When do the Olympics start?

[Martianinvader]

No one seems to know.

[Lord Dalek]

August, I assume.

[True Noir]

August, okay. I'm not much into Olympics but I might check it out.

[EinBebop]

They may start in August if Athens doesn't accidentally blow itself up. :p

[Elven Moon]

I thought it was September, but then that wouldn't be summer :sad:

[cross blues]

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for August 13. The games are scheduled to begin on August 14, save football/soccer which starts a few days before the ceremonies.

[TimTwoFace]

Yeah, I thought it was August 13-27, or something like that. I, too, wonder if they will actually start - this is the first Olympics in my lifetime that I remember that virtually half of the facilities and stadiums and such were UNFINISHED. What, Greece, did you not see these Olympics coming? Man...

He's hoping they work out nicely. *CROSSES FINGERS*

-Tim

[Catlover]

I'm hopeing the martial arts events get more coverage than last time. Everytime I turned it on, it was nothing but swiming, gymnastics, and track. Nothing else.

[Martianinvader]

According to NBC they're spreading the coverage over 5 channels, NBC and four cable ones they own. They better not skunk me on something good just because I don't have cable.

[wrenchien]

they start when they light the torch.

and to be honest, i'll bet the farm they have a few back up olympic fires in case of mistakes, across the whole world.. like dropped torches and stuff...
they won't let you see the exchanges off camera in case one's fire being held in the torch is going out obviously, as it's mostly the myth more than the actual fire they protect nowadays.. in fact they probably relight it nowadays every day it's on the road, just for the sake of appearances.

perhaps in 20 years it'll be a virtual fire that is holographic..and if you see it flicker , you won't care.

your failing health, and the overdose of commercials between actual sporting events with sponsorships put on all the outfits and even tatoo'd on the faces and in the hairdos... won't let you care anymore.

but enjoy them anyway. at least the olympics does promote the illusion of peace and prosperity in the world today that died in 2001.

[cross blues]

but enjoy them anyway. at least the olympics does promote the illusion of peace and prosperity in the world today that died in 2001.that illusion hasn't existed since the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Eleven Israelis were murdered by Arab terrorists. Murdered at the olympic games, in their ****ing hotel. how is that for peace

[TimTwoFace]

Yeah, I hear that. I know nothing detailed about the 1972 Munich massacre, but as far as anything specifically Olympic-based, that's a far worse event than 9/11 ever was.

I doubt any acts of terrorism will happen in Greece - and I certainly hope not. Olympics are under super-security now. That's one of the biggest costs for putting on the games.

-Tim

[Lord Dalek]

I doubt any acts of terrorism will happen in Greece - and I certainly hope not. Olympics are under super-security now. That's one of the biggest costs for putting on the games.I agree. With the lock & key pollicies regarding Salt Lake, you'd expect the Olympics Committee to enforce the same standards at Athens.

[jrh31584]

Maybe this time they will actually show some things live this time around. NBC's Olympic coverage has an unfortunate tendency to be not very good, at least compared to what I hear about CBC's coverage.

[LightShadow1890]

that illusion hasn't existed since the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Eleven Israelis were murdered by Arab terrorists. Murdered at the olympic games, in their ****ing hotel. how is that for peace
They weren't killed in their hotel room. They were dragged out and the people in charge of the Olympics had to let them go or the hostages would be killed, I think. The terrorists and the Isreali hostages were going out in a helicopter. Some idiot at the hostage-rescuing crew threw a bomb in the helicopter. It blew up.

Yes, how is that for peace?

[TimTwoFace]

Maybe this time they will actually show some things live this time around. NBC's Olympic coverage has an unfortunate tendency to be not very good, at least compared to what I hear about CBC's coverage.
I noticed this very much for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, that's for sure. First off, CBC had the Olympics on for nearly two thirds of the day, the only breaks being for the news; NBC had only a few multi-hour blocks in prime-time showing the highlights from what I remember. CBC also partnered with TSN so all of the events would be carried - and not just those that prominently featured Canadian athletes; NBC is expanding out now, so maybe they can match this quality.

That, and I think Canadians have a much better understanding of winter sports than most other countries out there. :p

As for the summer Olympics this year - well, I never thought NBC's coverage has ever been horrible - it's still quality stuff - but the quantity and quality on CBC (or CTV, as it was in Lillehammer and before) has always impressed me. And that's even after I take out my pro-Canadian bias.

-Tim