Olympic Tidbits...About Da Olympics
August 12th, 2008 by Braddah LanceI'm sure you realized by now that the Olympics have begun (08/08/08) but upon researching what the Olympic rings stand for, I came across a fact sheet from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
So here are a few.... Did Ya Know's:
- Is it possible to obtain an Olympic flag?
The olympic flag is to be used within the Olympic Games ceremonies only and may therefore not be purchased.
Olympic Charter.Chapter 1, Rule 7.2, p. 20 - Can I use the Olympic Rings?
The Olympic rings are the exclusive property of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Olympic rings are protected around the world in the name of the IOC by trademarks or national legislations and cannot be used without the IOC's prior written consent.
Olympic Charter, Chapter 1, Rules 7-14 and its Bye-law, p. 20-26 - Who wrote the Olympic Anthem?
The music of the Olympic anthem was composed by Spiros Samara, based on the words of Kostas Palama, for the Games of the I Olympiad in Athens in 1896. It was adopted by the International Olympic Committee as its official anthem in 1958 at the Tokyo Session.
Olympic Charter. Chapter 1, Rule 7.2, p. 20 and its Bye-laws, p. 22-26 - Why do the athletes take an oath at the Olympic Games?
The athlete taking the oath promises, in the name of all the other competitors, to respect the rules and participate in the competitions in a spirit of sportsmanship.
The oath has been part of the Opening Ceremony since the Games of the Olympiad in Antwerp in 1920. Its text was modified at the 2000 Sydney Games and now includes a phrase confirming the will of the athlete to avoid doping. Since 1972, a referee has made the same undertaking on behalf of all the judges and officials.
- What is the Olympic Oath?
The Olympic Oath is one of the rituals of the Olympic Games. It is taken by an athlete from the host country, on behalf of all the athletes."In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams".The first Athletes' Oath was taken at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 by Victor Boin, a Belgian fencer.
Since 1972, a referee has taken an oath on behalf of all the referees and officials.
- Why a torch relay?
In recollection of the origins of the Olympic Games, the flame is lit in Olympia, Greece, some months before the opening of the Games. It is than carried by relay from Olympia to the host city of the Games.
Olympic Charter. Chapter 1, Rule 13, p. 22 + Chapter 5, Rule 55, p. 102-103 - What is the Olympic Motto?
The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words:
Citius -Altius - Fortius. These words mean Faster - Higher - Stronger.
- What is the meaning of the Olympic Rings?
The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions, used alone, in one or in five different colours, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.But watch out! It is wrong, therefore, to say that each of the colours corresponds to a certain continent!
Do you have Olympic fever? Do watch any of the events or just wait to hear if USA wins any medals? Is the medal count important?
This year's two big theme's for USA seems to be the men's basketball - of course - and Michael Phelps quest to win 8 gold medals which overshadows other achievements such as the women's fencing sweeping the medals. Wow!
How do you feel about professional athletes participating in "amateur" athletics?
I've watched a few events and I'll admit what some of these athletes do is frickin' amazing! All their training and discipline boils down to one performance and one slip up more than likely means they are out of contention for a medal.
While pride and honor should be the focus of the Olympics, the consequences of their performance can cost them. They bust their okole's training for four years to audition for jobs.
Yes, jobs.
They are promoting themselves because if they do well, endorsements and opportunities will follow but if they don't, they lose out all around. No medal(s) and no pay. Unlike professional athletes there's no breaks for amateur athletes. Do you think we'd see Bryan Clay in Straub commercials if he wasn't as successful as he is today? And he still has to work at it because there's no off-season for what he does.
Das why shmall kine no fair eh dat professional athletes are allowed to compete - they already get paid from their respective sports...
Wassap Wit Dat!
Is it worth being an amateur Olympian?
SHOUT OUT: Much mahalos goes out to Ynaku fo' dropping off Big Island manju! Check out Friday's blog for da scoops!
DA PIDGIN WORD OF DA DAY! -
(as quoted from Da Kine Dictionary & Pidgin To Da Max… wit a Braddah Lance twist)
BUMBYE or BUMBAI
(bum BYE)
Haole Translation 1: "By and by", measurement of time, soon enough, later on
Haole Translation 2: Consequence or result of action
Use: When you want to say "later on" or "because"
Sentence: “Bumbye I going clean da yard.”
Sentence: “Brah, if I no do 'em, bumbai nobody goin' do 'em.”
August 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
1st
August 12th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Having professional athletes compete in the olympics is outrageous. It shouldn't be that way. It gives us, and the bigger countries an unfair advantage over the smaller countries. Also, have you read some of the news that parts of the opening ceremonies were "faked" to make it look/sound better on television. I saw the story of how the Chinese government kicked people out of low income housing to expand the infrastructure of the Olympic village, and these people became homeless and such. That's horrible. I feel the Chinese are trying way too hard, and unethically, to make themselves look great under this spotlight.
A country obsessed with image. Actually, in grad school at HPU 5 years ago we (American students, Asian students, locals, our professor) had a memorable and heated discussion about the differences between China/Japan and America-the main point being that Americans make efforts to be independent in thought, apprearance and style, while the Japanese and Chinese modern people had a culture where trying to fit in, dress and act the same, was the way of life for them.
I see it in my office as well. I'm a typical American guy, baseball, college, family and such. I work with this Chinese lady who, at age 41, makes every effort to look and act like a teenager and she's obsessed with her image. It's interesting, sorry, straying from topic....
August 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
BL, I'm wit you, pros should stay out of it. Dats not fair for da amateurs dat train on thea own for 4 years and more while the pros get paid.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I also agree that "pros" participating in the Olympics is not right. However, I remember hearing that the reason that this is allowed goes back to the 1970's when Germany and Russia kept taking the lions share of the medals. The argument involved that their athletes trained "year round for years" and their respective governments SUBSIDIZED their training by providing room/board and stipends.
In essence, these countries athletes WERE "PROFESSIONALS" and sponsored by their governments.
I'm not 100% sure if this is the situation........but that's what my brain (which holds all kinds of USELESS TRIVIA) seems to remember.
OL
August 12th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I have only one word about the Olympics...inspirational! The two events which have come to mind is the men's gymnastics last night and the swimming relay where the U.S. got the gold at the last minute. Simply amazing these athletes! I watch the Olympics for these folks. They are the ones who truly epitomize the American spirit. To see an Indian, a Chinese and a Russian long with several Caucasians on the men's gymnastics team is wonderful and seems to embody what the U.S. is all about! The pros...eh...so not interesting at all.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Yes. It's a touchy subject. Like OL said, the Russian ice hockey teams and the Cuban boxers were just like pros already. Still, it's not as interesting to watch as the true amateur events like swimming and gymnastics.
The men's gymnastics last night was awesome. The Chinese gymnasts are unreal. Did you see the guns on some of those guys? Makes me want to head straight to the gym and work da arms!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I just love watching the Olympics, these people are so awesome in their respective sports. And when they tell their stories of how they trained, etc, wow how so so awesome. and yup pros should keep out they should give others the oppty to show and strut their stuff too....and hey tnx for the history about the olympics and the rings and stuffs...it is berri interesting.......
August 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am
having pros play is decided by each olympic sport. the federatoin allows it or not. america is only doing what other countries have already been doing, but only for those sports that allow pros to play.
not sure how you can say it gives america an advantage when, like in basketball, america hasn't even medaled in the last 2 olympics. other sports like tennis allow pros because otherwise their sport would get no exposure and nobody would go watch them play.
i had a friend who went to an olympic in the past and he was paid $15000 once he made the team, but that money went to help pay bills while he trained and was in barcelona for the 2 weeks of the competition. many athletes need the money because they miss work while training.
everybody else gets paid, why not them (if it's allowed by their sport)? is swimming amateur? michael phelps makes $5M/year from visa, speedo, and one other company.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I'm surprised if the pro b-ballers are really playing for free, considering they seem to be so money hungry. Maybe they get some type of bonus or incentive to participate.
I think that the amateur sports are where the true "guts and glory" are at!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
going disagree with some of you...Olympics is such a huge international event, with countries going all out to create super athletes, who were amateurs by Olympic definition at the time but in reality were heavily subsidized and trained full time. In essence, pros. The big fish will almost always win the big medals but the spirit of the games is to have all countries compete. Had a nice story of a local swimmer but swam for a teeny tiny country because of his origins I think but he was just as thrilled and felt privileged to compete with the big boys. Depending on the sport, most are essentially amateurs and don't play in big money sports such as the NBA. I think the elite track & field athletes are paid big money by sponsors and from the organizers of t&f events and you have the pro volleyball, soccer, tennis, etc. players who make big money and then you have guys like Taylor Takata who may get a stipend but not the big money, will have to think about his future but Hawaii will remember what he did and doors will open for him and others that represented the USA. The only sport that I'm not sure about the amateur-pro status is boxing...am I wrong or are there any pro boxers participating? Anyway, I don't have a problem with professional athletes in the Olympics...you want the best competing, whether amateur or professional.
And as far was faking it to make the opening day ceremonies look good is a bad thing? What was faked? the 2008 tai chi guys was digital?
Chinese were unethical or trying too hard to make them look good...well, that story may be true but don't tell me other nations including the mighty USA don't do the same. And I think negative remarks about asian ethnic identity and stereotypes from a white guy don't belong here.
Huuu, sorry BL but feathers got ruffled and I could have misread some of it, if I did...gomenasai.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Rogah dat, OL! It's been a number of games now that pros were allowed to participate primarily due the subsidization of athletes' training/expenses/benefits by governments issue. This materialism cheapens the overall experience. However, as islandgirl in nc said; we are interested in and marvel at the accomplishments of the true Olympic athletes, not the professionals.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am
News reports today revealed that the Chinese added firework visual effects for the television audience, and, I wasn't trying to perpetuate a stereotype, just give an example, but either way I guess it didn't fit in this discussion, I apologize.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Yeah, pros in the Olympics is a touchy subject. On one hand, you would like to see the best from each country compete against each other, professional or not. On the other hand, athletes from some of the smaller countries have a hard time making ends meet while training instead of working. That kind of takes away from the true spirit of the games.
Wow! Dats 2 comments for me now. Not sure if that qualifies me as one Kwonic or Lanceformer yet? LOL
August 12th, 2008 at 10:59 am
While I'd really prefer the Olympics to be an "amateur" sporting event, I never did think it was fair that American athletes, who supported themselves, had to compete against athletes who trained year-around and were supported by their respective governments. Now, the lines between professional and amateur are blurred, with various sports allowing certain levels of earning or professional competition, while maintaining "amateur" status.
I've been avidly watching the Olympics - islandgirl in nc mentioned the two event finals (men's swimming relay and gymnastics) that had me cheering for the U.S.! Those guys gave it their all and really showed us what the Olympics are all about! Those finals were so exciting! I've also been watching volleyball - it just amazes me how much impact Hawaii has in the volleyball! - and Michael Phelps quest for gold! I haven't watched the Olympics with as much interest in years... and it's been great so far!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
hemajang - I agree. The big countries will always have an advantage. But it is the spirit of the Olympic games that will always keep me cheering. Remember the Jamaican bobsled team? I only knew about them from the movie, but they represented that "spirit."
August 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Fo'real? I didn't get a chance to watch it but I saw a few photos but I wouldn't be surprised from tv networks to "spice" it up a bit.
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Do Olympians get government assistance of any kine?
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You know, I vaguely remembah something about dat too.... in my useless facts area of da brain too.
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I saw da highlights on ESPN... yup, WOW! By like one fingernail yeah? A full body length behind but didn't quit and pushed harder. Unreal!
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Caught a little bit of dat. Makes me feel puny. Those gymnasts are supah unreal! Have you noticed..... dat their "gym wear" has changed?
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Yeah, I figuah'd lots of people watch and probably heard at least once about those facts but in one, out one. It's neat to find out little tidbits about how and why things are.
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For each sport? Did not know dat.
Just wanted to clarify dat I nevah say it gives USA an advantage... jus' dat pros get paid and dat amateurs don't and as you stated too, Phelps gets PAID only cause of his success as an amateur athlete. Yes, he is an "amateur" only because there is no "professional" swim league although his skills are waaaaay beyond dat.
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I honestly tink, fo' da players, dat it's about not being shamed. B-ball is known worldwide but da "show" is wit da USA players as evident by their ally-oops and windmill dunks. And to lose to countries playing fundamental ball was embarassing. Plus, dey make so much money it's mo' publicity fo' dem to promote their shoes.
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So in your opinion, being subsidized and "sponsored" by your government should be considered "pro"? Jus' want to see if others tink da same? What about amateur golfers? Da definition is dat they do get paid (take da purse monies) if they win right?
And no worries, you should know by now, we au' good hea at WWD!
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Dat is so true. As stories of the Olympians break, we (public) find out more about the struggles, success, failures they had to go through and it makes it dat much mo' chicken skin yeah?
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It did look good in da pictures I saw.
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Bingo!...... you Kwonic!
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Fo'real? I didn't get a chance to watch it but I saw a few photos but I wouldn't be surprised from tv networks to "spice" it up a bit.
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Do Olympians get government assistance of any kine?
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You know, I vaguely remembah something about dat too.... in my useless facts area of da brain too.
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I saw da highlights on ESPN... yup, WOW! By like one fingernail yeah? A full body length behind but didn't quit and pushed harder. Unreal!
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Caught a little bit of dat. Makes me feel puny. Those gymnasts are supah unreal! Have you noticed..... dat their "gym wear" has changed?
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Yeah, I figuah'd lots of people watch and probably heard at least once about those facts but in one, out one. It's neat to find out little tidbits about how and why things are.
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For each sport? Did not know dat.
Just wanted to clarify dat I nevah say it gives USA an advantage... jus' dat pros get paid and dat amateurs don't and as you stated too, Phelps gets PAID only cause of his success as an amateur athlete. Yes, he is an "amateur" only because there is no "professional" swim league although his skills are waaaaay beyond dat.
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I honestly tink, fo' da players, dat it's about not being shamed. B-ball is known worldwide but da "show" is wit da USA players as evident by their ally-oops and windmill dunks. And to lose to countries playing fundamental ball was embarassing. Plus, dey make so much money it's mo' publicity fo' dem to promote their shoes.
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So in your opinion, being subsidized and "sponsored" by your government should be considered "pro"? Jus' want to see if others tink da same? What about amateur golfers? Da definition is dat they do get paid (take da purse monies) if they win right?
And no worries, you should know by now, we au' good hea at WWD!
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Dat is so true. As stories of the Olympians break, we (public) find out more about the struggles, success, failures they had to go through and it makes it dat much mo' chicken skin yeah?
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It did look good in da pictures I saw.
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Bingo!...... you Kwonic!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I agree that's its not right that professional athletes are allowed to represent the United States but..................................................... many countries financially suport their Olympic athletes to allow them to do nothing but train for the games all year long. Aren't these people professional athletes ? Yes, they don't have multi-million dollar contracts to play sports but they also don't work at regular jobs during the week and train only on the weekends either.
I watched the US/China basketball game but actually, the Olympics -INOKEA !
August 12th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Not sure if people know dat the men's gymnastic Olympians were da "second" string... even mo' inspirational no?
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"Feel da rhythm, feel da rhyme, get on up! It's bobsled time...... COOOOL RUNNINGS!". I always cry at da end.
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Dang, da one dat I was waiting fo'.... missed it Sunday morning.... classic WWD!
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August 12th, 2008 at 11:49 am
the olympics are fun to watch because sometimes they have every imaginable sport no matter how well-known it is...everyone knows basketball, volleyball, boxing, gymnastics and swimming but i never did watch fencing, handball or white water canoe racing before...it's exciting, i find myself rooting for them and it gets addicting! speaking of addicting, i missed the previous blog and *stands up to do the "i'm an addict" line* BL, you brought me out of lurkah status long ago and i have been proudly promoting unproductivity at work even though i was part of the 0.1% that neva get on response from you 3 days in a row!!!!
haha ok i'm over it now.
but back to da subject, those athletes are unbelievable. neva mind that the little femals gymnasts get bigger arm & leg muscles than most men that i know...or that the female swimmers get broader shoulders than most men i know...they all work so hard to perfect their sport, and they have so much passion for it, that it makes them all professionals at what they do. sometimes hard cuz like BL said, no more one professional swimming league like how got NFL, NBA, NHL, etc but their talents are imcomparable.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
White water canoe racing... fo' real? One sport - if you want to call it dat - I no get is da one with da big flat bombucha and scrub brush and guys in speedos sliding on ice tryin' fo' make it stop.
Ho, fo' realz? Noooot. Really? My deepest apologies.
See, now you goin' make me au' paranoid li'dat. 
Jus' fo' you - three responses! And au' by yourself too. Cheee-hooo.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I believe the best should play the games, regardless of their professional status.
I'm sure the U.S. athletes get subsidized in some way. Look at Brian Clay and Natasha Kai. They are always somewhere in the World competing. I don't think they work part time at Zippy's.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
bumbai, maybe watch the olympics. neva really got into all the olympic excitement. just check the hon. advertiser paper for see how da local olympians stay do. but must say that all the athletes participating have worked very hard to do what they do.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I tink da Olympics should be amateurs from any country. The current practice of using NBA players for B-Ball came from the other countries using the NBA players from their countries. Dis was allowed cuz dey wasn't pros in their country. But remember the B-ball team from '84 (I tink) when had MJ, Ewing, and others. They ripped thru da competition like nothing.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
The point that being being subsidized and “sponsored” by your government should be considered “pro” is moot now. But in the past, when Cuba, Russia and Germany were training their athletes full time and giving them subsidies that were equivalent to well-heeled, privileged citizens which made them, in my opinion "pros" but were allowed amateur status in the Olympics. And we were basically sending club trained/college athletes to compete against these heavily subsidized athletes put us at a disadvantage in many sports so I guessing that the US had something to do with the change to allow professional athletes. I'm just thinking out loud here, so probably not accurate...anyone can enlighten us?
What was your question about amateur golfers? By definition, they don't get to keep the prize money so when Michele Wie was amateur, she couldn't accept the prize money from professional tournaments.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
ahhhh curling!! you know, i thought it was ridiculous too when i first saw it, i asked my bf, "how come they're sweeping the ice?" then we got addicted and that's what we look forward to for the winter olympics LOL
August 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
A quick Google search shows that room/board probably but the majority of the expenses are from private and community funds.
Here's the link although I'm not sure of the authenticity of it and it has some pretty interesting facts if true.
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Au' right! Used Da Pidgin Word of Da Day in one sentence!
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Was dat the reasoning fo' b-ball?
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Sounds about right.
Nothin'. I often have no point.
Typing too slow fo' da brain... wat I was tryin' fo say was dat amateur golfers don't get paid if they win a purse. Brain fart.
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Uh, no comment.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
During the US women’s beach volleyball game with Greece, the announcers were talking about how the athletes in Greece are given a full ride for advancing their education, so that they have something to do when pau in their respective sport careers. That one of the Greek girls is in law school and the other just finished up dental school. They also went on to say that if they are off doing competitions, they are exempt from taking exams at that time. WWD?
August 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
No matter to me if pro or amateur already. No matter how strict you make the definition, some country going make any kine and thumb their nose at the rules.
Like the Chinese "women" gymnasts. C'mon, you expect me to believe they really 16? They look 12! Plus, you watch the documentaries, just like they're "farm-raised" in these camps, bred from small kid time to compete in the Olympics. Scary. But maybe they all CGI
I gotta admit, I agree with munch, that curling was kinda entertaining to watch. I guess you could call it a "guilty pleasure." Chee, if they can have curling as an Olympic sport, bowling should be one too. WWD?!?!?
August 12th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I really would like to know what happens to the girls for that matter men when they no do to good (example Chinese gymnast) They were living with there coachs for how many years......now what happens to them and the family.....what go back to growing rice or making poisonous foods to sell to the USA.....and what the country tell'm bumbai pau.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
@NKHEA - yeah, I always wondered if the athletes from those state-run programs get punished for poor performance. My family and I were joking about it the other night, like after a gymnast would fall from the apparatus or just screw up in general - "Uh oh, someone only going to have half a bowl of rice tonight," or "Oh no! Now father is going to lose his left arm!" I know I shouldn't joke about it [BACHI!] but sometimes cannot help.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hey Bruddah Lance, You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Share with Da Wife.
I enjoy the olympics. And yes, I agree some of the athletes shouldn't be there. There are also some sports I wouldn't consider sports (I won't say which). And I don't think it's right to force a person to become an athlete at such a tender young age. Let them enjoy life. But it's difficult when you live in a dictatorial country.
But all in all, I enjoy watching the competition. May the best person/team win. I don't care what country they are from. They all deserve a medal for trying.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Wea da pics? Gotta wait til Friday? How come? gotta develop um from the film first and den scan so can import. Ho, dat mo old school dan MLC? WWD?
August 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I tink my coaches used da same excuse fo' me too.
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Does anybody know how many sports there are in total? Fo' men? Fo' women? Anybody know what else is up fo' "selection"?
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Yeah, me too. Not all of them can become coaches or jus' open up a training facility.
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I hope nothing other than hurt feelings but who knows.
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Hey Bruddah Lance, You’re welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Share with Da Wife. I did! Two to one. Fo' every one she ate, I had two.
You know wat? My sentiments exactly. You take pride in your countries victories but admire each performance regardless of country origin - plus, some are jus' amazing to watch... no mattah wat country they represent.
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Sorry, my Polaroids nevah come out so good trying to transfer dem to da slides den I wen try get 'em on tape but my betamax broke.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Maybe you can try print em onto one transparency or try da mimeograph and ditto machines. I know you guys have those.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Please be careful about the facts surrounding the "faked" fireworks. The portion of the telecast showing firework footsteps leading to the stadium were done digitally.
MSNBC reports:
But guess what? The announcers made that clear to the viewing audience. If we were listening, we should have known that. If we felt we were deceived, then sham on us for not paying attention. Here is the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26139005/
August 12th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
5 continents?
North America
South America
Europe
Asia
Africa
Australia
5 continents?
August 12th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
All Olympic athletes can be professionals. Track and field competitors can get appearance fees, product endorsements, etc. which they could not do back in the 60s and 70s. Same with swimmers and gymnasts, or anyone in any sport. Of course none are as rich as the basketball players or the tennis competitors, but some of the top performers in track or swimming can make six-figure or maybe even seven figure incomes. That is why I think some sports should be eliminated from the games. All sports in which there are other traditional and historic professional championships are not needed in the Olympics. For example, why is tennis in these games? Professional tennis already has Wimbledon, and the other major championships. Does someone like Federer or Venus Williams really care about an Olympic medal as much as winning the U.S. Open or Wimbledon? Likewise for men's basketball--there are the NBA and other professional championships, so Olympic basketball is unnecessary. The Olympics should be reserved for those sports that have traditionally been the focus of the games--sports like track and field, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics. In those sports, the Olympics have always been the most important event. The casual sports fan does not pay much attention to those sports except in an Olympic year. In addition, if the Olympics are going to add sports they should be ones that don't get a lot of exposure. I think the IOC was right to eliminate baseball, but wrong to eliminate softball. While baseball has professional leagues , and events like the World Series, or the professional championships in countries that play baseball, like Japan or the Dominican Republic, softball does not have that. The softball players deserve to have some worldwide exposure in the Olympics.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
fdog writes:
I was watching Olympics softball today.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Long ago, I recalled hearing that the colors represented the major colors of the flags of the various countries. This link provides a better explanation of the colors and the 5 continents...
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_the_five_rings_on_the_Olympics_emblem_stand_for
August 12th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
According to my European students, they are taught that there are 5 continents. They count North and South America as 1.
August 13th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Wathching the Olympics has been a blast...my girls and I just about have a party when it comes to watching it on the tele...we have enjoyed the Gymnastics both male and female...and the swimming meets...especially supporting Michael on his quest. We were very proud of how well our mens team did, and the pride and upbeat spirit they continued to have.
As far as the professional aspect of it...I guess when other countries do it, so will we...and maybe it's so they the professionals can really boost the ratings on the Olympic games who's to say....
What I found interesting was that during the parade of Nations...they commented on what the individual nation athletes would receive if they got a medal....one country promised, houses, $$$$, and so forth, others promised other things...And then when you watch a country like China with 600 something athletes ...then you wonder...if life will really be that good for them after..you know what I mean???? Okay...different subject.
Bradda Lance....you gotta change that word for the day...Bumbai was on last week...but that's okay...bumbai you check um out...and bumbai you go give us another word....it's augoood.......WWD....
August 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Wat dat? I tink before my time.
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But guess what? The announcers made that clear to the viewing audience. If we were listening, we should have known that. If we felt we were deceived, then sham on us for not paying attention. Deceived? I jus' saw pictures, not da live show and it looked good in da pics.
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North and South America is counted as one.
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If I evah see a X-Game (bmx, motocross, skateboard etc) in dea, it's ovah.
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So softball is still in? Cool.
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I'm not sure who answers da Wiki questions but as da blog above indicates,
"It is wrong, therefore, to say that each of the colours corresponds to a certain continent!" and dat's directly from da IOC although each color of every country is represented in da rings.
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Dat's wat I learned too.
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I did check 'em and I nevah used dat word Sistah! Had some Kwonics asking and answering on their own but nevah in DPWODD.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Sorry guys - choke work today.
No new entry.
Tomorrow fo' surah!
August 13th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Uh oh, get snowborading in the Winter games!
That being said, I don't like the "subjective" sports, like gymnastics, or whatever is judged. Too much shibai and politics. To see some of the judges marks, and you're all "WTF were you looking at?!? WWD!?!?!" Den you realize that the judge gave a good score to the athlete from their country or a bad score to an "enemy" country. I'd rather have cut-and-dried "I was mo' fast than you" or "I scored more points than you" sports. That way no mo' the stupid dramas you see sometimes.
Eh, had baseball on this morning? Howcome? Exhibition sport? Hmmm
August 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
okay.....so sorry...Bradda Lance...but you are right...you didn't use it...Scott asked the question on the Aug 5-Being Criminal Pays...my mistake...I guess because we had discussed it, I thought you had...so alrighty then.....okay...slap....bumbai..suppose I pay atencion moa...hee hee....and what all those letter when stand foa ...no need answer I going ask my daughter as, I not that hip on the texting stuff....okay....so like I always told you.....Bradda Lance u r the man......
August 13th, 2008 at 9:17 am
You know wat's even mo' funny? Lil' off topic but NCAA CFB rankings. Everytime you get one or two teams wit a #1 ranking vote - guess from which coach?
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No worry beef curry. DPWODD - Da Pidgin Word Of Da Day.... was too lazy fo' type 'em out.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Antarctica is a continent too, btw.
So if you count the Americas as one then you'll have six not five.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Ah, BL, lose money.
You was supposed to say - "Eh gangee, going get one new post BUMBAI."
@AC - I nevah see the Antarctic contingent at the games yet.
Maybe they only come for the Winter games?
August 13th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I just feel compelled to explain some of my recent answers.
I was addressing Scott's posts. I clearly heard Bob Costas explain that what we were seeing was a cinematic tool. So I'm perplexed as to why people feel they were deceived.
I meant no offense, BL. My use of the word "better" may have been taken out of context. I just wanted to add some additional background to supplement what you provided. My apologies.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
You funny. Maybe das why get da rings on a white flag yeah?
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Bumbye I catch you guys latahz.
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Eh, c'mon. No apologies needed. It's au'good. I was jus' a little perplexed dat da IOC clearly stated dat the colors do not represent da countries - although it does albeit not intentionally - and den get other sources, not wit da IOC, saying it's country colors. I would tink dat info coming from da IOC would be more legit no?
No worries... I thought da colors were da countries flag colors too until I read the IOC tidbits.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I was unclear about what I wrote earlier about baseball and softball. The IOC said that this will be the last Olympics in which baseball and softball are medal sports. Barring some change, there won't be baseball and softball at the 2012 Olympics.
About those continents: Europeans consider North and South America to be one continent, but think that Europe and Asia are two continents? Have they looked at a map? North and South America certainly look alot more like two separate land masses than do Europe and Asia. That is one huge land mass with Spain and Portugal on a peninsula on one end and Korea on a peninsula on the other.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Help Wanted! My lady boss called and she taking several of my coworkers to Willows. Any suggestions of what to eat. Also may need bodyguard protection. Heard some lady co-workers, how should I put it, get all touchy after a few um spirits. HELP
What should try? Your favorites? Seafood or Meat? Help a brother out.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Mahalos fo' da clarification.
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Dunno - nevah ate there but I heard it's pretty good... and touchy touchy?... dat's a bad thing?
Unless she not good lookin' 
August 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Bruddah Lance, My lady boss good looking with BIG husband. The others, well to put it mildly, BEEG too. I heard was buffet, so I going check em out. K gang. Report tomorrow. Gotta go fight da traffic back to Pagoda.
August 13th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
@fdog - Thanks for the clarification. I agree with you view about the IOC eliminating softball. Those ladies deserve to get exposure on the world stage.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
i dunno when i got into it, but i LOVE the olympics...i look forward to seeing where it'll be held and all the trick'd out locations!! of course everyone likes watching the biggies...vball, bball, gymnastics, swimming, but i myself love badminton!! its fun to watch and they are crazy intense!! seriously...i've never hit a birdie that fast...lol!! i can't wait until the winter olympics rolls around because i also love to watch curling...that is super exciting!! lol!!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:13 am
JuSaMee - It's great to see all these sports that we rarely or never see outside of the Olympics. Badminton, archery (great women's final shown live on MSNBC last night), Kayaking (athlete from Togo won 1st medal ever for his country). Great stuff, great excitement. I got hooked on Curling, too. I have a feeling it's a lot more difficult than it looks.