The Olympic rings are silhouetted during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing on Aug. 8. (Kyodo via AP Images)The Opening Ceremonies are under way as I type… and although the ceremonies aren’t on teevee, live, there’s a live blogging effort underway at NBC’s web site (doubtless there are other “live blogging” places, too… I just stumbled upon NBC’s blog). Here are a few excerpts from their blog, in reverse chronological order:
Five orchestras from five continents play welcome music as, first in, per tradition, the Greeks.
The Greeks -- men and women -- are wearing white suits, looking very natty.
The parade Friday night will go according to the Mandarin calligraphy. Countries have been organized by the number of strokes in the first character of a nation's name.
Second in:
Third:
Fourth:
Fifth:
The Americans are due to go 139th.
[…]
The delegation from Chinese Taipei enters to loud cheers.
The Taiwanese, as usual, come in behind a special flag used for such moments of Olympic protocol, the Olympic rings encircled by red and blue ribbons.
The delegation from
[…]
Team
On the field, some of the athletes are waving American flags, too. Some are just waving fans. It's hot and humid -- the thermometer reading 87 degrees at
In full, the
The
Only a handful of Americans are using videocameras. None appears to be on a cellular phone.
There's Tyson Gay, the sprinter, his white driving cap cocked to the side, smiling a big smile.
The Americans look snappy in their Ralph Lauren uniforms -- blue jackets and white pants (women in pants, too), white shirt, white shoes, white driving cap, red- and blue-striped tie or scarf.
They look like they're en route to a luncheon party at a yacht club. Or a Southern picnic where croquet might follow a mint julep.
Wow! How exciting! “Let the Games Begin!”
As for me? I’m off to do laundry... what with the fact I’m into the Vintage Tee-Shirts… and have been so, for a couple of days now.
I love the pomp of the Olympics. But I'm a winter girl. Summer olympiad doesn't hold alot of interest, beyond diving and gymnastics.
ReplyDeleteI've been so in my own little world that I had no idea when the opening ceremonies were!! Sorry I missed it. There is something about watching your country entering the stadium.
ReplyDeleteUsed to watch the Olys...but just can't get into them since "we" went pro...I look at the NBA millionaires playing hoops and just can't root for them. But may catch a track event or two.
ReplyDeleteKris: I'm much more of a winter olympics kinda guy, too: HOCKEY! But, that said, I like the swimming, women's gymnastics, and track events in the summer Olympiad...
ReplyDeleteJenny: You didn't miss it...yet. The Opening Ceremonies will be telecast this evening. Or so I'm told... on channel 4 out of ABQ, beginning at 6:30 pm. (Note I didn't use military time. For once.)
Pat: We only did what the rest of the world had been doing (and illegally, at that) for years and years and years. To say that the athletes from the old USSR and GDR (just to name two countries) were "amateurs" is/was laughable. But, I hear ya. As noted above, I'm more of a winter sports guy.
I plan on watching them tonight on TV. I love Olympics, summer and winter! I'm just disappointed that men's gymnast Paul Hamm won't be there. Broke his hand a few weeks ago. Bummer, but I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Phelps and Shawn Johnson.
ReplyDeleteDang, better get the grocery shopping done before they come on!
Agreed, Becky! MY shopping is done...and I'm Good to Go!!
ReplyDelete