The Best Ever Games

Subject: The BEST EVER Games
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:06 AM

G'day,
Well we did orright didn't we.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:33 AM

you did fine)you DID let it rain on some races..*grin*)......but here in the USofA, there has been non-stop complaining because NBC required that 15 hr tape delay of EVERYTHING...made it seem un-real.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 09:07 AM

looked good to me! And now your kids have all summer to pretend that they're whichever Olympian they liked best!

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 11:23 AM

Let's hear it, for all those poor souls who finished in forth place.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 11:25 AM

what was with all the folks trying to steal or put out the torch?

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 11:47 AM

G'day,
If you have to wait 15 hrs to see the closing ceremony you mightn't realize that the thread title is a quote from Juan Antonio Samaranch's speech.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 11:55 AM

Good on you, Sydneysiders!

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 12:12 PM

If being 'the best' means continuing the present move toward evermore-larger and expensive games for full-time and 'professional' athletes, then these games have probably been 'the best'.

In terms of the number of medal won by UK athletes, the games are being looked on here as being the most successful since the 20s. This is largely being attributed to the provision of lottery money, which has enabled more of our athletes to compete on more level terms with full-time athletes from other countries.

We seem to have accepted that more money being spent, results in more medals won and I would expect there now to be calls for even more money to be spent, toward this end. The true test of the popularity of this measure would be to suggest that a rise, say on petrol duty, would enable us to spend even more on our elite sports persons, thus ensuring even more future Olympic success?

I may sound cynical but I am just a romantic really. The thought of athletes struggling and succeeding, despite their country's support, gives me far more joy than watching success obtained because of it.

Having said all that, the staging of these games in Sydney has been a great credit to all those involved. What am I going to do without them?

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 01:00 PM

I wish Canada had done better. No government support..no medals. Don Cherry was right when he said that the countries we send 'care packages' to, did better than us! Perhaps they put some of that money into their athletes to support the 'healthy mind...healthy body' theory. Our school system in BC doesn't make PE mandatory after Gr. 10. How supportive is that for future olympians? Sydney did a great job ...I enjoyed learning more about your country.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Lanfranc
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:33 PM

As a yachtsman I rejoice in the British success at the 2000 Olympiad, but have reservations about the concept of "buying" success. One consolation is that, in my sport at least, there is an "entry level" event that does not require a vast fortune to aspire to - the Laser. Heaven forfend that we should ever see Olympic yachting only in America's Cup type classes where a campaign costs millions.

Reverting to the original modern concept of amateurs only is unrealistic, unfortunately. The historical version would be equally unlikely, winner takes all and naked participants (all male) would reduce the appeal somewhat.

Come to think of it, the lycra outfits of this year's participants left little to the imagination.

It could be fun to reintroduce chariot races, though!!

Well done Oz - if it must be done this way, at least you did it properly. TV coverage of the yachting could have been better, but that's hardly your fault.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Mbo
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:40 PM

Do you know what the prized were in the ancient Olympics? Parcels of land, harems, and tax-exemption status!

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 07:24 PM

Lanfranc's reference to revealing lycra reminded me that when Archbishop McQuaid ruled Ireland in the 40s, Irish athletes were banned from meetings in which men and women competed in the same stadium. Whereas Afghanistan (one of about two countries in the world now declining to participate in the Olympics) has only lately attained this pinnacle of civilisation.

Picking up on the Shambles's point, the next Olympics will be back home in Athens. Maybe this would be a good time to try it without the martial national anthems and get back to the Ollympic ideal of athlete against athlete rather than nation against nation. Fat chance.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:01 PM

Pretty good firework display there - I think Oz has the world beat on that, as at the so-called millennium.

But just think of it - it could all have been happening in Manchester!

As for the all naked Olympics idea...just imagine the weightlifters. And the medal ceremonies. The mind boggles.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:11 PM

Interesting...hours after Alan's post, I was still watching Greco-Roman wrestling and volleyball, while the newspaper was reporting on the nice closing ceremonies

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 09:33 PM

or imagine if they'd put those beach volley ball costumes on women and had them entered in a Greco-Rroman event. Whoo whee! Now that would be sure to increase audience interest in your sport.

At risk of being repetitious, Good on ya Sydney! Great fun!

It takes a Greco-Roman wrestler down on his knees kissing the Canadian flag to bring a nationalistic tear to me eye. Channelling our agressions into the ritual of sport rather than waging war seems like a good alternative to me. Gives us bystanders a chance to blow off steam.

Lyrical Lady, at least B.C. secondary schools have extracurricular organised teams and it is available as an elective. Then there's computers, or something associated with the word technology. Hell, they fall all over themselves. But try getting support and music programmes into schools in B.C. at any grade level. Some hard.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 09:35 PM

Lanfranc's comments about the lycra outfits reminded me of the ribald comments occasioned here when the coxless fours appeared in their full glory to receive their medals......

Noreen

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:05 AM

Great games,Ozzies!Thanks for treating our swimmers so well,too!:>}

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: celticblues5
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:18 AM

Very nicely-done opening (Kathy w/fire & water) & closing (fireworks)!

My complaint was with the coverage by the US stations. Didn't see one bit of archery, fencing, or ballroom dance (yes, guys, dancers ARE athletes!). They could have done away with ALL of the prelims (qualifying rounds) & the endless bios & shown a wider variety of sports, IMHO.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST,John Leeder (in Calgary)
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:12 PM

Samaranch says that to all the organizers (he said it here too).

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:22 PM

Positively the best games. Absolutely the worst coverage here in the US. Wish I'd been overseas just to watch The Games...

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:43 PM

Mrrzy, live coverage by the CBC in Canada was good if you enjoy sitting up all night, (I've had practice with Mudcat so no problem) but again, ditto the complaints of celticblues5.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Airto
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 12:58 PM

Well done Sydney, you made the very most of your time in the limelight. From what I have read the Irish and British media both seem to have been very impressed by the friendly atmosphere, and so have the French. I have no doubt that tourism to Australia will grow very significantly as a direct result of the Games.

On a more personal level, I loved sport in school and continued to play football (alright, then, soccer if you must) until recently, but I'm afraid I have become somewhat cynical about the Olympics. When I saw ANOTHER swimmer emerging as a world beater in her mid 20s, and also called De Bruin, I couldn't take it seriously.

When Marion Jones ran around the stadium with her lovely smile and high jinks after winning the 100m I felt that she was a breath of fresh air compared to some of her blatantly commercial predecessors like Flo Jo. And then we hear about her husband, and the refusal of the US Olympic Committee to notify the international authorities about others of their athletes who have failed drug tests.

I also read an article about athletes being especially susceptible to colds and viruses because their bodies are so finely tuned. In other words they are in fact unhealthy, even when 'clean'. In order to minimise their body fat, marathon runners live on cabbage and vitamin pills in the months before they run, waiting to the last week to stuff themselves with carbohydrate. People in power sports, on the other hand, force themselves to consume astonishing amounts of food.

I myself, it is clear, have been gorging myself on sour grapes - after all, the Irish athletes only won one medal, but I certainly wouldn't encourage my son or daughter to become an elite level athlete because it would lead to immersion in a sports culture of corruption, moral cowardice, and physical excess.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 01:12 PM

Well I thought it was all absolutely marvellous ! not the least because it was the best medal haul we have had for eighty years, but because it seemed so well executed. Well done you Aussies!

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: DougR
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 01:30 PM

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade and particularly not the Aussies because they obviously did a great job, but there was an article in our morning newspaper that made me wonder. The theme of the article centered around the "hate" for the U.S.A. as exhibited by the crowds at the events. Booing and jeering U.S.A athletes, and teams. Anyone care to comment on the reason for that? Just curious.

DougR

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 01:49 PM

"Samaranch says that to all the organizers (he said it here too)." But I gather that Atlanta was the exception - the one time he hasn't said it was the best games. Because it would have been too blatant a falsehood.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 01:57 PM

Repeating everybody else Well Done Sydney!

DougR, I can only suggest that there is a degree of jealousy at success of the US team and irritation at the triumphalism exibited by the same, American teams are sometimes seen as poor winners.

One brief question: If they can have basketball and (I am led to believe) baseball in the Olympics, why not one-day cricket and Rugby union?

Walrus

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 02:25 PM

I think,Doug,that a lot of the anti-US feeling was evidenced in cheering against the US Men's basketball team.I can't blame them.Here are a bunch of over-paid professionals who exhibit most of the worst elements of poor sportsmanship,and who are in a position where they are expected to completely dominate the competition.Heck,I was rooting for Lithuania to beat them right along with the crowd in the Pavilion.

I always enjoyed seeing our college athletes go to the Olympics,and would prefer seeing them lose the gold medal to seeing a bunch of jaded millionaire professionals win one.Same with hockey,you Canadians.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Bert
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:03 PM

Yer right Walrus. And DARTS.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST,John Leeder
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:04 PM

The difference with hockey (we don't have to specify "ice hockey" in Canada...) is that, now that there are lots of non-Canadians in the NHL, including many of the top stars, most of the national teams in the Olympics have their share of jaded millionaires.

Kind of like the World Cup of football ("soccer", we call it). Was there an era in the history of soccer when the British teams weren't dominant any more, and were starting to lose to other countries, and national pride in Britain was outraged?

I suspect that basketball will reach that situation in a few decades, as more and more non-Americans play in the NBA.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Barbara
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:05 PM

Good job, all, and ooo ooo ooo! Maybe now I can tell the one Olympic joke I picked up out here in the wilderness.
A Swiss man visiting Sydney, Australia pulls up at a bus stop where two locals are waiting. "Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he asks. The two Aussies just stare at him. "Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?" he tries. The two continue to stare blankly. "Parlare Italiano?" No response. "Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing. The Swiss guy gives up and drives off.
The first Aussie turns to the second and says, "Y'know, mate, maybe we should learn a foreign language." "What for?" says the other. "That fellow knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good, did it?"
And of course it's even truer of the US of A, so save it and tell it back to me when our turn comes around.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: DougR
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 08:22 PM

Lonesome E.J., I couldn't agree with you more about the basketball situation. I think all pros should be banned, but that will probably never happen.

DougR

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:23 PM

I, for one, am terribly embarassed by some of the posturing by certain American track & field athletes....it does NOT require an 'in your face' display to show you won!...The U.S wins a lot because we are a BIG country with lots of athletes to send....there were some wonderful wins by smaller countries, and their fans should be proud!

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:03 AM

Someone should apologize to the whole world for the behavior of SOME of our U.S.A. athletes. The old phrase "ugly American" applies to several of our gold medal winners. It's fine to be joyful about winning, but to "show up" the other world athletes is poor sportsmanship anywhere. One runner said on American TV, "I come here to kick some butt, and that's what I done." Is this the Olympic Spirit? Another one made deprecating gestures to the other runners as he sailed over the finish line -- seen on worldwide television. Several others (males) showed a definite "attitude" during their interviews.

I think this is being encouraged by our NBC television coverage. The approach seems to be that winning gold medals is everything. Bob Costas refered to the silver and bronze medalists in one event as "losers".

I love the Olympics (I was a volunteer at the L.A. games in 84) but I think the U.S.A. needs an attitude adjustment before the 2002 Winter Games.

== Johnny in Oklahoma City

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:11 AM

My previous post was more serious, but here are a couple of Olympics jokes...

How about the runner from a small country, who had the best performance of his life and won first place? He didn't quite grasp the concept ... when he received the gold medal, he was so proud that he went out and had it bronzed.

Or the story of the gymnast who was flying into Sydney for his event. Something went wrong on the plane, the door blew open and he was sucked out by the wind. He fell six thousand feet, and by some miracle he landed on very soft ground and managed to walk away. Unfortunately he only received a 9.3 because he failed to "stick" the landing.

== Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: The Shambles
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:29 AM

Have we gained any new songs from this event in Oz?

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Lena
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 02:52 AM

Dough,I think the anti US crowds were a fabolous blending of Canadians,Aussies,British people...in Italian we say 'The friendship among three women is plotting against a fourth woman'....just jocking.And Matt,the tax reducing and harem thing is undoubtly on down here.
Did anyone see the huge mass od rubbish accumulated during the closing ceremony?!I nearly cried when I walked home on sunday night.I've never seen something so devastating.For the closing ceremony,the northern walk a the Opera House (the bit on the sea,facing North Sydney)was reserved to the Opera House crew and you should have been there when a huge insect got on the blossomy breast of the Opera Singer!!!!Everyone clapped .The forbidden dream of anyone working around Opera.It was so hilarious.
And it's all very depressing now.
For the money thing...yes,huge amounts of money have been spent on these Games and it's rather disgusting.But if you just saw how happy and excited people was down here...well,I think it was worth it,even if I'm not a sporty girl.

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST,John Gray/Australia
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:12 AM

Yeah,throw unbelievable sums of money at any item and that item will always be the best. The Oly. Games organising committee here, having spent its budget, had to call on the state gov't three times in nine months for top-up funding. This totalled nearly 750 million of taxpayers money. I couldn't afford to go and it irks that my money went to subsidise an event that those, wealthier than I, could attend. Between games our Australian Institute of Sport soaks up truck loads of gov't funding, yeah - my money again. Tonight's news carries a report that each gold medal cost the taxpayer $30 to $40 million. I wonder what third world nations think of that ? Funny that - you can't eat gold. One could understand them despising us. Six years ago I was cheering for Manchester to get the nod. I'd rather see them go broke than us. Nothing I've seen since has made me change my mind. And Samaranch has just presented the state's sports minister with the Olympic gold cross, or whatever, and what for? Spending more of the taxpayers money than any other before him. Crikey, what time does the revolution start?

JG / FME

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: GUEST, Banjo Johnny
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:36 AM

Never mind griping about the money. You'll get it all back a hundred times in tourism. == Johnny

Subject: RE: The BEST EVER Games
From: Airto
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 11:58 AM

I don't know, John.

I don't think the money spent was the only reason the Games were seen as a success. Money can't buy a friendly atmosphere, which was the big thing visiting media people in Sydney remarked upon.

Sure, you must be vexed to see your tax dollars going to subsidise an event you can't afford to attend. But the big thing that came across was what Lena talks about above, the crowds watching downtown on the giant screens and the general involvement of the public in creating a feelgood factor throughout the city.

Sydney came across to the world as the beautiful place it is, as sophisticated, cosmopolitan and, above all, a friendly place to visit. You can't calculate the future worth to Sydney and to Australia of that kind of publicity world wide.

I agree with you, on the other hand, about spending big bucks on trying to win medals purely for the sake of it, for the reasons I gave in my earlier post. Public spending on sport should be about encouraging and facilitating everyone to take some exercise, not about gaining nationalistic prestige through success at elite level, at God knows what cost to the health and balance of the individuals involved.