2024 Olympics - General commentary

Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
Nope. Most matches are 80 minutes in two 40 minute halves.

The Sevens matches are 2 seven minute halves. And no, I have no idea why.
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Rugby 7s and 15s are strikingly different forms of the same basic game. It’s impressive how tired you can get in 14 minutes, especially if you feel fit for the 80 minute games. They feature very different styles of movement and engagement.

The Sevens format lends itself well to limited time multi-team tournaments, and thus is a good fit for the Olympics. Newcomers to the sport should consider watching Netflix’s “Six Nations: Full Contact” for a fan friendly glimpse at the traditional game, in order to feel the strong contrast. That 6 team round-robin tournament occurs over 7 weeks, its stately pace helping a bit with the rigors of the game.
 
OldPhiKap said:
I think the Peacock platform is great, except (and this is a big “except”) they drop commercials in to the broadcast randomly. I was watching women’s off-road cycling for example, and they would just cut away during a move or a broadcaster’s comment I wanted to hear for a one-minute or so commercial. That was frustrating although from a production standpoint probably necessary for the corporate structure.

I realize that having a separate producer and team to figure out and coordinate commercials for an hour-plus sport with a small audience may be cost-prohibitive. (Jason may know more about that). But it got to the point I just went back to the network broadcasts of other sports and checked in at the end.
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Case in point: the ill-timed commercial break in the last two minutes of the triathlon.
 
Ram and Krajicek (US doubles team) just beat Nadal and Alcaraz in Tennis doubles. Amazing result.
To be fair, it did not look like Nadal was world class tonight. Nadal and Alcaraz looked like doubles was a second language. Their individual talent got them to the quarterfinals.

Between this and the women's rugby team getting a bronze, it has been a very exciting olympics.

US 3x3 basketball (Mens and Womens) looks like a different sport altogether. Has the US learned nothing about strategy in this game? Can we borrow Kara Lawson?

Still to come.. more excitement:
Track and Field.
Lotsa 5x5 basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

Awaiting hospital admissions count for the triathlon participants. Needs a website counter.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
The color announcer for 3x3 is just awful. It’s like he crammed by watching old sports centers the night before and he is constantly just throwing out hackneyed phrases.
 
dm9e24 said:
So this is the standard in your home
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That isn't my point in the slightest.

My point is that the French Opening Ceremonies had zero obligation to cater to the standards of anyone but the French.

If the celebration of French culture is objectionable to people thousands of miles away, I sincerely doubt they care.

Let's say that the US Opening Ceremonies in LA includes, for instance, allusions to rodeos. And that people in India feel it was offensive to include that depiction of cows. Should the US Olympic Committee feel compelled to change their cultural imagery to make a subset of people on the other side of the world more comfortable?

The Olympics is about bringing people together and learning about other cultures. If you don't like that aspect, don't watch.
 
Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
That isn't my point in the slightest.

My point is that the French Opening Ceremonies had zero obligation to cater to the standards of anyone but the French.

If the celebration of French culture is objectionable to people thousands of miles away, I sincerely doubt they care.

Let's say that the US Opening Ceremonies in LA includes, for instance, allusions to rodeos. And that people in India feel it was offensive to include that depiction of cows. Should the US Olympic Committee feel compelled to change their cultural imagery to make a subset of people on the other side of the world more comfortable?

The Olympics is about bringing people together and learning about other cultures. If you don't like that aspect, don't watch.
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I think there's an argument to be made that the opening ceremony wasn't offensive or mocking, at least intentionally. The French also apologized which is good. But your position that the Olympics have no responsibility to even consider their audience is indefensible, IMO.

The French are hosts and like any good host should consider the context of the event and needs of their guests. These aren't random people "from the other side of the world." They are invited guests. So yes, if America is hosting, our goal should be an opening ceremony that our guests can enjoy without offense. We can highlight American culture without running cows through the stadium. I love brisket but I'm not going to invite vegetarians to a dinner party, serve them red meat and then tell them my only responsibility is to show off my best culinary skills.

Also, the French are hosting an event that doesn't belong to them. They don't own the 2024 Olympics. This is a global event that belongs to an international audience. It's also a global event with the explicit goal of unifying people through sport. No reasonable person would offer to host someone else's event and then tell them, "Too bad about your expectations. This is my house and I'll do what I want."

Question. Would it be reasonable for the French to feature their culture by recreating a nude beach from the south of France?
 
I didn't like the parts of the opening ceremonies that I mentioned upthread, considering I was watching with two children aged 7 and 4, but I don't blame "the French". I just thought the particular performer who reached for her privates, and the skit with the menage o trois showed bad taste and could have been left out of one of the ultimate family televised events. But I know I'm not the demographic those performers were seeking to impress.
 
mph said:
I think there's an argument to be made that the opening ceremony wasn't offensive or mocking, at least intentionally. The French also apologized which is good. But your position that the Olympics have no responsibility to even consider their audience is indefensible, IMO.

The French are hosts and like any good host should consider the context of the event and needs of their guests. These aren't random people "from the other side of the world." They are invited guests. So yes, if America is hosting, our goal should be an opening ceremony that our guests can enjoy without offense. We can highlight American culture without running cows through the stadium. I love brisket but I'm not going to invite vegetarians to a dinner party, serve them red meat and then tell them my only responsibility is to show off my best culinary skills.

Also, the French are hosting an event that doesn't belong to them. They don't own the 2024 Olympics. This is a global event that belongs to an international audience. It's also a global event with the explicit goal of unifying people through sport. No reasonable person would offer to host someone else's event and then tell them, "Too bad about your expectations. This is my house and I'll do what I want."

Question. Would it be reasonable for the French to feature their culture by recreating a nude beach from the south of France?
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Fair point about the Olympics belonging to world. But I'd say a nude beach is much less like a rodeo, personally.

I'm not saying it gives the host country free rein to do anything or everything. But don't expect it to look like any other ceremonies either.

At the end of the day, if you choose to have Paris host the Olympics, don't be surprised if they do, well, French things.
 
Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
Fair point about the Olympics belonging to world. But I'd say a nude beach is much less like a rodeo, personally.

I'm not saying it gives the host country free rein to do anything or everything. But don't expect it to look like any other ceremonies either.

At the end of the day, if you choose to have Paris host the Olympics, don't be surprised if they do, well, French things.
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Thanks for clarifying. 100% agree that nude beach and rodeo are not comparable in scope. I was just trying to come up with an example that illustrated that there should be a line even though folks will disagree about where the line is drawn. I think we're in agreement.
 
acdevil said:
Absolutely reasonable. The ratings would be amazing as would the replays.
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Nudes beach on the Seine? Isn't there one? Anyway, it's up to TV whether to show it and spectators whether to go? When are the Olympics going back to nudes Germany?
 
Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
That isn't my point in the slightest.

My point is that the French Opening Ceremonies had zero obligation to cater to the standards of anyone but the French.

If the celebration of French culture is objectionable to people thousands of miles away, I sincerely doubt they care.

Let's say that the US Opening Ceremonies in LA includes, for instance, allusions to rodeos. And that people in India feel it was offensive to include that depiction of cows. Should the US Olympic Committee feel compelled to change their cultural imagery to make a subset of people on the other side of the world more comfortable?

The Olympics is about bringing people together and learning about other cultures. If you don't like that aspect, don't watch.
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Olympic ceremonies don’t care about your feelings?
 
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