General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOlympic Opening - The Parade of Nations always makes me tear up.
Especially watching the smaller delegations with only 2-3 participants. It must be overwhelming.
I especially love seeing the exotic and exquisite native garb that so many countries have. I wish the US had something equally impressive.
The opening ceremony choreography was complex and beautiful. I didn't know there was a tradition of tap dancing in Japan.
It was also fun for me to see the placards leading each delegation with the country names spelled out in the katakana symbols. I lived in Japan for 2 years back in the late 70s, when I was in the Air Force, and used to know most of 51 (IIRC) symbols used to spell foreign words phonetically. I can still recognize a few.
underpants
(182,826 posts)A pro tennis player said he wasnt going. No crowds so it wasnt worth it. Id have LOVED to gone even if I had no chance at some obscure sport. .
hlthe2b
(102,291 posts)Ralph Lauren designs them. He's had his time with them. I hope next time we see someone with a bit more imagination.
Link to tweet
3catwoman3
(24,006 posts)...to disappoint, unfortunately. Generally quite non-descript and same-old same-old - hence my above expressed wish that we had some sort of spectacular native costume.
Retrograde
(10,137 posts)that's bigger than any reference to the US? And how much does he "contribute" to the USOC to keep that gig?
A simple khakis + polo shirt + blazer in red, white, and blue should be suffiicient - it's not like Ralph Lauren invented any of these.
Takket
(21,575 posts)Takket
(21,575 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,444 posts)I'm guessing they could not trust returning silver medalist rower, Paul 'Podium Pants' O'Donovan to have the honors for fear he would go off script in a hilarious fashion.
On edit, Paul didn't make the cut, but Gary's totally there.
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)I really look forward to the events starting tomorrow!
Retrograde
(10,137 posts)mainly to award the coveted Retrograde Worst Team Uniform award - right now it's a toss-up between Luxembourg and Latvia, with Belgium coming in a distant 3rd. The African nations can usually be counted on to wear something spectacular, especially when it comes to headresses, but for the most part the uniforms were meh, as if the teams didn't know whether the Olympics would go on so they didn't want to invest too much in clothing.
BTW, Jordan's high on the list for best. It would probably help if I actually kept track of them, but hey, it's my contest, my rules.