currently showing women's handball.

I really, really want to watch Handball, but I've never been able to see it because I don't think Canada even has a Handball team. Gyarg.

These sites should help a bit:

http://teamusa.org/news/article/2820

http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.542.1

 

[Orac Zen]

It's just that coming into this thread, it's pretty much been a lets bash NBC fest and the olympics have just started.

As for shifting the swimming, yeah that was a bit peculiar. They should be at night.

Which is pretty much all we said. How commenting on the crass commercialism (not to mention nationalistic self-interest) that led to this decision translates into a "bash fest" is beyond me, but YMMV. I see no value in responding to the rest of your remarks, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Brolan]

The US broadcast of the opening cememonies just ended. Wow, I now understand what the earlier posters were talking about. This will be a very tough act to follow.

 

[Chris3123]

The US broadcast of the opening cememonies just ended. Wow, I now understand what the earlier posters were talking about. This will be a very tough act to follow.

Indeed. The lighting of the torch was pure awesomeness.

 

[Computer]

Well I just finished watching the opening ceremony and I find myself sitting there thinking "wow since when were humans capable of doing or producing that?" politics aside well done to China, I honestly doubt that ceremony will be topped in this century

 

[Sheliak]

The little kid's flag was upside down.

I'm surprised none of the cheerleaders passed out.

Denmark had the most unprofessional outfits.

Who was that guy sitting next to Laura Bush?

I noticed Bush and Putin were having a confab.

I got a lump in my throat when they unhooked that guy's harness.