It starts in a week.

Question:
Are you planning to go

Choices:
yes
no

Question:
Are you planning to watch it

Choices:
yes
no
Who cares

Question:
Will polution hurt atheletes and record setting trys

Choices:
yes
no

 

I'm interested in watching the Men's basketball. That's about it. I got frustrated with the last summer Olympics when you didn't know what was being shown in a particular time slot. If that happens again, I am going to Netflix.

I won't be watching the rest of the Olympics because I don't know how much censorship is being used when I am see the NBC broadcasts. Are those smiling faces in China for real or are members of the Communist party behind the camera? Will NBC also do a piece on the slums of Beijing or just the sleek, modern buildings that are being built.

I was just wondering this morning what could be done to boycott viewing the Olympics as a protest against censorship and human rights abuses in China. That's on top of the abuses of the Olympic sports the IOC has been perpetrating for decades.

quote:

Originally posted by pape du neuf:
I was just wondering this morning what could be done to boycott viewing the Olympics as a protest against censorship and human rights abuses in China. That's on top of the abuses of the Olympic sports the IOC has been perpetrating for decades.

So lets not watch our country's athletes compete just because they are forced to compete in China? They didn't choose the location of the Olympics!

Does it make any difference to them if I watch or not? It would do far more for the athletes to support them outside of the one-year-in-four Olympics.
If the idea bothers you, how about a boycott of viewing the opening ceremonies? That is nearly a 100% promotion of the host country, and 0% to do with athletics.

I'm just looking forward to listening to Bob Costas drone on hour after hour for two weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by pape du neuf:
Does it make any difference to them if I watch or not? It would do far more for the athletes to support them outside of the one-year-in-four Olympics.
If the idea bothers you, how about a boycott of viewing the opening ceremonies? That is nearly a 100% promotion of the host country, and 0% to do with athletics.

I makes no difference at all..and frankly you don't hurt the Chinese either by not watching which is the point of a boycott is it not?

Why don't you just stop buying anything made in China and recruit your friends to do the same.

Merely not watching the Olympics just be cause its hosted in a country you don't agree with is ridiculous...that is unless they were able to "fix" the competitions too!

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleD:
I'm interested in watching the Men's basketball. That's about it. I got frustrated with the last summer Olympics when you didn't know what was being shown in a particular time slot. If that happens again, I am going to Netflix.

I won't be watching the rest of the Olympics because I don't know how much censorship is being used when I am see the NBC broadcasts. Are those smiling faces in China for real or are members of the Communist party behind the camera? Will NBC also do a piece on the slums of Beijing or just the sleek, modern buildings that are being built.

Only the party faithful will be there with their smiles painted on. Of course CTTV AND COIOC will not allow unsavory photos. Wonder how they will create a blue sky?

It is pleasant to see that the hotels are not filling up, and they must provide discounts to get them filled.

Hope that many of the competitors will in some manner disply their displeasure with human rights, Tibet issue, and wear smog masks.

The closing ceremonies are also a commercial for China.

BTW, who gets them in 2012?

quote:

Originally posted by Erin Wino:

BTW, who gets them in 2012?

London, now there is a country we should boycott. Bloody English, I still am upset over them burning DC in the war of 1812.

I love the olympics and plan to watch a lot of it. I am not a TV watcher, and outside of NFL season, or MLB playoffs, I probably watch about an hour a month.

I actually just upgraded to an LCD tv, and got full cable, largely to watch the games, and the news that surrounds it.

I was in Athens for '04, and see a colleague off on his China trip on Monday. It's my favorite sporting event, and have already warned my fianceé that I will be scarce for three weeks.

Don't really have a favorite event, but hope that the telecast features more action, and less schmaltzy "profile" pieces, but that's wishful thinking I think.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
...hope that the telecast features more action, and less schmaltzy "profile" pieces... .

Amen brother, Amen.

A couple of photo galleries:
Clickety
Click.

I will watch. I love watching the men's basketball...just incredible athleticism.

I'll also watch swimming, track & field..maybe a little boxing and gymnastics. Oh yeah and baseball.

I am bummed no softball..I actually liked that. Thanks god we still have rhythmic gymnastics.

Softball is there. But, it and baseball go away in 2012.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Softball is there. But, it and baseball go away in 2012.

How come?

Hard to believe they would give the summer games to china, sounds like a accident waiting to happen.

quote:

Originally posted by mpls wine guy:
Hard to believe they would give the summer games to china, sounds like a accident waiting to happen.

Your clairvoyance is very special.

quote:

Originally posted by Sticky2:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Softball is there. But, it and baseball go away in 2012.

How come?

Old story, but Clicky.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by mpls wine guy:
Hard to believe they would give the summer games to china, sounds like a accident waiting to happen.

Your clairvoyance is very special.

Indeed!!

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:
Softball is there. But, it and baseball go away in 2012.

Oh- guess I haven't been paying close attention- I thought it was this year. So add softbal to my list.

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I keep waiting for Cuba to get the games. Those International Bodies never met a commie they didn't love.

Ahem, it's in China this year.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

quote:

Originally posted by cdr:
I keep waiting for Cuba to get the games. Those International Bodies never met a commie they didn't love.

Ahem, it's in China this year.

Maybe he means the "Laugh-Olympics"???

I'm all for Cuba...would be a short flight!! Not to mention it might give those human rights activists a coronary!!!

I will flip in and out. I will specifically look for women's water polo as a high school friend of mine will be calling the action....

quote:

Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad:
I will flip in and out. I will specifically look for women's water polo as a high school friend of mine will be calling the action....

Very cool. You'll have to ask him/her if the women get as nasty with their "fouls" as the men do. Makes for a tough job I'm sure.

I hope it gets sufficient coverage, as the lesser known sports, like water polo, equestrian, kayak, judo, are tough to find on the dial sometimes.