The Olympics!

[Kyusil]

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing started last week, but since no one has made a topic about the games yet I figured I would go ahead and do it. Is anyone watching? I haven't been watching them all the time but I have tuned in during several events, such as the swimming. Did anyone watch that incredible 400 meter freestyle relay, where the Americans pulled into first within the final fractions of a second? Also, synchronized diving is both really cool and very strange at the same time.

Here is the total number of medals for each country. So far China is far ahead of everyone, though people are questioning some of their methods (such as the probably underage gymnasts).

http://www.nbcolympics.com/ is a good place to look around and find out more about what's going on. They have news stories, photos, and videos you can watch, as well as athlete profiles and other cool tidbits.

I'm just getting a topic started here, but if there's anything else you would rather discuss feel free to do so. Just trying to start up some conversation and get this board going a bit.

[Weil]

Watching the Olympics a bit myself. Mostly enjoy watching the team sports, instead of Swimming or Gym (that's been on lately).

[MW]

This year I've been more inclined not to pay attention than anything.

The first reason for that is because my country (Canada) has never done very well in the Summer Olympics by pure nature. We're much better for the winter games, for reasons I'm sure a lot of you can easily guess for themselves.

The second is a bit of a political reason. I know; that would set myself for stupidity, but really Beijing and China have just... irked me, with their execution of the games. Not only have they denied their pollution problems even exist, they've also perked up the Great Firewall of China to block out all the humanitarian rights and aid websites to the stationed news media. I've known that they've been persecuting a few religious groups there - the Falun Gong in particular - and I figured by the time the Olympics would have gone by, it would all be sorted out by good measure; but that effort itself proves to me that they're still at it. It's quite unfortunate, and my moral compass just won't point in that direction.

Wasn't too big on sports anyway.

[Kyusil]

I am very uncomfortable with China's political problems as well, and the fact that they banned that one athlete from the games because he protested what China is doing in Tibet. There's also the fact that they basically abuse their athletes as a training method. But I figured that there may yet be some good in this, even if it's subtle... I dunno. I feel even more conflicted now.

...but the current events forum was pretty empty and I just wanted to spark conversation. ._.

[MW]

It's always uncomfortable (both politically and not) when a "strange by nature" country holds the Olympics. I think everyone watching the Olympics this year feels a little off-put while doing so because China still remains such an enigma.