Apart from the athletes in their boats sailing along the (badly 'kaka' polluted) Seine river the whole thing reminded me of a Christopher Street Day parade in large parts - not the scenes with little historical background.

Free ranging capitalism celebrating itself at all costs.

I thought the broadcasting trio of Mike Tirico, Peyton Manning, and Kelly Clarkson (“This is so cool!”) was really bad at the beginning and not that much better later. It was a freewheeling spectacle the French put on and it would have helped we slower viewers (ahem) if the broadcasters had made connections between what we were seeing and parts of French history and culture. They seemed unprepared.

 kurtster wrote:
An individual or two says something... and you respond with "Fuck the Olympics".   

Have you listened to his "endorsement"?  He was answering a question.  Should he say "I'm not gonna answer you...because I represent Kurt and he might be upset"?

The cult has effectively removed your ability to reason Kurt... This is not worth a "Fuck the Olympics".

 rgio wrote: 
No, just leave the politics out of it. Period.  Get politics out of sports.  Period.

And yes, I remember the 68 Olympics.  A little bit different.  That was more of a civil rights moment than a partisan political statement.  A girl from my HS was on the 68 team.  She even had the world record in the 200 meter butterfly for a bit in 1967.  Toni Hewitt

The Olympic Games have always been mistreated by political factions and nations, ever since their onset.
Here's only one small, yet famous example:

 haresfur wrote:
He's all for freedom and democracy, unless its from those who disagree.  2 guys support Trumps opponent, and Kurt bails on the other 580 athletes on the team.   Trump first... American later.

 kurtster wrote:

Funny coming from a guy who's candidate, as president, refused to represent the whole United States

Fuck the Olympics.  Steph Curry and Steve Kerr of the Warriors got political during their Olympic press conference and endorsed Kamala Harris.  They represent the whole United States over there not the DNC.

Imagine. Perfect on this stage 

Opening ceremony has been tough to get through.  In fact, I couldn't.  

Jill Biden, royals, no Russians: Top guests expected at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

"If we haven't warned you, your train isn't running!"
France's rail traffic disrupted by 'malicious acts' on morning of Olympic opening ceremony.
The TGV high-speed network has been disrupted by acts including arson attacks, affecting some 800,000 passengers and causing delays ahead of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony. Eurostar trains between Paris and London are also affected.
(Le Monde)

 rgio wrote:

yeah, it is kind of off-putting that the team sports are almost over before the opening ceremony. That match was already the quarter final. 

Now I'm supporting Fiji.   Go boys.

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Why are they playing each other in the first match?

Not sure I understand what's going on with the Olympics anymore.  Break dancing is a sport, Nadal and Djokovic will play in the second round, eliminating one from medal contention, and the soccer tournament is the U23 squads while LeBron plays basketball.  Swimming is in a river... full days of competition before the "opening ceremony"... what the hell is happening?

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: 
well, that went south.

yeah, why not.

next up:  NZ play SA in the rugby sevens quarter final. starts 21:00 CET