Sochi Olympics 2014

[Moonliner]

And so it starts....

[Snowflake]

For some, so many are boycotting watching, which I totally understand and am very conflicted about myself. I love the winter games and was just as horrified by the human rights issues in China, and yet I still watched in Beijing. I guess this makes me a hypocrite. :(

[Alex]

I'm not boycotting. I just have zero interest in the Winter Olympics though I might watch a curling match or two (though I caught some not Olympics curling on TV in Europe a couple months ago so feel kind of sated on that front).

[innerSpaceman]

I'm a hypocrite, too. I watched a bit of the Beijing Games, despite the human rights abuses. I'm much more aware of and steeped in Russia's situation, being inflicted with the gay and all. So I just can't watch, even though I love the Winter Games so much more than the summer.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm a sucker for pagentry so I'll probably tune in to see some of the opening ceremonies. Hopefully there will be some LGBT victories to celebrate and rub in Putin's face.

[Morrigoon]

I'll tune in here and there, but nothing like I normally would.

[Snowflake]

I'm a sucker for pagentry so I'll probably tune in to see some of the opening ceremonies. Hopefully there will be some LGBT victories to celebrate and rub in Putin's face.

I'm with you and the local news reports that Greece made their statement during the opening ceremonies. I am looking forward to seeing the ceremonies tonight.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm watching the whole thing because watching it does not affect the anti-gay policies of Russia in any way whatsoever.

Figure skating on the first night was pretty amazing. Teen guy from Japan is going to give Plushenko yet another run for his money. I'm liking the new team format, it makes each country put forward someone for all the different events. Saw a brand new pair skate and while they were great it really shines a spotlight on the ones that have much more experience.

Slopestyle snowboard is ok I guess....it's just qualifying so far. Shawn White dropped out of the event so he could work on halfpipe instead, so even more waiting to see him. He wasn't at X either to prep for the Olympics so he better put in a completely mindblowing performance.

Waiting on GD to get home to watch the opening ceremony. :)

NBC is giving a lot "coverage" of the issues surrounding the games. I can't say I'm learning anything new from them mentioning things again but at least they're not pretending it doesn't exist.

Bob Costas' eye thing makes my eye water.

[Moonliner]

NBC edits out anti descrimation statement from opening.

http://deadspin.com/nbc-edits-out-ioc-anti-discrimination-statement-from-op-1518727938

[Snowflake]

The military chorus rapping was also missing. That said, I thought the opening ceremonies were beautiful and I loved the parade of nations. I did find it amusing the heavy use of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake since he was infected with the gay.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The military chorus rapping was also missing. That said, I thought the opening ceremonies were beautiful and I loved the parade of nations. I did find it amusing the heavy use of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake since he was infected with the gay.Did they use Swan Lake? All I noticed was Stravinsky's Firebird.

[Alex]

Ok, maybe they're on track to pique my interest in watching the Olympics.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/02/09/olga_graf_russian_speed_skater_unzips_suit_for_acc idental_striptease.html

[innerSpaceman]

They also used a Freddy Mercury Queen song. Apparently, the irony was lost on them.


(Meanwhile, the rainbow-finger gloves the first-up for Parade-of-Athletes Greeks wore was NOT a protest move, but the official Winter Olympics gloves that feature the five colors of the Olympic Rings. Yes, we gays are reaching.)

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Though I too initially thought they looked rainbowish from a distance, red, yellow, green, blue, and black do not a rainbow make.

[Snowflake]

Did they use Swan Lake? All I noticed was Stravinsky's Firebird.

Yes, they did several times. They also used Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Glazunov, Borodin and Glinka. What I was surprised was missing some Rimsky-Korsakov. I also thought the reference to Sergei Diaghilev ironic, too. But, he did have a talent for finding and exporting or highlighting the best of Russian Ballet at the time. A period of dance and art design I still find endlessly fascinating.

I am really enjoying the ability to stream replays of complete events from the Olympic feed via Comcast. It was a treat to see ALL of the 4 runs of Men's Luge (38 competitors) and Snowboarding, Alpine sking and some Biathlon. With none of the idiot NBC comentary. The Australian guy who was calling the luge runs really knew his stuff.