| greatscot |
Can you believe the low spectator turnout at the Olympics?
Looks like the terrorist threat may have had an impact on the number of attendees. That's too bad as the Olympics are usually a spectacular sporting event overall. So far the events have been very good. |
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| kflint |
Poor ticket sales are related more to (1) late completion of venues and general disorganization in Greece over the past few years, (2) being August in Europe (vacation time), and (3) lack of sponsor interest (due to lack of appropriate hotel space, confusion within the organizing committee, etc.).
KJF |
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| nightguy |
You can't expect success if you market it two weeks beforehand. NBC did a poor job IMO running those dumb promos at odd times. Frankly, I'd rather watch NFL in the middle of August, and I'm not even crazy about that. But I'd either watch paint dry or light my hair on fire before I'd watch the Olympics. That probably makes me unpatriotic ! :rolleyes:
I vote that that summer and winter games are in the same year. Every two years is too much. |
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| JayPogi |
| Yeah, I'm watching some it. Swimming, boxing, volleyball and the destruction of our US basketball team by the Puerto Rican Team.:( :( |
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| JL889 |
quote:
Originally posted by JayPogi
Yeah, I'm watching some it. Swimming, boxing, volleyball and the destruction of our US basketball team by the Puerto Rican Team.:( :(
Hows how our ticket money goes to waste, to have a multi million dollar team be so defeated by such little comp, what happened to the days of Jordan? |
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| xcel |
Hi GreatScot:
___I have been watching them quite a bit over the last 3 days. The opening ceremony wasn’t what I had hoped it would be and what was up with the goofy torch lighting? The fireworks were good however. Fortunately, I only watched about 30 minutes that first night.
___Great South African effort in the 4 X 100 swim tonight with a world record to boot. The American’s were lucky to pull a bronze given the first leg effort. Nothing much more to add other then you have to hand it to the South African’s. They had at least 2 of the 4 legs breaking world records!
___To bad for Hansen in the 100 Breast stroke. The Japanese guy pulled an illegal kick off the block and wall which was the difference between Silver and Gold. The cameras caught it quite clearly but the judges let it slide.
___US Woman’s gymnastics appears to be going very well. They are stupendous in fact. We will see in the finals as the Chinese are going to pull out all the stops. Men’s gymnastics are going OK so far. The Hamm brothers sure make the team gel.
___American men’s basketball appears to be falling apart at the seams. They look foolish out there actually. We probably deserve that given the run we have had in that sport.
___I feel terrible for the Russian’s given what is going on with their Men’s gymnastic team.
___I can’t wait for some track and field later on this week. And of course Phelps efforts throughout the week. The 200 Free is going to be a great race with the Aussie Thorpe and Phelps going head to head. I am glad to see the Aussie’s doing well in medal count.
___The best coverage of so far was an NBC story on Mohini Bhardwaj (woman’s gymnastics) coming from practical poverty after not making the last Olympic team. I hope she makes some endorsement deals after the games to pull herself out of financial straights that she has had to endure all these years. She did receive $20K from Tommy Lee’s EX for training costs which helps but what a strong girl at 25 which is well past most gymnasts prime. I wish the best for her.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| XStatic |
At a cost of $1000/citizen in Greece to host the games, they should have given them free tickets.
At least free standby entrance to fill the venue anyway... |
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| laborlitigator |
| Since the US basketball team lost, now there's a compelling reason to watch that venue. |
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| catzx6 |
During the first night of coverage, Bob Costas explained why there were so few spectators in the stands during the gymnastics competition. He said it was a religious holiday, and the devout weren't going to be at the Olympics. Hopefully attendance will pick up (I don't know how long the holiday lasts).
We watch and just gripe about when they were here in Atlanta, and we couldn't have gotten any gymnastics tickets if our lives had depended on it. All we ended up with were Women's Softball! We went to the first game we had tix for, but ended up giving away our tix for the second game we'd bought.
We're watching swimming, diving, gymnastics.
I disagree with xcel that the US women's gymnasts look unpolished, with almost all of them having serious "bobbles" on the balance beam that will keep them out of the over all comp. The US men gymnasts are looking much better in my book, more consistent.
Really enjoying the swimming with Phelps, Thorpe, Hansen, and their competitors. Totally agree that Hansen was shortchanged on the gold after the winner did have the two illegal underwater kicks. The judges should be able to check the tapes afterward when there is questionable ethics seen by the commentators.
I only saw about 30 minutes of the Greek parade in the Opening Ceremony. I thought it was great! Extremely creative and what a history to tap from! Some of the costumes reminded me of the ones we saw in the live version of The Lion King last year. I wasn't interested in seeing the parade of nations walking in, nothing new there.
Our family is enjoying the Olympics for the most part.
Ms. Catz |
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| tzeus |
Overall for the Greeks it's a pretty good job! Being over in Athens last year, picture that nothing was even 50% complete, thus the fact that the Greeks finished everything in time, needs to be awarded a gold medal!
The problem is that the entire world views Athens 2004 as if they were in their back yard. Remember Athens is not Atlanta!! The Greeks for the entire month of August rather go to vacation then spend their time off in Athens in temperatures of 95+!! Normally during the month of August (other years) you can walk in Athens cross the street with little or no traffic, the city comes to a dead stop!!
As well Greeks have issues with American foreign policy, thus it would be very difficult to convince a Greek to attend events with Americans playing in them. And since NBC caterers in broadcasting 90% of American Olympic Events, you will see the stadium’s empty. Now if NBC was to put the Men’s Greek Soccer Team on, then I guarantee you would see a full stadium….remember Portugal vs. Greece in the EuroCup 2004…which Greece won…..
These are the same people that work to live….here in the U.S. we live to work!! There is a big difference in culture and attitude!! And truthfully, I can not blame them. Greek’s always wait until the last minute for everything, and truthfully they only have interest in events like Basketball, Soccer/Football, and Track & Field….. |
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| zafer |
...trying too, but NBC coverage and schedule publishing sucks :3: Buncha BS life stories beginning at age 3, commentary, commercials etc. etc. NBC always does this, why do they get the broadcast rights over and over..... :confused:
ps. organizers are going to begin to give tickets away... |
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| greatscot |
I usually enjoy the Olympics for the varied sporting events they show. My only complaint so far was Katie Couric on the opening night. What's the deal with that, was she ever an athlete??
Otherwise, it's been fun to watch. I don't let the scheduling get to me, I just Tivo and skip the things I'm not interested in.
Anyway, I hope the USA does a great job in all events. |
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| xcel |
Hi All:
___Anyone just see the 4x200 Free a minute ago? What a race! Way to go US and Australia! I was going nuts :D
___Did anyone have a clue the US would win 2 medals in fencing? I thought that was a European sport? Wow. Woman’s gymnasts are hanging on with just a hop away from taking the gold from the Romanian’s into the last rotation … I have my fingers crossed. It is a good thing these are delayed and I don’t have a clue as to the outcomes. What a night to watch the Olympics!!!!
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| BWSmith201 |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi All:
___Anyone just see the 4x200 Free a minute ago? What a race! Way to go US and Australia! I was going nuts :D
It was darn impressive. Phelps and Keller both did an outstanding job, so did the other two guys (I blank on their names!).
Gotta feel kind of bad for Thorpe, he was SO CLOSE, but didn't make it (what, 13/100 of a sec?) I'm patriotic and all, but I still do feel bad for the guy!
All in all, remarkable.
I also REALLY felt bad for the poor Chinese gymnastics team (women), that girl who fell down on her dismount has gotta be really unhappy about that...I felt really bad for her.
Anyway, I am watching the games in the evenings, and there is Smith family representation there, my sister-in-law (who is from Greece) and my niece are there now visiting family and seeing some sport, I presume (my brother's missing out!).
But I know what you mean, the stands didn't seem that crowded tonight, I was surprised, actually. Looking back, it looks like it would have been easier to go that I thought it would be, I didn't really consider it, but now I kind of wish I had, it would have been fun, and there seems to be lots of extra room!
Anyway, Signing off!
Smith |
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| mgtr |
Olympics are absolutely stunning in Hi-Def (65 " screen). Swimming is great, gymnastics competition is wonderful, happy to see US basketball team lose. I love basketball, but NBA has turned into a bunch of overpaid hip-hop kids trying to out one-on-one each other. This years draft was all about high school kids - ridiculous. Give me the college game any day of the week.
Anxious for the track and field events to start. Bob Costas is terrific, Katie and Matt sort of suck!!! |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by mgtr
. . .
Anxious for the track and field events to start. Bob Costas is terrific, Katie and Matt sort of suck!!!
Agreed! :4: |
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| Lrpba300 |
quote:
Originally posted by mgtr
Olympics are absolutely stunning in Hi-Def (65 " screen). Swimming is great, gymnastics competition is wonderful, happy to see US basketball team lose. I love basketball, but NBA has turned into a bunch of overpaid hip-hop kids trying to out one-on-one each other. This years draft was all about high school kids - ridiculous. Give me the college game any day of the week.
Anxious for the track and field events to start. ............
Someone who I agree w/ on NBA basketball! I use to love the days of Bird, Johnson, Jordan, Barkley, etc. The NBA has turned into a joke. No one knows how to defend, shoot a CONSISTANT jump shot, play TEAM basketball. It's finally showing up as a big negative at the Olympics! :rolleyes: |
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| Emerald01 |
| I've been wathing in Hi-Def too but noticed most of the events are delayed by about a day. :rolleyes: |
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