Small point.....I was at the Moscow Games and Ken Ryan carried the Olympic flag as Ireland and most other western European nations did not "fly their own flags".
Katie Taylor would I think be the choice of most people. But maybe Derek Burnett or another "veteran" has a good chance. An enormous honour but a bit nerve wrecking (well thats way Id look at it) so as long as nobody feels any pressure at a Games which is already stressful.
I thought the best flag bearer was (appropriately enough) Army Officer, Gerry Mullins. So (havent checked the Eventing short list) an Army man/woman would be appropriate.
Other good cases could be made for a Northerner (none since Wayne McCullough), a member of the Irish Abroad (Behan, Pena, Cragg?) or maybe one of our new citizens from Latvia or Poland.....that would be a nice gesture.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
| 14-06-2012, 17:57 | #19 |
|
Moderator
 |
43 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- Yesterday we discussed the carrying of the nation's flag into the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony and the huge honour that is attached to the role. Well think how much of an honour it must be to be asked to light the Olympic flame. Rumours have been swirling in Britain and beyond about who'll light the flame in the Olympic cauldron in London. Front-runners in betting include Steve Redgrave, 5 time Olympic rowing champion; David Beckham who worked extensively in canvassing support for the decision to host the Games in London; Kelly Holmes, double Olympic champion in Athens 2004; Chris Hoy, 4 time Olympic track cycling champion; even the likes of Boby Charlton is up there in the betting odds. It'll remain a secret until the moment is upon us but whoever is revealed as the lucky candidate on the day you can be sure it will be a memorable moment. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is always one of the highlights of the Games and often one of the most memorable moments from that Olympics. The Beijing organisers done a fantastic job with the lighting of the cauldron...an unforgettable moment and really poignant to see Li Ning, winner of 3 gymnastics gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, being hoisted up to the top of the stadium and making his way right around to the cauldron. A scroll containing images of torch relays from all around the globe guided Ning towards the cauldron before he came to his big moment and ignited the Olympic flame. It was a masterpiece of artistry and a fitting way to close the spectacular ceremony. Here is a reminder of that unforgettable moment when the Olympic flame was lit at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing as well as a look back at how some of the other host cities orchestrated the event (Barcelona 1992 was iconic as was the image of Muhammad Ali lighting the flame in Atlanta 1996): |
|
| Thanks from: |
| 15-06-2012, 13:08 | #20 |
|
Moderator
|
42 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- With exactly 6 weeks to go until the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony here are some of the latest pics of the Olympic Park:  Work on building the set for the Opening Ceremony is now underway:   Olympic Village:  Orbit Tower that will be open to the public during the Games where you can buy a ticket (£15) and go up the tower for a prime view of the Olympic site:  Aquatic Centre from outside:    
Last edited by Dan man; 15-06-2012 at 13:12. |
|
|
| Thanks from: |
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
| 16-06-2012, 13:38 | #22 |
|
Moderator
|
41 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- The first ring of our Olympic countdown clock is complete. It really won't seem long until the greatest show on earth is upon us. The start of the Opening Ceremony at 9pm on the 27th July will be heralded in by the tolling of a 27-tonne bell hanging at one end of the Olympic Stadium, forged especially for the Ceremony. As we have already discovered, an array of farmyard animals are to "star" in the spectacle but another bizarre feature of the Ceremony is that there are to be clouds sitting over the set, one of which will rain just in case they don't get any on the night...presumably to ensure there is a distinct British atmosphere on the night!! Apparently there will be a cricket match in play during the Ceremony too but of course if there's any sign of rain you'd imagine they'd be nowhere to be seen  The athletes will parade into the stadium and make their way around the stadium alongside the giant make-shift river and lakes. Take That and the Who are expected to feature among the musical acts and Paul McCartney is to be the closing act of the Opening Ceremony. The IOC have requested that the Ceremony must be over by midnight so as the athletes can get to bed on time!! I have to say it all sounds very clever...it'll probably not be the spectacular that we saw in Beijing but they seem to be offering something very different and refreshing. |
|
|
| (2) thanks from: |
| 17-06-2012, 16:34 | #23 |
|
Moderator
|
40 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- With just 40 days to go to the London Olympics here's a preview of how the US track and field athletes will be kitted out for competition at the London Olympics: 3 times World 200m champ Allyson Felix sporting the new kit:   Apparantly, the suits are said to be more conducive to faster sprint times for 100m, 200m and 400m due to their design. Nike have been studying the aerodynamics of a golf ball and found that the dimples on a golf ball make it more efficient to travelling faster in the air....as such, these new suits contain dimples on the forearm and legs, the fastest moving parts of the body during sprint races. Whether this is just another PR stunt by Nike or whatever the validity of their findings, the new kit gets a thumbs up from me....looking very slick Allyson! If nothing else it may provide the US athletes with an important pyschological advantage....if they think it makes them go faster and if they look good too in the process then it might give them the all important edge. Not sure if it can work the sort of miracles though that will see them challenge the Jamaicans, particularly Bolt. Last edited by Dan man; 17-06-2012 at 16:38. |
|
|
| 18-06-2012, 12:45 | #24 |
|
Moderator
|
39 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- Organisers have announced that the cable-car system over the river Thames will be ready in time for the London Olympics. The Daily Mail reports that it was thought that the network would struggle to be open in time for the Games but it has been revealed that all of the security tests have been done and the new cable-car system is ready to open to the public. Not only will it allow spectators a panoramic view of the Thames but it will also be a useful means of transporting fans from the O2 arena and the Excel centre (two of the sports venues in use at the Games). There are 34 gondolas (cable-cars) in the network and is capable of carrying 2,500 passengers an hour across the Thames.   
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
| 19-06-2012, 17:42 | #26 | |
|
Registered User
 |
Quote:
|
|
|
| (2) thanks from: |
| 19-06-2012, 19:08 | #27 |
|
Moderator
|
38 days to go!!
--------50---------------------25---------------------02-----------
--49----------48--------27---------24----------04--------01------ ------------------------------------------------------------------- 47--------------46---.29--------------22-----06-------------03-- --------------------36--------------------16---------------------- 45-----------38-43---30-33-------18-21---08-13-----------05-- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --44-------40-41-------28-31---20-23-------10-11-------07------ ---------42--------------------26----------------------09---------- -----------.39--------------32----19--------------12------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------37---------34---------17--------14----------------- --------------------35--------------------15---------------------- Wenlock and Madeville (London 2012 Olympic Mascots)  The first official Olympic mascot for a Summer Olympic Games was used back in Munich 1972....Waldi the dachshund would set the trend for the years to come....since then the mascot choices have progressively become more bizarre, no more so than this year's official mascots of the London 2012 Olympics, Wenlock and Mandeville who are made to resemble two drops of hot steel! Beijing 2008 organisers decided one mascot wasn't enough so like every other aspect of that Games, they pushed the boat out and chose no less than 5 official mascots, collectively called Fuwa!! Bring back little Waldi I say! Here is a run-down of the mascots from each Olympics: Waldi the Dachshund (Munich 1972)  Amik the Beaver (Montreal 1976)  Misha the Bear (Moscow 1980)  Sam the Eagle (L.A. 1984)  Hodori the Tiger (Seoul 1988)  Cobi the Sheepdog (Barcelona 1992)  Izzy (Atlanta 1996)  Olly the Kookaburra), Syd the Platypus and Mille the Echidna (Sydney 2000) Athena and Phevos (Athens 2004)  Beibei the Carp, Jingjing the Panda, Huanhuan the Child of Fire, Yingying the Tibetan Antelope and Nini the Swallow (Beijing 2008)  But even Waldi owes his origin to the 1968 Winter Olympic mascot from Grenoble, France....he isn't a patch on Waldi though! Needless to say they were opting for the minimalist approach that year... Schuss (Grenoble 1968) 
Last edited by Dan man; 19-06-2012 at 19:34. |
|
|
