Let the Games begin! XXVIII Olympiad Athens 2004

Everything actually turned out? Most impressive.

I'll watch some of the games. I always do; reminds me of my trip to the Atlanta Olympics on '96. Good times. Someday I'll go to another Olympics. There really isn't anything like them. If any of you ever get the opportunity -- take it!

most poorly advertised thing ever.
I keep forgeting it's on.

[QUOTE=RandomThought]Everything actually turned out? Most impressive.

I'll watch some of the games. I always do; reminds me of my trip to the Atlanta Olympics on '06. Good times. Someday I'll go to another Olympics. There really isn't anything like them. If any of you ever get the opportunity -- take it![/QUOTE]
What can I say, we work well under pressure . And things weren't as bad as foreign agencies reported them to begin with.

'06 is yet to come, though. Return to the future? (yes, yes, I know. 1996. just teasing).

I think those who will be there will have a great time.

[QUOTE=Fiberoptic Jesus]most poorly advertised thing ever.
I keep forgeting it's on.[/QUOTE]
Me too. I keep thinking it's already over, and then someone reminds me that it hasn't started yet.

Usually they cram the Olympics down our throats.

[QUOTE=lupus]What can I say, we work well under pressure . And things weren't as bad as foreign agencies reported them to begin with.

'06 is yet to come, though. Return to the future? (yes, yes, I know. 1996. just teasing).

I think those who will be there will have a great time.[/QUOTE]
Oh, shit. Typo. *Goes back to fix it*

I need to sleep, but I can't. I have shit to do. I was thinking '96 too. Damn.
But yeah, I went to the future...and...let me tell you, the 2006 Olympics are going to be great! Don't miss 'em.

[QUOTE=Fiberoptic Jesus]most poorly advertised thing ever.
I keep forgeting it's on.[/QUOTE]
Really? That's a shame. We (or our pockets) haven't been able to forget about it for 7 years.

Consider this your reminder!

[QUOTE=lupus]Really? That's a shame. We (or our pockets) haven't been able to forget about it for 7 years.

Consider this your reminder! :D[/QUOTE]
Remind us again in 2 days, please.

[QUOTE=RandomThought]Oh, shit. Typo. *Goes back to fix it*

I need to sleep, but I can't. I have shit to do. I was thinking '96 too. Damn.
But yeah, I went to the future...and...let me tell you, the 2006 Olympics are going to be great! Don't miss 'em.[/QUOTE]
Groovy. They finally saw the error of their ways and did away with the tradition that the Olympics take place every four years.

PS. Will do, RT.

[QUOTE=RandomThought]Me too. I keep thinking it's already over, and then someone reminds me that it hasn't started yet.

Usually they cram the Olympics down our throats.[/QUOTE]
SHHH! The terrorists will hear you and bomb the olympics! :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=lupus]Groovy. They finally saw the error of their ways and did away with the tradition that the Olympics take place every four years.[/QUOTE]

They changed that a while ago. They Olympics are every two years. 2004 is Summer; 2006 is Winter.

[URL=http://www.torino2006.org/index.php?lang=en]Check it.[/URL]

Feh. Winter does not count.
The show is NOW!

And let the terrorists come; we are ready for them, too!

Of course Winter counts.

Okay, fine, it does. Happy now?

Did I mention that Thessaloniki is one of the cities the qualifying Football events are going to take place in? Stay tuned for shots of my hometown!

Winter are not real Olympics. The Ancient Greeks did not have Ice Dancing.

if the winter olympics have snowboarding, the summer ones should have skateboarding.

[QUOTE=lofivinyl]if the winter olympics have snowboarding, the summer ones should have skateboarding.[/QUOTE]

I definitely agree!

i dont feel like reading all this now before asking a question. the heat in my garage is around 130 degrees. so forgive me, please.

question: So, are you going to any events?

No.

gasp
it seems only the other day i was smuggling hard liquer on my underaged-person into the last lympics

i think i might sit these ones out

why not? scurred of teh terrorists?

overly hairy men are scary-enough

[QUOTE=alex cassun]why not? scurred of teh terrorists?[/QUOTE]
No, I have other obligations here that do not allow me to travel to Athens. I am also quite fed up with the commercialisation of the whole thing and the way the Olympics were another excuse for money to be spent almost exclusively in the capital. That said, and I know it sounds as a contradiction, I really wanted to be a volunteer and I regret that it won't happen because of bad timing.

yair, too baaad
you could have pocketed some portable radios

ps lupus
start shining you GUN
FOR SERIOUS
because in 12 months time, there will be a lot of TWATS walking around in their volunteer shirts
these people must be SHOT ON SIGHT
do you hear me??

they should have chess as an olympic sport
but i still wouldnt watch it even if they did

[QUOTE=lokigod]yair, too baaad
you could have pocketed some portable radios

ps lupus
start shining you GUN
FOR SERIOUS
because in 12 months time, there will be a lot of TWATS walking around in their volunteer shirts
these people must be SHOT ON SIGHT
do you hear me??[/QUOTE]
I don't think I would mind seeing ex-volunteers sporting their shirts. They'll have earned them and I'd probably do the same if I were them, they are quite nice shirts. People filling their houses with 'Athens 2004' souvenirs (when you know that they will probably not even watch a single event on TV, let alone be there) are far more annoying. And the mutant condoms we have for mascots - gods, they are everywhere.

Ok, enough with the negativity. The atmosphere is festive, things are going well, and we have some good athletes to make us proud. All is well.

these people will stear be wearing these shirts 2years later
clutching at their gate-guarding glory days

aussie aussie aussie
oi oi oi

the only really bogus thing about the Olympics, is that its like a mercenary contest.

eg. Merlene Ottey, aged 44, who has run for Jamaica in 6 previous Olympics, is now doing her record 7th as a 'Slovakian'

yeah right.

Where can I see these hideous mascots? And with that whole "every 4 years" thing, isn't it that the summer olympics are every four years and the winter olympics are also every 4 years, and they've got them arranged in such a way that there's an olympics thing every 2 years but they alternate between summer and winter? Did that make any sense?

[QUOTE=Ballerina]Where can I see these hideous mascots? And with that whole "every 4 years" thing, isn't it that the summer olympics are every four years and the winter olympics are also every 4 years, and they've got them arranged in such a way that there's an olympics thing every 2 years but they alternate between summer and winter? Did that make any sense?[/QUOTE]
Yes, it makes sense, that's why I did not argue this further with RT. On the other hand, I don't think Winter Olympics have the same status as the Summer ones (I do not even notice the former taking place and I consider them just a misplaced bit of the previous - or following, I am not sure which - Games). Call me old-fashioned, but I still regard the Olympics happening every 4 years, like the good ole ancient times But then I would love it if there was still no money involved and if there was still a truce during the Games...

Have you checked the link to the official website I provided in the first post? The monstrosities ought to be in there somewhere. EDIT: check this out: [url]http://www.athens2004.com/en/OlympicMascots[/url]

[img]http://www.athens2004.com/images/legacy/athina2004mascot/textathina_en.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.athens2004.com/images/legacy/athina2004mascot/textfoivos_en.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=lupus]Have you checked the link to the official website I provided in the first post? The monstrosities ought to be in there somewhere.[/QUOTE]
I was kind of hoping there was an easier way to find them. I'll go look for them anyway, though.

And this is the Paralympics mascot. I rather like this one: [img]http://www.athens2004.com/Gamestime/images/legacy/proteas.jpg[/img]

Yeah, they don't look too bright.
[url]http://www.athens2004.com/files/Mascotsports/viewdiving.gif[/url] clearly one pushed the other off.

Public Service Announcement: This Is Your Official Reminder. The Qualifying Football Events Have Begun.

The Atlanta mascot was way cooler. He made no sense, but he was still pretty cool. These Greek kids look pretty lame. They rather look like dolts. Who was the Sydney one?

The Athens mascots are pretty weak, but the Atlanta mascot was the most idiotic fucking thing ever. It just screamed "Hi, I was dreamed up by a committee of advertising hacks! Purchase my crazed visage on everything from golf towels to oven mitts to shot glasses to souvenir colostomy bags!"

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]The Athens mascots are pretty weak, but the Atlanta mascot was the most idiotic fucking thing ever. It just screamed "Hi, I was dreamed up by a committee of advertising hacks!"[/QUOTE]
Oh man, he was nuts. I met that dude! I still think he rocks. He looks like something an idiot on LSD came up with. How can you not appreciate him?

Because it's stupid.

There's Good Stupid and Bad Stupid. This was just Plain Fucking Stupid.

[QUOTE=Ballerina]Yeah, they don't look too bright.
[url]http://www.athens2004.com/files/Mascotsports/viewdiving.gif[/url] clearly one pushed the other off.[/QUOTE]

The official website goes as far to _state explicitly_ that she pushed him off. How can they be prepared for terrorism when they can't even prevent horseplay?

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]Because it's stupid.

There's Good Stupid and Bad Stupid. This was just Plain Fucking Stupid.[/QUOTE]
He's still better than those Greeks.

The Greek condoms at least are gods. That thing was a discarded gob of shaving gel.

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]The official website goes as far to _state explicitly_ that she pushed him off. How can they be prepared for terrorism when they can't even prevent horseplay?[/QUOTE]
He was a terrorist, that's why he got shoved.

By the way, what's the Atlanta one supposed to be?

They should have used Nikos. And kept it.

Ok, I feel foolish for asking, but who is that?

Nikos Aliagas : newsanchor on greek TV, exported to France to be the infamous Star Academy host.

there's a few sports I'll probably check out.

-sprints and distance running
-general track and field
-swimming
-judo and other such events

I'm more of a winter olympics person, being from Canada (we rarely do too well at the Summer Olympics).

Mugwup. Check out the fencing. If you like the judo & such you might dig it.

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]Mugwup. Check out the fencing. If you like the judo & such you might dig it.[/QUOTE]

yeah, fencing. Forgot about that one. I'll definately check it out.

Thanks.

___________

I think skateboarding would have to be slightly more formalized to be included in the olympics (but then again snowboarding is hardly formal, especcially when the first gold medal winner is stoned).

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]The official website goes as far to _state explicitly_ that she pushed him off. How can they be prepared for terrorism when they can't even prevent horseplay?[/QUOTE]
Did it actually say that? I seem to have missed it.

I'll be watching archery. See how the professionals do it.

Okay people!
"Today, 13 August, the biggest celebration of the world begins at the Athens Olympic Stadium. At 20:45*, the Opening Ceremony of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games signals the return of the Olympic Games to the country where they were born and revived."

*GMT+2. In about 3 hours that is.

Log off and go watch it!