Thursday, August 21, 2008

Olympic Update

After a one-day medal drought, Canada is back on the scoreboard.

Eric Lamaze, of Schomberg, and riding "Hickstead", won the Gold in the Men's Individual Show Jumping competition. This is Canada's first ever individual equestrian Gold, and only the second medal ever (after a silver in 1976).

Eric missed both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics due to substance abuse problems, so I'm sure this is a happy moment for him.

Emilie Heymans also captured a Silver in Women's 10m Platform Diving. This was Emilie's third Olympic medal, but her first individual one, after a Bronze and Silver in the Synchronized 10m Diving in Sydney and Athens.

Canada has a shot at a medal in the Mens 4x100 Relay after both the US and UK teams dropped the baton in their heats. It is doutful that anyone will challenge Jamaica for the Gold with both Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt on their team.

Also yesterday, Misty Mae-Traenor and Kerri Walsh of the US won the Gold in Women's Beach Volleyball. They have now won 108 matches in a row and seem to be unbeatable. The match was played in a torrential downpour, which, oddly enough, made it even more fun to watch (who knew that watching pretty girls in bikini's, playing volleyball, on a beach, in the rain, could be so interesting?).

Seriously, though, they are tremendous atheletes. If you have ever tried walking (let alone running and diving) in the sand, you'll know that it can be tough slogging. The way they are able to dive for digs and jump for blocks and kills is amazing.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulations to all the medalists!

My son...who is almost 15...has become a beach volleyball fan! ;0)

I have a few questions for you...

1.You're over there working for NBC.It looks like they have a studio and then the Today Show is out on the Green by the Bird's Nest each day...are there other countries set up with all that too?

2.When the Olympics are on here it mostly features American atheletes...is there a Canadian Bob Costas doing features on your team?

3. When you were visiting the Great Wall were there bathrooms anywhere?!?!

4. And going along with the bathroom question...how's the toilet paper?!?! When I visited France many years ago some of the TP was like brown paper sack material...OY!

Inquiring minds.....

Alicia =0)

Sean McKinnon said...

Hi Alicia!

1. NBC has two studios here in the IBC (there were 4 in Athens, alot of production now is happening back in New York). The Today Show set is right in front of the Ling Long Pagoda on the Green (this is the tower that lights up). Some other countries have small studios on the various floors of the Pagoda.

2. Canada's Bob Costas is Brian Williams (and our Jim Lampley is Ron Maclean). They are great (but Brian Williams has this habit of always telling us what time it is?) and yes they do features on Canadian atheletes. Usually I get the CBC on the cable TV in the Media Village, but it is not there this time, so I have not seen ANY Canadian coverage this time.

3. Yes, there are bathrooms at the top of the wall (actually, you have to exit the wall via a staircase). There are also vendors selling water, pop, and cold beer on the wall (usually in the towers). I can't imagine hauling all that stuff up there (and how do they keep it cold?).

4. Toilet paper - funny you should ask. I will be mentioning the toilet paper in a future blog post.

Cheers - Sean

Anonymous said...

Brian Williams is not with the CBC anymore. He told them he was leaving the public broadcaster and jumping over to CTV for Vancouver 2010. The CBC promptly fired him.

So, Ron McLean is now our Brian Williams.

- Lori K

Sean McKinnon said...

Wow! I knew Brian Williams was going to CTV for Vancouver 2010, but I had no idea the CBC fired him.

What a bunch of boobs! First they lose the rights to a Canadian Olympics, then they fire there long term host, not too mention putzing around with the Hockey Night in Canada theme and then losing the rights to that to TSN.

That said, I am missing having CBC available in the Media Village (they probably decided not to pay up to get put on the cable system).

Thanks for the correction!

Cheers - Sean

Sean McKinnon said...

Man, I should really check my grammar and spelling before I post. I can't even go back and edit to correct.

there = their, too = to

Blame it on lack of sleep.

Doh!