Despite the rumours the Olympics have already started

[bookgazing]

I'm getting pretty sick of the fact that so many places continue to refer to 'the first day of the Olympics' as if the Olympics hasn't already started. I know the opening ceremony is today. I know a lot of the opening matches were played outside of London. I know lots of people don't care about Olympic football. But that doesn't chage the fact that the first day of Olympic competition was Wednesday. FACT.

I really don't appreciate getting e-mails from the London 2012 mailing list with titles like 'Let the Games Begin'. Cut it out.

Anyway:



Last night I went back to the Ricoh arena in Coventry, this time with my dad, to see a men's football match. We saw Belarus vs New Zealand, which wasn't the most anticipated match inside the UK, but seeing as how the fixtures weren't announced before ticket sales closed I was just happy to be at another Olympic event.

Final score was 1:0 and to be fair, despite New Zealand being more favoured and having a West Midlands guy on their team, Belarus really deserved to win because NZ were determined to chuck this match away despite having most of the possession in the first half. The Fifa website says that qualifying for the 2012 Olympics was the high point of Belarus' national football history, so glad to see them add an Olympic goal to their honours.

This time we were sat in front of a vocal NZ fan club, who had come prepared with a lot of quite inventive songs about Belrus's failures. And just below was a group of Belarus fans. Sadly they did not break out the English words to 'You're not Singing Anymore' in the second half :D

In Team GB news the women's team won their opening match Wednesday 1:0 against NZ (yes, on the road to victory) and the men drew theirs last night 1:1 against Senegal (the slightly bumpy road to victory?).

Will you be watching the opening ceremony tonight? I think I'll watch the actual thing, but not the totally unnecessary two hours of build up tonight. Is anyone off to see any Olympic events btw? Love to know what you've managed to get in to.

Comments

[nymeth]

It IS very strange how everyone's pretending those matches didn't happen! They could just call it "official opening" or something instead of "first day". Anyway, it sounds like you're having a ton of fun :D Will you have the chance to see any more events live or will it be TV from now on? (Not that TV isn't also fun. Definitely watching the opening ceremony tonight!)

Love your new icon, btw :P

[bookgazing]

It's the first chance I've had to use it - Tangled <3.

And the souvenior edition of the Times arrived today. Front page 'Let the Games Begin'. DO I NEED TO START A PROTEST TUMBLR?!

Anyway, I'm going to three other events yes, the week after next. Or possibly four depending on whether I can get to the fourth one in time (and I'm taking that whole week off to go and watch lots on TV). Me and my family missed out totally in the first ballot, except for the tickets for the match last night, so panicked and bought a rather too expensive Olympics travel package which gave us tickets to an athletics session and a volleyball match. But then we managed to pick up a few tickets in the second ballot (including the women's football), so I'm going to see a days individual dressage with my mum and a canoe sprit session with both my parents. But it might be a bit tricky to make it to volleyball after canoe sprit - we shall see.

[myfriendamy]

aw! Well nothing's been televised here so it's the start of actually being able to watch the Olympics today for me.

but yeah totally annoying that they act like that stuff didn't happen!

[bookgazing]

And now I'm getting daily e-mails from London 2012 counting down the days incorrectly. Booo! Hope you're enjoying whatever coverage you're getting in the US. Saw your women gymnasts today in the qualifying rounds, they'll give our lot a fight.

[(Anonymous)]

I also thought it was strange that they'd already started playing football yet this is "the first day" all over the media. I knew someone who went to match on Thursday, so it just seemed bizarre.

I did watch the opening ceremony and actually thought it was really good - a nice celebration of very quirky British culture. No actual events for me, but it's kind of nice to experience the buzz that I think has spread all over the country.

Meghan (Medieval Bookworm (http://medievalbookworm.com)

[bookgazing]

Well nothing really counts north of Watford in this country does it?;P #bitterwestmidlander . I'm pretty much glued to the TV despite the nice weather, soaking up the buzz that way.

[bonjourcass.com]

The way the Olympics are being televised here is really frustrating...and I don't have cable, so trying to watch anything Olympics related is SO SAD. I'm jealous you get to watch whatever you want when you want! Or, you know, just go and watch live. ;)

[bookgazing]

Looking at the number of empty seats in one of the "sold out" events it seems like it should have been easier to go and see more (oh some people SO better get a dressing down for that). Glad to have tickets for some events though and we went to see one of the qualifiers before everything started as well which was excellent(and cross your fingers it doesn't rain at our dressage session like it did today).

But we have been really lucky, because the BBC main coverage follows the UK athletes, but there are tons of extra free dedicated channels that let you follow whole events right through. Sorry to hear your coverage isn't great over there. Is it the commentators, or the things shown that's causing you problems?