I thought that these Olympics were extremely boring.
Except for Women's Beach Volleyball.
Except for Women's Beach Volleyball.
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The Olympic Games: Athens 2004 (17 Viewers)
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I predict already now that the 2008 games will be fantastic. The Chinese can make more or less anything happen when they really want it, due to their metanlity and resources. Just look at how they've managed to improve their athletes, and it isn't 2008 yet.
Meenwhile, according to the lists I've seen Norway beat Sweden, Denmark and Finland in the medals tally. What's up with, we didn't even compete on snow! Magnus, Calle, Art, Poku, what happened?
Meenwhile, according to the lists I've seen Norway beat Sweden, Denmark and Finland in the medals tally. What's up with, we didn't even compete on snow! Magnus, Calle, Art, Poku, what happened?
That's why I'm afraid of that: everything will be fantasic, the best, great.
And I think that everything will be TOO fantastic etc.
And also: I've read, that they plan to gather 80% medals in Beijing.
I had such bad image in my head for a moment: every time, when they will be playing national anthem for a winner, it will be chinese anthem, and next to chinese winner, there will be two another chinese: 2nd and 3rd place.
Oops, maybe a little to negative thoughts.
Yes they already improved alot, but I dont feel in it any sport spirit, but only a big rivalry to show their power in Beijing.
And I think that everything will be TOO fantastic etc.
And also: I've read, that they plan to gather 80% medals in Beijing.
I had such bad image in my head for a moment: every time, when they will be playing national anthem for a winner, it will be chinese anthem, and next to chinese winner, there will be two another chinese: 2nd and 3rd place.
Oops, maybe a little to negative thoughts.
Yes they already improved alot, but I dont feel in it any sport spirit, but only a big rivalry to show their power in Beijing.
I remember that huge Olympic torch with water, Ian Thorpe and Australian relays, and that guy from Mozambiqueor somewhere, who was about to drown, when he was swimming 100 metres, remember him?
And I remember our Robert Korzeniowski, cause we won 2 gold medals in 20km and 50 km walk, and noone did it beofre him, he also won 3 golden medals in 50 km walk in row: Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, noone did that before.
And I remember our Robert Korzeniowski, cause we won 2 gold medals in 20km and 50 km walk, and noone did it beofre him, he also won 3 golden medals in 50 km walk in row: Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, noone did that before.
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- We've seen it all during the Olympics, from alpha to omega. And we've largely kept our opinions to ourselves.
But not anymore.
From the most enthusiastic fans and infectious chants to the worst hairdos and attitudes to the most annoyingly overplayed songs, here's our look at the best and worst of the 2004 Summer Games:
___
BEST CHANT: The roaring Greek cries of "Hellas, Hellas" -- as the country is known here -- which echoed everywhere but were deafening during the men's basketball game against the United States. (We also got caught up in the Lithuanians' rhythmic cheer of "Lie-tu-va.")
WORST BEHAVIOR: Two displays come to mind. The capacity crowd at Olympic Stadium whistling and booing -- chanting for disgraced Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris -- and delaying the start of the 200-meter final by four minutes. And the gymnastics fans who booed for 10 minutes because they were unhappy with the high-bar scores the judges gave Russian Alexei Nemov.
BEST SPORTSMANSHIP: U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, for giving up his spot in the 400-meter medley relay to rival Ian Crocker, which allowed Crocker to redeem himself for a disappointing swim earlier.
WORST SPORTSMANSHIP: Germany's Judith Arndt, who won the silver medal in the women's road race, yet made an obscene gesture toward her nation's cycling federation officials while crossing the finish line. Arndt said she was upset that they didn't put her close friend, Petra Rossner, on the Olympic team. (Misplaced priorities: Taekwondo referee Zhao Lei, who still counted out Bertrand Gbongou Liango from the Central African Republic while he was lying unconscious from a roundhouse kick to the head before being hospitalized with a concussion.)
BEST HAIR: Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, whose blond-tipped bed-head still looked fabulous, even with the gold medal-winner's wreath on top of it.
WORST HAIR: Australian basketball player C.J. Bruton, whose braided 'do resembled a cornrow mohawk. (Though furry-backed Roberto Duenas of the Spanish basketball team qualifies for this category, as well. The 7-foot-3, 302-pound center is the winner our "Wookie of the Year" award.)
BEST HORSE NAME: Air Jordan, a German horse in the three-day event, which includes jumping.
WORST CROWDS: The abysmally low soccer attendance at satellite venues in Thessaloniki, Heraklio, Volos and Patras -- except when the Greeks played, and even they didn't sell out most of their games. At the Ghana-Paraguay game, the announced attendance was 1,119 among 26,200 seats.
BEST FIREWORKS: The climactic show at the opening ceremony in Olympic Stadium.
WORST FIREWORKS: Chief Olympic organizer Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki threw a celebration one day later, with a pyrotechnics show that caused a fire in the nearby wooded area, burning out of control for nearly an hour.
BEST BARGAIN: The 2-euro Heinekens on tap at the venues and media villages. (Though the chocolate-coated ice cream bars for 1 euro and 50 cents also were a favorite.)
WORST FOOD: Anything served at the media villages. Breakfast was especially bleak, consisting of bland cold cuts, tepid omelets and concrete croissants.
BEST USE OF COSMETICS: American sprinter Gail Devers, who painted her famous talons blue to match her uniform.
WORST USE OF COSMETICS: The rhythmic gymnasts. We know you're trying to color coordinate, but seafoam-green eye shadow and silver hair glitter are never, ever a good look.
BEST FASHION ACCESSORY: British long jumper Jade Johnson's snazzy red fishnet stockings.
WORST FASHION ACCESSORY: The plastic strap barely holding up Jamaican Veronica Campbell's top as she ran the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay. Her team won the gold, but her outfit was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
BEST FANS: Hard to choose. The mighty, tightly packed Lithuanian basketball fans, dressed in their country's green, yellow and red, resembled the produce section at a grocery store. The Japanese, in matching samurai garb, were vocal and organized at baseball. And then there was the overweight Brazilian beach volleyball fan in a green-and-yellow wig, tight yellow Superman costume and blue Speedo trunks.
WORST ATTITUDE: U.S. super heavyweight Jason Estrada, who performed dismally in a quarterfinal loss to Cuba's Michel Lopez Nunez, then infuriated his coaches by telling reporters it didn't matter since he's focusing on his upcoming pro career: "If I'm going to lose, I'm going to lose getting hit as little as possible. I'd rather not get hit at all."
BEST SONGS AT VENUES: The "Zorba the Greek" theme, which never grew tiresome. "Miserlou" by Dick Dale. "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet. "Music" by Madonna. Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."
WORST SONGS AT VENUES: "La Bamba." "Love Shack" by the B-52's. "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men. "Tie Me Kangaroo Down." Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."
MOST OVERPLAYED SONG: The Venga Boys' "We Like to Party." Since the games started 2 1/2 weeks ago, it feels like this insanely catchy electronic ditty has been playing at some sporting event or soiree every second of every day. (Or maybe it's just stuck in our heads.)
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
But not anymore.
From the most enthusiastic fans and infectious chants to the worst hairdos and attitudes to the most annoyingly overplayed songs, here's our look at the best and worst of the 2004 Summer Games:
___
BEST CHANT: The roaring Greek cries of "Hellas, Hellas" -- as the country is known here -- which echoed everywhere but were deafening during the men's basketball game against the United States. (We also got caught up in the Lithuanians' rhythmic cheer of "Lie-tu-va.")
WORST BEHAVIOR: Two displays come to mind. The capacity crowd at Olympic Stadium whistling and booing -- chanting for disgraced Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris -- and delaying the start of the 200-meter final by four minutes. And the gymnastics fans who booed for 10 minutes because they were unhappy with the high-bar scores the judges gave Russian Alexei Nemov.
BEST SPORTSMANSHIP: U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, for giving up his spot in the 400-meter medley relay to rival Ian Crocker, which allowed Crocker to redeem himself for a disappointing swim earlier.
WORST SPORTSMANSHIP: Germany's Judith Arndt, who won the silver medal in the women's road race, yet made an obscene gesture toward her nation's cycling federation officials while crossing the finish line. Arndt said she was upset that they didn't put her close friend, Petra Rossner, on the Olympic team. (Misplaced priorities: Taekwondo referee Zhao Lei, who still counted out Bertrand Gbongou Liango from the Central African Republic while he was lying unconscious from a roundhouse kick to the head before being hospitalized with a concussion.)
BEST HAIR: Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, whose blond-tipped bed-head still looked fabulous, even with the gold medal-winner's wreath on top of it.
WORST HAIR: Australian basketball player C.J. Bruton, whose braided 'do resembled a cornrow mohawk. (Though furry-backed Roberto Duenas of the Spanish basketball team qualifies for this category, as well. The 7-foot-3, 302-pound center is the winner our "Wookie of the Year" award.)
BEST HORSE NAME: Air Jordan, a German horse in the three-day event, which includes jumping.
WORST CROWDS: The abysmally low soccer attendance at satellite venues in Thessaloniki, Heraklio, Volos and Patras -- except when the Greeks played, and even they didn't sell out most of their games. At the Ghana-Paraguay game, the announced attendance was 1,119 among 26,200 seats.
BEST FIREWORKS: The climactic show at the opening ceremony in Olympic Stadium.
WORST FIREWORKS: Chief Olympic organizer Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki threw a celebration one day later, with a pyrotechnics show that caused a fire in the nearby wooded area, burning out of control for nearly an hour.
BEST BARGAIN: The 2-euro Heinekens on tap at the venues and media villages. (Though the chocolate-coated ice cream bars for 1 euro and 50 cents also were a favorite.)
WORST FOOD: Anything served at the media villages. Breakfast was especially bleak, consisting of bland cold cuts, tepid omelets and concrete croissants.
BEST USE OF COSMETICS: American sprinter Gail Devers, who painted her famous talons blue to match her uniform.
WORST USE OF COSMETICS: The rhythmic gymnasts. We know you're trying to color coordinate, but seafoam-green eye shadow and silver hair glitter are never, ever a good look.
BEST FASHION ACCESSORY: British long jumper Jade Johnson's snazzy red fishnet stockings.
WORST FASHION ACCESSORY: The plastic strap barely holding up Jamaican Veronica Campbell's top as she ran the anchor leg of the 400-meter relay. Her team won the gold, but her outfit was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
BEST FANS: Hard to choose. The mighty, tightly packed Lithuanian basketball fans, dressed in their country's green, yellow and red, resembled the produce section at a grocery store. The Japanese, in matching samurai garb, were vocal and organized at baseball. And then there was the overweight Brazilian beach volleyball fan in a green-and-yellow wig, tight yellow Superman costume and blue Speedo trunks.
WORST ATTITUDE: U.S. super heavyweight Jason Estrada, who performed dismally in a quarterfinal loss to Cuba's Michel Lopez Nunez, then infuriated his coaches by telling reporters it didn't matter since he's focusing on his upcoming pro career: "If I'm going to lose, I'm going to lose getting hit as little as possible. I'd rather not get hit at all."
BEST SONGS AT VENUES: The "Zorba the Greek" theme, which never grew tiresome. "Miserlou" by Dick Dale. "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet. "Music" by Madonna. Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."
WORST SONGS AT VENUES: "La Bamba." "Love Shack" by the B-52's. "Who Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men. "Tie Me Kangaroo Down." Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."
MOST OVERPLAYED SONG: The Venga Boys' "We Like to Party." Since the games started 2 1/2 weeks ago, it feels like this insanely catchy electronic ditty has been playing at some sporting event or soiree every second of every day. (Or maybe it's just stuck in our heads.)
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
i saw that guy, during beach volley and indoor volley....
Speaking of such things, the worst behaviour in my book is the Irish man who attacked the leader of the marathon, unsettling him enough that he finished third. He's an ex-priest who had a sign on him proclaiming that the appocolypse is near. The same guy got onto the track at Silverstone last year during a Grand Prix. I hope the loon gets a far stiffer sentance this time.