Counting down the Olympics

[Carlee10]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

One thing I think about when talking about, posting about, thinking about the Olympics - is the growth of robotics on an international level. The growth of robotic competitions. VEX is making a huge impact internationally. FTC is making an impact. I had the privilege of volunteering in Atlanta as a queuer for the FTC competition. While volunteering, I met many students from many countries. Of those students, there were those who did not speak English well, if at all, and I became very creative in communicating with those teams.

ChiefDelphi is a place where members of FIRST teams and of the VEX teams gather and the teams reflect their nations.

Even though this is Chit Chat, when discussions regarding peoples and nations pop up/crop up, I always keep the reading membership of ChiefDelphi in mind and the bigger picture, the larger community. There is great diversity within the many cultures and the many nations and we can build bridges of understanding when communicating and when learning about each other. I will always treasure and remember the time I spent as a volunteer in Atlanta. It opened my eyes even wider to the potential and possibilities in FIRST.

Nicely said. I think that yes, it may be disruptful, but think of what an honor it is to go to championships, and think of the dozens of people who work hard at their sports who would not feel this great of honor, this feeling of making it to the top. All of our issues with China are clouding this; it wasn't as big a deal, I don't believe, when they were held in Sydney or Athens. I heard some of the un-GP comments too;to me they sounded slightly racist and snotty in some of the things I heard waching various events. That's just people being woefully undereducated, in my opinion.

Tune in to gymnastics finals tonight; they should be good!!!

[Jeff K.]

Women's individual time trial for cycling, Armstrong just snagged 1st spot right now from the Brits, and passed two cyclists that left before her.
EPIC!

[Carlee10]

Dang....the women's team got second. They had some mistakes, and they just couldn't get it. Oh well, they still got a medal, and that counts for something. Did anybody see the clip of the Hungarian weightlifter who completely twisted his arm out of his socket, or the other man who tore his calf muscle once, then tried to lift again? Those were not fun moments.

[jimbot]

No i have not seen those, I'm sorry for those guys. fours years of training to end in a pulled musle or dislocated arm.

My favorite moment was when the guy won Toga's first medal ever in white water kayaking. (Great sport there...)

[mathking]

Since Jane brought up the question of finding graciousness, I think that Tyson Gay's comments after getting 5th in the 100 m semi-final were quite gracious. Particularly when you consider the circumstances. He was frank about feeling devastated, but offered no excuses or whining. He offered his congratulations to those who qualified on. When you spend literally years focused on one single event, disappointment can be profound. He showed how to handle it with dignity. I also saw a volleyball match in which one of the Chinese men turned to the referee after a ball had been ruled out and gestured that he had touched the ball and it should be a point for the other team. Or one of the American women gymnasts, who would not respond to baiting to try to get her to say one of the Chinese gymnasts was under age, saying "Well, I don't look like I'm 20." Or watching the women's marathon and seeing a runner turn to a competitor from another country (both of them a couple minutes off the lead) and yell at her not to drop back. The second women, who had been slowing down, sped back up and ended up finishing a little ahead of the first woman. Or all the silver medalists turning to smile and congratulate the gold medal winners.

I mention this because of some of the recent threads about robotics being a sport. As FIRST grows it becomes more sports spectacle like. So let's try to remember the good examples we see here in the Olympics, since they are so accessible now.

[JaneYoung]

Closing ceremony coming up soon....wow, that went by fast.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I can't believe how tough the Brazilians are in volleyball. Both the men's and women's finals matches were extremely close. I was cheering for both sides. Brazil is going to be tough in the future. Looking forward to hearing the Brazilian National Anthem in the future.

"Pátria amada, Brasil!"