[ire]

Anyone know when the road events take place? Is it me, or does it seem like roadies are backing out of showing up? They have reasons, but I'm inclined to think they don't want to go because of the pollution

 

[SuspectDevice]

Pollution, politics and lack of marketability of the title... (Pro's in the Olympic road race is a new, and kinda illegitimate thing, like NBA players in Basketball) '96 was the first year of Pro eligibility for the olympic road events, and as far as I can tell, no one has really given a damn since then.

 

[ire]

Pollution, politics and lack of marketability of the title... (Pro's in the Olympic road race is a new, and kinda illegitimate thing, like NBA players in Basketball) '96 was the first year of Pro eligibility for the olympic road events, and as far as I can tell, no one has really given a damn since then.

Go answer my question in the cross frame debate thread!! I agree on the lack of marketability of the gold medal, but I have to say Bettini has been able to pair his Gold and World titles very nicely together.....it has also spawned some ugly gear (see James if you need a picture)

 

[sanjuro]

I think there will be about 15 riders finishing. The ones in contention will continue, everyone else will retire to the oxygen tent.

 

[ire]

I think there will be about 15 riders finishing. The ones in contention will continue, everyone else will retire to the oxygen tent.

I bet its like riding and smoking at the same time

 

[ire]

The weather looks great, we're all set for Saturday! I wonder if anyone will show up at the line with a mask on??

 

[DRB]

It's water vapor, not pollution. Haven't y'all been reading the propag... I mean news?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2506432/US-cyclists-provoke-Beijing-smog-row---Olympics.html

Earlier, on the opening day of the IOC's annual Session, Ljungqvist accused the media of exaggerating the pollution threat in Beijing and confusing smog with water vapour.

He said it was a "misconception" to believe the health of athletes and Olympic visitors could be endangered by the Beijing atmosphere and that the only hazard was to the long-term health of residents.

He added: "Most of the smog here is evaporation. It's due to humidity."

That Ljungqvist would be Professor Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC medical commission.

 

[Wumpus]

The link above is the entire list, below is cycling specific.

Aug. 9 -- Men's Road Race. NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Aug. 10 -- Women's Road Race, NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Aug. 13 -- Women's Individual Time Trial, NBC and NBC HD, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Aug. 13 -- Men's Individual Time Trial, MSNBC, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aug. 15 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals (men's team sprint), USA and USA HD, 2 a.m. to noon

Aug. 16 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 16 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, USA and USA HD, 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This day includes the men's 40-km points race and finals in the men's 4,000-meter individual pursuit and the men's keirin.

Aug. 17 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Aug. 17 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, USA and USA HD, 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This day includes the women's 3,000-meter individual pursuit finals.

Aug. 18 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, MSNBC, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This day includes the men's 4,000-meter team pursuit finals.

Aug. 19 -- Men's BMX (live), NBC and NBC HD, 12:35 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Aug. 19 -- Track Cycling gold medal finals, USA and USA HD, 2 a.m. to noon
This day includes the men's 50-km Madison and men's and women's sprint finals.

Aug. 20 -- BMX gold medal finals (live), NBC and NBC HD, 8 p.m. to midnight

Aug. 22 -- Women's Mountain Bike, MSNBC, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aug. 23 -- Men's Mountain Bike, NBC and NBC HD, 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.

 

[Squeak]

Aug. 9 -- Men's Road Race. NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They cant be showing all the race. Are they saying it will be on sometime between 10 and 6?

 

[Wumpus]

Aug. 9 -- Men's Road Race. NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They cant be showing all the race. Are they saying it will be on sometime between 10 and 6?

Saturday, Aug. 9

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women's Volleyball - USA vs. Japan (LIVE); Swimming; Beach Volleyball - USA Match; Men's Cycling - Road Race; Women's Fencing - Individual Sabre Gold Medal Final; Rowing



Here's a more complete schedule: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/olympics/24272929.html

 

[ire]

Women's Volleyball - USA vs. Japan (LIVE);

I know what I'm watching! :biggrin:

 

[sanjuro]

Surprise!

The media scheduled to broadcast the Olympics were notified on Friday that the men's road race could be postponed due to thick smog in Beijing. According to Fox Sports, broadcasters were advised to make alternate plans just in case.

The men's road race is still scheduled for Saturday beginning at 11:00 am local time. Organizers have set a deadline to start the race by 1:30 pm or else delay it for 24 hours. The women's road race is still scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 pm.

 

[ire]

Why was a third world country chosen for the Olympics??

 

[SuspectDevice]

Why was a third world country chosen for the Olympics??

Prepare to read left to right...

 

[DRB]

Surprise!

come on, I told you. Not smog, water vapor.

 

[sanjuro]

come on, I told you. Not smog, water vapor.

This is what water vapor looks like:

Beijing is 70 miles from the coast.

That would be like Sacramento getting an ocean breeze...

 

[DRB]

This is what water vapor looks like:

Beijing is 70 miles from the coast.

That would be like Sacramento getting an ocean breeze...

Dude that's fog not water vapor....

 

[DRB]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/08/olympics2008.china1

hope my fears are misplaced, but on the eve of the Olympics, a BBC monitoring unit found that the level of particulate matter (PM10) in Beijing's air was 191 micrograms per cubic metre. This is nearly four times the World Health Organisation safety target of 50 micrograms per cubic metre.

He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour. But he conceded that if pollution levels got out of hand, events lasting longer than 60 minutes might have to be relocated or deferred.

Echoing the bland assurances of the Chinese authorities, Rogge stressed that it was important to distinguish between harmless fog and toxic pollution – implying that much of the cause of low visibility was mere humidity and mist. The distinction is a valid one, but I am not confident that this controversy is a needless fuss about fog.

Previous to this statement, Rogge was seen doing alabama slammers with 151 and Tripels. Of course this is not to be confused with the alabama hot pocket that is part of the bribe package to say such insane things.

f'ing awesome...

 

[sanjuro]

I'm really impressed with Cancellara. I'll give it Sanchez and Rebellin, but Fabian had no teammates, gapped up in the last 6 kilos by himself, and still had enough for bronze.

 

[ire]

I'm really impressed with Cancellara. I'll give it Sanchez and Rebellin, but Fabian had no teammates, gapped up in the last 6 kilos by himself, and still had enough for bronze.

His power is very impressive. I have to admit Sanchez surprised me

 

[splat]

I really like the bit where they had to race through the toll booths.

 

[sanjuro]

Shout out to Cancellara again, this time the TT. Good job.

And USA wins! Kristin Armstrong!

 

[JRogers]

Shout out to Cancellara again, this time the TT. Good job.

And USA wins! Kristin Armstrong!

No doubt. Watching the end of the TT or the RR is interesting- in the RR, I recall he seemed to be the only one sitting down up the climb, apparently putting down the same power as the guys standing. In the TT he looks so controlled. I watched Contador at the end of the TT and he was all over the place while Cancellara was, while clearly tired, controlled. He held it to the line, celebrated before crossing and then kind of collapsed on the side. Great ride.

 

[OGRipper]

Cancellara is proving to be one the best riders of his time. In addition to kicking butt in the TT's, he does great in one-day races (Paris-Roubaix, etc.) and provides key help to his team in the grand tours. On top of it he seems to be a pretty cool character with a good attitude. He's still young and has years ahead, and it will be interesting to see how his career develops.

 

[STPIZZAY]

I'm sick of China trying to put on a front to the rest of the world. They want to appear perfect, and it seems like everyone if forgetting that China is still a COMMUNIST country. Its like WalMarts new "Eco-Freindly" Logo. They havent changed anything, its just a "Feel good" front behind a large corporation that treats their employees like S**T.

China Hasn't Changed!!

i had to rant...

 

[James]

I'm sick of China trying to put on a front to the rest of the world. They want to appear perfect, and it seems like everyone if forgetting that China is still a COMMUNIST country. Its like WalMarts new "Eco-Freindly" Logo. They havent changed anything, its just a "Feel good" front behind a large corporation that treats their employees like S**T.


China Hasn't Changed!!

i had to rant...

Let the games be the games I say. Has everyone forgotten that Nazi Germany hosted an Olympics?

Let's not forget the amazing stories that come out of the games, no matter what the host country is.

 

[James]

I'm sick of China trying to put on a front to the rest of the world. They want to appear perfect, and it seems like everyone if forgetting that China is still a COMMUNIST country. Its like WalMarts new "Eco-Freindly" Logo. They havent changed anything, its just a "Feel good" front behind a large corporation that treats their employees like S**T.


China Hasn't Changed!!

i had to rant...

One of my favorite images from the run-up to the Olympics:

People who get super-angry without any knowledge of history, whether it's the Olympics, or really just about anything else, annoy me.

 

[Jettj45]

I'm sick of China trying to put on a front to the rest of the world. They want to appear perfect, and it seems like everyone if forgetting that China is still a COMMUNIST country. Its like WalMarts new "Eco-Freindly" Logo. They havent changed anything, its just a "Feel good" front behind a large corporation that treats their employees like S**T.

China Hasn't Changed!!

i had to rant...

On that note did you hear about the opening ceremony. The little girl that sang in it was just lip singing. The girl that was actually doing the singing was "not ascetically pleasing enough" aka chubby and some crooked teeth.