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Iwant2bafencer · 02-08-2002, 01:08 PM

Hey everyone,
The Ceremony is Totally Awesome!! Very well put together, and lots of entertainment. Not to mention some of the things are quite touching. I'm not going to tell you any more about it. I do want to hear everyone's opinion on it though.
Who does everyone think is carrying the flame in, and who is lighting the cauldron?
I think the 1980 U.S. Hockey team will bring it in, but I have no clue on the cauldron.
Well Enjoy the Show!!

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Carpe Diem

Iwant2bafencer · 02-09-2002, 01:33 PM

So did no one like it? Or are you all ignoring my because I'm Green? j/k come on guys I wanna hear your thoughts.

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Carpe Diem

Fencing Angel · 02-09-2002, 02:43 PM

heh... well you're out there in all the action ain't ya?? being in Salt lake city i would think that you'd be..

or i know that i'd be..

DamedEscrime · 02-09-2002, 03:07 PM

oh I liked the torch lighting.. It was incedible the way that flame run up the shaft and burst when it reached the peak. WOW!

Shadow Fencer · 02-09-2002, 04:39 PM

Well, since it is now the day after and I was able to staay awake (barely-because at my age 11:00 PM EST is late!) I really enjoyed the cauldron lighting, the fireworks and the duet between Sting and Yo Yo Ma!!!!!

Zelda · 02-09-2002, 04:49 PM

Didnt watch it due to family committments and time differences. WAs it worth it?

Iwant2bafencer · 02-09-2002, 09:04 PM

Yea, I think it was worth it.
I got to go see the rehersal, and it's so much better live. Yes, I'm getting in the action as much as I can, but tickets aren't cheep!
I enjoyed Sting, and yo yo man to. I don't usually listen to sting, but he did well.
Did you guys see the rock on LeAnn Rymes' hand?!
Ok who thinks the flame went out just before it hit the top? Who thinks the flame went up a tub that blocked it from view?

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Carpe Diem

Jeeves · 02-09-2002, 09:13 PM

Zelda,
Well worth watching if only to see the olympic flag brought into the stadium.
Carried in by Bisphop Desmond TuTu, Astronaut John Glen, Producer Steven Speilberg, Skier Jean Claude Kiley, and I think, Picabo Street. I'm sure I've left out the 6th person, I honestly do not know who it was at this moment.

Catlady · 02-10-2002, 12:37 AM

Want2be, I was going to ask the same thing, but you beat me to it. I've had relatives in town for the last little while and it was a lot of fun, but they really tired me out, so I haven't been on the board lately. I'm actually closer to the action than you, I think. I live about four or five blocks from Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the openning ceremonies happenned, and I'm along one of the major routes up the canyon to Park City--they're saying now that you'll want to allow four hours, ARRGH!!, but in non-olympic conditions it's usually about an hour, to an hour and a half from my house to Main Street in Park City.
I'm not going to anything--although I wouldn't have minded some tickets to see U2--the tickets cost too much and I'm much happier watching the proceedings from my nice, warm basement, where there's no one in front of me with a big hat and an obnoxiously loud voice and there isn't a line to use the bathroom--at least most of the time, though with my family, you never know

Anyway, I've been most of the places the events are occurring and as for the scenery, I've been seeing that most of my life and will continue to be able to see it after the crowds pack up and leave. Most of the people I know think the same, that is just stay in the house and avoid downtown for the next two weeks.

I did get to see the rehearsal of the openning ceremony though. Basically, only volunteers got to go, but my aunt volunteered and wound up with extra tickets at the last minute so I got to go. The waiting in line was incredibly, of course I wound up in the one line that moved approximately the speed of molasses in winter, but that seems to happen to me regardless of what's going on. The metal detectors or, prepare for the scary sounding technical term here, magnetometers were way too sensitive--they were getting set off by the rivets on some people's jeans for crying out loud--but we'll definitely be safe. Also, when they talk about how cold it is, believe them. I wore thermal underwear, a t-shirt, a sweater, a pair of leggings, two pair of heavy socks, my big winter boots, jeans, a coat, gloves, and a hat and I was still freezing. When I got up to leave at the end I couldn't feel my feet. Still I've sat through some late November Utah vs. BYU games--for those of you who haven't lived in Utah or visited it extensively this is a major in state rivalry pitting good (the University of Utah) against evil (BYU--aka Brigham Young University) fiercely contested each year,with the fans of each faction doing their respective best to shock and demoralize the opposition. Though if you speak to the folks in Provo a.k.a. happy valley, they'll have a differing opinion on the alignments. Anyway back on the topic, the experience at these legendary battles was a bit of a preparation for the near-near-death experience of freezing my --insert favorite body part here--off at the rehearsal.

Both in person and on television, it was pretty impressive. For the most part I believe the olympics have strayed far from the original ideal--it's all about cash in the end folks--,I didn't want the games in Utah to begin with--there are more worthwhile causes the this money could have been used for--and I'm not a particularly weepy person under normal circumstances--though when it comes to "that time of the month" all bets are off

-- but there were a few times when I was close to tears, although that may have been the result of dementia brought on by near hypo-thermia. You wouldn't believe how much they threatened us about revealing anything to anyone. They went so far as to tell any media people that if they leaked anything, their organization's credentials would be entirely revoked. I'm glad that the storm came through and cleared the air so that everyone could see the view of the city from the benches--it's really quite spectacular when it's clear-- since this time of year a universal layer of smog, referred to as "the inversion" is pretty much the norm.

So far so good anyway, although considering this is Utah--and before you ask, yes I do have pride in my home state, but am also a realist--someone is bound to do something highly embarrassing to the state, likely the nation, and quite possibly the human race as a whole at some point. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed anyway.

BTW Jeeves, I think the person you forgot was Kathy Freeman, the runner from Sydney, and boy did she look cold. I felt sorry for her. I know there are places that are colder and have more snow, but coming from Australia, where I believe it's currently summer, to Utah, where it definitely isn't, has got to be a shock to the system. Then again I think there were eight flag bearers, I know another one was Jacques Costeau's son, Jean something-or-another, but I can't think of the other one.

I think that's about all I have to say for now.

Iwant2bafencer · 02-10-2002, 10:29 AM

yes Cat I was there to (at the rehersal) the onlything cold on me were my hands and toes. hehe Although when that breeze kicked in I started to shiver.
I was close to tears a few times to. Especially when they braught the American Flag out (from the World Trade Center).
I loved the fact that (at the rehersal) when the policeman from New York sang God Bless America everyone in that stadium stood. Talk about pride.
Yes, you're a lot closer to the action then I am.
I actually was lucky when it came to the lines to get in. We were moving pretty fast, and my grandparents (who were in the line next to us.) were slow as molassis as well.
The Choir (mormon Tabernacle) did quite well, but I think they sang the antheme a little to . . .depressing. Some would say that was on purpose, or could have been on purpose due to recent events. Although, I think it should have been . . .more with pride I quess you could say.
Finally someone who agrees with me about BYU! Utah can beet then anyday, and I will never tire of it.
I think they chose the flag bearers (for the Olympic flag) quite well. I was very pleased with John Glen representing the U.S. of A.
Yes, the metal detectors were to sensetive, but better safe then sorry. I think they deffinatly could have done a better job when it came to searching bags. I know they don't have all day, but it wasn't that great of a job. I loved it that they made you take a sip of your drink (if you had one) before taking it in. hehe that'll make you think twice about things. (if you were a terrorist that is.)
Well, places to go and brothers to greet. So talk to you all later.

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Carpe Diem

Iwant2bafencer · 02-13-2002, 04:58 PM

Canada+Pair Figure Skating+Russian judge=?? What's everyone's thought? I was enraged!

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Carpe Diem

Inquartata · 02-13-2002, 05:17 PM

You could have grabbed nine people off the street and they'd have done a better job of judging than the so-called "professionals". Or at least a more objective one. As usual in the world of figure-skating judging, something smells awfully rotten, and it has a faint whiff not only of rank nationalism but of collusion as well.

latenight · 02-14-2002, 04:59 AM

Yes, It's too bad that the judges did what they did.

I for one feel bad for the Russian Skaters. You know it has ruined the moment for them as well. I suppose they would have rather received a silver that wasn't in question rather than a tainted gold.

IIRC they said the Russian woman had been injured in the past by having a skate go into her head, A FREAKING SKATE Blade!!!!!!!! I'll never complain about a bad flick again.

[ 02-14-2002: Message edited by: latenight ]</p>

HilandDoug · 02-14-2002, 09:47 AM

Missed most of the Opening Ceremonies because I was teaching my beginners and advanced classes on Friday night, but caught the last hour, and what I saw was pretty neat.

As far as the skating judges: remember, it's been 38 straight years of Russian gold at the Olympics as far as skating is concerned, so tell me: does it looked fixed? You bet. It's not even a real sport. Sure it takes athleticism, but it is not a true competition. There is something wrong in a situation where the competitors must provide a urine sample and can be disqualified if they so much as test positive for cold medicine (which is the dumbest thing in the world- who doesn't get a cold in the winter?), and the judges answer to absolutely NO ONE!

But as the Canadian guy said, they went into it with their eyes wide open. That doesn't excuse the behavior of the judges, but it adds perspective.

Iwant2bafencer · 02-14-2002, 01:59 PM

Yea, I heard that about the balde in the head. I also am amazed at the Canadian (girl). She's skating with two broken bones in her foot. Ouch!! I pulled the ligiments in my foot in soccer, and had to play our championship game with it. That alone killed. I was almost in tears when I had to kick from oposite ends of the field. She's got to be tough.

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Carpe Diem

Cyranox11 · 02-14-2002, 10:39 PM

Yo
Those of us in SUNNY South Africa dont get much on the WINTER Olympics...
What happened?
Details please.

Iwant2bafencer · 02-15-2002, 01:08 PM

What all do you want to know Cyan? Figure Skating? Downhill? Halfpipe? You name it I can at least tell you a tiny thing, then everyone else can fill in the rest.

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Munqi · 02-15-2002, 05:22 PM

heh you were there? Nice one!

It had good bits and not so good bits, but overall it was very nice.

Iwant2bafencer · 02-16-2002, 12:07 PM

The Super-G is extremely difficult. There were a ton of skiers that missed a lot of flags. Especially as they came over Buffalo (top view from the stands.). The Americans skied alright, but the highest we got was 9th. That's still really good though.

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Carpe Diem