Olympics 2012 - 1 7

Last night I walked up the road to a local pub to meet a mate of mine whom I have not seen for many years to chat about old times and old friends over a pint of beer one could taste and enjoy. Coming home the sun was setting casting a golden glow over the houses. It might have been setting but not for team GB at the Olympics as a further three gold medals spread across the most diverse events were won.

From dancing horses to female boxers to a young girl from Wales who took pride in trying to kick their opponents head off, the strains of “God Save the Queen” once again echoed through the Olympic venues. Add to that the Bolt double and the greatest 800mtrs ever run and you had another wonderful day.

I was invited later on in the evening to be a guest on a Australian radio station to share my views on the Olympics later in the evening which just brought home how small the world is these days, and Englishman, living in the USA is a guest on an Australian radio station to talk about this global event.

The events so far have been watched by 6.9 million people live, and yesterday at the ladies boxing finals it seemed that most of Ireland had been crammed into the arena. The noise within the venue created a higher decibel reading then a jumbo jet taking off. The golds team GB and then the first for Ireland not only showed that female boxing is here to stay in the Olympics but also that these ladies have what it takes. I wondered what happened after the first two bouts yesterday as I bet there was a mass evacuation to local bars to celebrate after those early golds.

In dressage we had horses dancing to music as diverse as “Lion King” and “The Greta escape”, I could swear that the horses were even pointing their toes, rather hooves as they danced across the arena.

Later after another series of athletic highlights on the track a small welsh girl won Britain's first ever gold medal in Taekwondo, another sport which the wonderful Olympic coverage has been brought to the millions of viewers around the world.

On a slightly different note Christian news outlet OneNewsNow.com produced one of the funniest moments over the last few days. They have and automated system to stop the word “gay” being published on their web site, automatically replacing it with “homosexual”. So when they printed a large story about American sprinter “Tyson Gay”, or as they wrote “Tyson Homosexual”.it read...

“It means a lot to me,' the 25-year-old Homosexual said. “I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me.”

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 - 15

From the Bronte's to the Brownlee's

As I spent my time at the Olympic stadium on Tuesday enjoying an atmosphere that seemed ready to irrupt into frenzy of British pride for the smallest reason, .just enjoying the wave of pride and emotion that is covering my country right now.

It was almost beyond my comprehension as the tidal wave of ran through the people like an giant Mexican wave through the stadium, around the surrounding venues, walk ways ad parks where hundreds of thousands cheered every event and athlete. Smiling faces of every age and from all 204 surrounding countries covered in flags of every nation fill a transport system that whizzes you to your Olympic destination seemingly before you can say “gold medal”.

Not just the audience are enjoying them selves, the picture of the athletes parting after their events fill the papers, Cameroon has seven athletes that have disappeared, seemingly wanting to stay in Britain.

In the velodrome the cycling completed with “team GB” as it is known winning more gold I every event except three events. Even in those three events two medals and a disqualification (while leading) showed British cyclist superiority. France (always the French) have winged about secret motors inside and the fact that Britain have specials “extra round wheels”... There was an article in the paper on Monday when something strange happened in the velodrome as another countries anthem was played instead of the of “God Save the Queen”, not by mistake but just for the first time in so many events GB had not won the gold.

Yorkshire is a large county in the North of England, home of Charlotte Bronte, location for Wothering Heights etc, sometimes called “Gods Own Country”. It is at no little pride for those living there that if that one county was a country they alone have one more gold medals than the countries such as Australia, France and Spain.

In amongst the success, there are a few athletes that have tried to compete while injured only to fail. The support I was witness to of a Mexican athlete in the woman's 5000mtrs receiving as the padded round the track way behind the rest of the field, like a rolling wave of thunder following in her around the track showing the encouragement that every watcher is seemingly there to provide.

In the final of the team horse show jumping a Brazilian rider had the seemingly every fence down, even a fence where one of the poles was knocked off by the wind he went on to almost demolish the rest of the fence.

Yesterday I was one of the crowd enjoying the quarter finals of the men's basketball, in a different location to my previous visitiation and another full of the nations from all part sof the world, where several of the planned thousand used basketballs were being slammed and dunked.

While the closing ceremony plans are well underway, based on London, and the history of British music with stars such as The Who and even the “Spice Girls” scheduled to appear (did I say stars) there is a sad note to type about. The scheduled reunion of “Take That” might now not take place after singer Gary Barlow might well not appear. Earlier this week, his expected fourth child was sadly “still born” something that obviously might be more important than appearing in the closing ceremony.

I have said before this whole Olympics is just making my so proud to be British, the trips to the stadium or what I have seen on the TV have only gone to fill my heart with this pride and overflowing exuberance for my homeland.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 -14

It's hard enough to make the Olympics, let alone win an event. But sometimes, the sting of losing can be offset by the satisfaction of at least taking home some kind of hardware in the form of a silver or even bronze medal. 

Finishing in fourth place, however? That's where it gets a little tough to swallow. 

Luckily, David Mitchell is going the extra mile to make sure those oh-so-close losers get some kind of recognition. The Derbyshire, England resident is mailing athletes fourth-place medals to honor their accomplishments and ensure that they go home with a little hardware along with some heartache. 

"There used to be 84 countries in the Olympic Games, now there are 204," Mitchell told the BBC in an interview. "Performance levels have become so much higher that it is so hard now to get a medal. I thought, it's time this increase in the competitiveness and the standards was taken account of." 

So Mitchell, a bookshop owner, went to a local trophy store and began buying medals to send to the unlucky athletes who would otherwise have nothing to show for their efforts. One side of the medals have the athlete's name and event, while the other side displays "In Recognition of your 4th Place Olympic Games 2012." 

The first recipients of Mitchell's homemade hardware are scheduled to be British diver Tom Daley and his synchronized diving partner Peter Waterfield. The two messed up a key dive and were knocked off the podium, and although they might be a little upset at their fourth-place status, Mitchell hopes he can cheer them up. 

"I hope they don't find it insulting," Mitchell said, "because it's meant seriously and supportively." 

It's not much, but if we've learned anything from playing sports ourselves, it never hurts to get a medal at the end of the day.

Women's gymnastics all-around champion Gabby Douglas likes her hairstyle just fine, thanks.

The 16-year-old said Sunday she was a little confused when she logged onto her computer after winning her second gold medal in three days and discovered people were debating her pulled-back look.

''I don't know where this is coming from. What's wrong with my hair?'' said Douglas, the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in team and all-around competition. ''I'm like, `I just made history and people are focused on my hair?' It can be bald or short, it doesn't matter about (my) hair.''

Douglas uses gel, clips and a ponytail holder to keep things in place while she competes, a style she's worn for years.

''Nothing is going to change,'' she said. ''I'm going to wear my hair like this during beam and bar finals. You might as well just stop talking about it.''

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 -13

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One of the to the London 2012 Olympics staff on the track you might not have noticed is the Mini MINI. Three Mini MINIs painted red, white and blue  almost “Italian Job” that's the first one with Michel Caine are being deployed for the crucial task of retrieving hammer, shot and javelins for the athletes. They are operated by Games Makers assigned and trained for this duty.  

The cars are roughly a quarter scale of the full-sized car and carry the athletic equipment situated inside, accessible through the adapted sunroof.  

While I'm typing up this the final of the Olympic 100 meteres is coming up in an hour or so, but spare a thought for some of the less auspicious athletes. In the qualifying of the 100meteres a slightly tubby 32 year old  Chris Meke Walasi clocked 11:42 seconds in the heats... and he didn't even finish last 

Another great day for team great Britain and the Olympics in general, special celebrations continue at the track following yesterdays three gold medals, on the water Britannia rules the waves, cycling and gymnastics add further medals and even in tennis “yes tennis” team GB win a gold and a silver. These victories adding another two stamps the the gold medal collection issues by the post office. 

With everything going on in the Olympic village, 36 year old Former world champion Kim Collins was removed from the 100 meters event by the St Kitts and Nevis officials for spending a night in a hotel “with his wife”. 

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012-11

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 After the normal delay at JFK airport (why do they always have a back log of planes trying to take off or land?) I had a great flight over catching up lost time and only arriving ten minutes late. The first thing one notices on arriving at Heathrow is the Olympics are on. Everywhere there are posters, meeting areas and Olympic guides everywhere. People walking around either in the pink/purple clothing of welcoming guides or wearing passes stating they have been part of these wonderful Olympics games.

There seems to be a smile on every persons face and from the smallest shop to the largest store flags are flying. Catching the tube or as the Americans say “Subway” from the airport to Arnos Grove which is basically the full length of the Piccadilly Line there were even for my tired eyes so much to see. People from many countries heading for events in London, children grasping flags, eyes filled with anticipation being told stories of what they were about to see, stories that they will pass on to their own children.

And what a day...

In the annals of British sporting history Saturday August 4^th will be forever know and remembered. Six gold medals... including three within an hour on the athletic track. The country raised its voice as one cheering on the athletes and singing the national anthem. Proud, choked, humbled... all that and more as I watched the events unfurl on television. The thousand at the venues, or outside watching on large screens, the joy and patriotism this is filling the furthest outpost of the British empire right now is beyond words that I can type.

The flags are flying, the words are being sung, and like so many right now I am glad to be n Britain as part of these 2102 Olympics and proud to be British.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 - 9

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A Brazilian judoka will receive a new bronze medal from the International Olympic Committee after breaking his when he brought it into the shower… 

 Felipe Kitadai will receive a new bronze medal from the International Olympic Committee after breaking his when he brought it into the shower. (The ribbon broke and there is a small dent in it..not what I call broken)

 It was heartening to hear in the days where the whole Olympics seems to be about money that former Beatle Paul McCartney and other star performers who took part in Friday's opening ceremony essentially donated their time, receiving a mere pound ($1.57) for their performances.

 The nominal fee was offered to make the Olympics contracts binding, but pales in comparison to the millions big names like McCartney can command for a stadium gig.

 These are already the Twitter Games. The Solo/Lolo Show has dominated US Olympics talk. Soccer player Hope Solo went on a Twitter rant against Brandi Chastain. Hurdler Lolo Jones made an insensitive joke on Twitter about the US and guns.

And on Monday, a second athlete, Swiss soccer player Michel Morganella, was kicked out of the Olympics for racist comments on Twitter. 

 However it could be worse…

 A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of posting malicious Twitter messages directed at British Olympic diver Tom Daley, U.K. police said Tuesday.

 The first tweet told Daley that he let his dad down with his synchronized diving performance. Later, the tweeter threatens to drown Daley.

Daley's father died of brain cancer a year ago and the 18-year-old Olympian had hoped to win a medal ''for myself and my dad.'' But he finished fourth on Monday, out of medal contention, in the 10-meter synchronized platform competition with teammate Pete Waterfield.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 - 7

It isn't just Chris De Burgh who is going on about a "Lady In Red" it seems the Indian contingent in the Olympic parade are also crating a flap about "a lady in red".

It would seem that during the parade a lady wearing a red top which stood out in contrast to the Indian team's yellow saris or blue blazers, joined the parade and walked next to India's flag-bearer, wrestler Sushil Kumar.

It now turns out the woman who appeared in India's Olympic contingent in the opening ceremony was a cast member in the event, London 2012's

Seb Coe stated.

"She was a cast member who got "slightly over-excited".

Criticism has erupted as seats at the Olympic Games have been left empty and athletes have performed in front of less than capacity crowds from the first day of competition.

It tuns out most of these are down to sponsors and Olympic officials not turning up and the Olympic committee are following up to make some of these tickets available for the many who are still trying to attend an event.

Not that "scalpers" are making a profit. A German man and a Slovakian woman were charged Saturday by British police over alleged attempts to illegally resell tickets to the Olympic opening ceremony, while 16 others have been arrested in the last two days over similar offenses.

Scotland Yard said it had also detained 11 men on Saturday over suspected ticket fraud — two have been bailed while inquiries continue, one has been freed and eight are being questioned.

"My team has been working tirelessly to clamp down on ticket touts. We have been, and will continue to seek out and take robust action," Det. Supt. Nick Downing said.

"Ticket touting is illegal and is a clear exploitation of those who genuinely wish to experience the games first-hand," he said.

As CHRIS DE BURGH

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

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Olympics 2012 -6

 

So the opening ceremony has taken place and it seems that most of world enjoyed the format the fun, the thought that her majesty the queen might possibly parachute into the stadium and so much more. Her in the USA it would have been great to see it live like the rest of the world… BUT NBC in their financial wisdom held off until US prime time some 5 hrs later, so it was over and done before in the United States were able to see the wonderful spectacle. In my search for some form of live broadcast I came across TV Chile which on the program news advertised the opening ceremony but it proved to be some soap opera where the men seemed to ware weird pullovers and the entire female cast had on scarves.

This “lack” of coverage type of issue within the USA media in the 2004 Olympics made headline, and I mean front page headline news around the world and is the one of the reasons the USA has not been granted the Olympics since. I have blogged about this issue in the past, and will go over the reason and what happened in a future blog.

Mean while what about day 1 and some weird news. Michel Phelps does not “so far” look like the champion he once was, and the Chinese machine is now spewing out unknown swimmers to take the pool by storm when Sixteen-year-old Ye Shiwen set a world record in the women's 400 individual medley.

Over at the rifle range, the noise of firing was mixed with the mixed with the cooing of Suryani Mohammed Taibi as she tried to settle her unborn baby from kicking her as she attempted to take part in the 10-meter air rifle. Not only is Taibi one of the few pregnant women in Olympic history, but she is also the most pregnant woman in Olympic history. Sometime in the next five weeks the shooter from Malaysia is going to give birth to a girl. The girl already has a name: Dayana Widyan.

Dayana Widyan has grown so large inside her mother that Taibi’s coach Natalia Zhukova worried her student might have her baby before the Olympics even began.

Back to the opening ceremony; don’t forget I did let you know that Mary Pippins might be needed to defend us in a previous blog. I’ll tell you something else… I think the most certain bet of 2012 is that Danny Boyle will receive a knighthood by the end of the year.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

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Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry