Olympic Games

[Anthony Darby]

We watched the Black Sticks women beat Australia 1-0 this evening. The week before they flew to London they all (well, 11 of them) did a 2 hour coaching clinic for 50 young players at Diocesan School for Girls on the school's new blue pitch built over the underground car park. Lucy enjoyed the experience and got signatures and photographs.

[Paul T]

I think that was the first time they've beat Australia in an olympic match isn't it?  Brilliant job!!  Always nice to see someone step up to the mark in this sort of competition.... even if it means defeat of my countrywomen. 

[Anthony Darby]

Very noble of you Paul.

[mark smyth]

@ Anthony yes it is

@ Lesley I remember  song that went something like on white horses snowy white horses

McDonalds do not allow any other seller on the site to sell chips unless it is accompanied with fish, chicken ...

All words associated with the London 2012 games are (C) of the Olympic committee or what ever they are called. Only sponsors can use Olympic words.

Games, Two Thousand and Twelve, 2012, Twenty-Twelve, London, Medals, Sponsors, Summer, Gold, Silver, Bronze

[mark smyth]

Oh sh1t I just used the copyright words 

[Paul T]

Anthony,

While I barrack for the Aussies, I still ike to see good performances from people who aren't necessarily expecting to be doing it.  There really are some amazing stories regarding the olympics.  As an example, there's Kieren Behan in the Irish Gymnastics team.  Apparently twice during his life he has been told he'll never walk again.  When he was young he had a tumour in his leg that left him in a wheelchair for 15 months, then after getting back into gymnastics against the odds after that he had a fall from the high bar, resulting in brain damage and problems with his inner ear, which again resulted in wheelchair time.  He's come through all that and is competing at the Olympics.  How brilliant is that!!!  Just goes to show that when told "you'll never walk again" it isn't necessarily correct, even if told it on more than one occasion. 

And if you've been watching any of the swimming they've already had.... there are a lot of names winning heats etc that are completely out of left field.  So good that people really are putting on their best performances at events like these.  That really is what the whole olympic ideal is supposed to be about (as opposed to commercial sponsorship!  ).

 

[Anthony Darby]

McDonald's in New Zealand were getting into the London mind set by advertising "Filet [sic] o' Fish and Fries". That would be fish (fillet) and chips! How they can insist on a monopoly on chips I don't know. I'm quite happy they call them French Fries because they are a poor excuse for chips and should be done on the trade description act if they tried to call them chips.

I saw the Irish gymnast Paul. Quite a feat just qualifying!

Extra: big row in today's NZ Herald on Sunday about the "intrusive adverts" on the NZ coverage of the opening ceremony. As well as the cuts, they must have delayed some broadcast as the Prime coverage finished at 12.10 a.m., 55 minutes later than the same ending scenes were broadcast on Sky.

[TheOnionMan]

Big Brother Mark. Is that still going?

What's your point?

[Tony Willis]

As far as I am aware there were no wild flowers on the site which was a polluted industrial wasteland.

Here are some pictures of the site taken yesterday by my daughter who was quite overwhelmed by the floral display.

[mark smyth]

I would like to be there but only to see the plants

[Maggi Young]

Quote from: Anthony Darby on Today at 11:24:09 AM

    Big Brother Mark. Is that still going?

What's your point?

You've got the wrong  end of the stick, Mark - "Big Brother" is a TV programme,  Anthony's asking Mark Smyth if it is still shown in the UK.

[TheOnionMan]

Got it, thanks Maggi... didn't see Mark S's comment.

[fermi de Sousa]

Here are some pictures of the site taken yesterday by my daughter who was quite overwhelmed by the floral display.

Could someone tell me what is that strange contraption/building in the pic behind the kniphofias?
 
Unfortunately BB is also re-starting in Oz after a change in TV stations!
cheers
fermi

[Tony Willis]

Could someone tell me what is that strange contraption/building in the pic behind the kniphofias?
 
Unfortunately BB is also re-starting in Oz after a change in TV stations!
cheers
fermi

That is 'The Orbit' which is London's largest piece of modern art and is meant to depict the olympic Rings. It could be described as a load of rubbish as most of it is made from reclaimed materials

http://www.london2012.com/spectators/venues/olympic-park/orbit/

To take your mind of it and show the natural world has more elegance a few more pictures

[Maggi Young]

The thing like a helterskelter, behind the Kniphofias is, as Tony says "The Orbit". 
It began as a sculpture by Anish Kapoor but the over zealous application by the "powers that be" of  "health and safety" considerations, have resulted in it looking a complete mess and not at all as the artist wanted.


The plantings are quite lovely. Thanks to Tony and his daughter for sharing these with us.

I meant to add - Ms Willis' photos are pretty darn special too!