Where do these Games rank?

[marndar]

I thought China did a magnificent job. They probably set new standards in facilities and volunteerism (if that's a word). And the athletes themselves assured it's going to be remembered as a great Games too.

So where does it rank and what were the stories/athletes of the Games? I'd say Bolt, Phelps and the USA men's volleyball team winning gold after their coaches' father-in-law was killed were the top three stories. Also, the weather was a positive after all the doom and gloom predictions.

[scottmitchell74]

It's up there, for sure.

China did do a good job. I hope all the exposure will help lead that Nation to better things from a human rights POV.


I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

[bambam]

In my lifetime (1952-) I think there have been four Summer Olympics that stand out above the others -

1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1992 Barcelona
2000 Sydney

Sydney is the consensus greatest ever among the Olympic beat people, and I don't see how an Olympics could be better than Sydney was.

I did not attend Beijing - first since 1988 - but I would not put it in the above category (the top 4) because of the various ancillary problems that afflicted the Games.

[Per Andersen]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

London will do great. They will put on a great show. I just watched the London show at the closing ceremonies. I'm exited already.
Man, no politics, censorship and fakery. England does not have a thing to prove. This is not a nation with a chip on its shoulder.

The sports will again be the main thing.

[richxx87]

London will do great. They will put on a great show. I just watched the London show at the closing ceremonies. I'm exited already.
Man, no politics, censorship and fakery. England does not have a thing to prove. This is not a nation with a chip on its shoulder.

The sports will again be the main thing.

HEAR, HEAR! It will be a breath of fresh air for the Olympic sports and the Olympians to to be main draw and not all that extraneous, propaganda B.S. that we were subjected to for the last few months.

[gh]

Consensus of most veteran track writers I talked to and a dozen or so strangers on the plane yesterday (all people w/ multiple Games under their belt) was that this was the greatest ever.

More than consensus, acatually, almost to a person they volunteered that.

[bambam1729]

Consensus of most veteran track writers I talked to and a dozen or so strangers on the plane yesterday (all people w/ multiple Games under their belt) was that this was the greatest ever.

More than consensus, acatually, almost to a person they volunteered that.

I just don't see how anything could be better than Sydney was (or Lillehammer for the Winter)

[gh]

Note that I said TRACK writers, so if you're talking about the Games overall, we're a bit apples & oranges.

As to why they (and many track fans I spoke to) think this was the best ever it call comes down to World Records I suspect. Nothing like WRs to tickle fancies of many/most.

[CookyMonzta]

In my lifetime (1952-) I think there have been four Summer Olympics that stand out above the others -

1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1992 Barcelona
2000 Sydney

Sydney is the consensus greatest ever among the Olympic beat people, and I don't see how an Olympics could be better than Sydney was.

I did not attend Beijing - first since 1988 - but I would not put it in the above category (the top 4) because of the various ancillary problems that afflicted the Games.

Indeed. Notice that Jacques Rogge called it "a truly exceptional games". So much for Beijing's effort to being called one of the best, let alone the best. Despite the architecture and the entertainment in the opening and closing ceremonies, I'll bet good horse money that London will find a way to top that.

[CookyMonzta]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

London will do great. They will put on a great show. I just watched the London show at the closing ceremonies. I'm exited already.
Man, no politics, censorship and fakery. England does not have a thing to prove. This is not a nation with a chip on its shoulder.

The sports will again be the main thing.

Agreed. And I'm from NYC. They'll find a way to outdo Beijing.

[eldrick]

Despite the architecture and the entertainment in the opening and closing ceremonies, I'll bet good horse money that London will find a way to top that.

i'm not too sure now

with global warming we'd been getting hot summers wich is needed for great sport

however, this august has been miserable - raining every other day & not overly warm

if we end up with this "sydney" weather for the sprints with winners clocking 9.8/19.8, games are screwed

[mojo]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

London will do great. They will put on a great show. I just watched the London show at the closing ceremonies. I'm exited already.
Man, no politics, censorship and fakery. England does not have a thing to prove. This is not a nation with a chip on its shoulder.

The sports will again be the main thing.

My only worry about London is the congestion and a possible terrorist attack. I don't know why but I have ba dfeeling about something happening there. Wouldn't stop me from going-the cost will.

Vancouver hosts the next Olympics and the organizers have already said they have no intention of trying to match the Chinese opening and closing ceremonies. And they don't have to.

Vancouver's spectacular natural beauty , Canadian beer and Mounties will win the world over.

If it doesn't rain, the rampant drug problem is diminished........ :cry:

[Per Andersen]

Vancouver hosts the next Olympics and the organizers have already said they have no intention of trying to match the Chinese opening and closing ceremonies. And they don't have to.

That's it, they don't have to. Same for London. It would be folly and immoral to spend that kind of money on the ceremonies.

[Rog]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

You're in for a shock when you experience modern British culture - they'll probably camp Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Lily Allen, Kerry Katona, Jordan and Peter Andre, Jodie Marsh, Dannii Minogue and Jade Goody into the centre of the arena, and have the worldwide TV audience vote one out every day

[Jake]

I hope the London organizers don't try to one-up the Beijing games. The Brits should focus on their culture and, to my view and experience, there has always been a cool and calm approach to things. I'd love to see their ceremonies reflect their culture....and not try to just out-shine China's efforts.

You're in for a shock when you experience modern British culture - they'll probably camp Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Lily Allen, Kerry Katona, Jordan and Peter Andre, Jodie Marsh, Dannii Minogue and Jade Goody into the centre of the arena, and have the worldwide TV audience vote one out every day

Agreed. It'll be as bad as our rubbish segment which ruined an otherwise excellent closing ceremony. It was very embarrassing to see GB represented by a useless dance group, a sweaty old rock star and a cheap karaoke act. We should be ashamed for inflicting that drivel on the world. ops: