The fiasco of the Olympic torch relay....

[jcd11235 0]

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All I'm saying is that people should grow balls and put their money where their mouth is. Stop buying Chinese goods. Make a statement with your wallet, showing you are willing to make the sacrifice. But that won't happen. instead, we'll shout at some bloke running with a torch, and head right back to the bar to mouth off to the friends on how rad we are in our political involvement.
Talk, talk, talk...

That would be too hard.

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[Lindsey 0]

There are degrees of moral outrage. We're outraged enough to give an atta-boy to the protesters and entertain the idea of boycotting the Olympic Games. A few folks are outraged enough to actually chase the guy with the torch (though I'm not sure that chasing the torch-carriers isn't meeting another psychological need entirely). BUT very, VERY few are outraged enough to stop talking on that made-in-China cell phone. And in the end we'll not boycott the games. Too many folks would complain. And it just might be a tad hypocritical, as a nation, to appear TOO morally outraged given the little issues we've had in recent years of imprisoning people without due process, talk of nasty things like torture of prisoners and such.

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A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[jcd11235 0]

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BUT very, VERY few are outraged enough to stop talking on that made-in-China cell phone.

I'd happily give up my cell phone. I never wanted the damn thing to begin with. However, I'm quite fond of my made-in-China laptop. Can I just boycott Chinese goods until I need to replace it (or decide I need another iPod)?

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[Gawain 0]

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Wow! Let's like, throw rocks at a guy carrying a stick on fire. That's show them goons we mean business!
The whole Olympic Flame/Tibet thing has turned into a purely Western Democracies internal issue, which now has little to nothing to do with the Chinese regime or Tibet. I find it myself quite entertaining.
Now, you'll excuse me, but I have to go and help fix the pollution issue by spitting on an SUV.

There we disagree. It has everything to do with the Chinese leadership and Tibet (including Tibetans), however, some of those protesting I do not believe understand why.

The Economist had a crew in Lhasa when thing began to flame up. Any of these pics look familiar? There aren't enough of them unfortunately...

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Frenchy68 0]

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Wow! Let's like, throw rocks at a guy carrying a stick on fire. That's show them goons we mean business!
The whole Olympic Flame/Tibet thing has turned into a purely Western Democracies internal issue, which now has little to nothing to do with the Chinese regime or Tibet. I find it myself quite entertaining.
Now, you'll excuse me, but I have to go and help fix the pollution issue by spitting on an SUV.

There we disagree. It has everything to do with the Chinese leadership and Tibet (including Tibetans), however, some of those protesting I do not believe understand why.

The Economist had a crew in Lhasa when thing began to flame up. Any of these pics look familiar? There aren't enough of them unfortunately...

I didn't express myself properly: there IS a Chinese/Tibet internal issue. But it seems to me it is far removed from the China/Tibet issue as perceived in Western countries. Yes, parts of Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan looked like war zones. When pressed to comment on it, the Chinese regime posts photos of Sadr City during battles or of the Paris suburbs during the riots. It's easy for them to depict it as "an internal issue", much like the LA riots in the 60's and 90's. Propaganda works wonders when the other side doesn't have that much of a moral higher ground.
The West is creating a symbol (the Torch) and thinks that by fighting this symbol it will win a battle. I say that's as useful as pissing into the wind. Want to hit China where it hurts? Hurt the economy. But no one can, as no one dares...

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[lawrocket 3]

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That being said, the problem with protesting the Chinese is, it's unsatisfying: a half-hour after you've protested, you feel the need to protest all over again.

Okay, counsel, that was funny!

But, to the point:

Could one think of a WORSE location in all of the North American continent to have a torch event free of controvesy than San Francisco?

I mean really. I understand that there is a large contingent of Chinese in SF. That's nice. But San Francisco? You're asking for it.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[billvon 3,107]

> RIIIIGHT, I bet all the runners believe they are making a political statement.

Update on this -

Now that runners better understand the protests, several made the decision to drop out. So looks like that information is getting out there.

[lawrocket 3]

There have already been publicized runners dropping out.

And more news:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=558303&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490

China: We'll take Olympic torch through Tibet - and punish protesters severely

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"During the torch relay in Tibet and in climbing Mount Everest, if anyone should attempt to disrupt or undermine the torch relay, then they will be dealt with severely according to the law," he said.

I am now REALLY curious about what's gonna happen on Everest next month.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Zipp0 1]

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I am now REALLY curious about what's gonna happen on Everest next month.

The mountain has a nasty habit of disrupting the best laid plans. Plus, I am fairly certain the Chinese have angered the Mother Goddess of the Earth.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[Shawndiver 0]

The torch relay in San Francisco was a complete farce. By changing the route all they accomplished was to dissapoint thousands of spectators who were there to witness a once in a lifetime opportunity, and disrupt traffic thoughout the city for hours. This stunt was merely to be able to say, "See! We did it!" They could have accomplished the same thing by landing the plane, having the torch run around the aircraft on the tarmac and taken off again, saving the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in security costs for a publicity stunt that fooled no one. If the situation was so out of control, they should have just canceled the event.

China has made its own bed with its human rights record and their broken promises to improve it, which was a stipulation to granting them the Games in the first place. The fact that they refuse to take any responsibility for their actions, blaming everyone else for the events that have occured and the hostility towards their policies merely fuels the fury felt by so many.

China claims that the Olympics is about sport, not politics, but that image died years ago. Money, politics and prestige is what they are all about now. Even the spirit of the athletes involved has been corrupted beyond recognition. Amateur athletes? I seem to recall that the American basketball team last time was made up of professional NBA players making tens of millions of dollars. Countries importing athletes from other nations to bolster their teams. Not to mention the drugs...

I really want to believe in the spirit of the games, and it is uplifting to see the occasional underdog come through and admire the dedication of some of the athletes just to get there. But when these moments are overshadowed by corruption, politics, and greed, the entire human race are the losers.

Ok, rant over, I feel better.

_________________

[Zipp0 1]

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The torch relay in .......

Ok, rant over, I feel better.

Right on! Well said.

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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[Amazon 7]

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Ok, rant over, I feel better.

I would like them moved back to Greece... have them in one place every time they are held.

During that time all wars should be suspended.

No competitor should be allowed to display a flag and news organizations would be banned from the rampant nationalism that has plauged the modern games.

Make it truely about the sport..and the individual athlete, rather than the countries and the national medal counts and how many billions are being spent on this years extraviganza.

[rehmwa 2]

I'd like to put Jeanne in charge of the Olympics

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Amazon 7]

I could certainly run it better than it has been from what I have seen of it in my lifetime.

And the adding new silly sports stuff has to stop as well.

The Olympics were about personal competition and personal excellence.

If they want to take all the team sports and other oddball stuff.. then a 4 year run of World Cup this or that would be a good way to accomplish the best of for those sports.

Many of the "gentlemanly" sports from the 1800's just have no place in personal competition and calling them Olympic events degrades the real competitors.

[skydyvr 0]

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I could certainly run it better than it has been from what I have seen of it in my lifetime.

And the adding new silly sports stuff has to stop as well.

Right after addition of the new head-down speed skydiving event you mean?

. . =(_8^(1)

[Amazon 7]

Nah I dont think powered sports are appropriate for the Olympics...and that would include skydiving.

Sailing is another that needs to go.. and I LOVE watching the sailing events when I can.

Lets keep the Olymics to that which emphasizes the physical and mental training of the human body and the competion between athletes.

[shropshire 0]

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I could certainly run it better than it has been from what I have seen of it in my lifetime.

And the adding new silly sports stuff has to stop as well.

The Olympics were about personal competition and personal excellence.

If they want to take all the team sports and other oddball stuff.. then a 4 year run of World Cup this or that would be a good way to accomplish the best of for those sports.

Many of the "gentlemanly" sports from the 1800's just have no place in personal competition and calling them Olympic events degrades the real competitors.

100% agree, The Only team event should be the relay(s).
WTF is Football doing in the Olympics? They already have their world cup.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[BillyVance 35]

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I could certainly run it better than it has been from what I have seen of it in my lifetime.

And the adding new silly sports stuff has to stop as well.

The Olympics were about personal competition and personal excellence.

If they want to take all the team sports and other oddball stuff.. then a 4 year run of World Cup this or that would be a good way to accomplish the best of for those sports.

Many of the "gentlemanly" sports from the 1800's just have no place in personal competition and calling them Olympic events degrades the real competitors.

100% agree, The Only team event should be the relay(s).
WTF is Football doing in the Olympics? They already have their world cup.

Yeah, and Tennis already has the Wimbledon, US, French and Australia Opens as well as the Davis Cup.

And why the fuck is Equestrian an Olympic sport???

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Amazon 7]

Most of those were the "gentlemanly" sports I spoke of.

When Pierre de Coubertin organized the 1st modern Olympics in 1896 this was the list of sports.

Sport by sport overview
At the 1894 Sorbonne congress, a large roster of sports had been mentioned for the programme in Athens. The first edition of the official announcement featured sports such as football and cricket, but these plans were never carried out. Rowing was scheduled, but had to be cancelled due to strong winds on the planned day of competition. Yachting was cancelled too, because "we had no proper boats for this, nor did any foreign ones appear for the contest" (Official Report).

Athletics
Cycling
Fencing
Gymnastics
Shooting
Swimming
Tennis
Weightlifting
Wrestling


Other "gentlemanly" sports were added not long after.

Today it has blossomed to this list..

Aquatics 1896
Archery 1900
Athletics 1896
Badminton 1992
Baseball 1992
Basketball 1936
Boxing 1904
Canoe / kayak 1936
Cycling 1896
Equestrian 1900
Fencing 1896
Football 1900
Gymnastics 1896
Handball 1936
Hockey 1908
Judo 1964
Modern pentathlon 1912
Rowing 1896
Sailing 1900
Shooting 1896
Softball 1996
Table tennis 1988
Taekwondo 2000
Tennis 1896
Triathlon 2000
Volleyball 1896
Weightlifting 1896
Wrestling 1896

OLYMPIC SPORTS OF THE PAST
Sports no longer practised at the Olympic Games

PAST SPORTS LIST

Cricket
Power boating
Croquet
Rackets
Golf
Rink-hockey
Jeu de paume Roque
Lacrosse
Rugby
Pelote basque
Tug of war
Polo
Water skiing


Tug-of-war

Tug-of-war was on the Olympic programme in 1900, 1904, 1906 (Intercalated Games), 1908, 1912 and 1920. Tug-of-war was always contested as a part of the track and field athletics programme, although it is now considered a separate sport. The Olympic champions were as follows: 1900: a combined Swedish/Danish team; 1904: an American club team representing the Milwaukee Athletic Club; 1906: Germany/Switzerland; 1908: a British team from the City of London Police Club; 1912: Sweden; and 1920: Great Britain.


Golf

Golf has been on the Olympic programme twice, in 1900 and 1904. There were two golf events in 1900 - one for gentlemen and one for ladies. Golf is one of the world's most popular sports, being played in well over 100 nations world-wide. Golf also has a long history, as it origins can be traced back several centuries, and it has had organised international competitions since the mid-19th century. In the last decade golf has made entreaties to be returned to the Olympic programme.

Rugby

Rugby football is one of the earliest forms of football in which the ball is carried rather than kicked. It developed in Great Britain in the mid-19th century. Originally, rugby league was considered the professional sport and rugby union the amateur one, but in 1995 the International Rugby Board made rugby union an open sport, allowing professional competition. Rugby union football was held at the Olympics in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924.

Polo

Polo is considered the oldest mounted team sport, with a history reaching back centuries, when it was played in the plains of Asia, ancient Persia, China and India. Polo was on the Olympic programme in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924 and 1936.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse was contested as a full medal sport at the 1904 and 1908 Olympics. In 1904, two Canadian teams challenged a local team from St. Louis, with the Shamrock Lacrosse Team of Winnipeg winning the gold medal. Lacrosse was also a demonstration sport at the Olympics in 1928, 1932 and 1948.
http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/index_uk.asp

[skydyvr 0]

Thanks for the recap! Interesting.

. . =(_8^(1)

[kelpdiver 2]

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And why the fuck is Equestrian an Olympic sport???

The Olympics was revived in the era of the cavalry. And quite a few of the events were related to skills in war fighting. Hence, horseback riding, fencing, shooting, and some running.

Patton would have medaled in the Pentathlon in the 20s save his mediocre shooting skills. I guess he was born to be king of the REMF class.

Of the events gone, tug of war should be revived. However, teams must be made up of participants in track and field - one to keep the participant count steady, and two to prevent Samoa from dominating forever.