A thread for the Olympics. 🏃‍♂️

So that was 4 hours of my life I’ll not get back! On the plus side I got 2 good naps in … 😴

Today at the Olympics - type thing?

Let's talk about everyone's accomplishments, not just GB.

Urmstongran and others
Should we start another thread for GB Achievements?

It's got rather side-tracked with comments about the rather controversial Opening Ceremony!

Well done girls 🥉

Yay, a medal for GB in the diving!

and not the God of the Olympics.
And he is not God of the Olympics

Portraying Dionysus was entirely wrong at an Olympic ceremony.

The French seemed to have missed the point that the Olympic Games are not personified by the Greek God of food, wine, madness etc, and not the God of the Olympics.

Zeus? Olympia? Apollo? Any of these, but not Dionysus.

The blue man was meant to be Dionysus, definitely not 'the last supper'. He is a Greek god of various things; wine, orchards, fertility and madness amongst them.

If I was French, I'd be embarrassed; as I'm not French, I was simply under-whelmed.

Ended up switching off, didn't grab me at all. Found it very "bitty". Don't think spectators would see much. Shame about the weather though.

So today is Day 1 of 4 for the British eventing team. Dressage today, cross country tomorrow, team jumping on Sunday and individual on Monday. It is a shame that the press only reports scandals when equestrian sports are concerned - the eventing team is one of the serious medal contender having the world no1 and 3 in the team.

Reading around the media and social media, it seems the opening ceremony - very much like 2012 - was loved in its home country, and a bit bemusing to others. It was, as was 2012, very culturally specific (apart from Dionysius), I guess.

GrannyGravy13

Oh dear!

What was bearded man in dress about?

Blue man diorama, was it meant to be the last supper ?

I must have been in the kitchen putting the kettle on/opening a bottle/finding the biscuits so missed that “highlight” of a tedious and often tacky evening. The light show from the Eiffel Tower and Céline Dion were what saved it for me - the rest was underwhelming (to be kind)
Even the flag bearers for each nation seemed to disappear into the forced woke jollity instead of proudly leading their team into an arena.
What a waste of money!

nanna8

I thought the opening ceremony was fabulous, really creative. Celine Dion was the star of the show but I thought the whole thing was classy . I didn’t even mind the tarty looking bird, Lady Gaga, though she looks a bit old for that type of part now.

Each to his/ her own, but think you are definitely in the minority.

Thank you!

Ixion Ibought a £3.99 month subscription to Discovery+ which I'll cancel after the Olympics or its also on Eurosport.

Let the games begin - looking forward to it!

I thought the opening ceremony was fabulous, really creative. Celine Dion was the star of the show but I thought the whole thing was classy . I didn’t even mind the tarty looking bird, Lady Gaga, though she looks a bit old for that type of part now.

Which 'platform' please, foxie48?

Or are you there IRL?😠

Watching the start of the Eventing at Versailles. It's the dressage stage which is followed by the cross country tomorrow and the show jumping on Sunday. For those who have said dressage is unnatural or are unsure what it envolves it's well worth a watch as the commentators are giving a very informative commentry. The level that these horses are competing at in in advance of most amateurs achieve but still includes flying changes, canter half pass, medium trot and canter and extended and collected walk.
Whips are never carried in eventing dressage but spurs are generally worn. It's a good opportunity to see how spurs work, unless applied by the rider turning the heel in towards the horse's body to apply an aid they do not touch the horse. There are rules about spurs length and design but a longer spur is actually easier to use than a short one and you might see a swan necks spur which look like instruments of torture but the design is to enable a rider with long legs to touch the horse in the correct place hence the shape is angled up not straight. If a rider accidently marks a horse and there is any blood, it is elimination so riders are extremely careful with their use.

LindaPat
that the jackets worn by one group of dancers each took 20 hours to embroider

They weren’t dancers but jackets worn by a small group of athletes standing on a boat representing their country.

Team Mongolia’s uniforms radiate elegance, consisting of embroidered vests and robes resembling Mongolian dresses. The tribute to their heritage includes strong blue and white bases, embroidered with gold Olympic torches and other Mongolian motifs. Each outfit took about 20 hours to produce.

Oh dear!

What was bearded man in dress about?

Blue man diorama, was it meant to be the last supper ?

Thank you to everyone for these wonderful comments, I've had a good laugh this morning as I caught up with the thread.

I don't think the " let's all go down the Seine" approach worked for the spectators there. As the boats passed, all they would have seen were the backs of heads on the boats. I appreciate the effort of trying to do something a bit different, but I usually enjoy the entrance of the countries into the arena.

I felt sorry for the performers on the floating pontoons who would have been rehearsing for weeks, only to have the camera flash by quickly. I heard one of the commentators remark that the jackets worn by one group of dancers each took 20 hours to embroider - I would have liked a closer look!

Best moment for me - Rafa! What a lovely smile!

I'm looking forward to the tennis, gymnastics and the equestrian events. Let the Games begin! xxx

I was out last night so missed the live ceremony.
Watching a precis of it now on BBC2 🤦‍♀️

time.com/7004283/paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-seine/