Olympics , in Commie-$$$-mad China

[ray51]

Yes , I got bored with my life this p.m. ( again )
and so I switched the TV on ;
of course , the Belgian-TV 2 did a thorougly magnificent cover of all the main athlethics from Beijing ( for our U.S. readers : "Track & Field " ) events , what Glory ( for some , like Yanks , Jamaicans , Brits & the like...) ;
one question : are the Croats and other Balkanians actually permitted to partake in those ( as none were observed , in 3-hours+ , as opposed to Americans , Brits , Ozzies , NZ-s , Finns , other Skandies , Germans , Polish , other Slav-s , French etc...);
or do they just prefer to join in some labour-class-games , like nogomet/rukomet/odbojka/kosharka/waterpolo...anything that takes at least few in a team , preferably : not too much individual effort ?
( Apologies : I understand that One , not yet-heard-of , Cro-girl won her 1st round in table tennis , today ! Well done , I look forward to hearing more , about her !)

[irac]

Ray I think a lot has to do with the manner of coverage in Croatia. They play and repeat over and over games that they have a team in, while worthwhile sports are totally ignored, unless there's some gallant soul competing. The way HTV are playing it, it's as if there are very, very few sports at the games, boxing doesn't exist (even on news round-ups). While the stupidity related to athletics is thus - they tape the events, and replay them as poorly patched together highlights and, for example, as in the women's hammer, they solely show the poor attempts from the Cro girls, and a Tadjik, while the main throwers don't even get shown!

I was complaining in Russia that there were too many replays, but thre they have the games on 3 channels, and of course there is overlap, but more than simply Russians are shown!

How I wish to be back in Ireland and watching the mix of RTE and it's excellent commentators and coverage, and the quirky and wideranging BBC coverage.

[irac]

As I typed Croatia just lost to the Serbian B team! That's the basketballers out to the paella munchers and now all hopes turn to Blanka to get that vital 3rd medal, while Ireland have 2 bronzes in the bag, yaay!

[ray51]

What I really don't understand :
how come , the Croats ( and other Balkans' Big Boys ) are Nothing : in Rugby ; ( )
I mean , for kryssakes : even poofters like Itaes and Roumanians take a go at the Game , not that they'd Ever stand any chances agains the Ozzies/SethEffrikenz/Kiwies/French or English....

[JudeC]

Irac - I quite like the idea of calling Montenegro the Serbian B team. I see that the Serbian A team are also in the water-polo semi finals! Which means that Croatia are the only Balkan male water-polo team not to be competing for the medals...

[irac]

Aug 20, 2008 13:31:53 GMT 1 JudeC said:

Irac - I quite like the idea of calling Montenegro the Serbian B team. I see that the Serbian A team are also in the water-polo semi finals! Which means that Croatia are the only Balkan male water-polo team not to be competing for the medals...

Jude, shame on you, don't you realise Croatia ISN'T in the Balkans It exists in some nether region between Italy and Germany, with a place at the heart of the EU that isn't wanted, until it's time to get funds.

Yesterday morning the Croatian commentators were sneeringly referring to the Montenegrins as just that, Serbia II (not B, sorry), though after the game they were a little more generous.

[JudeC]

I hadn't realised (despite reading the posts on this board) that Croatia was in the nether regions!
With a total of 5 medals in the Olympics, the praises would appear to go to the women with 4 out of that total 5.
Then again, Serbia only got 3 and Montenegro - sorry Serbia II - didn't get any in the end.
And as for South Africa - only1 silver in the Long Jump! Coudn't they find Beijing?