Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

[rass]

Found the 4K coverage. Purty.

(hope this means NBC will have the super bowl in 4K)

the super bowl will not be in 4K :(

Shit. Guess that’s just further proof that TNF is the league’s crown jewel.

[degenerasian]

Canada and Russia playing hockey in N95 masks!

[MaxWebster]

well...you could miss entirely...?

yeah "played to not lose" seems the right comment to me. I'd say someone like Morris would have made the shot but he kinda sucked over those last few ends so maybe not.

strategy question for anyone who watched the shockingly compelling Canada v Australia mixed match earlier...:

why in the 8th end did Australia go for the takeout/hit and roll rather than just trying to finesse their final rock onto or anywhere near the button? It seems/seemed to me an easier play with a wide open house and they ended up kinda/sorta fking it up (temporarily....) and giving the point. I felt like I was missing something obvious.


(and sancarlos: i have also been to a bonspiel!)

You cant lose going for the hit. Worse case you roll out and keep hammer going to an extra end as happened.
If you draw and it goes short or long, you can give up 2 and lose.

The draw is the easier shot for pros but she played to not lose at that moment.

[Nonlinear FC]

Correction: this is the big air venue. On live TV right now. There are at least 3 reactors in the shot

Honestly, in a country as vast as China, they couldn't find a less depressing venue than that big air shit with nuclear reactors???

WTF?

[A_B]

Are you guys anti-nuclear? Cause that shit is the answer if people wouldn't be so afraid and NIMBY-ish.

Also, not sure that's a nuclear plant or just a larger industrial park that was big enough to warrant it's own plant of some sort. It may be nuclear but you can't tell just from cooling towers.

ETA: Looks like its a former steel mill and they are actually trying to showcase repurposing industrial areas for other uses. But if it's a steel mill, it's likely not nuclear, but for some other super awesome product that provides affordable electricity! Some of the competitors think it's kind of neat, and I also happen to think industrial areas have their own kind of beauty.

[Nonlinear FC]

I'm not anti-nuclear, I'm anti- put a venue in an industrial yard of any sort. It's easily the most bizarre venue I've ever seen.

[mister d]

I'm against nuclear because if it regains prominence so to will people pronouncing it "nu-que-ler" around me.

[The Sybian]

Are you guys anti-nuclear? Cause that shit is the answer if people wouldn't be so afraid and NIMBY-ish.

I hope you didn't write this on a work device. That's cause for termination.

[degenerasian]

Canada won a bronze in ski jumping! It's Canada first ever ski jumping medal and first North American medal since 1924!

This is a team with no support or funding. Self-funded and have to train in Slovenia!

[Steve of phpBB]

Apparently the Slovenians still call it "Peking".

[pruitt2]

Opening Ceremony Ratings down 43% over 2018

And that was the least viewed opening ceremonies up til now.

[Steve of phpBB]

ETA: Looks like its a former steel mill and they are actually trying to showcase repurposing industrial areas for other uses. But if it's a steel mill, it's likely not nuclear, but for some other super awesome product that provides affordable electricity! Some of the competitors think it's kind of neat, and I also happen to think industrial areas have their own kind of beauty.

I can kinda see the appeal of some industrial areas - I think refineries are cool to see at night.

But still, this is a really bad look for a winter sporting event.

[degenerasian]

The French as well. #pekin

[Nonlinear FC]

ETA: Looks like its a former steel mill and they are actually trying to showcase repurposing industrial areas for other uses. But if it's a steel mill, it's likely not nuclear, but for some other super awesome product that provides affordable electricity! Some of the competitors think it's kind of neat, and I also happen to think industrial areas have their own kind of beauty.

I can kinda see the appeal of some industrial areas - I think refineries are cool to see at night.

But still, this is a really bad look for a winter sporting event.

That looks like a poorly done photoshop.

Hilarious.

[Rex]

They're not really repurposing it though, right? It's more like they built a random new thing right next to it. And pretty limited use, too, unless everyone in China goes out to do big air on date night.

Maybe there's some nuance I'm missing with how they are using the overall property. In my mind, repurposing means gutting out the buildings into lofts and adding a craft brewery and artisan pickle shop.

For what it's worth, I thought Tokyo created some really compelling urban venues, especially the rowing and triathlon courses. This thing is just weird.

[A_B]

I think it's more the area around it that was more of a repurposing. You are correct that I don't think Big Air is like bowling where you can just go and rent some skis.





Maybe bowling in skis is why my scores suck.

[DaveInSeattle]

For what it's worth, I thought Tokyo created some really compelling urban venues, especially the rowing and triathlon courses. This thing is just weird.

Look at the Alpine downhill venue:



It's a ribbon of man made snow going down a brown barren mountain side. Very disconcerting.

[DSafetyGuy]

[mister d]

Universal language.

[Steve of phpBB]

For what it's worth, I thought Tokyo created some really compelling urban venues, especially the rowing and triathlon courses. This thing is just weird.

Look at the Alpine downhill venue:



It's a ribbon of man made snow going down a brown barren mountain side. Very disconcerting.

It's just so ugly.

[DaveInSeattle]

For what it's worth, I thought Tokyo created some really compelling urban venues, especially the rowing and triathlon courses. This thing is just weird.

Look at the Alpine downhill venue:



It's a ribbon of man made snow going down a brown barren mountain side. Very disconcerting.

It's just so ugly.

Incredibly ugly. And the skiers saw it for the first time just a few days ago when they drove up there for practice. I watched some of the practice runs and they were going super slow, just figuring out the line to take down the course.

[sancarlos]

Yeah, it looks like it’d be easy for a falling downhiller to end up on some jagged rocks!

[L-Jam3]

Italian speed skater with the last name Lollabrigida?


ETA: It’s her great-niece. Small world.

[Rex]

Actually looks like a brilliant place to have an Olympics. Jagshemash!

[A_B]

I'll say it. Who had the bright idea to break the rings and amputate a couple of them for the Paralympic logo?

[degenerasian]

I'll say it. Who had the bright idea to break the rings and amputate a couple of them for the Paralympic logo?

hahaha never saw it that way. That's not what it means. It's supposed to three athletes moving despite their disability (the center)

[Steve of phpBB]

Mixed Doubles Curling Final:

[+] spoiler

Holy shit, those Italians are just too damned good. It surprised me that it (technically) came down to the last throw. And the way they took apart the Swedes was almost disturbing.

On to men's and women's!

One stupid question - they change direction each end, right? As in, they throw north-to-south one end, then south-to-north?

[degenerasian]

Mixed Doubles Curling Final:

[+] spoiler

Holy shit, those Italians are just too damned good. It surprised me that it (technically) came down to the last throw. And the way they took apart the Swedes was almost disturbing.

On to men's and women's!

One stupid question - they change direction each end, right? As in, they throw north-to-south one end, then south-to-north?

Yes that is correct.

[degenerasian]

This is what makes the Olympics fun. The local tv!

Stupendi!

[rass]

The Swamp’s favorite Italian daughter and her giant friend have made us all proud! That was great.

[Steve of phpBB]

Oof. Tough Olympics for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Flashes me back to Dan Jansen, minus the sister dying on the eve of the race.

[Square Rob]

Oof. Tough Olympics for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Flashes me back to Dan Jansen, minus the sister dying on the eve of the race.

Brutal. So obviously a mental thing, which is shocking given her extensive past success. I believe her dad died this year (or somewhat recently) so maybe that’s contributing.

[DaveInSeattle]

Oof. Tough Olympics for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Flashes me back to Dan Jansen, minus the sister dying on the eve of the race.

Brutal. So obviously a mental thing, which is shocking given her extensive past success. I believe her dad died this year (or somewhat recently) so maybe that’s contributing.

Her father died 2 years ago (Feb 2020).

Thanks NBC for focusing on her sitting on the snow, clearly distraught, for about 15 minutes after she skied out. Ghouls. And then, once she was no longer in contention, they shuffled the rest of the women's slalom coverage to Peacock instead of NBC.

[degenerasian]

Oof. Tough Olympics for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Flashes me back to Dan Jansen, minus the sister dying on the eve of the race.

Brutal. So obviously a mental thing, which is shocking given her extensive past success. I believe her dad died this year (or somewhat recently) so maybe that’s contributing.

Her father died 2 years ago (Feb 2020).

Thanks NBC for focusing on her sitting on the snow, clearly distraught, for about 15 minutes after she skied out. Ghouls. And then, once she was no longer in contention, they shuffled the rest of the women's slalom coverage to Peacock instead of NBC.

But that's the audience they cater to, or the audience they've grown.
For example, tonight Nathan Chen skates at 12:45AM ET in the long program and all Americans on twitter are bitching about it. Why is he skating so late? Why can't NBC do something about this?

The long program starts at 9AM Beijing Time and yes, it takes nearly 5 hours. 24 skaters at like 10 minutes each, program+scores. Plus warmups and zamboni. Chen leading after the short program, goes last, just like any other sport.

Well, why can't Nathan Chen go first? Why can't the losers go last? Why can't the losers go at 6AM?

[DaveInSeattle]

But that's the audience they cater to, or the audience they've grown.
For example, tonight Nathan Chen skates at 12:45AM ET in the long program and all Americans on twitter are bitching about it. Why is he skating so late? Why can't NBC do something about this?

Means that NBC have lots of hours to hype up his performance. Hours of 'How will Nathan do? Will he crack under the pressure?' stuff.

Last night...in the coverage of the Men's HalfPipe, it was the Shaun White extravaganza. 'Coming up next...will this be Shaun White's last ever competitive run?'

[A_B]

But that's the audience they cater to, or the audience they've grown.
For example, tonight Nathan Chen skates at 12:45AM ET in the long program and all Americans on twitter are bitching about it. Why is he skating so late? Why can't NBC do something about this?

Means that NBC have lots of hours to hype up his performance. Hours of 'How will Nathan do? Will he crack under the pressure?' stuff.

Last night...in the coverage of the Men's HalfPipe, it was the Shaun White extravaganza. 'Coming up next...will this be Shaun White's last ever competitive run?'

Finally, Dave gets to show some West Coast bias! Because my wife is the target market for figure skating, and when she saw Chen wasn't skating til midnight, she said to hell with that and went to bed.

[Steve of phpBB]

But that's the audience they cater to, or the audience they've grown.
For example, tonight Nathan Chen skates at 12:45AM ET in the long program and all Americans on twitter are bitching about it. Why is he skating so late? Why can't NBC do something about this?

Means that NBC have lots of hours to hype up his performance. Hours of 'How will Nathan do? Will he crack under the pressure?' stuff.

Last night...in the coverage of the Men's HalfPipe, it was the Shaun White extravaganza. 'Coming up next...will this be Shaun White's last ever competitive run?'

Yeah, that basically drove us to watch the biathlon instead - which ended up being pretty cool.

We've gotten pretty hardcore this year. Figure skating is about the only event we aren't watching very much.

I really miss the days when the US dominated in speedskating, though.

[Ryan]

I really miss the days when the US dominated in speedskating, though.

This has been my main takeaway too. It would be like if we sucked at swimming.

[The Sybian]

Oof. Tough Olympics for Mikaela Shiffrin.

Flashes me back to Dan Jansen, minus the sister dying on the eve of the race.

Brutal. So obviously a mental thing, which is shocking given her extensive past success. I believe her dad died this year (or somewhat recently) so maybe that’s contributing.

Her father died 2 years ago (Feb 2020).

Thanks NBC for focusing on her sitting on the snow, clearly distraught, for about 15 minutes after she skied out. Ghouls. And then, once she was no longer in contention, they shuffled the rest of the women's slalom coverage to Peacock instead of NBC.

But that's the audience they cater to, or the audience they've grown.
For example, tonight Nathan Chen skates at 12:45AM ET in the long program and all Americans on twitter are bitching about it. Why is he skating so late? Why can't NBC do something about this?

The long program starts at 9AM Beijing Time and yes, it takes nearly 5 hours. 24 skaters at like 10 minutes each, program+scores. Plus warmups and zamboni. Chen leading after the short program, goes last, just like any other sport.

Well, why can't Nathan Chen go first? Why can't the losers go last? Why can't the losers go at 6AM?

This is the way American's watch the Olympics, not sure if it's because that's how American networks have always done it, or because that's what Americans want. My parents are recording Olympic coverage every night and FF to events they think Americans can win. My mom said she doesn't care about a skiing event if it's between a Norwegian and Frenchman or whatever. The Olympic coverage is for people who only watch the sports once every four years and want to cheer the flag rather than the athletes. Nothing wrong with it, especially since the majority of events are sports that very few people follow in the US. I can't stand Olympic coverage, I'm jaded and no longer care about the human interest stories and the dramatic bullshit. When I was a kid, I ate it up and watched every minute. I used to obsessively follow the hockey tournament, but I haven't even watched that for 20 years. The crazy thing, I legit have no memory of the 2018 Olympics happening. I don't remember South Korea hosting the Winter Olympics. I thought about watching the other night, but realized I'd much rather watch Ozark.

[DaveInSeattle]

I really miss the days when the US dominated in speedskating, though.

This has been my main takeaway too. It would be like if we sucked at swimming.

Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden aren't walking through that door!

(Is the US still good at the short-track version?)