The Olympic Games

Is one thread enough? Not sure. Anyway, to get thigns started, does anyone know if Fox SPorts have the rights to the Opening Ceremony? I've borrowed a bloody TV, bought Foxtel, and now it looks like it's only on FTA!?

Look on the bright side, you will be able to see the Super Rugby Semis and Final live and at home.

The first reply on the Olympics thread (the biggest show in town since the last olympics)and I am talking rugby.

Love the Olympics (well, the sport bit anyway) and can't wait for it to start. I tend to avoid the opening ceremony as it bores the tits off me, but as usual I look forward to the athletics, swimming, cycling, indoor volleyball, rowing and hockey most of all.

Bring it on.

Who is in the Aussie 7s team? Usual guys or any ring-ins?

I love the OGs because it's the only time I ever watch a sport other than rugby. For 2 weeks I love athletics, volleyball and rowing and whatever then can go back to being bored by them safe in the knowledge I've seen the best.

Excellent, I've still got a shot then! I like a backline of Genia, Quade, me, and Beale.

Looking at the TV Guide, it looks like road cycling is on first? Do we have a runner in this event? Cadel?

Over the years I have become more of a straight-running centre in the Pat McCabe mould, due to a similar inability to step, swerve, kick, or pass.

I like the sound of that cycling match-up. Who cares about that French race? This is the Olympics!

Both the Aussie and British teams look great and I would expect medals to come from either or both in the men's road race.

I'll tip Cavendish to get the gold in the cycling as, hard to believe I know, he was the only Brit track cyclist both male and female, to miss out on a medal at the last Olympics, despite being then current world champion! He'll have the motivation for sure.

Apparently Nine has the exclusive rights to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies which is a shame as Eddie McGuire is one of the hosts. What he's over there for is beyond me as AFL isn't an Olympic sport. He'll probably add sweet FA to proceedings just like the wife of the boss who is also co-hosting. Good junket if you can score one.

BTW, the broadcast is in HD of GEM.

Just one of a long list of spivs and hangers on the Olympics seems to attract! The commentator I'm least looking forward to would be our old favourite Rabbits. Jesus that guy is a turkey. I wonder if I can get some sort of simulcast or something so I don't have to listen to the conga line of twats that Ch. Nein will trot out.

Opening ceremony, eh? What else is on?

I found that confusing and tedious. No sense of narrative in a presentation that's supposed to be all about narrative. None of the elements built upon each other. It was almost as if they had to namecheck every significant British person since 1850. And Kenneth Branagh playing Brunel reading Shakespeare? Made as much sense as Mary Poppins scaring away Voldemort. I was tearing my brain out near the end. Let it end! I begged, to no avail, as Paul McCartney failed to get the crowd pumping to a song about Julian Lennon. I was just about ready to fly to London to personally stop Jacques Rogge talking.

I would have hired Suggs to do the whole thing. His series on London was tops.

Best opening ceremony = Beijing
Best cauldron lighting = Barcelona
Best Olympics in general = Sydney

Was it Tim Berners-Lee sitting at his desk, or the Arctic Monkeys playing the music from the Nortel ad that pushed you over the edge?

I knew the exact moment when I become a crank: when I got annoyed at the athletes for their laissez-faire stroll-past. I mean, show some decorum, nod to the Queen, it's not a "party" it's a ceremony upholding the noble Olympic spirit. That's when.

I was highly sceptical at the start of the OC as I generally poo poo all things british but was won over at the end. But I agree, it isn't the best ever OC, but who cares its the Olympics. Its commericalism on steriods with a bit of extra testosterone thrown in, yet the theatre and drama of the sports, athletes and the occaision always seems to rise above it (barring Atlanta in 96).

So the swimming has a choice between rabbits warren on 9 or ray hadley on foxtel. Leaning towards rabbits based solely on the fact that Gus worland has somehow found his way to being poolside commentator on fox. Do we not have A swimmer who can talk?

I've just turned it off. Both give me the creeps.

Men's road race on. Go Aussie!!

except now we have to watch swimming. /facepalm