Winter Olympics watch

[BaroqueAgain1]

Is it weird that I found the South Korean anthem kind of similar to the melody and rhythm of our Star Spangled Banner?

ETA: Now that US athletes are in the stadium, it looks like NBC has stopped showing the other countries that are marching in after the US.

A wee bit jingoistic?

[BaroqueAgain1]

Spoke too soon...we're getting more countries.
**** - The small contingent from Bermuda came into the below-freezing stadium wearing Bermuda shorts. The flag bearer's nose was redder than the red & white flag he was carrying and he looked like he'd love one of those in-jacket heating units that the US kids have.

[lurkey mclurker]

I'm watching on Eurosport, it's a refreshing change.

Although I did not see/hear much similarity between their national anthem and ours...

Still LOLing over the Tongan flagbearer going shirtless for this parade too as he did in Rio, how on earth did he not freeze his bits off???

[BaroqueAgain1]

Maybe that layer of coconut oil provided some insulation as he walked, although I'm hoping that he had a valet waiting for him in the Tongan seating area with a big, warm, padded coat. Perhaps a hot towel first to wipe off most of the coconut oil.
When the cameras scanned the stands, it looked like a lot of the athletes had their collars zipped all the way up, and their hoods pulled down over their faces while they huddled together. A bit too chilly, even for winter athletes. Not enough insulating blubber on those lean bodies.

[Ballerina]

The opening ceremony was beautiful - the technology jaw dropping. I so enjoyed the parade of nations, but some of those uniforms were ghastly.

[Catalina]

Maybe that layer of coconut oil provided some insulation as he walked, although I'm hoping that he had a valet waiting for him in the Tongan seating area with a big, warm, padded coat. Perhaps a hot towel first to wipe off most of the coconut oil.
When the cameras scanned the stands, it looked like a lot of the athletes had their collars zipped all the way up, and their hoods pulled down over their faces while they huddled together. A bit too chilly, even for winter athletes. Not enough insulating blubber on those lean bodies.

A heavy layer of vaseline or grease paint does noticeably help, certainly with facial skin, and at ambient temperatures around 25F. But I don't know how much use it would be with with that much exposed skin.

[BaroqueAgain1]

A seventeen-year-old (Red Gerard, IIRC) just won gold in Men's Slopestyle. I think in a dangerous event like this, it probably helps to be so young that fear hasn't yet pitched a permanent tent in your mind.

[lurkey mclurker]

I've been watching the rest of the team skating (ice dance & ladies') and the nerves have maybe settled, far less falling than yesterday.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Lugers are frelling crazy.
I can't even imagine sliding down a steep, twisting tunnel of ice at 80- 83 mph on a tiny sled, on your back, feet first.

[lurkey mclurker]

I really hope the ISU does something about the scoring. Reward difficulty by all means YES... but when it means a flawless program is shunned for attempted quads that fall left & right... there's a problem.

Adam Rippon had a great skate that he can feel proud of, however it was scored.

And the ladies are really bringing it at the mo.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Yeah, when I saw that the fall-a-lot Russian scored higher than Adam, it took me back to the bad old days when Russian opinions ruled the judging panels.

[starrydreamer]

Yeah, when I saw that the fall-a-lot Russian scored higher than Adam, it took me back to the bad old days when Russian opinions ruled the judging panels.

Uh, yeah. The problem is that attempted quads, even if they aren't landed cleanly, gather more points than a cleanly landed triple. Seems silly to me.

But hey, Mirai Nagasu landed her triple axel! She's had so much trouble with nerves over the years that it was so great to see her skate with such confidence. Even if the Russian girl did blow her score out of the water.

[Delamont]

A seventeen-year-old (Red Gerard, IIRC) just won gold in Men's Slopestyle. I think in a dangerous event like this, it probably helps to be so young that fear hasn't yet pitched a permanent tent in your mind.

That boy is amazing!

[lurkey mclurker]

And to bookend it, 17-year-old Chloe Kim wins gold in the women's halfpipe, with teammates Arielle Gold for bronze & Kelly Clark in fourth.

[Starine]

Uh, yeah. The problem is that attempted quads, even if they aren't landed cleanly, gather more points than a cleanly landed triple. Seems silly to me.

This.

And how about that Chloe Kim?! She is everything they said she was, and then some.

[stark]

Why do we need to know about the love lifes of Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy?

Is that newsworthy?

I remember back about 20 years or so there was an urgent blast from the Olympic Village.....the big fishbowl in the athlete's lobby that was stocked with FREE condoms is now empty! That was just about enough news for me, thanks.

[Catalina]

Uh, yeah. The problem is that attempted quads, even if they aren't landed cleanly, gather more points than a cleanly landed triple. Seems silly to me.

This.

And how about that Chloe Kim?! She is everything they said she was, and then some.

The whole new scoring system seems so obtuse that it is unintelligible to most casual watchers, it's where the sport lost its audience.

[stark]

The whole new scoring system seems so obtuse that it is unintelligible to most casual watchers, it's where the sport lost its audience.

Especially if you're color blind lookin at those little boxes!

[BaroqueAgain1]

Hate to admit it, but the pair from North Korea can really skate. However, she is TINY! She's built like a child on puberty blockers.

[lurkey mclurker]

They had a great skate. (the phalanx of cheerleaders creeps me out though, can't lie )

Both Chinese pairs were fabulous too. <3