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Post by jo on Aug 2, 2016 22:55:16 GMT -5
Every four years, the world's fittest and best athletes compete in and celebrate the Olympic spirit. The 2016 Olympics has been hounded by a lot of controversies, but it doesn't matter to the young ( and not so young) men and women who gather together, coming from mostly a four-year training and waiting period, to tell the world by deed who is " the highest, the fastest, the strongest" in this friendly competition for medals and honor to one's country. This coming weekend, Rio de Janeiro will play host to the world's best atheletes. Let's wish them all well, whether they come from your own country or we like to simply believe that they are Planet Earth's best athletes! Let's ask Hugh Jackman to cheer them on musically in his famous I GO TO RIO number --  And -- |
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Post by jo on Aug 3, 2016 7:30:15 GMT -5
Are you familiar with that sultry song, with a bossa nova beat, called THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA. The song is supposedly the second most recorded song after the Beatles's YESTERDAY.
It was a big hit during the Kennedy era.
Have you ever wondered who that girl was who inspired the song ?
She is now a grandmother and her name is Helo...and she will be part of the torch relay for the RIO Olympics!
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Post by jo on Aug 3, 2016 9:39:21 GMT -5
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Post by alma on Aug 3, 2016 13:16:07 GMT -5
Are you familiar with that sultry song, with a bossa nova beat, called THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA. The song is supposedly the second most recorded song after the Beatles's YESTERDAY. It was a big hit during the Kennedy era. Have you ever wondered who that girl was who inspired the song ? She is now a grandmother and her name is Helo...and she will be part of the torch relay for the RIO Olympics!Jo Really, Jo? I had no idea! How exciting. I wonder what other surprises we'll get. May the games take place PEACEFULLY and SAFELY. CHEERS TO ALL!!!  Alma |
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Post by jo on Aug 3, 2016 15:15:09 GMT -5
Watch out for Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen ( aka wife of QB Tom Brady) during the opening ceremony. There is some talk that her appearance will link to the song THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA  Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 3, 2016 15:22:49 GMT -5
Several sports stars announced so far as their country's flagbearers - USA - swimmer Michael Phelps SPAIN - tennis player Rafael Nadal UNITED KINGDOM - tennis player Andy Murray DENMARK - tennis player Caroline Wozniacki And the rest of the announced flagbearers -- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Summer_Olympics_Parade_of_NationsBtw, the country's names will be spelled in the Brazilian/Portuguese manner, so countries like the USA will march early on ( Estados Unidos da America). So, if you want to make sure you catch the athletes marching for your country, please check the order of the country names designated in the list so you don't take the wrong break while watching the Parade of Nations. At the closing ceremonies, all athletes will march together -- no designation of countries represented, in the true Olympic spirit. Btw, according to the website :" United States broadcaster NBC reportedly made a request to the International Olympic Committee for the Parade of Nations to be conducted in English alphabetical order rather than Portuguese, stating that American TV viewership would be affected if the U.S. team entered in the middle of the parade as "Estados Unidos" in Portuguese instead of near the end of the parade as "United States" in English. The IOC refused NBC's request, as it runs contrary to the Olympic rules stating that nations enter in the alphabetical order of the language of the host country." It will happen to many other countries -- countries like Germany will march as "Alemanha", Spain will march under "Espanha" while our country (Philippines) will march as "Filipinas". Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 3, 2016 15:53:29 GMT -5
Btw, on an obvious biased note -- I will never forgive the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics ( held in summer 2008) for beating the Jackman-hosted 2009 Oscars (held in early 2009) for EMMY honors  Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 19:05:46 GMT -5
In spirit, sportsman Hugh Jackman is in Rio!
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 19:41:46 GMT -5
LOL! The most recognized flagbearer was grinning from ear to ear Many were familiar with his journey -- after winning the tennis gold in Beijing, he had to bow out as flagbearer for the London 2012 Olympics because of a knee injury...and he was bent on joining the Rio Games despite a wrist injury ( he missed the rest of the French Open and Wimbledon because of the injury) --- but as he said, he will take the risk ( and compete in three tennis events) for the sake of the Olympics. He was also the most selfied sports star at the Rio Games -- he could not finish eating at the Olympic Village without other Olympic athletes asking for that souvenir photo. The tweeter Courtney Nguyen is a contributing writer for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 19:50:23 GMT -5
The USA Team called the most successful team in Olympic history was led by the most successful Olympian in history, flagbearer Michael Phelps!
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 20:05:41 GMT -5
Exactly the same here -- it was nothing but interruptions  |
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 20:16:23 GMT -5
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Post by jo on Aug 5, 2016 21:04:10 GMT -5
The entry of the host nation was the most joyous -- they even had their own musical theme, the popular " Brazil". The color, the air of history, the social issues ( diversity, ecology, unity, etc), the culture, the music and pageantry... were all mirrored in the Opening Ceremony. A different touch was the meshing of all the flags together ... and the athletes also joining together ( even if they will be competing fiercely against each other in the next two weeks) as the formal Welcome is expressed. The most touching moment was when the seeds planted by the athletes of each country in small containers ( held in specially designed silvery metal structures) bound for planting in a special legacy forest for the Rio Games blossomed into trees and then formed the five rings of the Olympic movement! Really a nice touch because the largest and widest forest diversity in the world is found in the rain forests of Brazil! A special tribute to the athletes comprising The Refugee Team was very well met by the crowds! And what a sight to see the crowds joining in singing and dancing on their seats! Typically Brazilian! Typically Latin American! A love for the power of music shared by the entire world! And the joyous smiles on the faces of the 10,000 athletes competing in the Rio Games! An Opening Ceremony celebrating the love of life! Which the IOC President referred to as " joie de vivre"! In all this color and pageantry, the most striking color was WHITE, representing the purity of the spirit of the Olympics! But it won't be RIO unless the spirit of CARNAVAL is recreated  And the climactic lighting of the Olympic Flame was elegant, spectacular, and even energy-disciplined! And as the coverage moved from the stadium spectacle to the gaze of the famous REDEEMER statue on the mount ( bathed in Brazil's national colors), it was a moment to reflect that the Olympic Games brings hope to inclusive human achievement!  Muy Obrigado, Brazil! |
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Post by jo on Aug 6, 2016 18:47:04 GMT -5
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Post by alma on Aug 7, 2016 0:03:10 GMT -5
Exactly the same here -- it was nothing but interruptions I watched the entire ceremony with zero interruptions on ESPN International. For two weeks they will be covering events from all sports, featuring athletes from all countries, all day long from 6:00 am to 10 pm, including medal ceremonies. They even had a special musical theme created for their coverage. Quite an international project: Young SPANISH composer Lucas Vidal worked with MEXICAN Alondra de la Parra, conductor of the AUSTRALIAN Symphonic Orchestra of Queensland, performing a piece for the coverage of the U.S.-based ESPN International network of the BRAZILIAN Olympics. www.venezuelasinfonica.com/alondra-de-la-parra-y-el-compositor-espanol-lucas-vidal-crean-la-musica-original-para-la-presentacion-de-rio-2016-de-espn-internacionalI hope you can watch the Closing Ceremony uninterrupted on ESPN. Alma |
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Post by jo on Aug 7, 2016 0:50:42 GMT -5
Thanks. What used to be both ESPN channels on our local cable ( I just get the basic option) have now been replaced by Fox Sports 1 & 2. There is another cable sports channel - but it is all basketball ( our local craze here). There is 1-2 local channels that will likely do updates and clips. I only wanted an uninterrupted coverage for the Opening so I can watch all the countries on parade. It won't matter at the closing ceremonies because the athletes will be matching together. There are enough updates on international channels ( CNN/BBC/others) for daily achievements ( clips of athletic performance and medal counts, etc)...but I already found the internet coverage of live scores for tennis.
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Post by jo on Aug 7, 2016 22:55:45 GMT -5
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Post by jo on Aug 8, 2016 18:43:11 GMT -5
Was the release date of the DVD/BluRay of EDDIE THE EAGLE timed close to the opening of the Olympics?  The film was released in the USA on February 26 presumably to relate to a winter season sport ... but the video ( BluRay/DVD) was coincidentally ( ?) released not very long ago ( although it was well within the usual release dates of the BluRay/DVD and video on demand post-cinema release). Many have tweeted now how the movie celebrates the Olympic spirit ( not whether you win or not...but how you compete)! Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 8, 2016 21:36:28 GMT -5
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Post by jo on Aug 11, 2016 20:04:46 GMT -5
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Post by jo on Aug 11, 2016 20:20:47 GMT -5
What's your favorite Olympics story!
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Post by jo on Aug 12, 2016 5:19:32 GMT -5
I caught one of Michael Phelps phenomenal swims ( 200 M individual medley) -- and as always he commands the watery stage! 22 Gold Medals to-date  Jo |
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Post by jo on Aug 12, 2016 19:49:21 GMT -5
 They won the GOLD not with their tennis rackets but with their hearts! Rafa and Marc have been playing together since they were teenagers...and have remained great friends and occasional doubles partners! Vamos y felicitaciones, Don Rafael and Don Marc!! |
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Post by alma on Aug 14, 2016 13:43:11 GMT -5
Oh, Jo. You're the greatest Ozalot Nadal fan. Wherever you are, I hope you're watching the Nadal-Nishikori match. EPIC!  Alma |
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Post by jo on Aug 14, 2016 15:11:38 GMT -5
He wasn't too lucky this time... but it was the competing that makes him such a great athlete to watch. He went to the Olympics even if he has not fully recovered from his wrist injury ( he had to withraw from the French Open and Wimbledon ) and hardly had any practice...but it is his competitive spirit (and in this case his sense of patriotism) which makes him such a sports magnet. One of the best Instagram posts from Hugh was their photo together at Wimbledon when Hugh was filming PAN Jo |
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