Now with the Closing Ceremony of the Olympics over and done with, we can take a long lingering look back at a spectacular 29th summer Olympic Games, as spectacular at the end as it was at the beginning. China spent $40 billion building dazzling venues, filled them with thousands of smiling volunteers, transported people to them with a flawless bus network and earned Kudos from the athletes as well; “Oh my goodness, This is my third Olympic team, and the organization, the volunteers, the venues, everything has been the best. Every’t’ was crossed; every ‘i’ was dotted. … I would rate these highest of the Olympics I’ve been to.” said an athlete.
So the organizers did a cracking good job in Beijing, and what of the participants? It goes without saying that these were the most high tech Olympics ever and that the next ones will be even more so. Technology played a big part in making the athletes stronger, faster, jump higher, throw further, shoot more accurately, etc.
Phelps’ phenomenal showing at this Olympics brought into focus the advancements in swimming gear. The LZR Racer suit from Speedo is an innovation that has helped topple some records in these games. These suits feature a very tight fit, a slippery synthetic fabric and ultrasonically welded seams to streamline the body. There is also a structural feature sewn into the suit that helps to keep the legs aligned with the upper body.
One thing that an athlete has to guard against is overheating; consequently many manufacturers came up with ‘cooling suits’ such as Nike’s ice vest: it is water filled and turns into ice when you put it in the freezer. When the athlete dons it, it pre-cools him or her before the race, so as to delay onset of body overheating.
Shoes are another item subject to constant improvement to make them lighter, faster, better, with Adidas introducing the concept of asymmetric shoes (different shoes for the right and left foot). Then there are Nike’s shoes involving technologies called flywire and lunar foam! Gymnastic shoes now weigh just about 10 grams each!
Then of course there are the carbon fiber bikes, with fewer spokes for less resistance and lighter weight, with the wheels now composed only of a one piece disc as against the spokes in days of yore. With records being made and broken by a hundredth of a second margin, high tech can give you just that extra edge to be a winner!
Massive. Meticulous. Earnest. Daedal Ian. Elaborate. Dazzling, Dramatic, Theatrical. Some of the words I would use to describe the opening of the Olympic Games. There are a few more phrases however, iron-curtained, heavily-politicized, and air-tight.
The opening was fantastic. Those who missed it, lost out. Catch the recast if you can. The performances were intricate, very well synchronized, fabulous effort and definitely something for the world to learn from their admirable performance.
However, it was hard to miss how perfunctory things were. There is the political will dictating every movement of every entity in the entire complex. When the torch was being run around the stadium there was another man holding a walkie-talkie running right behind him, in full view of the cameras. During the team parade there were organizers darting in and out making instructions. All the numerous cheering girls and boys lining the way soon clasped their hands together blocking any movement outside their control. All very clamped down. Rumor is Chinese citizens of other regions don’t even have free movement into Beijing and Shanghai! There’s that freedom of movement (if there is anything like that)
The President of the International Olympic Committee said in his speech “One world, one dream”. Well said. Sport unites. All the participants walking through the ground had on their faces so much hope, aspiration and the single motivation to perform in chosen sport. The entire world comes together in sport and it has been that way now for several millennia.
The 2008 Olympics are underway now. Beijing has what appears an air-tight setup. Could rather difficult for the players I imagine, possibly limited freedom, and lack of enough breathing space for them. Security and organizers everywhere, instructing people on everything from which booth to use at the washroom to the brand of their morning cereal…! Pure speculation of course! I really hope though for the players to see good game and pray that the Olympic spirit makes its presence felt. Good Luck Olympians!
I have been lately hearing a lot about the Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr Rematch. I am fond of boxing. I remember this match last year had broken all box office records and this year they are back with a rematch. It will be one of the richest match in the history of boxing.
I recently read in the papers and heard on the news that Oscar De La Hoya may back off from the May fight. I think Golden Boy is interested in getting some big money for the rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr in September. The exact dates are still not out but Golden Boy Promotions' CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN that it should be either on September 13 or September 20. The match is going to be held at MGM Grand Garden Arena Las Vegas, Nevada
It’s going to be one exciting match. I did get a site called teamonetickets.com which is selling online tickets for the match, they are not from the box office of the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr match, but they claim to give better seats and better prices then the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr office. Booking can also be done for the rematch of Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. Tickets here.
I am booking my tickets before I miss on the good seats and the good offer, so what are you guys waiting for go ahead and do your advance booking.
When one says ‘Olympics’ what is the immediate thought that comes to your mind? A getting together of the whole world to jointly participate in sports? Sport unities. It unites 11 people to play cricket, 15 people for football, 12 people for hockey and so on…. People come together in their passion for sport, to play; whole countries get-together to support their sportsmen. Look at the Olympic symbol, four rings united. It signifies in my perspective four rings of many united under the Olympic banner.
Once in four years the whole world would put aside differences, work and issue to unite supporting their countries in the Olympics games. The Olympic flame which symbolises many things of them being a flame of hope, flame of perseverance, the flame of life. A powerful symbol. The flame traditionally passed hand to hand one runner to the next to me is such a beautiful get-together of humankind. Pure, with no malice only dedication to sport.
All this desecrated in the 2008 Olympics. The spirit of harmony torn by the iron claw of regime. Talking of regime during the Third Reich in Germany the Olympics were held in purity of the sport, the whole world participated. New records were set for the first time ever: Live televised coverage, in 1936. No need to discuss what happened after the Olympics in Germany, but during the Olympics the torch marathon wasn’t leaving a sour taste across the world.
What is meant to be a symbol of purity, dedication and harmony has become a symbol upheld by force? Everyone has seen how so much security is deployed around the flame. The flame hasn’t been run its full course, when traditionally runners are meant to pass through the participating countries so everyone can come together to support it has now become a cordoned-off showcase? It riles me how blatantly it is all being done. How/Why is the world tolerating this??
It is painful to see the destruction of something so pure and basic which having existed for many millennia come to this. The earliest recorded Olympics were in 776 BC! The Olympics was never meant to be a cold hearted business affair. It was vibrant, the Olympics colours were that. The whole world was invited. Now with the spirit gone …..
Did anyone think such a day would come? Gaming consoles has strictly been kids only territory. I beg your pardon, kids and some adults. But today with the Nintendo Wii all is set to change. Have a look at the attached video.
For the first time in known history a gaming console helps in losing weight then to turn people into (couch) potatoes! I think its one of the best innovations of the technology era! With computers and new gadgetry making people more lethargic this console keeps them physically active.
Tackling obesity, A whole new dimension to keeping fit. I’d have never thought of this, but all those housewife’s who barely get time off to spend on their health, which is a great excuse to get fat for one; instead of spending their afternoons watching soap operas they could play a game of tennis! On the same note all of us who would really like to play some sport but our lifestyles don’t allow it this are quite perfect! Not evening leaving the living room! Burning over half the amount of calories they would burn in a regular game of tennis. Which is great.. You could if you want leave the AC on and not burn any calories, keep the weight you know, one never knows when it could come in handy, if by some chance you need to hibernate for the winter …
Oh come on! I’m only joking, all you people who need to get fit.. Get moving!! Click here for a Wii weight loss study link.
Looking at this console if either you are a youngster or close to the reaper, its all benefits. It’s much cheaper and tiny compared to a home gym, for starters it doesn’t take up a whole room! See that picture for instance, that old lady playing bowling, that photo is from an old age home, fantastic isn’t it? For the youngsters too instead of wasting away in front of a pc or their televisions this is way healthier. If it is for all of them it certainly is for you too!
evawhite on August 29th, 2008
Massive. Meticulous. Earnest. Daedal Ian. Elaborate. Dazzling, Dramatic, Theatrical. Some of the words I would use to describe the opening of the Olympic Games. There are a few more phrases however, iron-curtained, heavily-politicized, and air-tight.
However, it was hard to miss how perfunctory things were. There is the political will dictating every movement of every entity in the entire complex. When the torch was being run around the stadium there was another man holding a walkie-talkie running right behind him, in full view of the cameras. During the team parade there were organizers darting in and out making instructions. All the numerous cheering girls and boys lining the way soon clasped their hands together blocking any movement outside their control. All very clamped down. Rumor is Chinese citizens of other regions don’t even have free movement into Beijing and Shanghai! There’s that freedom of movement (if there is anything like that)
The President of the International Olympic Committee said in his speech “One world, one dream”. Well said. Sport unites. All the participants walking through the ground had on their faces so much hope, aspiration and the single motivation to perform in chosen sport. The entire world comes together in sport and it has been that way now for several millennia.
Look at the Olympic symbol, four rings united. It signifies in my perspective four rings of many united under the Olympic banner.
The Olympic flame which symbolises many things of them being a flame of hope, flame of perseverance, the flame of life. A powerful symbol. The flame traditionally passed hand to hand one runner to the next to me is such a beautiful get-together of humankind. Pure, with no malice only dedication to sport.
The Olympics was never meant to be a cold hearted business affair. It was vibrant, the Olympics colours were that. The whole world was invited. Now with the spirit gone …..
