The Opening Ceremony: Let's Party!!

[mojoween]

The flag bearer for Belize was having so much fun and the flag bearer for Bahrain was wicked good-looking and considering I don't know who he is I hope I'm not being all Mrs. Robinson about it.

When they finished the A's one of the inane hosts said "you know who's coming up, the United States!"

Um.  Shut your piehole fool.  There are a lot of countries between B and E.

If Bhutan has two delegates competing, who were all the other people walking in with them?

Edited August 6, 2016 by mojoween

[Daisy]

Just now, mojoween said:

The flag bearer for Belize was having so much fun and the flag bearer for Bahrain was wicked good-looking and considering I don't know who he is I hope I'm not being all Mrs. Robinson about it.

When they finished the A's one of the inane hosts said "you know who's coming up, the United States!"

Um.  Shut your piehole fool.  There are a lot of countries between B and E.

If Bhutan has two delegates competing, who were all the other people waking in with them?

part of their Olympic organizations, coaches, etc. 

[AimingforYoko]

1 minute ago, Daisy said:

Cross country skiing

Correct, although apparently it's one guy.

[mightysparrow]

If I were one of the guys with the tricycles, I'd just ride it out of the stadium.  They are very cool.

[WhitneyWhit]

I love seeing the African nations, their national dresses are always so colorful and beautiful.

[Daisy]

CANADA!!!  Woooooo!

#gladtobethere lol

[AimingforYoko]

Kazakhstan, and no mention of Borat? Could it be our little NBC is growing up?

[mojoween]

Why do they keep saying the US will be Estados Unidos?  Isn't that the Spanish version?

I love how Meredith was like "hey there's Manu Ginobli!" like the average Olynpics fan will know who that is on sight.

Thanks Daisy!

Edited August 6, 2016 by mojoween

[cmahorror]

I am just not feeling this opening ceremony. I still remember watching London's and being really engaged with all the performances. Pet Shop Boys, Annie Lennox, so many different acts I know along with others I didn't know, including a popular TV Show about some teenagers. This one has only elicited one strong emotion - fear when they brought out the giant insects. I really do not need nightmares about a giant spider thank you very much.

I understand being proud of Giselle but couldn't she have just been on stage with the guy, take a quick walk down the stage and back again and then stand there until the end of the performance. Another idea - bring the real Girl from Ipanema, the one who the song was written for, on and have Giselle escort her up to the stage. NBC spoke with the woman this week in Rio so she is there.

ETA: I did love her enthusiastic dancing to the music when she was out of the spotlight.

Edited August 6, 2016 by cmahorror

[Brattinella]

That would have been so cool!  The Real Girl from Ipanema.

[chitowngirl]

Quote

Why do they keep saying the US will be Estados Unidos?  Isn't that the Spanish version?

Also the Portugese version.

[Daisy]

2 minutes ago, mojoween said:

Why do they keep saying the US will be Estados Unidos?  Isn't that the Spanish version?

I love how Meredith was like "hey there's Manu Ginobli!" like the average Olynpics fan will know who that is on sight.

Thanks Daisy!

 

no problem :)

and I am guessing if people get bored watching all the countries and you go - i'll be back in "U" so because they are using the Portuguese alphabet they are stressing that the US delegates will come in sooner. 

[Fostersmom]

Just now, Brattinella said:

That would have been so cool!  The Real Girl from Ipanema.

I think Mary Carillo will be shown interviewing her at some time. Mary was talking with Bob Costas last night and she mentioned meeting her. 

[ExplainItAgain]

Just now, Daisy said:

and I am guessing if people get bored watching all the countries and you go - i'll be back in "U" so because they are using the Portuguese alphabet they are stressing that the US delegates will come in sooner. 

I guess I'm weird, but we (US) see enough of our athletes, I watch the parade to see the athletes from all the other nations!

[chitowngirl]

Matt is going to have nothing to talk about once the United States rolls in. You'd think they were coming up next.

[KenyaJ]

2 hours ago, Kromm said:

Hilarious that NBC fully goes along with "they kept it simple to not lose the message" explanation. Rather than "they didn't have the money to do more". 

I'm kind of grateful for that, actually. I was live streaming the BBC coverage earlier, and I felt like the announcers were trying to come up with new ways to say how cheap the show was. It was kind of off-putting after a while.

On another note, I normally like Hoda Kotbe, but I've never wanted someone to shut up more than I want her to shut up right now.

Also, almost every single comment on the NBCOlympics Instagram account is people complaining about all the commercials.  The comments are brutal. They probably won't make any difference, but I'm glad NC is finding out how pissed people are at its shitty coverage.

Edited August 6, 2016 by KenyaJ

[mojoween]

Oh I thought it would be different in Portuguese.

It irrationally bothers me that it's the same.

[Daisy]

1 minute ago, ExplainItAgain said:

I guess I'm weird, but we (US) see enough of our athletes, I watch the parade to see the athletes from all the other nations!

 

I'll be weird with you!  that's why I watch!  I really don't get why the NBC stresses the Americas will be "coming up!" yah, okay so are a lot of other countries. 

[MostlyC]

Did the US not show the north korean contingent?

[kattybiz]

2 minutes ago, Daisy said:

 

I'll be weird with you!  that's why I watch!  I really don't get why the NBC stresses the Americas will be "coming up!" yah, okay so are a lot of other countries. 

Me too!  I love seeing everyone else and how happy they are!

Edited August 6, 2016 by kattybiz

[mightysparrow]

1 minute ago, MostlyC said:

Did the US not show the north korean contingent?

I don't think they've come up on NBC yet.

[MyAimIsTrue]

4 minutes ago, ExplainItAgain said:

I guess I'm weird, but we (US) see enough of our athletes, I watch the parade to see the athletes from all the other nations!

If you're weird then so am I as I'm already sick of Michael Phelps and the gymnastics team and the games haven't even officially begun yet.  I'd rather hear more about people like the Albanian steeplechase runner (she was their flag bearer) who trains alone and in a public park.

[maraleia]

Just now, MostlyC said:

Did the US not show the north korean contingent?

It's República Popular Democrática da in Portugese.

[Daisy]

1 minute ago, MyAimIsTrue said:

If you're weird then so am I as I'm already sick of Michael Phelps and the gymnastics team and the games haven't even officially begun yet.  I'd rather hear more about people like the Albanian steeplechase runner (she was their flag bearer) who trains alone and in a public park.

Right? all alone in a public part next to joggers. How did she decide to be a steeplechaser? what pushes her? etc

[Kromm]

UAE and its one token female, eh?

[Bees52]

Of course a commercial break before the US enters...

[Brattinella]

Did anyone catch the tiara-like thing that lady was wearing? Very pretty gold thing on her dark skin.  I think she was from Djabouti, maybe?

[AimingforYoko]

3 minutes ago, Kromm said:

UAE and its one token female, eh?

Saudi Arabia's up to four!

[ExplainItAgain]

Well, NBC managed to stretch out the US until 10pm ET. I bet they'll fly through the rest of the alphabet.

[mojoween]

I'm not going to lie...the first Olympics I can really remember are Calgary 88, but 28 years later the Olympics theme still gives me chills.

Hmmm, I was 11 in 84 so I'm not sure why I don't remember watching LA.  Must have been on past my bedtime.

Rafael Nadal looks adorable.

[againstthewind]

Chileans were hot.

[Shaynaa]

Wow, how big of NBC to not overlook Micronesia.  They should get a medal.  Just ask them.

[Daisy]

Just now, mojoween said:

I'm not going to lie...the first Olympics I can really remember are Calgary 88, but 28 years later the Olympics theme still gives me chills.

Hmmm, I was 11 in 84 so I'm not sure why I don't remember watching LA.  Must have been on past my bedtime.

Rafael Nadal looks adorable.

My first Olympics was 92 (Barcelona). I was visiting family in Jamaica, but i remember watching Shannon Miller. But I fell in love with the olympics in Lillehammer (who didn't really?) when i was watching Bobsleigh of all sports. and the Olympics theme always makes me cry. did when i was 9 and now when i am just a newly minted 33. 

so big of Today not to bypass Micronesia. 

[bmoore4026]

Is it wrong that I watched The Great British Bake Show for most of this opening ceremony?

Anyway, USA!!!!  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[maraleia]

This is the gayest Olympics BTW with more out LGBT athletes than ever before. Here's some of the queer women competing from around the world http://www.afterellen.com/people/497403-31-lesbianbisexual-olympic-athletes-root-rio

[Arynm]

Don't play NBC,  you know the only reason you showed Micronesia was because they waited a bit before they let USA out. Probably because they knew NBC wouldn't show the countries right before and after them.

[ExplainItAgain]

Someone upthread mentioned this, but fuck Ralph Lauren for putting that huge logo on the uniforms. They need a new designer next Olympics.

[galaxygirl76]

The team USA outfit is horrendous.

The first Olympics I can remember watching live were Albertville/Barcelona '92, because of the timezone I wasn't allowed to see much of the LA, Seoul and Calgary games.

[Daisy]

what's that horse thing on USA's jackets and why is it there?

[AimingforYoko]

Just now, Daisy said:

what's that horse thing on USA's jackets and why is it there?

Advertising for Ralph Lauren, the designer of the uniform.

[chitowngirl]

The Ralph Lauren logo. They designed the uniforms.

[mojoween]

The horse is the logo for Ralph Lauren's Polo line.  It's normally MUCH smaller on regular clothes.

Also, you can go online and buy the t-shirt for $89.50!

[Daisy]

Just now, AimingforYoko said:

Advertising for Ralph Lauren, the designer of the uniform.

smokes. it's larger than USAOC logo. (also thanks). 
 

[Kromm]

5 minutes ago, Daisy said:

what's that horse thing on USA's jackets and why is it there?

 

It looks like that egotistical jackass Ralph Lauren felt his own personal branding had to go on them.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Kromm

[chitowngirl]

Sigh, I'm old, I remember Mark Spitz swimming and Bruce Jenner winning the decathlon.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Just now, chitowngirl said:

Sigh, I'm old, I remember Mark Spitz swimming and Bruce Jenner winning the decathlon.

I'm old too as I watched both of those.  In all fairness to myself I was only seven in 1972!

[camussie]

Except for the Ralph Lauren logo I really like the team USA uniforms.  I think the white pants with the striped shirt and blue blazer are the right look for these Olympics which are a bit more a casual. 

Edited August 6, 2016 by camussie

[Rinaldo]

I was in college at that time, but 1972 was the first Olympics I remember really paying attention to. Mark Spitz was hard to miss.

[chitowngirl]

Plus the Massacre of the Israeli athletes.

Edited August 6, 2016 by chitowngirl

[ExplainItAgain]

Oh, I just realized why they kept showing those metal things and seeds. The athletes are planting them. So cute.