VeryPC Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 Hey everyone. Who's watching the winter Olympics? What are you looking forward to and what awesomeness have you seen so far? Share your thoughts and recommendations with us all here please. I'm just enjoying the snowboard slope style as I post (roughly 1 hour behind on pause/catch up). Team GB have 2 medal hopefuls in Jamie Nichols and Billy Morgan this morning. Seen some hooooog tricks so far. Looking forward to seeing loads of stuff. To mention a few: downhill skiing, ski jump, bobsleigh, skeleton and particularity excited by speed skating and ski/boarder cross; love the side by side race events. Shameful attitudes and politics aside (which is probably fuel for a whole thread of its own), I'm stoked about these games and plan to catch as much of them as possible. Al
hawc Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 Cant be bothered. I am boycotting them due to the gay rights situation in Russia. See this documentary 2
Marshall_IT Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 Cant be bothered. I am boycotting them due to the gay rights situation in Russia. See this documentary Same here, I love the Winter Olympics too! I never really bother with the summer ones, none of the 'sports' interest me.
IWDave Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Cant be bothered. I am boycotting them due to the gay rights situation in Russia. See this documentary - Ditto - Don't get me wrong, I wish everyone all the success in the games, I just won't be watching. Edited February 8, 2014 by IWDave
ButterflyMoon Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 For me I love the winter Olympics but there is just too much nonsense associated with this time. From gay right issues to the killing of dogs etc etc etc it has just kind of put me right off this time around.
witch Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I did wonder about the gay rights issue - and indeed the "gangster" issues which are just as worrying, but I have read several articles that state that it is better to expose these things to the world - after the Beijing Olympics China advanced down the road to democracy a bit faster (yes, yes I KNOW they still aren't there yet and there are many issues around human rights yet to be sorted). As for the killing of dogs in Russia - in China dogs are kept in desperate circumstances and then eaten.... Those who are not watching because of the gay rights issue - did you watch the Beijing Olympics? Every venue has issues. There are all sorts of practices in Brazil that I am sure we could cite as being reason to boycott. For Russia to have to state its case and defend itself puts it out there and it is possible that these things being exposed to the world's gaze will get them to change more quickly. 2
Marshall_IT Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I didn't watch Beijing either. But then then didn't bug me as much as I don't like the summer sports. I think the organizers of these large public events need to make a stand and say either you sort these issues it or you don't get to host these types of events.
localzuk Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 We have our own legacy of issues around the Olympics. We cleared away homeless people from the venue area and hid them away. The sponsors of the games in London used foreign labour to produce merchandise, paying poverty level wages, with enforced overtime and instant dismissal a worker complained. The medals were made from metal supplied by Rio Tinto, who were allegedly complicit in the deaths of 15000 people. There's plenty more examples too. So, yes, Russia has major issues that need sorting but we cannot dictate to them to do our bidding. We also shouldn't be punishing the athletes for the actions of the host government. Me? I'll be watching some curling. :-D 1
VeryPC Posted February 8, 2014 Author Posted February 8, 2014 Obviously the attitude to and treatment of homosexuals in Russia is anachronistic, hurtful and just plain wrong. Presumably it would not be changing any time soon either. I personally hope that an event like the Olympics, being a lens for the world's attention, brings issues like these to light and makes social change a little bit more possible. Over the next two weeks there will be hundreds of openly gay athletes and members of the world's media very visibly in Sochi, not to mention thousands of visitors who are friends, colleagues and supporters of those high profile individuals. Maybe we'll see some sort of protest in the form of interviews or podium gestures, maybe not, but either way the issue of gay rights in Russia has undoubtedly been highlighted and I hope it leads to change. Al
VeryPC Posted February 8, 2014 Author Posted February 8, 2014 I think the organizers of these large public events need to make a stand and say either you sort these issues it or you don't get to host these types of events. Maybe that would work, and I certainly support the sentiment behind it, but I worry that if countries get 'cut off' like this they will only fall further behind and social change will become less possible. Non-discrimination is written into the Olympic charter and I really hope that a little bit of that message infects the attitudes of Russia and gives courage to those who must sorely need to know they are not alone. Al.
ButterflyMoon Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I think maybe for me it is way too soon after the tragic death of a lesbian friend who died tragically at Christmas over there way too soon and just before she was due to embark on a life of freedom. It could all have been so different had the laws been different....
VeryPC Posted February 8, 2014 Author Posted February 8, 2014 I think maybe for me it is way too soon after the tragic death of a lesbian friend who died tragically at Christmas over there way too soon and just before she was due to embark on a life of freedom. It could all have been so different had the laws been different.... Gosh that is terrible to hear. I'm sorry for you and anyone else affected. Let's hope things improve so other lives can get better. My condolences. Al. 2
Marshall_IT Posted February 8, 2014 Posted February 8, 2014 I would worry about that too. I am ever hopeful though and I really do hope that at least some level of change comes from this!
hawc Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 Have just made a complaint to the BBC about the awful commentary this morning in the snowboard. They were squealing and acting like children.
sparkeh Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 Have just made a complaint to the BBC about the awful commentary this morning in the snowboard. They were squealing and acting like children. The only bits I have heard are when they cut into a program I am listening to, and yes it's been dreadful. There is one particular women who just seems to shriek over everyone else. Very irritating.
witch Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 Have just made a complaint to the BBC about the awful commentary this morning in the snowboard. They were squealing and acting like children. I am going to complain as well. I know it is a sport for the young and hip but the commentary on the male race was at least informative and interesting - if a little shouty at times!
hardtailstar Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 I've been watching, I quite like the commentary as it is, mind you coming from a mountain biking background where the commentary is just like it, it makes no odds to me.
VeryPC Posted February 9, 2014 Author Posted February 9, 2014 There were a few embarrassing bits in the commentary, like the clapping and especially the singing *cringe*, but overall I was quite charmed by the childish enthusiasm of it and found myself cheering and laughing along with them all. Plus Aimee Fuller was just an athlete who had been eliminated in the semi finals and dragged into the commentary box to join in, so she wasn't expected to be impartial or professional. She was basically just talking about and cheering on all her mates in the final. I really liked it, but I can see why some would hate it too. Regardless of that, Team GB's first (official) medal on the snow ever! Congratulations to Jenny Jones on her bronze medal at her only chance to do so, considering it is snowboard slope style's inaugural Olympics and she'll probably be retired from competition in 4 years. Also really enjoyed the downhill skiing, speed skating, biathlon, ski jump and luge over the weekend. Did I miss anything out? Al 2
VeryPC Posted February 9, 2014 Author Posted February 9, 2014 Figure skating and ice dancing - brilliant! I saw only a little bit of that. I quite enjoy it but with so many sports to watch I had to sacrifice something, so along with ice hockey those bits were mostly skipped over. I'll try and catch some later in the week. Do we have any decent GB hopefuls in the arena? Al
laserblazer Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 I thought it funny when they tried to surprise the snowboarder by spring her parents on her but she'd guessed.
rich_tech Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 I watched that snowboarding earlier too, that commentary was absolutely awful with the woman who just screamed and hollered when the british girl was on, to the point where I turned it over as I couldnt tolerate it after a few minutes of it.
Trapper Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 All of the coverage has been a bit - meh - IMHO Constantly flipping between pre-recorded events on BBC2 with the very occasional live event. It's almost like the Beeb is just going through the motions of putting it on the telly.
Jobos Posted February 9, 2014 Posted February 9, 2014 All of the coverage has been a bit - meh - IMHO Constantly flipping between pre-recorded events on BBC2 with the very occasional live event. It's almost like the Beeb is just going through the motions of putting it on the telly. I agree it's a far cry from the 2012 Olympics which bombarded you with channels solely for the Olympic coverage. Shame really as I prefer the winter sport the the summer games
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