Olympics Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony will feature performances from Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers and H.E.R.

The all-star lineup will hit the stage as part of the handover to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Each of the music artists is a California native. H.E.R. is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem live from the Stade de France.

"This is the biggest moment in LA28 history to date, as the Olympic flag passes from Paris to LA," said LA28 chairperson Casey Wasserman in a statement. "We are thrilled to feature the very best of LA with local artists and are grateful to Billie, H.E.R., the Chili Peppers and Snoop for their collaboration on what will be an incredible show to a global audience that will give fans a taste of what's to come in 2028."

Ahead of the ceremony, organizers said the Stade de France would be transformed into a gigantic concert hall. There will be more than 100 performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists.

"We want to celebrate, but consciously. This moment of celebration will also be an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the Olympic Games in our society," Jolly previously said. "So I've designed a show in which the Olympic Games disappear once again, and someone comes along and founds them. It's a very visual, very choreographic, very acrobatic show with an operatic dimension to give a great visual fresco and say goodbye to athletes from all over the world."

Ahhh - it's finally over. Now all these sexy, hot, French male athletes can move on with their lives and put their assets (we all became familiar with) to money-making entrepreneurial interests. There will be a new group of young, French gay male escorts and masseurs visiting America soon. I'm at the top of the list with the pole-vaulter, so I can swing on his pole.

[quote]H.E.R. is expected to sing the U.S. national anthem

Never heard of her.

Well, at least it's going all be in the stadium and not all over Paris. Perhaps now the athletes will actually get to see the ceremony instead of floating by on a barge.

[quote] Never heard of her.

I haven't either, perhaps cause we're old, white and gay.

R3 Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (born June 27, 1997), known professionally as H.E.R. (pronounced "her", acronym for "Having Everything Revealed"), is an American R&B singer. She has won an Academy Award ("Fight for You"), a Children's and Family Emmy Award, and five Grammy Awards, along with nominations for a Golden Globe Award, three American Music Awards, and four Billboard Music Awards.

[quote]is an American R&B singer.

Oh yeah, that explains it. I don't do R&B. Not old, just white and European.

Who would have thunk a few months ago that the Democratic Party would blow 'The Summer Olympics' off the headlines for two weeks in July - August ? More attention has been on the Dems, Kamala and Walz than the events at the Olympics (except for a few exceptional cock shots).

[quote]Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers and H.E.R.

This is the shit that represents America? Fuck.

MEIN HERR!

The closing ceremony will be held on Sunday. NBC will air a live preshow at 2 p.m. ET, which will include a recap of some of the most unforgettable moments from this year's Olympics. The actual ceremony will start at 3 p.m. ET, and an encore telecast will play for U.S. viewers during prime time.

I believe the ending will include a video of Jesus sucking dick.

Interesting that they didn't mention the French artists performing: Phoenix and Air.

[quote] The all-star lineup will hit the stage as part of the handover to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Each of the music artists is a California native.

Does this mean the LA closing ceremony has to feature only artists from Queensland?

[quote]I'm at the top of the list with the pole-vaulter, so I can swing on his pole.

You can get in line with all the rest of us R2!

[ Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers and H.E.R.]

That's it? Such a downgrade from the opening with Celine and Gaga.

2028 seems so far away. Can you even imagine what those Olympics will look like? Android waiters, brain implants instead of smartphones, flying cars zooming past you...

R15 - these are only the artists for the LA Handover section of the ceremony - the rest of the ceremony will be artists selected by the French organsiing committee

It is a huge difference whether President Kamala Harris opens the games in her home state of California, or Maximum Leader Donald Trump needs a martial law lockdown and special forces cordon sanitaire around the stadium. If there is an Olympics.

I love Phoenix - saw them live in Glasgow a few years ago - they were awesome.

I still don't understand why NBC spent so much time on Snoop Dog.

r20, he's going to be one of the new judges for The Voice.

r18, I hadn't realized that. If she wins I am there!

French anti-cult activists have fiercely condemned the likely appearance of Hollywood action star and prominent Scientologist Cruise at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics this Sunday.

Jimmy Fallon is co-hosting the Closing Ceremony. I don't know about him. I haven't watched his show since went crazy with his show at home during the pandemic. Plus, I can't tell if he is drunk or not.

Jesus fucking Christ I guess Johnny Weir is one of NBC's commentators for the closing Olympics and he looks trans.

Looks like the Hunger Games

That weird cauldron. I haven't seen it since it was lit. Hopefully, they will let it blow away.

Nope, Olympic flame is dead. I thought that was the last thing they did.

He's transferred it to the lantern

Was going to post on the official thread but kept getting an error. Oh, well.

Just came to say Jimmy Fallon is the worst and seemed… a little off? 💅

Sorry, the French activists can fuck off. Yes, he's a loon, but Tom is perfect for a handover to Los Angeles. He's one of the few real Hollywood stars left.

Why is Johnny Weir doing his hair like a concubine from the Qing dynasty?

[quote]Why is Johnny Weir doing his hair like a concubine from the Qing dynasty?

because he is a functioning psychotic, that's why

I have a box of tissues at the ready because of their inevitable cruel blasphemy!

Tom Cruise is suppose to do something in the American portion of the Ceremony. I wonder if he will skydive into the arena?

Cruise needs to embrace the gray

It was so nice to see the women who ran today to get their medals in front of the whole arena.

[quote] arena

I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere.

I abhor McBongo's voice.

I want an Olympic Flame costume for halloween.

I just wanna see what the L.A. 2028 Olympic mascot will be; whatever it is, I'm sure we'll complain.

[quote] I want an Olympic Flame costume for halloween.

Just be yourself, Johnny.

R41 The mascot will be a tent symbolizing the homelessness in LA.

I love how the French are so dramatic in their presentation. Making the huge Olympic frames took 110 people in horrible, dreary costumes.

I’ve had more engaging colonoscopies than this.

The piano effect is cool. Is that Elton John?

The LA Mascot will be non-binary trans, with no genitalia.

It will also be neutral gray, so as not to offend anyone.

[quote] Is that Elton John?

The sheer weight of Elton would cause the piano and its contraption to come tumbling down.

[quote] The piano effect is cool. Is that Elton John?

Please!

They'd need a crane to hoist him up in the air.

R43 Well, mayor Bass has four whole years to build all that affordable housing she promised.

Real art. Then comes the los angeles presentation. . Ugh.

How novel the French get a castrato to sing.

R16 = Judy Jetson.

That grey man on the top of the ring is cute!

Nice bubble butts on those white-clad dudes😳

Huge Olympic Cockrings

Tammy will pole dance on the wing of the Concorde

When do the dancing girls come? I'm ready for another can-can after this grey mess.

Concorde.

I love that gold flame queen. That costume is fierce!

[quote]Real art. Then comes the los angeles presentation. . Ugh.

Hey, the LA 84 Olympics practically invented the over-the-top opening/closing ceremonies spectacle.

British social media

When we spend 15 minutes constructing some weird structure using the medium of dance in 2012 - it's fucking amazing.

When the French spend 15 minutes constructing some weird structure using the medium of dance in 2024 - it's pretentious, weird French shit

R25 See the closted incel micro-peen transphobes have shown up on cue. It won't get ya laid Tinsey. '

There a lot of hot ass behind those goblin outfits…

Amazing!!

Well, that was cool. I almost wept a tear.

Yay, the Golden Voyager raised the rings, and resurrected the modern Olympic Games.

Symbolic of Paris 2024 bringing back the Olympics from Covid near-extinction.

Novak Djokovic jump scare!

Shout out to my Gays & Tennis bitches!

2028 President Harris will be starting her second term and open the games in LA CA. Cool!

2028 Trump will have been dead for 3 years. Cooler!

R69 no dumbass—she’d be in the final summer of her first term. Jesus, where do you come from?

[quote] I almost wept a tear.

As opposed to what?

Orchestra Noodle Guy is the breakout star of the Closing Ceremony

[quote] 2028 President Harris will be starting her second term and open the games in LA CA. Cool!

Wrong.

It would be an election year, and she would be RUNNING for a second term.

Phoenix! Love 'em!

R69 It'll be her election year, but yes it'll be great for her campaign.

"Love Like A Sunset"

Where’s the joie de vivre?

"Listztomania"

Who?

The audio and lighting teams need to be fired.

[quote] Where’s the joie de vivre?

Where's Christopher?

France did a great job, my compliments to the organizers and participants.

R71 No dumbass. President Trump would be at tend of his second term and VP JD Vance is getting to call Air Force One “his”.

Were Tara and Jonny always supposed to do commentary for the closing or did they actually replace Kelly because she was so awful?

Yes, Rose. No.

I just love Red Hot Chili Peppers.

I haven't watched any streaming so far in August, time to catch up.

Are Tara and Jonny on Peacock? Because I'm getting Jimmy Fallon on NBC.

They should do the opening ceremonies in 4 years also.

Words cannot describe how completely awful Clarkson and Manning were.

I’m still trying to figure out who the fuck that specter person going to all different places in the opening ceremony was. Was there supposed to be a reveal?

God even their pop culture segment was classy and intelligent.

And now it is about time for the American trash.

I felt the opening ceremony was joyous and the Olympics were joyous and the city was beautiful and sparkling and they should’ve continued with that theme by not having a bunch of gray moving statues slowly erect the rings to ominous music.

I want Can Can girls and Toulouse Lautrec!

Aw, they cut to a damn commercial just as Air's Playground Love (from The Virgin Suicides) started!

[quote] Kelly because she was so awful?

[quote] Words cannot describe how completely awful Clarkson and Manning were.

I was going to write pretty much the same thing.

It’s playground Girl from Virgin Suicides. Thomas Mars of Phoenix (married to Sofia Coppola) collab with Air. Kavinsky was earlier with Angele.

Tara and Johnny and the other dude are on NBC as well.

They’re kinda of switching back and forth.

What is Tom Cruise gonna do? It must be spectacular, else nobody would see his short self.

I like Air, but they aren't very exciting in this kind of venue. Phoenix and Kavinsky are great though.

Someone mentioned in the previous thread that the US is appealing the ruling about Jordan having to give back her medal. Someone did a look at the rules and said it looks like there isn't very much that the US can do. The way it stands, the only avenue for the US to file a complaint is if they can state they have a case that shows they did not have adequate time to prepare a defense. Even so, it seems they still might not be able to challenge the actual ruling, as the COA did not provide a recommendation as to what to do. The decision to strip the medal from Chiles was left solely to the FIG and IOC.

It's clear the FIG really do hate Chiles. They're probably taking out their hate on Biles on Chiles, since they share the same coaches.

The US is now also stating they have evidence that the inquiry was submitted 45 seconds after Chiles received her score, and therefore was a valid inquiry.

The whole thing is a mess, and they should have just made the decision to award 3 Bronze Medals.

[quote]What is Tom Cruise gonna do? It must be spectacular, else nobody would see his short self.

He apparently filmed a segment where he takes the flame and then skydives into the LA Colliseum with it.

How many of those athletes in the audience have snuck in a bottle and some blow for this show?

[quote] Are Tara and Jonny on Peacock? Because I'm getting Jimmy Fallon on NBC.

They're using both teams to do commentary.

Tara and Johnny are actually in the stadium, experiencing the ceremony live.

Mike Terico and Jimmy Fallon are in the NBC studio near the Tour Eiffel

And like R96, they're switching back and forth.

It sucks because we're only hearing their voices, and not seeing Johnny's fabulous outfit.

Great music selection by the French. Those young Americans didn't have a clue who was on stage, but they were thoroughly enjoying themselves as we're all the other countries.

This concert is not on par with Gaga & Celine Dion. Washed up alternative bands?

OK, so who is this band, Phoenix? I like them a lot.

[quote] Well, at least it's going all be in the stadium and not all over Paris

Thank goodness all the basics have been appeased.

The Olympic ring raising piece seemed more like an opening ceremony set.

No more washed up than Gaga.

Why didn't they invite Mylene Farmer?

R69 Madam President will open the 2028 games in Los Angeles. Prove me wrong wizened old kween.

I bet there are some unauthorized substances in those water bottles.

Aww, the refugees 🥹🥹

I love Phoenix. They still sound great.

[quote] Aww, the refugees 🥹🥹

ROT.

I want Tony Estanguet in me, quite deeply!

Thomas Bach is so stuffy.

Bets that JLo is currently trying to secure a gig for herself as the premiere musical act at the Opening AND Closing ceremony in LA?

And then I want Casey Wasserman in me, QUITE DEEPLY.

He’s retiring

Coe wants to be the next IOC leader

I love when the French talk. I have no idea what they are saying, but I interpret them as words of love.

Casey is the Gavin Newsom of sports entertainment—make of that what you will

Seriously, the Bangles, an LA band, will perform a the Los Angeles opening ceremony and sing Eternal Flame as the Olympic flame is lit.

[quote]I want Tony Estanguet in me, quite deeply!

He looks like Michael Vartan.

R117 why not both at the same time?

And Miley Cyrus will close it all out with, "It's a Party int he USA!"

Would you prefer they reprise Gershwin from 1984?

Tony Estanguet is such a wonderful speaker.

I absolutely love listening to him.

He's very engaging.

[quote] Thomas Bach is so stuffy.

At least he's not an unreformed fascist/Falangist.

[quote] Coe wants to be the next IOC leader

Lord Coe!

[quote] I bet there are some unauthorized substances in those water bottles.

You bet correctly.

[quote] I want Tony Estanguet in me, quite deeply!

I will still take Emmanuel Macron any time his schedule permits.

Gallic Nose

R126 engaging—yes, that’s the ticket!

Tony Estanguet is single!!!

No wife or girlfriend indicated on his Wiki page.

Could he be.....???

Oh, Thomas...

"Seine"-sational games.

[quote] And then I want Casey Wasserman in me, QUITE DEEPLY.

Get in line behind his stewardess.

He shouldn't have mentioned that dirty river.

Shirtless Tone...

[quote] Shirtless Tone...

Loc?

Was anyone forced to swim in the Seine river like they wanted. Nasty cesspool.

Tony has a bit of derpy Michael Phelps in the face, doesn't he?

Thanks for identifying the hot daddy. I knew DL would be on it.

[quote] Was anyone forced to swim in the Seine river like they wanted. Nasty cesspool.

They did. At least one person got sick.

R140 They had 3 triathlons and 2 marathon swims in the Seine. Only one athlete has reported any illness afterwards.

As usual, it was all a big hyped media nothingburger.

What a traitor Simone is. How can she go out there and do this knowing her teammate is being stripped of her Bronze? If she was a true friend, she woudl have protested and said she refused to go on until the IOC agreed to let Jordan keep her medal. Goes to show how selfish she is.

And she needs to keep my name out of her mouth!

What a snooze fest

Two female mayors handing off the flag; is this a first?

I do know the ladies are the first women elected to their offices.

I know it’s sort of wrong but every time I see someone wearing primarily red I think repigs.

Why would she wear red?

Ugh they’ve completely ruined the color red for me. 🥴

Every Olympics post Beijing is spared the embarrassment of having Boris Fucking Johnson representing their city for the changeover.

Now comes the American pop culture trash.

Pitch, bitch!

Bitch you ain’t Whitney.

H.E.R doesn't quite have the range for the Star Spangled Banner.... ouch!

Poor you. There is a protocol that is integral to the ceremony.

Now comes the unoriginal, probably trashy American section.

Not a fan of these Great Value Mariah Carey vocal gymnastics.

I have the sound off—is it OK?

Quite a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Seemed like a Super Bowl version.

R145 Careful Mykayla -- I'll have you begging me to un-sic my fans off you again!

Weak.

It was meh.

Tammy time!

All the H.E.R. stans are so excited. Both of them are just over the moon.

TOM IS HERE!!!!! GO GURL!

Enough of the gymnastics talk. Nobody cares anymore. 🤨

Oh my god, Tammy! Be careful!

Tammy is not as good as Queen Elizabeth II jumping from the helicopter!

Who's the elderly cat-faced lady?

I still haven’t seen the last Impossible movie.

Should I?

Damn, I thought you bitches were kidding about Tammy being lowered into the stadium!

I don't mind Tom doing this, but it's exactly what I thought he would do when I heard he was rumoredto be in this. .

I must say he's always gracious.

Tammy looks old AF and has a bad wig on. He's got to be careful oen of those people dont pull it off.

What a moment for Tom!

Don't they have helmet laws in France?

An actor jumping out of a plane at the Olympics? Didn't that get done in 2012?

This is like when Jeff did the old Survivor reunions.

Why are they giving Tom all this time to inflate his own ego?

Wow, I like that!

The rings on the Hollywood sign?

It makes sense that he does this, he's known around the world and is rooted in LA.

This is so stupid.

Yes, Los Angeles!!

This is how we do it!!!

Love the action scenes and the Red Hot Chili Peppers!

Are we supposed to believe that was Tom Cruise taking the stunt jump? Look at the difference in hair fullness between Landed Tom and Leaping Tom.

Wanna buy a bridge?

Kiedis is really leaning into the pedo creeper look these days

Anthony Kiedis -- still would.

Tom delivering the flag and hearing Red Chili Peppers has made me so verklempt!

I wasn't sure if the LA Committee could accurately portray the Southern California experience, but this is very good!

The beach, the band, the palm trees.

Quintessential LA.

No Randy Newman?!

—AncientWeHoGay

Tom may have done it. He is known for all his impossible stunts.

This is fine, but not very creative.

Flea infested.

Jagger!!

Is that a wig on Kiedis or just a bad dye job?

R188 agreed. They nailed the vibe—and it’s a perfect LA day in August.

Is this live in LA? About 2:45 pm there.

BTW, you have Los Angeles 84 to thank for beach volleyball, synchronized swimming, and the John Williams Olympic fanfare.

Why is this woman always in baggie clothes?

She needs to speak up, too.

Yes

R194 clip in bangs. Liza uses the same brand

Live, R196.

And it couldn't have been a more picture perfect day at the beach.

This is so awesome.

I watched the 1984 LA Summer Olympics and remember then preisident Reagan opened the games.

This is great. This is why so many people love California.

What song is Billie Eilish singing?

I really love it.

This song reminds me of Last Christmas.

Billie Eilish

Just a whisper of a voice. I'm over it.

[quote]What song is Billie Eilish singing?

"Birds of a Feather"

R204 Birds of a Feather

How did Snoop get back there so fast?

I've seen Snoop more times these last two weeks than I have his entire career.

As much as I hate rap music, this too is LA.

Very "Compton."

I wanna hear Gin and Juice. Lol.

R204, Birds of a Feather

Shouldn't that be "What song is Billie Eillish lip-synching?" Sometimes she had the microphone about 18" from her moving mouth.

Oh gawd, fucking fuggly ol’ Snoop Dogg. The only reason he got shoved down our throats is because he’s a judge on The Voice. Period. End of story.

[quote] How did Snoop get back there so fast?

[quote] Tammy will pole dance on the wing of the Concorde

Concorde.

They should have had Snoop perform California Girls with Katy Perry instead!

I hope these musical offerings are over in four years.

Bad audio for Snoop and Dre.

Totally California, love it!!

Jesus, it's the Super Bowl halftime all over again. Must Dr. Dre always represent LA?

Orland Bloom.

Even the lifeguard shack in the background is a nice touch.

I assume this is down in Long Beach —I see the fake islands (hiding oil rigs) off the coast.

Go Snoop!

I cannot understand a word Snoop sang. Please say it is not just me!

Leon does get to close out the torch, after all!

Marchand is one of the athletes I'll remember from these Olympics.

In LA, was the audience the city’s homeless?

I am curious as to how they'll extinguish the hot air balloon.

He’s been walking around Paris for about 4 hours now.

[quote] Even the lifeguard shack in the background is a nice touch.

Reminds me of this:

Well, that was underwhelming.

Who is that BRUTE of a woman who accosted Tom Cruise as he was walking up to the stage??

She grabbed his head and kissed him on both cheeks.

I thought she was going to make out with him!!

Will the wheelchairs roll?

Didn’t they say they might keep it permanently?

The balloon was gone at the beginning of the show. Now, poof the lantern is gone. WTF!

Oh, here come the cripple Olympics, next!

R223 Good eye. It is downtown Long Beach, though Mike Terico said it was Venice. The THUMS islands are a dead giveaway.

R230 it reminds me of a day at the beach..but then I grew up there… didn’t have to rely on MTV fakes.

Lovely way to segue - My Way / Comme D'Habitude.

Oh I love Jennifer Hudson

I hope she finishes with And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going To LA

Le dirigeable noir.

Why this song?

Full mourning dress; the French are so dramatic!

R237 I grew up in Hawthorne. I know my South Bay and LB locales.

Yo recuerdo El Pike—

Long Beach’s contribution to sleazy boardwalk amusement parks …now an Olympic site ;)

My Whale. If she makes it to the end of that runway they should give her a gold medal.

Here comes Latrice Royale singing 'Her Way'!

Loads of empty seats now.

Is this the French Lizzo?

R242 - "My Way' was originally a French song 'Comme D'habitude'

[quote]Regrets, I had a few…

But not that third helping.

R210 This LA28 material was pre-recorded.

"Comme D'Habitude'

Should have sung it in French.

They should have done La Mer instead.

R251 Duh!

HA, good finish. Was that France's FU to everyone who criticized their games (including the opening ceremonies?)

Anyone know what song they sang at the beginning of this thing, when they were around the cauldron before it extinguished?

They should've had Madonna in her Marie Antoinette drag perform Vogue.

It was a good ceremony. The LA part was pretty awesome, too.

Wonder what time the athlete orgies are kicking off?

I want to know too, r257

Well, we will all wait for LA where, in a historic reversal of tradition, black people will win all the medals in the first week and white people in the second. Revolutionary.

Le Sniffe

R262 fuck off and die

[quote]Wonder what time the athlete orgies are kicking off?

About a week and a half ago.

The Long Beach segment was filmed yesterday afternoon.

R260 The Men's British Dive Team started theirs this morning.

Does the GB have not even one fake-straight diver?

I thought they had all the good actors in GB.

The 1984 "stars in motion" logo was dope! The LA '28 logo sucks. Ugly & boring.

Where was the god-damned mascot?

R269 does not get that there are two dozen different LA28 logos. Or he’s on the spectrum.

“… the “A” is interchangeable, to reflect the diversity and many faces of Los Angeles. Leading figures from the worlds of sport, entertainment, the economy and the arts helped to create the emblem by contributing their own personal “A”...”

R269 Remove the Olympic Rings and it looks like a gas station sign, which I suppose is relevant to automobile-centric Los Angeles.

A look back at '84:

The mascot is going to be a talking shopping cart.

I worked the Games in 1984. My uniform was a pink and white shirt with a pink visor. The other option was teal.

I did see 8 days of track, including Joan Benoit. Carl Lewis, Mary Decker and Daley Thompson (yum)…which made up for my lousy color wheel.

We need another Mary Lou Retton for the 2028 Olympics.

And I'm available!

What else is on?

Nice try, R276, but I already announced my official, unofficial, comeback. I'm taking back my rightful title and place in history.

Mary Lou: Go for it! (The actual theme for the Miss America 1984 pageant).

[quote] Nice try, R276, but I already announced my official, unofficial, comeback. I'm taking back my rightful title and place in history.

[quote] —Shannon Miller

Fuck you, bitch!

I need money for my GoFundMe, and I WILL cut you!

Don't mess with this trailer park chick!

I hear the Karolyi's have time to start coaching again.

I still have her Wheaties box. Even the Wacky Packages Weakies card.

R275, I want to volunteer at the LA games. I’d like to know more about it if you don’t mind.

I wonder if Caitlyn Jenner (aka Bruce) will carry a flame in the LA Olympics? Without heels, of course.

R261 the song is ‘"Sous le ciel de Paris"

I would imagine we'll see a few of these people in the torch relay.

AY-MEN! I can't believe it's all over...

R283 I’m 60 and I live in Manhattan (not the Beach). Why are you asking me? Text Casey Wasserman or go to:

R286 20% from Berkeley…I won’t object

Who will light the Olympic cauldron in LA2028?

R290 candidates would be:

Michael Phelps

Venus and Serena (grew up in LA)

Simone Biles

Katie Ledecky

LeBron James

Magic Johnson

Carl Lewis

Sharon Stone

If she can get her shit together by then Mary Lou would be perfect.

[quote]Who will light the Olympic cauldron in LA2028?

It's clearly going to be ME, face of the 1984 LA Olympics

Also, Caitlyn Jenner!

[quote] I just wanna see what the L.A. 2028 Olympic mascot will be; whatever it is, I'm sure we'll complain.

It will be a drag queen.

R291 You forgot about me.

Mary Decker and Zola Budd should light the cauldron, bumping arms and tripping each other on the way up.

R279 I'm hoping Mary Lou will kick the bucket before 2028. I need less competition when it comes to who gets picked to light the cauldron.

Hideous so far.

It's weird to think how much Johnny Weir dreams of being a real-life Effie Trinket.

[quote]It's weird to think how much of a Russian sympathizer Johnny Weir is.

R114, Tony has a serious case of BDF.

Michael Phelps will light the Olympic cauldron. He has the most Olympic medals of any American and thus stops any further argument completely.

The 1984 Olympics water polo team will light it.

They were like a Falcon video come to life.

People in Paris are making videos laughing at (some not laughing) at how the Olympics billed the RHCP, Billie Eilish, etc as performing at the Olympics, and they bought their tickets in good faith to see them perform... only to have it be in essence a Zoom call in, displayed on tiny screens.

No. It will be Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the female Rafer Johnson. Assuming that she is OK then, Billie Jean King will be part of the final relay/lighting ceremony.

With an assist from Carl Lewis.

Where is Flo-Jo?

[quote] Billie Jean King will be part of the final relay/lighting ceremony

So will the rest of the Original Nine!

Six feet under, Rose… and four years after the LA games.

It will have to be a co-lighting of the cauldron. Michael Phelps and a black woman.

R309 Don’t be dumb. BJK has a unique role in sport history, and in LA history, distinct from Virgina Slims.

Watching the Prime-Time:

This song sounds like a direct rip-off of "You Can Call Me Al. "

And WTH are they, anyway?

Bitch stole my act.

[quote] It's weird to think how much of a Russian sympathizer Johnny Weir is.

He is a flamboyant clown.

LA28 is going to be a shitshow.

[quote]LA28 is going to be a shitshow.

Yes, you already know that every Hollwood agency is going to to be lobbying to have their stars present the medals to capitalize on the exposure only the Olympics can bring.

Hit show.

As was LA84, without which we wouldn’t be cattily chatting about the Olympics…the games would have died out by NotHotlanta….now that was a shit show.

We should be the ones to light the cauldron in 2028.

Atlanta truly was terrible.

This has been BORING AND UGLY.

Phoenix was undoubtedly live there, but the televised lip-synching was STUPID.

NO athletes are being pointed out and named by the ineffectual hosts. Where was Stephen?

Were the "Olympic rings" performers to show up all the gymnasts?

Who was the Gold Figure supposed to be?

Deadline review:

The stage stylized continents is a demented puzzle.

I think every male medalist should have to accept their medal in the nude on the podium. In true Greek Olympian tradition they can cover themselves with olive oil in preparation.

Within the IOC, Atlanta and Athens are considered low points (Rio less so). Paris will be considered as a great success in line with Sydney and Barcelona.

I liked the Athens ceremonies. They did quite a bit with what they had. The opening ceremony was elegant.

Atlanta was horrid.

Why was Atlanta a shitshow? I barely remember them aside from the bombing and John Tesh’s execrable gymnastics commentating.

I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers

R326. My note related to the entire Olympiad for each, not just the ceremonies. The Olympic movement looks down on the entire Atlanta experience fyi.

Oooooh! Those circles formed the Olympic rings! Now I get it!

OMG! Beyoncé!!!!!

LOL R331

I am enjoying the closing ceremonies, but the athlete entrance was a little too chaotic. I like all the theatrical performances and I enjoyed Phoenix.

Ugh, I spoke 2 soon...Tom Cruise. Yuck

Chicago should have hosted the 2016 Olympics.

Did y'all forgot about me?

Fun fact: Tom Cruise belongs to an evil cult

Remember Atlanta’s saucy opening ceremony with pickup trucks and cheerleaders?

What malfunctioned on Tom's decent? Hr was pulling on some thing around his leg but it didn't trigger. Rainbow sparkles?

[quote] My note related to the entire Olympiad for each

Why Athens?

I want either Mark Spitz, Greg Louganis or Jamie Lee Curtis lighting the caldera.

"aside from the bombing", R327?

Apart from that, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs Lincoln?

[quote] Remember Atlanta’s saucy opening ceremony with pickup trucks and cheerleaders?

I'd rather not.

[quote] Did y'all forgot about me?

R335, see R296.

Miami should have gotten the Olympics that year over boring ass Atlanta. Atlanta doesn't even have an international identity.

Flea can put a shirt on now

Geez, Red Hot Chili Peppers are embarrassing themselves

R344 … Miami did not, and does not, have anyone remotely capable of planning or organizing an Olympic bid, much less putting on the actual games. Be serious.

Paris has the Eiffel Tower, L.A. has the Hollywood sign! I wonder if they’ll doll it up with flashing lights and pyrotechnics for the Olympics this time around?

It was surprising seeing Greg Louganis at the Paris diving competition yesterday. He's aged so much from his competition days. At least he's still with us.

It’s almost like LA28 is telling the world not to come.

More boring lip-synching.

RHCP Dadbods. Dull as dishwater Billie E.

The Tom Cruise section was meh. No match for Daniel Craig and QE2.

The juxtaposition of dark alien-populated Paris and bright beachbabes LA ain't working. But thank Zeus we got Snoop and a twerking stripper wannabe. Can somebody hand him a Dos Equis to shut him up?

When they tuned back to the Paris stadium after LA there were so many empty seats and more than half the athletes were already gone.

R399 the IOC rejected Athens as not capable in 1996–Atlanta won by default. Athens then took the hint re 2000, but for the 2094 games the IOC led with sentiment: at some point the games had to “come home.” The Greek national budget was busted, the IOC had to cover its ass all over the place, and it set a record for useless facilities post-games. Other than that, they were fine.🤌🏼

LA is an ugly city. What kind of makeover do you think should happen?

Having been to Barcelona 1992, Sydney 2000 , Athens 2004 and Rio 2016 I can concur with the IOC.

^ meant for R339

The LA Olympics are going to have huge ratings because everything will be in real time without any spoilers due to the time difference. Prime time Olympics coverage will be live. That's going to be so exciting and I can't wait.

R354 no makeover asked for, or needed.

You sound off-kilter.

It would be awesome if the '28 torch relay had the '84 inaugural women's marathon gold medalist Joan Benoit hand off to Gabriela Andersen, who memorably finished dead last.

[quote] but for the 2094 games the IOC led with sentiment

Because most it was underwater by that point? Threw the drowning dog a bone?

Gosh—a typo! Who knew?

R349, Greg is 64. Whattaya want? He's still in fantastic shape.

R349 How dare Greg Louganis have aged in the 40 years since 1984?!?!

You're unchanged, presumably, R349, in the same period?

[quote]The LA Olympics are going to have huge ratings because everything will be in real time without any spoilers due to the time difference. Prime time Olympics coverage will be live. That's going to be so exciting and I can't wait.

Is that something they've committed to? Live coverage? In 1996, they stilld elayed programming, didn't they?

The spectators in the stadium got gypped. What a huge nothingburger on site. In past Olympics, the entertainment by the next host was performed in the stadium.

Live events? I beg to differ, r357.

I'm sure I'll be a part of another lighting ceremony !

Live for those in PST, R357.

Tell me that you're American without telling me that you're American, R357.

Who is this cow randomly walking an empty stadium?

Tara and Johnny, YES. No more Kelly with her WOWs and Sandy Petyon Manning with his clueless hickness.

Then NBC proceeds to give most commentary to Mike Tirico and Jackass Jimmy Fallon. Can one of the the other 2 networks get the rights now? PLEASE??

R358, nothing you said disproved my point.

She's a French singer who was on the French version of American Idol

I guess Celine was stiff tonight?

R372: And they actually ID'd her, Ysault, I think? Which, great, WHY didn't they do that for all the other acts before?? NBC, you people suck.

You call those fireworks, Paris?

[quote] I guess Celine was stiff tonight?

Like muh husban.

Bless your heart, R344! The Olympics are awarded to a city (i.e. Atlanta) not a country, which then gets to aware them to a city such as Miami.

R377, I think R344 is aware of that.

You forgot, r376:

Apparently, there's a whole hour of LA28 on NBC.....

Why?

If you want the games in Miami it’ll be the first games with a category 5 hurricane.

R362 oh, that Greg?! 🥺

And now the onslaught of ads with medal winners—get your pay, kids!

R364 yes. Rose. The live coverage from the Eastern time zone was delayed so they could show taped coverage in the Eastern time zone.

The whole LA part was LURID!

R368, On Peacock. But there will still be Primetime on NBC. The gymnastics, for example, might not even be scheduled before 8:00 p.m. EDT. So sure, live event in LA at 5:00 p.m., but nobody calls that afterthought "Primetime."

Duh. Of course I'm American, in the East, too.

R381: You'd have to do them in June or early July to avoid that. And even then, a lowly tropical storm can dump 15 inches of rain on a flat swamp that'll flood in an instant. Best bet would be do them in November or like, April. Or not at all, because Florida sucks!

R366 you do understand that an event final at 5 or 6PM PDT would be live in prime time EDT? You do get that, amirite?

R306 is that the same Jackie Joyner Kersee, brother of definitely not a PED user Al Joyner and sister in law of absolutely not a PED user Florence Griffith Joyner?

Good luck with that!

R371 made no point. that’s the point!

R385: Dear Lord In Heaven!!

R378 I really doubt that R344 is aware of much of anything beyond Miami.

Norway came in 18th in the medal count. Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) tied with several countries for 84th winning a bronze.

J J-K is an Olympic hero, UCLA legend, LA superstar and worldwide track icon. She’s fine, thanks.

R384 the "yes Rose" stuff is beyond tired but additionally in your case is laughable as you so completely missed the point.

R393: I was trying to comfort the Norway contingent on DL with a nude Norwegian man. This is the best I could find....

You left out "likely drug cheat" , R394, but whatever works for you.

The point was off. The answer is key events will be set for early eve in LA which is prime time on the East coast, just as they were in 1984–that’s on point.

Venus Williams is not bad at this hosting gig.

R397 did too much bad coke at Pepperdine.

[quote] I was trying to comfort the Norway contingent on DL with a nude Norwegian man. This is the best I could find....

Those are some cool news.

I love Tom Cruise so much!

R398 being completely oblivious to the 40 other time zones on the planet.

R493 doesn’t understand how much the IOC relies on American tv $, much less that NBC gets to dictate the final schedule to its maximum advantage.

P.S. how big do you think the earth is? 40 time zones!—my god what bizzaro education you must have had…

R403^

I think the Olympics should just be held in Europe. More people can come. LA will be almost all Americans with a sprinkling of rich people from the other countries. I loved seeing a lot of other countries cheering on everyone.

[quote] P.S. how big do you think the earth is? 40 time zones!

R403 lives on Uranus.

Where an hour is only 30 minutes!!

Here you go, R404 - explained simply and in mostly monosyllabic words for Americas such as yourself.

The Swedish flag bearer in the closing ceremonies.

"Bizarro", R404? Is that a word that you learned at your local community college?

Americans attempting to condescend are nothing if not funny.

[quote] The Swedish flag bearer in the closing ceremonies.

Who was the Norwegian flag bearer?

You keep reading Quora…we will all let you know. When to turn on your teevee come July 2024.

I love that Quita answer…”in reality…” oh my 💫 😎

2028 with the time zone difference ;)

[quote] I love that Quita answer

Quito!

Anton Dahlberg, sailor, r412

Snappy comeback, R413 - of course you were incapable of admitting that you're wrong. Cute emojees, though - are you a 14 year old school girl?

[quote] Anton Dahlberg, sailor

In the closing ceremonies?

Michael Phelps is looking quite skinny and unwell. Perhaps, he has cancer. I hope he's out of my way. I need to light the cauldron at LA in 2028.

Lofoten Islands should host the Winter Games.

I always feel a bit down when they're over.

LA is going to be a shit show. It will bolster the claim that the U.S. has no culture.

Why not, R420? They are a constituent component of Norway, so they can afford it.

Ever heard of the Norway Sovereign Fund? Of course you haven't - you're American. Here's a hint - it's worth over 1.6 trillion USD.

R388, See r386. You are supposed to read the thread; you do get that, amirite?

Enjoy your Suppertime Games.

[quote] Ever heard of the Norway Sovereign Fund? Of course you haven't - you're American. Here's a hint - it's worth over 1.6 trillion USD.

Why such a harsh reaction? I love those islands, which is why I mentioned them. They're beautiful.

Of course I've heard of the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund. It's in my line of work.

Calm down.

The Winter Olympics should return to Lillehammer. That was a really good Olympics.

R422 I have the same thought.

Sorry, r412. I misread your post. The Norwegian flag bearer was Solfrid Koanda.

Lea Black could plan the Miami Olympics in an afternoon, r347!

[quote]The Winter Olympics should return to Lillehammer. That was a really good Olympics.

You're welcome!

The 1992 Summer Olympics are imprinted in my brain forever for the magnificent backdrop of Barcelona during the diving competition. They don't do it like that anymore.

I’m going to miss excitement and spectacle.

What I won’t miss is everyone pounding their chest when they win or doing something right. Such a learned, over-done behavior.

The LA segment felt like a fever dream.

[quote]Ive watched the torch lighting from Barcelona on Youtube. It has to be one of the best ones in recent history.

The best moment of the Atlanta Olympics... the lighting of the flame.

I’m guessing Beyoncé will be a part of the LA Olympics.

The coverage this year—including commercials was quite black-centric. I’m going to assume LA will be more so.

Was Atlanta's caudlron intentionally designed to look like a McDonald's fry?

[quote] The best moment of the Atlanta Olympics... the lighting of the flame.

Cassius Clay must've been very nervous that night.

Leon Marchand was the stand out athlete for me in this Olympics. Excellence with class.

I'm too old to understand what dance the British divers including Tom Daley are doing here.

Two shit closing ceremonies in a row, L.A. better step it the fuck up.

R440 Maybe this will help explain it.

Beautiful rendition of My Way by Whatsherface. That belt at the end timed perfectly to the fireworks was unreal. And I'm not even into belting, but high drama like that just gets to me.

The Apple dance, like the Macarena in the 1990s, is a dance that’s easy for white people who can’t dance to do, and therefore a lot of people are doing it.

Thanks to Team GB, hopefully, young men worldwide will now see that the only way to make the dance somewhat interesting is to do it in a Speedo.

[quote] The Apple dance, like the Macarena in the 1990s, is a dance that’s easy for white people who can’t dance to do, and therefore a lot of people are doing it.

Another thing, the dance is typically recorded at half speed so that the playback is 2x. Recording at half speed means it’s even easier for uncoordinated people to do.

Billie Eye Lash can't sing live, the only thing I will remember. BORING.

[quote] The spectators in the stadium got gypped.

Here’s a video of a woman saying how she was scammed by paying 250 Euros for closing ceremony tickets, but the headline musical acts were just on video screen from America.

Wait, I thought having the ceremonies in a stadium was going to make everything all better!

I hope the LA Summer Olympics show some class. From the preview of what they're thinking, I shudder. BUT it's four years from now and things change.

I think it will be like the Grammy awards.

[quote] The 1992 Summer Olympics are imprinted in my brain forever for the magnificent backdrop of Barcelona during the diving competition. They don't do it like that anymore.

Dustin Lance Black just turned 18.

And Tom Daley was 2 years old.

Tom literally looked like this, when Dustin was 18.

Muhammad Ali must have been so nervous lighting the torch, he was shaking like a leaf!

Perhaps because not every city has the backdrop of Barcelona, r431. But some of the Paris backdrops were amazing and it was great that they were able to stage many events in the city centre.

What's the IOC view of the London Olympics, r325? Everyone in the UK thinks that the London Olympics were the best in modern history, but I'm not so sure.

Sounds like some people have forgotten what Olympics opening and closing ceremonies are like. They are all mostly boring with a few exciting moments. Anyway, despite the opinion of some, I thought the artistic section of the Paris closing ceremony was amazing. A bit of an odd concept to begin with, but it worked and the dancers/gymnasts were magnificent.

Tom Cruise

Isn't she getting a bit long in the tooth for these types of shenanigans?

Apparently not but I watched in a gay bar and we laughed at him

I think the cute Japanese diver wanted Noah Williams deep inside him. Their poolside banter during the 10M platform competition was fun to watch; then when the final scores for medals went up Rikuto just couldn't contain himself.

^ Who wouldn't?

[quote] Sounds like some people have forgotten what Olympics opening and closing ceremonies are like. They are all mostly boring with a few exciting moments.

You definitely seem to have forgotten. No reasonable person is going to say that the 2008 opening ceremony, for example, was boring.

R459, I’ve seen that position in porn, with a white dude holding a small Asian.

[quote]I’m guessing Beyoncé will be a part of the LA Olympics.

Depends on who is president. You might be getting Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, and Chachi

The POTUS has no input into or control of the entertainment at the Olympics.

China 2008 was the most amazing Olympics and had the best opening ceremony. Nothing beats the bird's nest stadium. But Paris did an amazing job as well.

You mean the exceptional Beijing Olympics opening ceremony that it will be very hard for any nation to rival thanks to its regimented culture, r461? Are we allowed to like China as an Olympic nation now? Their opening ceremony was over 4 hours so I'm pretty sure at some point you would have been bored and wondered when it was going to end.

Aside from that, can you think of any Olympics opening or closing ceremony in living memory that hasn't had cheesy speeches, an extremely long and seemingly never-ending procession of athletes, various Olympic rituals that seemed like a good idea in 1920, lots of flags being raised, a hitch or two when the flags are being raised, various waffly anthems, some sentimental stuff about humanity uniting, a not always comprehensible to non-natives artistic section, etc.,etc?

Here's a link to the full 2008 opening ceremony. Since you liked it so much, you can watch it in full without pressing pause, even for the shortest toilet breaks, and tell us if there are truly no moments during which you feel a little bored.

Baseball, softball, lacrosse and cricket will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

R466, now that you’re called out for making a stupid statement, you’re trying to wiggle out by changing what you stated. You wrote, “They are all mostly boring with a few exciting moments.” Now, you’re saying no, not “all”, and saying, oh, there’s actually just some boring moments during the ceremony, which is the opposite of “a few exciting moments.”

Take the L.

"The Paris Olympics were a disgrace" claims Trump. Always negative about everything.

He really said that R469?

Macron: "We delivered something great to the world":

[quote] Baseball, softball, lacrosse and cricket will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics.’

And flag football! Don’t forget the flag football!

R468, opening and closing ceremonies are all mostly boring with a few exciting moments, including the 2008 opening ceremony. They can have some great moments, but they have to follow a certain format and that format is what you are complaining about. But, the bits you might find boring are the bits that someone else might find interesting.

R472 is Peyton Manning who is aiming to be the coach of the US team in 2028

And SQUASH r472! I remember one Olympics where they had Jai Alai, and it actually was pretty exciting.

[quote] I think the cute Japanese diver wanted Noah Williams deep inside him.

I thought the exact same thing, R459.

That japanese guy is totally gay, and clearly a bottom.

He wanted that British dick in him, that's for sure.

Tom wants Noah in him quite deeply too.

^^^ I would too if i were married to Dustin Lance Black

R455 they are held in high regard by the IOC—maybe a notch below 92 and OO

The LA opening ceremony will be conceptualized and choreographed by Debbie Allen with Ariana DeBose as the key star/dancer. John Legend and Peabo Bryson will be the musical guests.

Hence the next IOC head is likely Coe.

466 there’s an Olympic protocol …we all know that. Get over it.

The underfunded flagship campus of the U of C did its fair job for California …

Besides Celine Dion singing at this year's Olympics, this has to be one of the best musical performances ever at an Olympic ceremony.

Lord Coe!

Is the thing about it being over when the fat lady sings?

I thought that H.E.R. did a great job singing the national anthem.

But maybe it's just me.

France’s far right goes quiet as Paris Games shows what real patriotism is all about:

Wow, thank you r484, I have never seen that! Freddie Mercury seriously??? That's how you do it!!!!!!

Boo hoo to Marine Le Pen

Sad last days of the Olympics. I remember when I was young. Granted it's been a long time, but I remember when virtually the whole world came to a pause when the Olympics were on. It was all everyone talked about for a little while. Now it's a shit show. I haven't had one conversation about the Olympics with anyone this time. Pretty much ever since they let professional athletes in and let politics creep in. Life was so much easier when it was NATO vs. Warsaw Pact.

A shame that women are lumped in with the far right at the R488 Guardian article, simply because they don't want males in female competitions, especially in competitions which involve punches to the head

[quote]The far right wanted the Games to fail, but could not say it loud; and when they whispered, or resorted to innuendo, it is they who failed. There has been no better example of this than the triumph of the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, in front of thousands of spectators willing her to victory at Roland Garros on Friday night, after a row engineered by the International Boxing Association that threatened to turn the Paris Games into another battlefield for the culture wars at one stage.

It's almost as if the write of the article is fighting his own culture war.

R491 just woke up from the DTs

Jeez r491, you need to get out and circulate with fun people. Everybody was talking about the pOlympics in my frined group and at the office. I mean not insane like, but acknowledging the performances, and the high jumper's MASSIVE schlong!

R484 that performance wasn’t at the actual Olympic ceremony, it was four years before at a huge even to celebrate Barcelona getting the gig. I actually worked on that concert, they sang three song together, all lip synced, it was truly spectacular.

Freddie wouldn’t commit to performing the song at the actual olympics ceremony in 92, as we now know he started to become ill not long after this event, eventually dying of AIDS.

fags at R477.

In some Olympic news, it is being reported that the COA has denied the US the ability to appeal and submit additional evidence in support of Jordan Chiles keeping her bronze on floor.

Good, r497 (and I'm an American fan). Like the student whose teacher finds more errors upon review, Team USA women's gymnasts had best watch what they wish for. Maybe some out-of-bounds or shakiness or steps were overlooked originally....and won't be henceforth.

[quote]Baseball, softball, lacrosse and cricket will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

But buyer beware. Some of these events will take place far from LA. Softball and canoe slalom, for instance, will be held in Oklahoma City.

[quote]Good, [R497] (and I'm an American fan). Like the student whose teacher finds more errors upon review, Team USA women's gymnasts had best watch what they wish for. Maybe some out-of-bounds or shakiness or steps were overlooked originally....and won't be henceforth.

Ive seen that brought up about Chiles' floor, that USA gymnastics might not want to push it because if the FIG reviews it they'll find Jordan did not actually get the skill all the way around and would lose the .10 again anyway.

[quote]Sounds like some people have forgotten what Olympics opening and closing ceremonies are like. They are all mostly boring with a few exciting moments.

I have always enjoyed the opening and closing ceremonies. I am 58yo and can remember so many of the ceremonies. I think France did a fantastic job but I like London's closing ceremonies better than the France/USA combo.

The judges judge the Americans as they do everyone. All the other athletes are shaky, hop, and go out of bounds all the time so stop that foolishness.

Chiles got her skill upgraded because she completed it. It was shown on TV that she completed it.

Someone on here said there were “sensors” on the floor so when Sabrina’s foot went over the line, but did not touch down, (which is clearly went over the line).

I dont think there were sensors on the floor. I don't know what evidence there was for that. They appeared to still be using line judges, except they weren't sitting there on the floor like they have in the past, instead they were watching from monitors.

And yet, r502, the pro-Chiles decision has itself been reversed.

We ended top 20, so I'm very happy.

Yes r482, there's an Olympic protocol and that's what makes the opening and closing ceremonies go on for so long and include so many bits and bobs that some could describe them as "boring". In a non-stop 3-4 hour event some parts are bound to seem as though they drag. In every city.

Not sure Coe will be the new IOC head. He's 67, will be 68 by the time of the appointment. The job needs someone who can do it vigorously for the next 5-10 years. And I say this as a Brit who greatly appreciates the support Sebastian Coe has given to women's sports (in sharp contrast with Thomas Bach).

[quote] In a non-stop 3-4 hour event some parts are bound to seem as though they drag

There were a lot of lags in this year's Closing Ceremony. Lots of gaps with no sound at all, which I found very weird.

Normally, the NBC commentators will have the entire program detailed for them, so they can read a script that explains what is going on at different parts of the show.

But I think that the Paris organizers kept a lot of the program a "secret" from the networks, so that it would be a surprise.

However, I think that was a mistake.

The show and the commentary goes so much more smoothly, when the network knows what's going on. That way, they can break during a lull, and also talk about the background behind what viewers are seeing.

Condi Rice should be the next IOC President, R507.

She was already a diplomat for the United States, as National Security Advisor, and also Secretary of State under George W. Bush.

So she knows how to navigate any problems that may pop up with the job.

Also, she's female and very much into sports. She wanted to be the Commissioner for the NFL and said that was her dream job.

But I think that being IOC President would suit her well.

I'm so over Norwegian.

Has he ever shown interest in any aspect of anything other than his own country's medals?

After a while the charm really wears off.

R510 Agree. It wore thin after awhile. Too much.

R484, that was amazing!

The IOC should just go ahead and give bronzes to both Chiles and the Romanian gymnast. They aren't so much correcting either gymnast's performance but their own incompetence at scoring. They missed Chiles' move and incorrectly deducted for the Romanian. Don't punish them because you fucked up!

R509, And Condi knows how to deal with misbehaving nations!

R491, I've said this before: It was a huge mistake to split the "Olympic Year" into 2+2. Now the Olympics are both too often and too easy to overlook. Too, in a sense, common. A loss of mystique and majesty.

Too many "sports" have been and are about to be added. I guess Pickleball is in line.

You are right, R15.

Not exactly related but I used to look forward to each season of Survivor. But when they started showing them about 8 -12 weeks apart, it was too much for me. I no longer have time to enjoy the previous season's antics before I'm introduced to a whole new cast!

Video of Celine Dion getting fitted at Dior, for the gown she wore at the Opening Ceremony.

[quote]Tiny New Zealand, 8 gold medals...

Yeah, we all know you overperformed. Norway performed as well as expected. The goal was 8 medals, which we got. Also: Norway has winter 6 months of the year. It's a miracle we're even competitive at the summer Olympics. New Zealand does not have winters as long as we do. Sure, you have the mountains on South Island, but most people live on North Island. Besides, the climate is as I said much better than Norway, even on South Island.

Not sure when that was posted, but New Zealand ended up with 10 gold medals. No ifs, no buts, an awesome performance.

The irony of Norwegian complaining about someone posting about their country's medal performance!

R519 New Zealand doesn't have winter half the year.

Ireland has about the same population as Norway, 4 gold medals each.

Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway, Norway....

Brazil has more than 200 million people yet only managed 3 gold medals.

OMG TAKE A HINT!

Is New Zealand the Norway of the Southern Hemisphere?

Naaah, Kiwis are famously generous and not self-obsessed....

Finland failed to win any Olympic medals for first time ever!

^ that is a wow!

We are seeing the Finlandization of Norway!

Well well

R530, let's be honest... Nadia is the one behind all of this. She's always been a theiving, conniving, cunt.

Nellie

R515: In the Won't Someone Think of the Poor Journalists and TV Networks Dept.: My stepsister used to be an editor at Associated Press, and she was *thrilled* when the Summer and Winter Games were split into alternating two-year events. Before, both Games always fell in a US presidential election year, and it was a LOT for journalists and networks to cover, never mind the expense. I didn't like the split at first, but now I do -- it spreads the Games out instead of having them twice in one year and then nothing for three years. I do, however, still miss them when they're over.

Agreed, though, that there are too many events, especially ones I would consider skills and not sports.

[quote], And Condi knows how to deal with misbehaving nations!

Yes, she ignores the warnings and lets a terrorist organization kill over 3,000 Americans.

I didn't say which nations were the "misbehaving" ones, r534. 😉

WE WERE INVITED BUT WE DECLINED!

R494, the guy with the big dick was a pole vaulted, not high jumper. Big diff.

Do you know someone who has a business in Oslo? Preferably a gym, bar or a fysical place? Hit me up!

The Romanians have always been the most brutal of the gymnastics countries. One of their coaches actually beat an 11 year old to death! They treated one of their to 1995/96 gymnasts like garbage.

I will NEVER forget Octavian Bellu having to watch Shannon Miller do her perfect vault in Barcelona to seemingly secure a Gold, bumping Romania to Bronze. The look on his face as she did that perfect vault to seal Romania’s fate was wonderful. I had always heard the Russians and Romanians were more worried about Shannon than Kim Zmeskel.

[quote]Brazil has more than 200 million people yet only managed 3 gold medals.

They'll be fine. Brazil still ranks among the World's Gold Medal caliber countries for Big Cocks, which is admirable as well.

[quote] I had always heard the Russians and Romanians were more worried about Shannon than Kim Zmeskel.

Because Steve Nunno loved to spread bullshit propaganda every where he could.

Gawd it was boring. The business of building the Olympic rings was interminable. I am glad I recorded it on DVR, so I could zip through most of it. Which I did.

Shannon,

You had the most boring routines. Much less difficulty than Gutsu.

Did you all see that the Scandi Kings are racing against each other?

Warholm v Duplantis over 100m

I FF'd through a lot of Ring Building in Dirty Kleenex, too, R542, thinking, Is this a Cirque du Soleil rehearsal? I did notice that NBC chose to show just a small clip of Thomas Bach's speech as well other dignitaries' (they did the same at the Opening Ceremony). Good call! While those speeches are necessary, they are invariably too long and too repetitive.

R543 Not true.

Shannon was dominant from 92-94, part of 95, and dominate on Beam in 96, very good on bars and floor, too. She competed against all the best gymnasts multiple times in various meets (Worlds, GoodWill Games, USA vs Romania) and won AA against their best.

R546 being dominant does not negate anything R543, said... You can be propped up to win and still have boring routines (See Gina Gogean). And Shannon DID have less difficulty than Gutsu.

One could also argue that 92 doesn't count as a "dominant" year. But from 93 to 94, sure.

The notion that the Romanians and Unified Team were more concerned about Miller than Zmeskal during the Olympics is absolutely bullshit, revisionist history, propogated by Nunno.

It was clear duing the competition that the FIG wanted Zmeskal to medal, that was why during the team competition, Zmeskal's Optional Scores had her win the night. (Had Gutsu not fallen, Gutsu would have been in first).

With scores escalating during the AA competition, had Zmeskal been able to hit her floor, I think she most likely would have outscored Miller. Interestingly, even if Zmeskal's scores stayed the same as they did in the Team Optionals, she would have won Bronze. I think the judges were absolutely always going to make sure Gutsu won, but I think if Zmeskal hadn't had the stress fracture and was able to compete her intended floor, it would have made it harder for the judges. And if Zmeskal hadn't OOB on her first event, I think the judges would have ranked Miller under Zmeskal.

R547 No, Miller had more difficulty on some events, Gutsu on others. Gutsu couldn’t complete many of her routines cleanly, so her “difficulty” was dubious if she couldn’t do a clean routine.

The actual Soviet coaches said they had their eye on Miller because they felt she was better than Zmeskal. Of course Zmeskal was the girl to beat, and she likely would have won the AA had to hit her floor. Gutsu shouldn’t have been in the AA. Miller deserved the 10 on her vaults. Period. All experts say this. Her and Gutsu were under and over scored BUT there was no question they blatantly lowballed Miller in from of the whole world by not giving her a 10. She did it as perfect as anyone could have so she SHOULD have won AA.

Maybe it’s time for a Gymnastics Obsessives thread.

R549, no, which event did Miller have more difficulty than Gutsu on again? They had the same vault, although Gutsu was able to perform a DTY, Bars, Beam, and Floor, the edge went to Gutsu.

Having their eye on someone isn't the same as being more nervous about her than Zmeskal.

And also, not all "experts" agree that Miller deserved a 10 on that vault. She doesn't have much power and doesn't get much distance from the horse. I do think though that had Zmeskal competed the vault she did in TO, they would have awarded her the first 10.0 in the competition for it.

Miller and Gutsu were both overscored and underscored on various events during that AA night. Gutsu, shouldn't have been in the competition though. And now that we know what we know about her, fuck her!

R550, sure, but it's also not like this thread is so busy with discussion about anything else.

R551 What do we know about Gutsu now?

Come on, even I agree Miller deserved the 10. The experts did agree, bro. She had good distance and power. Listen to the UK broadcast of the vault. Everyone in the world thought Miller deserved a 10. She was robbed of the AA Gold.

R552, Gutsu has posted some pretty disgusting racis stuff. She's also a MAGAt.

And again, a lot of people say she deserved a 10, a lot of people say she didn't. And there were other events, just like Gutsu, where Miller was overscored and not deducted properly. It's a toss up on who "should have won." But Gutsu should not have been in the competition that night, but it's also not like she had a choice in it.

*Racist

R553 Are you kidding? Of course I’m not surprised. Deport her ass back to where she came from. Isn’t she Ukrainian? Is there a link to what she posted?

Again, I can’t believe I’m defending Miller, but very few if any though she didn’t deserve a 10. It was pretty universal she should have gotten a 10.

Pretty amazing fact about Gutsu though, if you take her routines that she performed at the 1991 World Championships, she would still be considered one of the more compettiive gymnasts today. She would barely, if at all, need to adjust any of her routines. That's pretty remarkable that her technincal difficulty has held up for 33 years.

Is anyone planning to watch the Paralympics?

[quote] Is anyone planning to watch the Paralympics?

She may be:

I do it for the green and gold.

New Zealand did incredibly well considering their population, The Netherlands too.

Any links to Gutsu posting racist things and that she is maga? I’ve looked but can’t find anything.

For the love of GOD stop with the Zmeskal and Ginsu Knife posts!

R562 = Zmeskals gay ex Husband.

Back to the Jordan Chiles saga, Romania has come out with a proposal for Jordan to keep her Bronze... they're saying they think she should.keep it, but that Sabrina should be awarded one as well. The US agrees and now it's up to the Federation to approve it.

It's probably what they should have done from the outset, but it also feels of pre meditation from Romania, to use Jordan as a pawn to get Sabrina a medal, more than likely at the request of Nadia and Sabrina's mother.

[quote] Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of raping a child speaks out after Olympics inclusion uproar

Dutch beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping a 12 year old girl, spoke out for the first time since controversy over his admittance into the Olympic Games.

Van de Velde, who is now 30 but was 19 at the time of the 2014 crime, was sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison, according to British media. He was released in 2017, and this year represented the Netherlands in beach volleyball at the Olympic Games in Paris, with the backing of the Dutch Volleyball Federation, Nevobo.

His inclusion in the Games sparked much furore on social media and was condemned by many as not being befitting of the Olympics.

“I definitely had a quitting-moment, both before the tournament and during it,” van de Velde said in an interview with Dutch national broadcaster NOS released on Tuesday.

“But I thought: ‘I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get me away,’” he added in the interview.

Van de Velde reached the round of 16 with teammate Matthew Immers before losing to Brazil and was booed on several occasions, according to media reports. Van de Velde said this “had an impact” on his performance, but understood why people have been speaking out at his inclusion in the Olympics.

“Do you want somebody with a history? Can he stand on the podium? That is a legitimate question to ask … [but] I’m not the person I was 10 years ago,” van de Velde added.

“I can’t change what people think of me,” he added. “Someone can hold me responsible forever for what happened and that’s OK because that’s what it is. It is their right, so I accept that.”

R565, His wording of "what happened" rather than "what I did" speaks volumes as to this man's sense of responsibility.

Different countries have different legal systems. His sentence was extremely light, but I don't think the IOC should be deciding who to keep out based on that if the person's own country selected him, so I think it was right to ignore the outcry. People booing him was probably a good outcome. Seems to have bothered him a lot.

[quote] Different countries have different legal systems. His sentence was extremely light

Light sentences are an are what European countries do, even for heinous crimes.

R568 And Japan

I recently watched the 1984 Opening & Closing ceremonies again in their entirety, for the first time since 1984. Highly recommend both! (I went to the Closing ceremony & was pleasantly surprised at how much I remembered)

After watching the ABC broadcast of the Opening Ceremony with Jim McKay & Peter Jennings, I found an international broadcast feed without commentary posted on the UCLA Marching Band's YouTube channel (there were 125 Bruins in the All-American marching band). What's cool about the International feed/worth looking at...it has the flag-mosaic card trick in it's entirety! ABC had some technical problems & lost their feed, returning shortly before everyone put the cards down.

It is sight to behold. It also occurred to me that you'd have a really hard time pulling that off, now. Getting such complete coverage in each flag, everyone holding up their cards properly, etc. -- because everyone would be holding up their fucking phones. Card trick countdown starts 1:18:15.

(quote)Is anyone planning to watch the Paralympics?

Yes, definitely.