olympics

Groins, groans and complete bollocks

by Cellobella on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 · 4 comments

So an update on my groin.

I know you’re fascinated. Yes you are – don’t be coy…

It’s not my groin.

It’s my hip flexor.

Basically I can’t lift my leg up – this makes stairs tricky and in fact walking is a bit frankensteiny – you know what I mean – stiff.

I went to the physio today who gave me ultrasound and electrical stimulation… kind of a buzzy sensation, last felt by me when in labour using a TENS machine. Made absolutely NO difference to my labour pains but felt quite good on my upper thigh.

So I’m feeling less sore but not really able to attempt the DNA tower at 6am tomorrow morning.

It’s 101 steps people!

Also, I saw this on Wikipedia:

Perth is considering a bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Perth hosted the 1962 Commonwealth Games, and the FINA World Championships in 1991 and 1998. Holding the America’s Cup in 1987, the Red Bull Air Race from 2006, the Hopman Cup and many international matches from rugby and cricket, Perth has developed high experience in holding a memorable performance through their international sports. From their experience Perth can deliver the 2028 Olympic Games with high expectations.

That smells like rubbish to me.

By the way, I had a fellow complain to me today about the word bollocks. Said it was outrageous and rude and shouldn’t be allowed to be said publicly… is bollocks that bad? Does it offend you?

Watching the Opening Ceremony

by Cellobella on Friday, August 8, 2008

aussies thanks to The West - click to read article[pronounced ceremonny you understand not ceremoany]

It is endless isn’t it, the parade of nations. Both Groover and Dippity are asleep – Hugamuga on a sleepover. I’m a bit over it myself but determined to stay up to watch the Australians walk in. They come in third last.

Plus, I’m curious to see how the Chinese light the cauldron. We’ll see just how curious if I make it to the end.

So far the majority of teams appear to be wearing white. Yawn. Thank goodness for those Caribbean and African teams who bring a bit of colour to the scene.

Oooh I like the Spanish – red and yellow as you’d expect. And New Zealand look pretty stylish in black. And sure the Italians look stylish – but grey. Boring. The French looked bizarre – the women with huge red belts over their shirts.

The Americans – with their enormous team – I thought looked good. I really liked the fact that both the men and women wore the same gear. It looked so much better than having different uniforms for the women. Classy. Nice stuff.

I don’t know what happened to Channel 7′s commentary. We were watching on HD and there was practically none. Terrible. So we switched the sound to 720 ABC Perth and listened to Glenn Mitchell and Tracey Holmes describe both the spectacle and the teams entering the arena. Great job. Really added to the coverage – and also filled us in on what was happening during the TV ad breaks. :)

Hmmmm the Mexican women looked nice didn’t you think?

Waiting waiting waiting for the Aussies.

The Opening Ceremony was pretty impressive wasn’t it. The unison in which the dancers moved was exquisite.

And getting the athletes to walk through the paint… neat.

Ah they are coming in…

Oh.

They are wearing a shiny tracksuit top which is the palest of pale blue at the top fading down to navy at the bottom which blends into the trousers (held up by silver belts).

The tracksuit tops in close up don’t look like they fit terribly well, but I will say looking down on the stadium they do look rather nice.

Better en masse from a distance but … okay.

Phew. Always a heart in the mouth moment.

Gotta go now. A cauldron to light and a family to relocate to their beds.

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi!

Updated to add: Oooh I like how they used the athletes footprints as the stage. Very neat.


(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Updated again to say: The lighting of the cauldron? Rocked. London – you’ve got some work to do.

Are you doing the Beijing thang?

by Cellobella on Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Birdnest
Creative Commons License photo credit: madiko83

I was listening to the radio today and I heard a woman talking about what she’s doing this Friday night.

She’s cooking Chinese food, dressing up in her cheongsam, and inviting a few friends around to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on her big screen.

Wow.

I hadn’t even considered that.

Not even in passing.

And you know, it’s on at a great time for Perth. We’re on the same time zone so at 8 past 8 (or whatever) we’d be able to tune in.

I remember Athens… I was driving home when the ceremony started, going through the tunnel – it was pretty busy as I remember and I had to edge my way down the ramp while listening to the ceremony on the radio (ABC of course)… It sounded beautiful.

When I finally got home I’m asking Groover – oh what did the this look like? Oh and what about that?

I missed the first bit of the Sydney ceremony for some reason too…

Maybe this year I should make the effort. Maybe this year I should be there for the start in front of a screen somewhere.

Or maybe… I’ll just go to Dim Sum again on Saturday morning…

What?

It’s a good excuse!

Would you run in the torch relay?

by Cellobella on Saturday, April 12, 2008

Groover asked me the other day: “If I’d been selected to run in the Olympic Torch Relay in Canberra – would I pull out?” and it’s a question that has been plaguing me all week.

I imagine the thrill of being asked. The honour. The excitement of representing my chosen field, my family, my country, my Olympic representatives – the athletes who have trained so hard and for so long – in such a public event.

Then the dilemma. Does running mean that I support China’s action in Tibet? And if it does, can I live with myself if I run?

And then the horror of watching the other relays – in London, in Paris, in San Franscisco – and the debacle they’ve turned into. Watching other runners being caught up in the protest. Being attacked.

Being shoved into a warehouse as organisers try and work out what to do next.

Being surrounded by a phalanx of secret service guards.

Where is the honour in that? Where is the glory? Where is the pride?

So imagine. You’re sitting at home watching the news on the telly. Your torch relay uniform, clean and sparkling new is in its box. Your brand new sandshoes gleam. And you, with your heart in your mouth, have to decide whether you’ll take part.

It’s easy to say “No I won’t take part” from your lounge room when you don’t have to make that decision but if you were actually in those gleaming new sandshoes… would you withdraw?

I am torn on this question.

What I will say on behalf of those who decided to run is that at least they have provided a very public platform for the protesters.

What about our athletes? Do they boycott? What difference would it really make? Did boycotting Moscow back in 1980 really achieve all that much? Could you turn your back on four years of training, of dreams?

Sport and politics should not mix. Is that possible in the real world?

And so we get to Kevin Rudd, our Mandarin-speaking Prime Minister. Is telling the Chinese that he doesn’t agree with what they’ve done in Tibet enough?

Does he have to turn his back on the Olympic Games now?

Does he risk Australia’s relationship with China?

I’m sure of my response here. I’m afraid the answer is yes. I know we might risk our trade and that our resources boom is largely dependent on China. But greed cannot trump human rights.

So in summary: I think I would run in the relay as it is a great forum for the Tibetans to make their protest. I don’t think athletes should boycott the games, after all we don’t expect our companies to give up their trade contracts. And at this stage I think Kevin Rudd should consider not going to the Games although, I can’t imagine the Chinese would care if he were there or not.

Your thoughts?

Creative Commons License photo credit: Monster Pete