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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 183104" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>Witz, I have felt similarly although I didn't let that stop me from watching it (too much). I did try to watch the Opening Ceremony but couldn't stop thinking about the people and politics, it was distracting me.</p><p>Later I did watch the athletes coming into the stadium and I watched the cauldron lighting. That little boy - what a hero! But I do hope he's not just being set up for attention now, without some good counselling being put in place. That earthquake was horrible, I really felt for the people of China and especially Szechuan Province.</p><p></p><p>We've been watching the competitions a fair bit - I do enjoy it, wherever it is. Politics tends to intrude always; if anything, there is less political intrusion these Games because it's just not permitted. </p><p></p><p>I do feel more comfortable watching the competition, because that is about the athletes and not about China. And the Chinese people objecting to demonstrators - I can't be critical of them, they have no access to balanced information. Life is tough in China, has been for a very long time. We have good friends living here who are Chinese-born (some are still very much Chinese, will never be naturalised) and I have to respect that their world view HAS to be different, if only because of their own life experiences. One friend speaks no English (too old to learn) but is a Tibetan sympathiser. He wants me to see a Tibetan doctor he knows... but I haven't a hope of ever travelling to China!</p><p></p><p>husband & I went to the final day of the three day equestrian in 2000. We watched Australia win over the US and NZ. Then husband took difficult child 1 to the fencing, which they enjoyed. Later I took difficult child 1 and easy child 2/difficult child 2 to the Paralympics. The basketball was amazing!</p><p></p><p>Michael Phelps - WOW! and the Korean bloke Park who won the 200 metres, I think it was - how wonderful for Korea. OK, he beat our bloke (who came in sixth) but that's alright, it was an amazing swim well deserving of gold. Libby Trickett won gold this morning in Butterfly. She's good at that.</p><p></p><p>I was watching the beach volleyball yesterday between the US and Japan. I was admiring both teams, both playing very well indeed and seemed to be evenly matched from what I could see.</p><p></p><p>We're getting a lot of the action live here, plus highlights in replays in peak viewing time. mother in law is really getting into it, it would be really easy for us to be glued to the TV and wrapped in blankets because it's DARNED COLD here. It snowed again today in the Blue Mountains, roads are closed.</p><p></p><p>What I like about the Olympics, wherever and whenever it happens to be - no matter what the politics of the host country, it all boils down to competition between individuals. Even though we talk about medal tally, etc - we are seeing individuals from around the world, the sporting elite, getting together in friendship to pit themselves against each other. What each host country can make, or not make, of the Olympics in terms of political capital or subsequent profiteering is a matter for that individual country and its foresight (or lack of).</p><p>Truth will out, in its own time. And political change takes time, unfortunately.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 183104, member: 1991"] Witz, I have felt similarly although I didn't let that stop me from watching it (too much). I did try to watch the Opening Ceremony but couldn't stop thinking about the people and politics, it was distracting me. Later I did watch the athletes coming into the stadium and I watched the cauldron lighting. That little boy - what a hero! But I do hope he's not just being set up for attention now, without some good counselling being put in place. That earthquake was horrible, I really felt for the people of China and especially Szechuan Province. We've been watching the competitions a fair bit - I do enjoy it, wherever it is. Politics tends to intrude always; if anything, there is less political intrusion these Games because it's just not permitted. I do feel more comfortable watching the competition, because that is about the athletes and not about China. And the Chinese people objecting to demonstrators - I can't be critical of them, they have no access to balanced information. Life is tough in China, has been for a very long time. We have good friends living here who are Chinese-born (some are still very much Chinese, will never be naturalised) and I have to respect that their world view HAS to be different, if only because of their own life experiences. One friend speaks no English (too old to learn) but is a Tibetan sympathiser. He wants me to see a Tibetan doctor he knows... but I haven't a hope of ever travelling to China! husband & I went to the final day of the three day equestrian in 2000. We watched Australia win over the US and NZ. Then husband took difficult child 1 to the fencing, which they enjoyed. Later I took difficult child 1 and easy child 2/difficult child 2 to the Paralympics. The basketball was amazing! Michael Phelps - WOW! and the Korean bloke Park who won the 200 metres, I think it was - how wonderful for Korea. OK, he beat our bloke (who came in sixth) but that's alright, it was an amazing swim well deserving of gold. Libby Trickett won gold this morning in Butterfly. She's good at that. I was watching the beach volleyball yesterday between the US and Japan. I was admiring both teams, both playing very well indeed and seemed to be evenly matched from what I could see. We're getting a lot of the action live here, plus highlights in replays in peak viewing time. mother in law is really getting into it, it would be really easy for us to be glued to the TV and wrapped in blankets because it's DARNED COLD here. It snowed again today in the Blue Mountains, roads are closed. What I like about the Olympics, wherever and whenever it happens to be - no matter what the politics of the host country, it all boils down to competition between individuals. Even though we talk about medal tally, etc - we are seeing individuals from around the world, the sporting elite, getting together in friendship to pit themselves against each other. What each host country can make, or not make, of the Olympics in terms of political capital or subsequent profiteering is a matter for that individual country and its foresight (or lack of). Truth will out, in its own time. And political change takes time, unfortunately. Marg [/QUOTE]
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