2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

[Mike]

Ok, here's a good topic to discuss. I'm sure most of you have been watching the summer Olympics. What do you think? Of course most of us are aware of Michael Phelp's and his 8 gold medals. I've heard conversation that he might be the best Olympic athlete ever... Not sure if I agree with the "best ever" part, but, certainly the best in swimming.

One of my favorites is Shawn Johnson. She's a great athlete and has a great attitude about what she's doing. http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=619/bio/index.html

[westpak]

Shawn is awesome and so adorable she makes you want to cheer for her, the other one is so serious.

overall good Olympics so far, love the Women's Beach Volleyball

[rdefabri]

Nastia Liukin is a good story, as is Henry Cejudo. A bit bummed about Tyson Gay and Lolo Jones - but that's the Olympics for you!

[westpak]

Oh man Lolo's hurdle mishap sucked she was going to win

also hate the commentator and interviewer's they are so lame, only the former athletes are any good

[rdefabri]

Lolo was a heartbreaker - you had to root for her, she put everything into it...and she's likely too old to come back. Not impossible, but she's 26.

[240ZX]

As you would expect, I've also been enjoying the 2008 Olympics. However, like other, I find it a little hard to believe the Chinesse team has underaged girls competing, when the Olympic rules specifically state that competitors must be at least16 years old.........hmmmmmmmm!!? Other than the age issue, the games have been great to watch.....some pretty amazing performances for sure!!!

Tom

[MEZZZ]

Shawn is awesome and so adorable she makes you want to cheer for her, the other one is so serious.

overall good Olympics so far, love the Women's Beach Volleyball

She is very cute, almost in an impish kind of way and she has a great, genuine smile. Nastia looks like she forces every smile. Sure, she got screwed on a couple occasions, the judges seemed to lean towards the Chinese (my wife is Chinese so I had to be careful with what I said). Nastia and her father seemed to me like they acted "above it all". It was heartwarming to see Shawn win the gold last night, that smile, her parents tearing up and embracing. It was great to see.

Lola was a heartbreak. Phelps? Great to see him win the record for golds. I am old enought to remember Mark Spitz and how pompous he seemed at the time. Greatest Olympian ever though? That is speculative at best.

[TomoHawk]

I'm boycotting the Olypics until they stop outsourcing that to other countries!

[westpak]

[Carl Beck]

I agree with everyone - Shawn Johnson is the darling of the 2008 Games for America. So cool, so confident for a 16 year old - and yes a smile that makes you smile back. She is just too adorable.

Whoever Shawn has for a "Sports Agent" will be smiling all the way to the bank - if we had 10% of what she is about to generate in revenue we'd all be rich!!

Nastia Liukin has pressures that Shawn doesn't - Nastia had to fulfill her parents dreams and expectations - her expression and her attitude show a little resentment I believe. Nonetheless she is a thing of beauty to watch - Classic Lines - I'll bet if you saw her with her hair down, and smiling at someone or something - you'd be amazed how pretty that girl is. Another one with a very bright future if she adjusts her attitude - and doesn't become an alcoholic or druggy resenting the pressure her parents put on her to ACHIEVE.... their dreams?

The Chinese Gym Team - they were so cute - little girls are so cute when they lose their baby teeth and smile with that gaping hole in front. I tell the boys (now 38/35) if I had known now neat little girls were - I'd have traded them in at the start!

Delayed development from physical exercise... my arse! Nonetheless they were very good...

I look at the Birds Nest - and wish I had the artistic ability to have become and Architect. The Design and Build of that structure is simply magnificent - so perfectly cultural and reflective of China growing industrial powers. If they are developing that level of Design and Engineering capabilities - can you imagine what cars we'll see coming from there in the near future?

Phelps? You certainly can't take anything away from him. Strikes me as a fairly level headed young man and all reports are that he's a very "nice guy". No question "Best Swimmer". He also recognized the fact that for him to set a new record of "8" - he had to go with one of the best "TEAMS" ever put together. The 32 year old (forgot his name already - now sad)... really accounted for two of Phelps 8 Gold Metals... and I was glad to see Mr. Phelps recognize that in most of his interviews with the media.

Instead of counting TOTAL Gold Medals in that sport - because so much depends on what TEAM you happened to go with that year - the focus should be on Individual Medals. I wonder how many other guys received as many Individual Gold Medals.. only had the bad luck of going to the Games with a Silver Medal Team....

Love the Women's Beach Volleyball !!

Just my impressions...

Carl B.

[al_itzah2luv]

I havent really been watching the Olympics, I just watched the Judo competitions and then blew off the rest...Mostly because Judo is something I used to do a long time ago and one of the Judo competitors from Spain is somebody that I know.

my mom has been following it like a hawk though.

Just in case you dont know what it is:

and i come out in 2:18!!

u better believe it too!!

i like this video better though...

[HS30-H]

I look at the Birds Nest - and wish I had the artistic ability to have become and Architect. The Design and Build of that structure is simply magnificent - so perfectly cultural and reflective of China growing industrial powers. If they are developing that level of Design and Engineering capabilities - can you imagine what cars we'll see coming from there in the near future?

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Stadium, nicknamed the 'Birds Nest', was designed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron ( 'Herzog & de Meuron' ). I went to an exhibition of their work here in London back in 2003, and the 'Birds Nest' designs and a scale model were already on display.

Not really a very good example of China's "developing" design & engineering capabilities. There might be better examples from a few years ago. Perhaps the Great Wall itself might be a good candidate.....?

I heard a stupid comment on the radio the other day. London's now ex-Mayor Ken Livingstone was in Beijing, and phoned back in to a news program to tell us that "China has finally started to arrive as a world nation.....".

Amazing. One of the very birthplaces of civilisation as we know it might finally be getting the nod of approval to join the 'club'.