12/18/24
August 08, 2006
Two Years to the Beijing Olympics: Today marks the halfway point between Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Swimmer Michael Phelps is off his top conditioning, while others like Brendan Hansen are setting world records. Be sure to check out the updates at the bottom for track and field, basketball, gymnastics, soccer and wrestling.
I saw the news conference live from Beijing last night. Jiang Xiaoyu and Wang Wei answered reporters' questions from about 90 minutes.
posted by Joe88 at 04:13 PM on August 08, 2006
good luck to all the teams right now and two years from now but please don't pick chicago for the 2016 games it will screw up all the metro area as the games go on go olympics in 2016 anywhere but chicago
posted by luther70 at 06:20 PM on August 08, 2006
Los Angeles 2016.
posted by Joe88 at 06:50 PM on August 08, 2006
Amen to that Joe88 - I did not live in LA in 1984, but from all the natives have told me about it, it was amazing. Massive crowds at all the soccer matches. Carl Lewis and Joanie Benoit went off. Everyone stayed off the freeways and traffic was nonexistent. (Not to mention the best music of any Olympics - "Rhapsody In Blue" and the John Williams theme songs that are still used to this day.) This time around, we could even get Russia and its homies to show up!
posted by Venicemenace at 07:34 PM on August 08, 2006
I live in L.A., but giving us the 2016 Olympics would give me the perfect reason to move. Actually I'd just move out for a few weeks and sub-let my apartment for $10,000 a week. :-)
posted by commander cody at 07:42 PM on August 08, 2006
I was in Beijing late last year. Despite capitalism with Chinese characteristics*, the growth of mega shopping malls and designer stores, the only outlet for 'official' Beijing 2004 merchandise is the Friendship Store. Pretty much a deserted shell apart from the Olympic gear and the Manchester United shirts. Something funny going on there. * Did you know that 40 per cent of the world's concrete is being poured in China? And very little of it on Olympic projects. When it rains, the sky still shits black, by the way.
posted by owlhouse at 09:50 PM on August 08, 2006
So I'm halfway to my deadline? And I've done 24 of 128 events? Shit. Anyone see Francis Obikwelu own the 100m last night in the European Championships (after a terrible start)? Thought not. Video here if you want a look.
posted by JJ at 04:24 AM on August 09, 2006
Los Angeles 2016. Yeah, and Matt Leinart and the Saints should be there by then, right Joe?
posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:46 AM on August 09, 2006
Favorite excerpt: Track and field: OK, so who's not going to test positive for steroids in Beijing? That seems to be the biggest question for athletes leading up to the next Games. Nice.