# 2024 Summer Olympics Thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** olympic-sports-track\
**Created:** [July 10, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019 "2024-07-10T20:21:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/41 "2024-07-26T15:12:24Z")

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I hate to burst your bubble, but I woke up early this morning and watched to highlights of the entire 24’ Olympics in Paris\*

So I’m going to spoil it for everyone.

- Uruguay takes gold in soccer
- The Finns dominate the distance running events (especially Nurmi and Ritola)
- Abrahams and Liddel win the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes respectively, but there are no chariots in evidence, let alone chariots of fire.
- Weissmuller takes three golds in swimming plus a bronze in the relay
- Harold Osborn wins the decathlon with a record number of points, becoming the “world’s greatest athlete”
- DeHart Hubbard becomes the first African American to win an individual gold medal.

\*[The 1924 Olympics in Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1924_Summer_Olympics) on TCM!

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**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/42 "2024-07-26T16:08:19Z")

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Uruguay _still_ has a star on their national team shirt because of that gold medal.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/43 "2024-07-26T16:13:38Z")

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Should they expire?

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**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/44 "2024-07-26T16:17:44Z")

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The problem is that the stars on the shirt are for World Cups, Uruguay claims that FIFA specified the Olympic tournament (before the first World Cup in 1930) as equivalent of a “World tournament title” and thus it counts, other countries disagree and use those two “Olympic” stars (they also won in 1928) to make some (usually gentle) fun of them.

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/45 "2024-07-26T17:44:05Z")

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Okay, opening ceremonies on.

The start sketch featured Zidane, a bunch of Citroens in a trafic jam, the catacombs and, apparently, the Phantom of the Opera.

Boat parade under way. Smaller countries do multiple countries per boat. (OK so Bahrain got their own private little boat).

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/46 "2024-07-26T17:49:40Z")

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Bahrain got a little boat all by their lonesome.

Now it’s Lady Gaga singing.

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**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/47 "2024-07-26T17:50:47Z")

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> [@Terminus\_Est](#):
>
> Now it’s Lady Gaga singing.

The feather bosoms are a choice.

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/48 "2024-07-26T17:53:15Z")

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It’s very French!

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/49 "2024-07-26T18:00:07Z")

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“And because we know Americans will get bored, let’s cut to Snoop”

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**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/50 "2024-07-26T18:00:59Z")

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The backdrop is frequently undecorated street furniture, concrete and graffiti. When London had it in 2012 every street light had a flag on it - even in the outer suburbs. Here I can spot ugly undecorated lamp posts in the background of the opening ceremony! Bit underwhelmed at the moment but hopefully as it gets darker there will be something a bit more spectacular. The Eiffel Tower is always a lovely sight when it’s lit up.

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/51 "2024-07-26T18:04:59Z")

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Wow that boat with Canada, CAR, Chile, and China is huge! It’s a wonder it can navigate the Swine at all.

Can-can!

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/52 "2024-07-26T18:06:13Z")

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I assume much of the torch relay is pre-taped?

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/53 "2024-07-26T18:08:28Z")

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Oh for sure.

Aerialists in construction outfits hanging off the scaffolding of Notre Dame… nice touch.

OK… Les Miz, beheaded Marie Antoinette, and operatic heavy metal. THAT I did not expect.

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/54 "2024-07-26T18:17:19Z")

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What heavy metal band is that performing? It’s cool.

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/55 "2024-07-26T18:18:48Z")

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Death metal + opera turns out to be a great combo. Especially if you can get Marie Antoinette’s decapitated head to kick it off.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/56 "2024-07-26T18:24:49Z")

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> [@Terminus\_Est](#):
>
> Death metal + opera turns out to be a great combo. Especially if you can get Marie Antoinette’s decapitated head to kick it off

Oh, wow, it was Gojira. That…is actually a big band.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/57 "2024-07-26T18:34:25Z")

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I am liking the parade, er, regatta of nations broken up by performances. Helps alleviate some of the boredom waiting for your favorite country.

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/58 "2024-07-26T18:35:38Z")

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> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#):
>
> The backdrop is frequently undecorated street furniture, concrete and graffiti. When London had it in 2012 every street light had a flag on it - even in the outer suburbs. Here I can spot ugly undecorated lamp posts in the background of the opening ceremony!

“We don’t need to spiff it up. It’s _Paris_.”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/59 "2024-07-26T18:53:57Z")

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Minions?!

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/60 "2024-07-26T18:58:45Z")

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I don’t get it either. Though I think they’re produced by the same company that owns NBC

And I have to say; the French have an awesome national anthem.

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