Athens 2004

Skio · Wed 11/08/2004 22:54:43

Anyone going to the Olympics?

I am Greek and I look forward for the games to start. It is going to be the experience of a lifetime.
And I think we have done a really good job as it seems, despite the slunder of the foreign media.

What do you think?

Privateer Puddin' · Wed 11/08/2004 22:58:26

I don't get the criticsim, the olympics were invented in Greece, so why can't they do it how they like?

BlackMan890 · Wed 11/08/2004 23:31:24

man why can't they have the Olympics like they used to be
(Just a Joke

)

Spoiler

naked

[close]

shbaz · Wed 11/08/2004 23:33:24

Quote from: blackman890 on Wed 11/08/2004 23:31:24
man why can't they have the Olympics like they used to be
(Just a Joke )
Spoiler
naked
[close]

So who'd like to go to a sporting event where everyone is naked and no women are allowed? It doesn't get any less homophobic than that!

Las Naranjas · Wed 11/08/2004 23:35:24

I like the suspsense of the Greek method. In 2000 we had the main stadium open 18 months in advacne, *yawn*. In Athens they skillfully keep you on the edge of your seat "Will it have a roof?" "Will there be seats?"

I don't know! Excitement!

edmundito · Wed 11/08/2004 23:43:31

Quote from: Privateer Puddin' on Wed 11/08/2004 22:58:26
I don't get the criticsim, the olympics were invented in Greece, so why can't they do it how they like?

He lives in Athens, that's why.

shbaz · Thu 12/08/2004 02:16:42

What is the controversy exactly? I haven't heard anything about it.

dasjoe · Thu 12/08/2004 02:47:53

the greek have just recently (about 1 or 2 years ago) started working on the olympic stadium etc.
and some weeks ago nothing was finished. for example the security system should have been finished around last christmas, it was finished mid-june. and the police has not got the 6 months of getting used to the system

well, it's the greek way. i like it. i like greece

must be because i was there for about a fifth of my life. (holidays only). but i have to pass when it comes to speaking greek.. i understand pretty well, but speaking is more difficult for me, i always confuse some words with spanish ones..
wee, that was way ot..

shbaz · Thu 12/08/2004 02:49:58

I wonder why they would choose Athens over Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics.. I mean, since it's in Greece, why not?

Redwall · Thu 12/08/2004 03:05:37

Athens is the capital and likely the only city that could support it.

dasjoe · Thu 12/08/2004 03:10:05

ever tried to transport about a million people (or even more) from athens to olympia? the roads get really narrow, and there are no highways (there are at least two, one from tripoli to athens and one from athens to thessaloniki).

so it's a logistical problem. but, who needs audience? and who needs sportspeople doing some sporty stuff?

shbaz · Thu 12/08/2004 03:53:57

Quote from: hX on Thu 12/08/2004 03:10:05
who needs sportspeople doing some sporty stuff?

This is really OT, haha, but not me. I feel the effects of athletes are short term and of little or no importance to humankind, while the work of teachers, inventors, theorists, engineers, and industrialists etc. builds the world and secures the future. Athletes are merely for entertainment. Entertainment is great, but unnecessary really.

Timosity · Thu 12/08/2004 08:47:54

During the Olympics, if its in your city, prepare for a couple of weeks of partying, it's unbelievable & nobody seems to be at work for the whole time.

During the Sydney one's I was off for 2 or 3 weeks and I'd never seen the city so packed (and it probably never will have that many people again, well not until the next olympics whenever that may be, if ever)

And I don't mean anything about the actual sporting events, It's just an awesome atmosphere wherever you are, pleanty of free gigs and other events, Huge screen TV's everywhere.

The nightlife will never be the same in your life again so make the most of it.

The Australian media have been ripping Athens preparation since the last Olympics, and moreso in the last few months. I don't believe the media, and the only reason is cause Our media still hasn't got over the last olympics and they don't think anyone can ever top the success of the Sydney games, plus Australians are very particular when it comes to any sporting event.

Just Enjoy it whether you watch any of the sports or not

SilverWizard_OTF · Thu 12/08/2004 09:36:28

Kostas Kenteris and Pyrros Dimas will definetely make Greeks proud, once again.

I recognize you from the edge
Of your terrible sword.
I recognize you from your aspect
which is with haste counts the globe
From Greek's bones you were borned
you are Greek's most holy virtuousness
And like firstly, with so valor
I am yelling: Hail to independence!!!

Well, this was an english translation of Greek's national anthem. At least i tried to looks like it.

Privateer Puddin' · Thu 12/08/2004 10:22:02

Quote from: netmonkey on Wed 11/08/2004 23:43:31
Quote from: Privateer Puddin' on Wed 11/08/2004 22:58:26
I don't get the criticsim, the olympics were invented in Greece, so why can't they do it how they like?

He lives in Athens, that's why.

Eh? I was saying i don't understand why the world media is so harsh on stadiums with no roofs etc, the Olympics were invented there, so they can do the stadiums and whatever however they like

SilverWizard_OTF · Fri 13/08/2004 20:19:00

I do not know if it is a rule to dismiss every player that doesn't come on time for the test (to check if they have taken forbidden substances), but they SHOULDN'T have done that to Kenteris. I hope that he won't be dismissed from the Olympic Games.
Ο Κεντέρης είναι πρώτος...είναι πρώτος...ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΡΩΤΟΣ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dasjoe · Fri 13/08/2004 21:46:49

free translation:

Kenteris is the first/best...he is the best...HE IS THE BEST! (!x15)

the opening ceremony show is/was really cool! liked it.

Pet Terry · Fri 13/08/2004 21:52:30

Yes, I liked the opening ceremony too, or what I saw of it. It was very pretty, especially the part with history of Greek.

mousemat · Fri 13/08/2004 21:56:32

i saw the begining but i left the tv as soon as the united kingdom came on.
it was very cool though and i cant wait until the games start.

edmundito · Fri 13/08/2004 22:04:59

The opening Ceremony already went on?! I think they're showing it at 9:00 PM on NBC here in the States.

You know what's interesting? From Venezuela (the country I am from) all the people they're sending for Taekwondo are from the same place I used to go as a kid for lessons! The trainer was the guy who owned the place (he also owned one in some other state, but he was always there in the one I went to), and his sister used to be friends with my mother! (they went to college together). The only thing is that these people going to the Olympics were heavily trained in South Korea for it.

I figured everything out after I noticed that one of the athlete's names was familiar... I guess I probably remember her name from back in the day. When I was there, they sent this one guy to the Barcelona Olympics and he won the gold medal in the Fly Weight category (although at that point taekwondo wasn't an official olympic event), and it was really exciting. I quit taekwondo afterwards mostly because I was a kid and got bored and also it wasn't an underground thing because everyone wanted to be there since that one guy won the gold medal. Also, I was so big and tall that they put me to fight against kids 4 years older than me, and they would kick my ass.

And that's my story about the olympics. I wish I hadn't quit taekwondo, but oh well.