2003 National Closing Ceremony

[Marc P.]

Originally posted by aBoris26
I found this years closing ceremonies as the weakest out of
Why wasn't there any TV coverage! They could probably get ESPN2 or Space TV or some other cable network to broadcast it live. And there was no national coverage on NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN; during war time there should be some positive uplifting stories, like FIRST, mixed in with the unhappy, but necessary coverage of war.

There was. Onstage, I saw lots of local news stations, as well as either National Geographic or Discovery (forgot which, but they were there). After finals, TechTV interviewed the winning alliance, and filmed matches left and right.

[westfalia]

Our robot was in the finals on the Einstein field during the closing ceremony. I, being a driver found myself in a funny little predicament: I could'nt hear anything that the announcers were saying. When we won the entrepreneurship award, I saw that my team had won something but I couldn't figure out what for a while!

[Ben Mitchell]

Originally posted by aBoris26
As a Canadian the America-centric speeches by the guests and Woody went against the programs development over the last two years as a international celebration of science and technology. Listening to an Air Force recruitment pitch and how the NASA family was devastated by Columbia may my eyes roll. The WORLD experienced a great loss in our pursuit of the stars when the Columbia went down, not exclusively America.

And this is after we played Canada's national anthem before our own. Here's a hint: we are in HOUSTON TEXAS, and are a largely american audience. If someone mentioning America upsets you, don't go next time.

Originally posted by aBoris26
The people who are involved are FIRST are not just going to be the techies and scientists of our generation, as was implied by President Bush and others; we are the LEADERS our generation, in business, medicine and politics.

We are the people who are going to determine the legacy our generation leaves. Do we really want to perpetuate the violence and greed that has saturated our culture? FIRST's main problem is that they can't see the forest through the trees, they are too focused on just engineering, we want to change the entire culture of not just America, but of the world, in all disciplines of our society. This program has that power, they don't harness it.

Huh? First off, FIRST will not change the culture of america without changing itself first. To be honest, and realistic, it doesn't have a universal appeal. The game this year was impossible to explain in less than 2 minutes.

What the hell is your problem with America? The audience there was 95% American. FIRST is based in America. Most, if not all, of the sponsers of FIRST are largely American in nature.

Once again, if an America-based speech to an audience almost entirely American upsets you, don't go to the nationals ever again. Problem solved.

Originally posted by aBoris26
Why wasn't there any TV coverage! They could probably get ESPN2 or Space TV or some other cable network to broadcast it live. And there was no national coverage on NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN; during war time there should be some positive uplifting stories, like FIRST, mixed in with the unhappy, but necessary coverage of war.

It was covered by NASA TV. There were also news articals and news blips about FIRST and the event on other channels. There were also a lot of media people filming and watching, and interviewing as well.

[Kaelia]

Once again, if an America-based speech to an audience almost entirely American upsets you, don't go to the nationals ever again. Problem solved.

How....diplomatic...of you...isn't FIRST supposed to unify people despite different nationalities? Saying that kind of thing isn't going to help solve any problems, and will only start a long, tedious, unnecessary (though probably entertaining) flame war...

[Bduggan04]

Originally posted by Marc P.
Random side note- The eagle was a cool alternative to releasing the traditional doves

They should've released the doves THEN the eagle to catch a few of them. As far as I know, the eagle didn't poop on people like the stupid doves did.

Originally posted by Koko Ed
Best part: no Mandy Moore!

Amen!


Plus, it was still daylight when we finished this year.

[gsensel]

In 1996 or possibly 1997 ESPN had cameras there but they did not do live stuff, and then never really stated when it would air.

[aBoris26]

Originally posted by Ben Mitchell
And this is after we played Canada's national anthem before our own. Here's a hint: we are in HOUSTON TEXAS, and are a largely american audience. If someone mentioning America upsets you, don't go next time.

I hate to break it to you but FIRST is an International competition, yes most teams are from the US, but at every oppurtunity for the speakers to mention America, and how great America is, they did. That's fine, i accepted it since it was in the US, for some of it i agree completely. But not ONCE during the closing cerimonies was the fact that it is a international competition mentioned.

Someone mentioning America is perfectly fine, even for the majority of the time, but to completely ignore the rest of the world is counter-productive for this program. I find it funny how you think a solution to my complaint is to not go next time, well that's great, lets all be isolationists! Three chears for ignoring the Global Community!

[Ben Mitchell]

Right...

(does anyone agree with this guy ?)

[ahecht]

I have to say that the opening ceremonies were very, very touching. I've never heard a trumpet sing like that, and applaud FIRST for going with the unconventional approach.

Unfortunatly, most of our mentors (including our faculty advisor and our two student representatives) missed seeing us winning the Leadership in Control award, because we expected that they would run the finals before the award ceremony, and we were en-route to the hotel to drop off all our equiptment from the pits when the award was given out. The rest of the team was busy reclaiming our giant trash bag 190 in the pits (changing it from "88" to "190 loves 88"), and had to sprint over to Einstein to claim our award. Still, no one on the team knows what they said about us. Oh well, we will at least know what to expect next year.