2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games talk and trivia
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martinput:
Since the show, Noel Gallagher has done the dirty on his brother Liam by going on record saying that he - rather than Liam - was first approached to perform Wonderwall. But he turned it down "because they expected him to mime it"...
I bet that's true that Noel Gallagher was the 1st choice, he wrote the song and he's a lot more talented than all of them together but that's just my opinion of course. Noel also dedicated Wonderwall at a gig after the olympics to "The best Oasis tribute band in Stratford"
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The paralympics is declared open.
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Is HM competing?
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Words are completely inadequate to describe the wonders of the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony. If you can get to watch it somehow, do so. I'm not just talking the music, choreography or design but incredible, inspiring people doing fantastic things. Just an overwhelming sense of joyful spirit throughout. Can't wait for the competitions themselves. Martin UK viewers, at least, go here for replays: http://paralympics.channel4.com/video/index.html
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Who's idea was it to give the coverage to an ADVERT CHANNEL?????!!!
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Oh Ellie Simmonds.. What did you just do to us???? Love you to bits... Well done. Too early for news items, but fantastic story to unfold as soon as they show. Fantastic post-swim interview - for it's chaotic confused thoughts... Check it out if you can, certainly going to dominate UK TV news for the next 24 hours. Martin First draft from the BBC - still in development with "more to follow" at the end: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/disability-sport/19448550
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I went to see the athletics last night in the massive stadium. It was great! I had a seat close to the paralympic flame! Great view! I was worried about going because of the crowds, but I don't think I needed to queue up for anything for more than a few minutes! Some things I didn't need to queue for at all. And the volunteers there are brilliant and very helpful. I just got myself another ticket for the athletics on Monday, too. Hoping to get some swimming or wheelchair basketball tickets, but it's such a scramble on their website. I'm sort of shocked I managed to get the tickets I have already.
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Love the weather condition report: Typically British Martin
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Great pics Frankie! None of yourself?
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At an event I went to, at the medal ceremony, the person presenting flowers was from the Ticketmaster company. He got booed!!!!!!
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I was there the night George Osborne was booed. I laughed so much. It's official - it's over! The paralympics was amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!
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Interesting that the format of the closing ceremony basically came down to a Coldplay concert with special guests. They threw into that mix some wonderful performers and fantastical vehicles drawn straight from the pages of the Mad Max movies. We saw less of the athletes who'd been brought in and seated ahead of show-time and appreciate that for many such facility was welcome. Channel 4's commentary fizzled out allowing the spectacle to unfold un-narrated. That left me a bit conflicted as we lost some of the wonderful tales - amidst the Rio host section various dance groups had nominal "dance-off"s one of which was a group of six ballerina's. Earlier in the day there'd been a feature on that dance troop as each and everyone was blind - so armed with that knowledge I was able to wonder at the clever way they were brought centre stage to perform and guided away without any fuss. But the message throughout has been to highlight ability not disability - hence my conflict.... As ever, a wonderous whirlwind of sights and sounds which will lead me to watch it over again to catch things I missed first time round. Martin
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Great photos FrankieJ... thanks for putting those up, we didn't get to see much of it over here... The fireworks looked spectacular at the end!! You guys do great fireworks over there...
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The UK celebrate our Olympians and Paralympians today with a Victory Parade through the streets of London. 26 floats, each with about 40 athletes on each. Floats arranged by sport alphabetically - so Archery first and Water Polo last. The whole Parade live on BBC TV from 1.25 PM with highlights later in the day. Then I assume there'll be loads of local celebrations as athletes return home to their towns across the UK over the next few days. - Most of the Olympians have had these already so these'll be mainly for the Paralympian athletes. Then it's over... Barring countless review/highlights programmes and the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year programme - how do you sort that one out this year? I understand the Government has already announced there'll be a special Olympian/Paralympian Honours List this year to ensure the Honours Committee doesn't have to limit the numbers of awards given. In the past a double Gold medal triggered a Knighthood (Sir Chris Hoy - Dame Kelly Jones etc) in which case there'll be a few of those this time round.... Martin
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martinput:
Barring countless review/highlights programmes and the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year programme - how do you sort that one out this year?
I know! Back on day 3 or 4 of the Olympics it looked like Bradley Wiggins had the Sports Personality of the Year in the bag, but now you have: Bradley Wiggins* Andy Murray* Mo Farah* Jessica Ennis* Chris Hoy Victoria Pendleton Ben Ainslie David Weir* Sarah Storey Ellie Simmonds Plus several others who couldn't really have been any more successful, and who - in a normal year - would have walked it. To me it's got to go to one of the five with a star next to them, and David Weir would be a great choice. EDIT: Just found this article saying pretty much all I just said and more. Apparently Wiggins remains the favourite with the bookmakers (even after Murray's US Open win last night), and he certainly is quite a personality!
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I didn't see the Paralympics ceremony but it seems the same problem repeated itself. It seems the sounds was horrible, horrible enough to turn off the TV, Chris Martin couldn't be heard. ... "credit when it's due" but the sound at the Olympics and Paralympics ceremony have been horrible even for the standards of this complicated things. Live Aid sound was years light away better and that was 1985!