10:29 AM: At these Games, they've introduced a new volleyball. The ball is spiral coloured instead of the traditional panel surface. Apparently, it floats more and does weird things. Canada just missed out in Men's Gymnastics Team Qualifying. Kyle Shewfelt did not move through in vault and floor.
10:05 AM: Latvians WIN!!! Rogers/Dalhausser defeated! They wave the Latvian flag and this is just the round robin, congrats Samoilovs/Plavins (that wasn't easy to spell). Men's Gymnastics qualis--Kyle Shewfelt just nailed his signature vault jump! *Fingers crossed*
9:51 AM: Finally, CBC switches to swimming. Hmm...I like outdoor pools better (like Athens), but I suppose there's no smog problem inside. And if you're keen on beach volleyball, the Latvians (you try spelling their name) are up a set on the world champion Americans and are leading 13-10 in the second. Can you say upset?
9:42 AM: Soccer match FINALLY done. 1-1 draw *yawn*. And what is with the music at the beach volleyball match?? Every point? Really?
9:29 AM: So who knew beach volleyball would attract such a good audience? And who knew world champions Roger/Dalhausser would have trouble playing the Latvians? I told you sports is unpredictable! Wow, the players are sweating like crazy!!!
9:22 AM: Thank goodness for live streaming! What?! The swimming stream is broken?? The volleyball match is already over...wow, is there anything to watch except soccer and equestrian??
9:13 AM: The Americans swept the Women's Ind. Sabre medals. China leads the pack with 2 golds--1 in weightlifting, 1 in shooting--looking good. There has also been breaking news in Beijing. A tragedy at the Drum Tower, the father-in-law of men's American volleyball coach has been stabbed to death by a Chinese man. His wife has been hospitalized. The man then jumped off the tower, committing suicide. Of course, this is a tremendously sad event and it's the last thing we want on Day 1 of competition. How much of a mark this will leave on the Games is still unclear.
9:02 AM: I'm up and energized and ready to go!!! CBC's showing women's soccer...I hate soccer...with a passion. Where's the swimming??? And NBC doesn't start their coverage until 10 AM?? Come on! Why did I wake up this early??
____________(Sleep)____________
11:27 PM: I'm out for the day. My eyes are painful, headache's starting to invade. What a day!!!! Go China! Go Canada!
11:11 PM: First gold of the Olympic Games--Women's 10 M Air Pistol--has been claimed by Czech shooter Katerina Emmons. The Chinese Du Li finished fifth, mediocre but disappointing. Well well, that's alright, 301 events left and the Chinese are looking good in the 48 KG Weightlifting Final!!
11:05 PM: The Men's Road Race passes by Tiananmen Square...and hey, the lone Chinese biker is in front of the peloton!! Curse you CBC for cutting to commercials as they pass the landmark!!
10:43 PM: While CBC's giving weather forecasts of Beijing and teaching a Chinese geography lesson, I pop up weightlifting onto the computer. Boy...looks like one damn hard sport--don't hurt yourselves ladies!!
10:25 PM: CBC interviews DaShan--Mark Rowswell--an acclaimed Canadian who lives and is an impressive celebrity in China. Virtually unknown in Canada, DaShan came out onto the Chinese acting seen as a stand up comic. Great guy, never knew he was such a good speaker. Meanwhile, NBC's still broadcasting the OC and Bush looks even funnier with binoculars.
9:32 PM: I'm feeling the journalistic rush already and it's Day 1! What an event this is! Badminton matches now underway, beach volleyball prelims going on as well. But the big event, the first gold of the Games--women's 10 M Air Rifle Gold--set to begin at 10:30 PM.
9:13 PM: Talk about commercialism! It seems NBC broadcast of the OC is being interrupted every 5 minutes. Well, I guess they have to find some way to pay off the $800 million they paid for the tv rights. Meanwhile, some shooting qualifications are underway and the first gold is about an hour or two away! Can't wait!!!
8:17 PM: It's Prime Time here on the East Coast, so it's "encore" time for the Opening Ceremony! Of course, such a spectacle never gets old!
7:13 PM: Well...the first gold medal will be decided about 10 or 11 PM tonight in Women's 10 M Air Rifle-the Chinese are favoured in that one. Weightlifting will also produce a champion tonight as the Women's 48 KG Final begins at 10 PM. Then, Men's Road Cycling will be underway at 11 PM, a 200 some KM course winding through the beautiful sites in Beijing before finishing at the Great Wall north of the city. That one should be finished around 4 or 5 AM EDT.
6:30 PM: It's bright and early in Beijing, but that doesn't stop the horseback riders who'll begin competition in Hong Kong right about now. Individual Dressage is underway at the Shatin Equestrian Facilities. But really?? A bunch of guys making their horse jump over puddle? At 6:30 in the morning? And did I mention it's raining? I'd like to get the attendance totals on this event afterwards please...
-D
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