blamebrampton (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
blamebrampton) wrote2008-08-15 11:55 pm
blamebrampton) wrote2008-08-15 11:55 pm
I snapped ...
I have watched a few minutes of Olympics. The equestrian broke my resolve. I am telling myself that it's in Hong Kong, so it's not really breaking my China boycott, but I know this is a lie.
But.
The oldest debuting Australian Olympian this year is a 60-year-old named Laurie Lever. He is a showjumper. I just watched him jump a beautiful clear round, with just one time penalty. And it was a beautiful thing. At work today, my friend and I were in the cafe when the repeats of the German teams dressage came on. We watched Isabell Werth on Satchmo, and it was astonishing. I have heard people say that they don't 'get' dressage, but I defy anyone to watch a performance like that and not see the beauty in it.
To balance out my snapping, I have been watching more of the coverage of journalists hammering the IOC. Last night a British journalist asked a senior IOC official a question along the lines of "Is the IOC embarrassed by the fact that China has met none of its promises, either with regards to human rights or to press freedom?"
She replied along the lines of "The athletes and the visitors are all having a wonderful Olympics and we are very pleased with the way the Games are going."
He repeated his question. She repeated her answer. He tried again, same response. He tried one last time. She replied: "I think that some of the other journalists here would like a chance to ask some questions." and pointed into the press pack.
An American voice rang out. "Actually, I'd very much like to hear you address the previous question."
I do wholly love Americans some days.
But.
The oldest debuting Australian Olympian this year is a 60-year-old named Laurie Lever. He is a showjumper. I just watched him jump a beautiful clear round, with just one time penalty. And it was a beautiful thing. At work today, my friend and I were in the cafe when the repeats of the German teams dressage came on. We watched Isabell Werth on Satchmo, and it was astonishing. I have heard people say that they don't 'get' dressage, but I defy anyone to watch a performance like that and not see the beauty in it.
To balance out my snapping, I have been watching more of the coverage of journalists hammering the IOC. Last night a British journalist asked a senior IOC official a question along the lines of "Is the IOC embarrassed by the fact that China has met none of its promises, either with regards to human rights or to press freedom?"
She replied along the lines of "The athletes and the visitors are all having a wonderful Olympics and we are very pleased with the way the Games are going."
He repeated his question. She repeated her answer. He tried again, same response. He tried one last time. She replied: "I think that some of the other journalists here would like a chance to ask some questions." and pointed into the press pack.
An American voice rang out. "Actually, I'd very much like to hear you address the previous question."
I do wholly love Americans some days.
no subject
Stupid mainstream media over here hasn't shown any equestrian. And I LOVE it and I'm pissed! I've been watching nothing but Michael Phelps. Now I think it's great that he's doing so well (aided by the latest technology in pool design, suit design, etc., etc., etc.) BUT there's more than just swimming and gymnastics going on and those folks deserve their 15 seconds on TV too DAMNIT! And I'm really sorry, but there's no way you can tell me he's the 'greatest olympic athlete of all time' when he only competes in one sport. I mean, what about triathletes and pentathletes...they're excelling at three to ten sports and only getting one medal for the whole thing? Take that f-ing pedestal down a a few feet and I'll agree he's a great swimmer.
OK, rant over.
I'm really happy to hear that SOME journalist somewhere is doing their job. I've been sitting on a political rant for weeks now that's about to blow. There's been only a nod to the situation in Georgia in the news (except NPR) and the candidates in the presidential "race" are sinking deeper into the mire of mediocrity with every passing day.
*is deeply depressed about the state of the nation*
no subject
And that is an EXCELLENT point on triathletes and pentathletes. You should let your rant go, you know. Holding onto it can't be good for you ;-)
no subject
Should have been decathletes BTW, but pentathletes too! Anyone who gets ONE medal for three to ten sports is a better athlete than someone who does one sport ten times for medals IMNSHO. I found the NBC site to watch some of the equestrian over the internet so now I have to stay late at work to watch later this week (dial-up at home) We got a bit of team handball this morning and that was cool...haven't seen that on TV since I lived in Sweden. Watched some rowing yesterday...US-centric of course. Now I'm wondering when the kayaking is going to be held.
Does it ever bother you that most of the summer olympics sports are based on war games? I'm finding that particularly difficult to get my head around this year for some reason...