2008 Olympics

They would have gone into total maudlin overdrive.  I don't miss all the 'human interest' stuff.

OMG I'd forgotten about all of that. Between that and only showing American athletes I'd forgotten how different the coverage is. It's also good for me to be able to see the equestrian stuff - they only showed that at ridiculous times in the US and even then they never showed dressage - just jumping. Bet it would be different if calf roping was included.   

I'm watching in the US right now - it's on 3 channels at the moment, but I haven't actually seen any US competitors yet. They've shown some Badminton, Volleyball and Women's Soccer since I've been tuned in this morning. I'm hoping to see some of the gymnastics, but I'm not sure when/if it will be aired here (my brother is a gymnast, so we know some of the British competitors - although I'm not sure if they will make the TV coverage).

I'm watching in the US right now - it's on 3 channels at the moment, but I haven't actually seen any US competitors yet. They've shown some Badminton, Volleyball and Women's Soccer since I've been tuned in this morning. I'm hoping to see some of the gymnastics, but I'm not sure when/if it will be aired here (my brother is a gymnast, so we know some of the British competitors - although I'm not sure if they will make the TV coverage).

I love the gymnastics as well. I'll also be watching the women's softball if it's shown since one of the team members is a local girl.

I'm watching in the US right now - it's on 3 channels at the moment, but I haven't actually seen any US competitors yet. They've shown some Badminton, Volleyball and Women's Soccer since I've been tuned in this morning. I'm hoping to see some of the gymnastics, but I'm not sure when/if it will be aired here (my brother is a gymnast, so we know some of the British competitors - although I'm not sure if they will make the TV coverage).

Gymnastics, swimming and track and field will all air in prime time here because, you know, the US is good at them.  Sadly, unless the British gymnastic team has medal contenders on it, you won't see them.  Welcome to US Olympic coverage.

The opening ceremonies were awesome!

I was impressed with the whole show, but the most impressive part to me was the incredible 'bird's nest' stadium. Amazing structure!!!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/photogalleries/Beijing-Olympics-photos/

The BBC coverage is really hacking me off, most of the presenters are just dreadful! Whose idea was it to send that awful Adrian Chiles?!

The BBC coverage is really hacking me off, most of the presenters are just dreadful! Whose idea was it to send that awful Adrian Chiles?!

I cannot stand him!!!!

I'm very much liking the BBC coverage of the olympics rather than NBC, etc.  Definitely nice without all the human interest crap! Not to mention they don't play annoying music every 2 seconds.  I laughed when the BBC goes, "Well we'll be showing swimming final heat live, oh it will be on about 2 am, so maybe you don't want to watch it live. We'll give you the recaps starting at 6 am."

Sadly, unless the British gymnastic team has medal contenders on it, you won't see them.  Welcome to US Olympic coverage.

We only have 2 men competing (they couldn't put a team in because only 2 were able to enter) and looking at the qualifying round results online it doesn't look like they'll make it to the TV coverage anyway, but the women have managed to enter a whole team and I think Beth Tweddle may be able to medal on the Asymmetric Bars, since she was the 2006 World Champion on them (and is the most successful British Female Gymnast ever!) and I also have my fingers crossed for Imogen Cairns (she trained at the same gym as my brother when they were kids) who won a gold medal at the last Commonwealth games, although she only just made it into the team when one of the other members withdrew from injury.

I have managed to gain access to the BBC online sports coverage/iplayer from the US though, so hopefully I can watch some of the coverage online .

For anyone who missed the opening ceremonies, here is a link of highlights to this most amazing show!!!!!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0808_hd_ocb_hl_en197&forcereload=true

I cannot stand him!!!!

One of my kids really hates him.  She swears he looks like a hedgehog.

poor fella  he is ok, prefer him doing the footie though

After day 1 of the BBC's coverage, I do have to confess preference!  They are FAR less biased (for obvious reasons) and I enjoy the actual, you know, showing of SPORTS than human interest stories every 10 minutes.  I also love Freeview and the red button...I got to flip between men's gymnastics and swimming and it was brilliant!  I love getting to choose what /I/ want to watch rather than NBC's naff coverage (while pretty thorough, it obviously has a HUGE pro-American slant so much that you wind up missing other countries/athletes).

So far, so good for the broadcasting.  I almost feel bad because there's been very little British success so far, but I'm so used to the American medal derby that anything will seem small in comparison!

I'm very much liking the BBC coverage of the olympics rather than NBC, etc.  Definitely nice without all the human interest crap!

You must have missed the interview with the rower this morning where they were talking to him about how his girlfriend (or might have been his wife) dying has made him a better athlete. I thought that was a bit "tabloid."

I'd also like to see how some other countries are doing besides Britain.  I know I can look it up online but it's not the same!

You must have missed the interview with the rower this morning where they were talking to him about how his girlfriend (or might have been his wife) dying has made him a better athlete. I thought that was a bit "tabloid."

I'd also like to see how some other countries are doing besides Britain.  I know I can look it up online but it's not the same!

Oh I guess I missed that one, not sure how I did though, lol, because I seriously watched all day, not on purpose though! I've been curled up on the couch with a nasty stomach bug all day (which made me really mad the weather turned gorgeous today) and I got more than my average dose of olympics because nothing else was on!
Well I guess the olympics has to have a bit of human interest, why else would people care?  Though, really, there are people in countries that really have to overcome adversity to even get to the olympics and that's where the real human interest is!!