I watched earlier this week part of a race where a Kenyan won gold - can't remember which one it was. Then I watched the medal presentation for another where we got silver & bronze. I was very happy. China are of course sweeping away most medals so gooo China!

Congrats to all the courageous male & female athletes who are making their nations PROUD!

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**Be careful what you wish for coz you just might get it all**
~~It's good to be alive!~~
~~*Gloria*~~

Unfortunately the tv stations have decided that the paralympics are not so big as to be given much coverage But I must say that these are the most inspiring games because as you say of the Chinese swimmer, these athletes show the strength of human beings in triumphing over obstacles & hardships thrown their way. Yesterday I watched some races & tears came to my eyes as I admired the courage of the athletes.

Sometimes we pity ourselves & whine thinking our situations are hopeless just coz of a simple weakness, yet people are winning marathons yet they are blind & winning swimming events yet they have no arms...

Let me stop being preachy & wish you a nice day!

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It's good to be alive!

Well Gloria, for the first time we're actually getting to see some of this - for one hour from 11pm - midnight!! But am recording it to watch.
Saw the opening ceremony and talk about NZ participants compressed into one hour!!!

Saw a chinese swimmer with no arms, just a short stump on one side, swimming all 4 strokes, one length of each in a race, and she was winning most of the time!!!!
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--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

I admit I haven't made the time to watch but I catch some of the highlights on the news.

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It's good to be alive!

Kenya is part of the Commonwealth games. They don't generate as much hype as the Olympics though. What I love apart from the Olympics are the IAAF events all over the world -the indoor championships, the golden league meets and all the others. BTW, Kenya once had a participant in the Winter games he was skiing but he didn't win any medal. His participation reminded me of a movie I once watched, about Jamaica's first ever Bobsled team that qualified for the Winter Olympics. It was soo funny to see them practice yet they don't have any snow over there! The movie was hilarious & I wish I could remember its name so I can rent it. Ciao!

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It's good to be alive!

Hi Gloria!
Sadly we never get to see any of the Paralympics! And should! If we're lucky get to see a 2 min clip of our athletes returning at the airport with their medals. Not good enough I always think! Not heard anything at all so far about it.

But yeh, do enjoy the Wimter Olympics. And especially watching the skating instead of the gymnastics.

And then the Commonwealth Games in the middle too! Is Kenya part of that? Am thinking I should know!!!!

--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

nice to see you on around same time with me How are you? Our dreamy magical time is sadly over but the paralympics and the winter games are soon on the way so that should give us something to go on. I understand about Becks so no worries!

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It's good to be alive!

Glad you got some links to watch Gloria.

And you have real reasons that you like David Beckham - so that's good. Not just because he's a pretty face.
I don't dislike him though, just does nothing for me.

--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

Yvonne, Becks can never appear for free you know, prolly pocketed a cool ( or hot in this case) million pounds from the chinese organisers plus another half mil from the organisers of 2012. Sad that he doesn't do anything for you but I love him coz he's one of the best mid-fielders in the world & he's such a great leader both on the pitch & off it. His celebrity status has never diminished his passion for the game or his skills. He is also such a family man which is rare for a celeb of his status these days. Anyways so much for my little speech Cheers gal!

Ses, you are such a darling! Thanks for the clips. I enjoyed them sooo much & they are soo cool

Have a great day everyone!

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It's good to be alive!

I found this link too.

http://www.beckhamgroupie.com/2008/08/24/video-david-beckham-in-olympic-...

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video of beckham talking about the ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhKFIrriNkA

video of london part of ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1BfBx3Suqs&feature=related

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DAUGHTRY ROCKS...'nuff said!

Shame you missed that bit Gloria. I watched the closing twice, we recorded it as it was on after midnight! And after I'd watched it, my hubby wanted to also, which surprised me!
Recorded over it now though.
Sure there must be a UTube video of it!!
But David Beckham does nothing for me, sorry. Can never see why he's so big!!!!
Wondered how much he got paid for one kick of the ball there!!! Or did they appear for free? Don't know!!!!
Opening and closing ceremonies both great though!!!

--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

Did anyone watch the full closing ceremony? I watched most of it but sadly missed the London segment. David Beckham kicked a football to signify the official launch of London 2012. I just love that guy! Maybe he'll be like an ambassador for the games- how cool!

If anyone has a clip of that moment please could you give me a link? Thanks!

Ses, I agree with you that snowboarding is also awesome!

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It's good to be alive!

my favorite events in the winter olympics are all of the snowboarding events, the aerials in skiing, figure skating, and skeleton (that's insane - going down head-first!!!).

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DAUGHTRY ROCKS...'nuff said!

the summer olympics! But I do still enjoy the winter olympics, I like the luge and the speed skating!

the video is quite funny i agree though it's really hard work. I also love the winter Olympics and especially the bob sled races & the ice skating eventsesp. figure skating. Can't wait!
See you later guys.

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It's good to be alive!

My favorite athlete of all time is in the winter olympics...Apolo Anton Ohno...Short Track Speed Skating, extremley intese 11 seconds in the 500 meter race in Turino....wow!!!
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www.myspace.com/jacygirl07

...until the winter games in vancouver! i love the winter sports too. i can't decide which i like better - the summer games or winter games. i think overall, i tend to enjoy a higher percentage of the winter events, but my favorite olympic events are in the summer games (beach volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, and of course speed walking! lol).

really, what i love about the olympics is that for 2 weeks, yankees fans and red sox fans can get along and agree on something. i think you get my point. it's such a magical time, and, while i think my mind was over-saturated with olympic competition, and it was probably time for me to get a life, i was very sad at the end of the closing ceremony last night. but the london games will be here before you know it, and the winter games are only 18 months away.

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DAUGHTRY ROCKS...'nuff said!

Funny speed walking video!!!!!!

I'm sad that they're over too, I really enjoy(ed) watching the olympics!!!!

the Olympics were a magical wonderful place to escape to and feel alright. Here, everybody is in peaceful harmony with one another regardless of social status, nationality and all that. So I can't wait for the London games coz it means more magic. Like a fairytale. Sometimes I would cry just seeing the faces of the proud athletes as they received medals or as they listened to their national anthems. Beautiful.

So long our dear Olympic games, till another four years when the flame burns brightly in London. Ciao! And congrats to the Chinese for outdoing themselves & a fantastic job done!

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It's good to be alive!

the Olympics were a magical wonderful place to escape to and feel alright. Here, everybody is in peaceful harmony with one another regardless of social status, nationality and all that. So I can't wait for the London games coz it means more magic. Like a fairytale. Sometimes I would cry just seeing the faces of the proud athletes as they received medals or as they listened to their national anthems. Beautiful.

So long our dear Olympic games, till another four years when the flame burns brightly in London. Ciao! And congrats to the Chinese for outdoing themselves & a fantastic job done!

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It's good to be alive!

It was a great 2 weeks, and I'm missing it tonight - though have been watching the closing ceremony that I recorded.

Everyone one of those athletes can be proud of having got there.

I loved especially the gymnastics and diving and track and field. And rowing too, as NZ was in so many of those races.
And yes jacy - the ribbons and all the rythmic gymnastics. Spent a lazy Sunday afternoon watching that yesterday!
But whatever was on was usually good. Never usually watch sports, but always get into this, and haven't watched much else for the last 2 weeks!

Think of all the people here from all those countries too!

At the end, seeing London and hearing God Save the Queen and seeing the flag raised, made me feel very patriotic - as I'm from London originally!!!

So much work and so many dreams of the last 4 years for so many, now all over - and start again aiming to get to London!!!

--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

You are absolutely right that the extravagance of the chinese will be hard to replicate in subsequent games. London are you ready?
Well it was a truly remarkable & memorable Olympics for the whole world and just to think some people were advocating for a boycott of the games!! Ridiculous! When else does the whole world gather together as one in the same spirit of competition yet having such camaraderie?
Anyways, bravo to all the people who repped. their countries, whether they won medals or not coz its such a great honour.
I especially enjoyed watching synchronised swimming & diving, track & field, gymnastics, swimming, basketball...actually the whole lot Amazing!

I'm, already thinking about London in 2012. I might be there too if my time makes the cut. You know in what? Speed walking! Seriously! I was a champion in high school but my time wasn't good enough in the national tryouts so maybe I will be fortunate this time.

So cheers my dear fellow Olympic lovers & heres to the magical moments that only the Olympics can create.

Gloria

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It's good to be alive!

Loved it all especially the swimming, and track and field. Great job by Phelps. Never thought I'd sit and watch a Marathon but I did, I also liked the gymnastics, and the basketball. LOL and agree about the speed walkers they were looking a little strange.
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~~in these ever changing days your the one thing that remains~~

hahaha seee isn't it so funny? loool. every time i see it, i can't stop laughing. some people think im crazy for finding it so funny but i cant help it lool. it looks like they have to go pee reaally bad and cant hold it any longer..i was trying to find a video of it on youtube the other night, but i only found one, and it ended up being a video of some guy who was video taping his tv that was showing speed walking, and all you hear is him cracking up...so i started laughing even harder lmao. ahh alright, im done. loll

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i too lost some sleep because of the olympics, but it was worth every second! from michael phelps to nastia liukin, to misty may-treanor & kerri walsh, to usain bolt, it was one of the best olympics i've ever witnessed, just on a purely athletic note. add in the opening and (so far) closing ceremonies, and the venues, and i was astonished at how amazing the beijing olympics turned out. i don't think anyone will be able to compete to the extravaganza that was put on by the chinese.

can't wait for the winter olympics!

i found a video of speed walking for those of you that missed it! (like me) it is quite hilarious.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0823_SD_MUL_AU_CE525

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DAUGHTRY ROCKS...'nuff said!

Did anyone else see Ribon dancing? Ummm I totally had a ribon dancer when I was little..I should have stuck with it, I could be in the Olympics! I am waiting for the Olympic staring contest! Intense!

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www.myspace.com/jacygirl07

i dont really watch tv...or sports....but the other night i fell asleep with my tv on, and i woke up with the olympics showing...and they were showing speed walking, which i never even knew was a "sport"....but oh my godddd it was the funniest thing i have ever seen.. lmao sorry but they look so weirddd doing it hahah. i woke up just staring at the tv all confused. im like what the hellll are they doing? i couldnt tell if they were walking or running weird? im laughing just thinking about it loool. am i the only one who thinks it looks funny??

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Its so amazing to see how good these people are and it really does bring to world together.. (like it says in those commercials)

at the same Olympics? That is just phenomenal!! Just what have they been feedin Usain Bolt? The guy wins almost effortlessly without breaking a sweat! And the way he leaves his opponents far behind...Bravo dude!

P.S I like the way he dances

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It's good to be alive!

Clay Stanley and Phil Dahllhausser...YUMMY!
Of course go Phelps! So proud of him!
So proud of my fellow Iowan's Shawn Johnson and Lolo Jones (felt so bad for Lolo!!!)

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www.myspace.com/jacygirl07

Loving watching the Olympics and thinking of people on here when I see the different countries.
The only thing I'm watching on TV right now!

For instance, the other day when the NZ flag was raised for gold, there was Germany and Britiain either side, and I thought of it as me and Anja from Germany and Kaz from the UK!!!

Was cheering on the Kenyan marathon runners at the end of that race, thinking of Gloria!!!
See Kenya has a few more now Gloria!
New Zealand too. Though no-where as many as China, US and Britain!!! But much smaller population, so proud of all our medals and efforts of our athletes!

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--Yvonne --
~*~PLEDGE MAMMA #5~*~
**~**One of the DOGGS**~**

I usually hit the hay early but I just can't seem to get to bed with these dang olympics! Kind of bummed that Phelps is done, he was great to watch. Go USA!

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*God Bless & Love*
Krista

Kudos to Phelps for a good job done. He is sooo amazing!!!

Yesterday I watched two Kenyan ladies do well in the 800 meres final and we were very proud of them. Now my dad finally stopped whining. Last week he kept lamenting that Kenya will leave Beijing without a single medal. Hoping for a few more.

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It's good to be alive!

Just want to say congratulations to all the winners and participants. Also a big Congrats to swimmer Michael Phelps for winning a record 8 gold medals in a single olympics he was absolutely amazing he definitely made america proud.

..oh yeah!!! Been watching all, well most of the action live, although sometimes it happens in the middle of the night Kenyan time. Been having a blast right from the Opening Ceremony which was soooo awesome! I cried when I saw my fellow countrymen walking by - felt so proud. Yesterday we were watching the 100metres heats & the final ended up being between USA & Jamaica. What a rush I got!
I enjoy watching all the games especially gymnastics, synchronised swimming, diving & of course athletics.
Thanks for this thread and congrats! to all winners and participants. Its a major honour to rep your in such a major event. Hurrah! for the Olympics!
Cheers!

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It's good to be alive!