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This is an account of life in an Olympic city. Capturing the final preparations before the Opening Ceremony as well as the Games themselves.
Monday, August 16, 2004
14th August, Beach Volleyball, Session 322
Apologies for being so late in reporting Saturday's matches but I hardly was at home.
So here it goes:
This was the first sporting event I went. I had only seen very little of beach volleyball and I only went out of curiocity.
Each ticket allows you to see 4 matches, 2 mens and 2 womens (so everybody is happy). Although I would think women will feel let down because women athletes wear the smallest of swimsuits (especially the bottom bit) while men wear a basketball style outfit.
Women can also feel let down by the "entertainment" offered during breaks in action, as you can see in the photo here:
some might say that these four athletes messing around with a ball are interfering with the dancers actions... but lets not get into that!
So the first game we saw was a womens match between Norway and USA, the USA ladies quickly dispatched with the Norwegians in 2-0 sets. Then it was time for a mens game between Greece and South Africa. Both duos did not look terrible athletic... and I will not waste my time describing what happened. Lets say that the Greek dudes were pathetic, even though they managed to loose with a respectable 2-1 sets.
Then it was time for our second ladies match of the evening with the Greek ladies facing the Mexico ladies. That was good match because bothe teams could play well and it was an enjoyable game. Well the fact that Greece won by 2-0, helped the enjoyment bit!
But the best match of the evening was between Oz and USA, both teams played really well. But I think that the Oz guys are in a league of their own. I was very impressed with their gameplay, especially if you take into consideration some crap playing I had seen earlier. So wonder they quickly despatched the Americans with 2-0.
Ok some thoughts on beach volleyball:
Why is there that idiot with the microphone to tell us when to clap? Also it was really annoying to play 5 second music clips after each point. What was funny about the clips though was that they were changing according to the team playing. So the US got alot of hard rock (from Linkin Park to Led Zeppelin), the Australians got INXS and Kylie (what a combinations). And the Greeks got Zorba and loads of Sakis Roubas and Shake it!
After the game we walked back across the new promenand/Esplanada, which is truly amazing! There are loads of bits that are undeveloped yet, but I would think by next year there will be many more new things built along that coastline!
So here it goes:
This was the first sporting event I went. I had only seen very little of beach volleyball and I only went out of curiocity.
Each ticket allows you to see 4 matches, 2 mens and 2 womens (so everybody is happy). Although I would think women will feel let down because women athletes wear the smallest of swimsuits (especially the bottom bit) while men wear a basketball style outfit.
Women can also feel let down by the "entertainment" offered during breaks in action, as you can see in the photo here:
some might say that these four athletes messing around with a ball are interfering with the dancers actions... but lets not get into that!
So the first game we saw was a womens match between Norway and USA, the USA ladies quickly dispatched with the Norwegians in 2-0 sets. Then it was time for a mens game between Greece and South Africa. Both duos did not look terrible athletic... and I will not waste my time describing what happened. Lets say that the Greek dudes were pathetic, even though they managed to loose with a respectable 2-1 sets.
Then it was time for our second ladies match of the evening with the Greek ladies facing the Mexico ladies. That was good match because bothe teams could play well and it was an enjoyable game. Well the fact that Greece won by 2-0, helped the enjoyment bit!
But the best match of the evening was between Oz and USA, both teams played really well. But I think that the Oz guys are in a league of their own. I was very impressed with their gameplay, especially if you take into consideration some crap playing I had seen earlier. So wonder they quickly despatched the Americans with 2-0.
Ok some thoughts on beach volleyball:
Why is there that idiot with the microphone to tell us when to clap? Also it was really annoying to play 5 second music clips after each point. What was funny about the clips though was that they were changing according to the team playing. So the US got alot of hard rock (from Linkin Park to Led Zeppelin), the Australians got INXS and Kylie (what a combinations). And the Greeks got Zorba and loads of Sakis Roubas and Shake it!
After the game we walked back across the new promenand/Esplanada, which is truly amazing! There are loads of bits that are undeveloped yet, but I would think by next year there will be many more new things built along that coastline!
