Olympics

[Somniloquism]

Ohhhhh the US win it in the 122nd minute. Was looking forward to pens.

So was I, lots of close up shots of Hope.

[luke25]

Ohhhhh the US win it in the 122nd minute. Was looking forward to pens.

So was I, lots of close up shots of Hope.

Oh yes, she was another cracker.

[spangley1812]

Anyone know why they're not using lane 1 in the single lap races?

Athletes prefer not to run in lane 1 as bends too tight. Having 9 lanes mean we can get away with less heats, e.g. today we had 9 in some of the 200m heats. It also means if we get a tie for 8th place in a final we could have 9 in final. Very unlikely with electronic timing but it might help.

In all events they have got away with only heats - semis -finals. Apart from 100m which had a prelim round which was a bit like sunday league teams entering the FA cup.

That's an official view from my position in first call room.

Met my mate Usain again tonight. He came in to call room en route to get his medal. He complained to me it was too cold in our marquee. "Are you in charge of the temperature gauge?" - "No I replied we've got the air conditioning on. Any way - You are supposed to be the coolest man on the planet!"

You may find this hard to believe but it is true!

[/quote]

Thanks a lot for the information and your "insight/updates" are fascinating............

[SashasGrandad]

Anyone know why they're not using lane 1 in the single lap races?

Athletes prefer not to run in lane 1 as bends too tight. Having 9 lanes mean we can get away with less heats, e.g. today we had 9 in some of the 200m heats. It also means if we get a tie for 8th place in a final we could have 9 in final. Very unlikely with electronic timing but it might help.

In all events they have got away with only heats - semis -finals. Apart from 100m which had a prelim round which was a bit like sunday league teams entering the FA cup.

That's an official view from my position in first call room.

Met my mate Usain again tonight. He came in to call room en route to get his medal. He complained to me it was too cold in our marquee. "Are you in charge of the temperature gauge?" - "No I replied we've got the air conditioning on. Any way - You are supposed to be the coolest man on the planet!"

You may find this hard to believe but it is true!

Thanks a lot for the information and your "insight/updates" are fascinating............
[/quote]

An Israeli athlete arrived today without his spikes and was asking his fellow athletes if they had a spare pair. Oscar (Pistorious) nearly wet himself when he was asked the question. "I wish I had 2 legs to put them on!"

re: the Algerian who got thrown out. I can't officially comment -as it might still go to appeal.

Looking forward to getting home next week, having a rest then getting back for the paralympics.

 

[Louzie0]

Just had a really great time at the athletics, today.  I had no idea the pole vault was so entertaining.  What adds to the tension is the countdown clock.  They have a minute to run down the alley and complete their attempt at getting over the bar.  If they decide to pull out before that, then as long as the bar hasn't fallen off they can have another go.

(You realise I have no idea what I'm talking about but that's what it looked like.)

The clock begins 0.59, 58, 57...  as the athlete examines the wind direction, the pole, the crowd, the signals from her coach, the results of the shot put at the other end, latest tweets, etc. before hoisting up the pole and getting going. One of the American jumpers waited until '0.09' (seconds to go) before beginning her run, accelerated and cleared the bar, landing on the purple mat just as the clock hit 0.00!  She got a major cheer for perfect vault, perfect timing.

The biggest cheers of the night apart from the obligatory ones for Holly Bleasdale went to the Cuban jumper, Silva.  She had such a terrific personality and attitude and everybody sitting around me was so disappointed when she crashed out in the last round.  The influence of the coaches was very obvious, though, with a constant procession across the track to get advice and stern hand signals about waiting for the wind to die down, during the event. 

Other highlights of tonight -

The gold medal guy (400m Hurdles) from Dominica(?) who burst into tears during his national anthem.  The whole crowd had been quiet throughout all the anthems earlier but stopped being quiet and gave him a huge round of sympathetic applause and a big 'Awww!' over the last verse!

The medal ceremony for Usain Bolt - what a moment.

Kirani James steaming away with the 400 metres gold.

Just cheering on GB athletes in the womens 200 heats and definitely getting Dai Greene up to fourth place through sheer volume and willpower as spectators.  (he was about 7th when he passed us, before the second bend.)

It has been a wonderful day at the olympic park and I am dead pleased I went.

[Somniloquism]

re: the Algerian who got thrown out. I can't officially comment -as it might still go to appeal.

I thought they had annouced last night that he was allowed back in. I suppose you might not have heard that news being under the stand.

[SashasGrandad]

re: the Algerian who got thrown out. I can't officially comment -as it might still go to appeal.

I thought they had annouced last night that he was allowed back in. I suppose you might not have heard that news being under the stand.

Not gone in yet. My shift does not start till 8.30.

He had good grounds for an appeal so I would anticipate he would get back in. He was OK according to IAAF rules - there was some pressure from IOC after the table tennis.

I'm out in the tent by the warm up track - only get to go under the stand on special occasions. Like when I escorted the 100m finalists on their buggy ride.

[Pat McMahon]

Kirani James is a sporting chap, wins the gold and then goes to shake hands with all the other competitors.

I was mighty impressed by that too. I took an instant liking to him.

[SteveN]

Watching the highlights last night, just how quick was Kenny in that sprint?  Really impressive and pleased for him as being picked ahead of Hoy must have put tremendous pressure on him.

Hope Vicky P can do the same today.

[PaulWinch again]

Bloody hell since Saturday which was brilliant, our athletics has massively gone off the boil. Sayers and Idowu out at qualifying stage, really poor.

[john e]

Is Sergey Bubka turning out in the men's polevolt again ?

He used to be like Peter pan, never aged and could fly

[paul_e]

Bloody hell since Saturday which was brilliant, our athletics has massively gone off the boil. Sayers and Idowu out at qualifying stage, really poor.

Sayers is a disappointment and should have done better, Idowu was always touch and go whether he was going to be fit enough, physically he looked ok but I guess he was so far short on training that mentally he wasn't fully prepared, I wouldn't say he was poor, unlucky is the better term for me.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

GET IN !

THATS ONE !

WIGGO !
THATS TWO !

NOW WE ARE FOUR

CYCLED TO FIVE
NOW WE HAVE ROWED TO SIX

SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN !

ELEVEN
TWELVE - ENNIS MAGNIFICENT !

THIRTEEN. GREG RUTHERFORD WINS THE LONG JUMP!

MO FARAH.....YOU ARE FUCKING WONDERFUL !
THREE GB ATHLETIC GOLDS IN AN HOUR !
FOURTEEN GOLDS IN TOTAL

AINSLEE SAILS TO FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN ANDY MURRAY

SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN     THE REAL KING KENNY !

NINETEEN     BEIJING GOLD MEDAL COUNT MATCHED

[spangley1812]

2 More medals for Yorkshire...........We wont hear the last of that

[Dante Lavelli]

An Israeli athlete arrived today without his spikes and was asking his fellow athletes if they had a spare pair. Oscar (Pistorious) nearly wet himself when he was asked the question. "I wish I had 2 legs to put them on!"

That’s fantastic and really puts my fuckwittedness into context.  Train your whole adult life for a once in a life time event, and you forget your shoes.  Inspirational.