# Summer Olympics 2021 ongoing discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 23, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137 "2021-07-23T12:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/682 "2021-08-09T01:05:37Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The cascading lights that formed the Olympic rings was amazing. Was that done with drones? They seemed to be right above the athletes’ heads. Googling, that [display](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPgnZJaX7mQ) was entirely for the television audience and [was not visible for anyone there in person](https://dronedj.com/2021/08/08/olympics-closing-ceremony-drone-light-show/). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/683 "2021-08-09T01:55:25Z")
I think the flag flying from the Eiffel Tower was virtual effect as well. Still, the presentation from Paris was pretty cool. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/684 "2021-08-09T01:59:51Z")
Particularly for the huge crowd of unmasked people. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/685 "2021-08-09T02:06:58Z")
Very nice spot near the end of the closing ceremonies broadcast highlighting the upcoming Paralympics (August 24-Sept 5). Featuring Dwayne Johnson. I hope I remember to tune in to the games this year. According to an article I read on Yahoo Sports they will be broadcast more this year than ever. I’m terrible about tuning in for specific Olympic events but when I remember I like to have them on in the background. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/686 "2021-08-09T02:22:42Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > > [@Railer13](#): > > > > NBC is showing the closing ceremonies tonight. 7:00 Central time. > > > > There are snippets available on YouTube, but I think I’ll wait and watch NBC one more time. > > Of course, these will be the “edited” closing ceremonies. They are supposed to include the medal ceremonies for the men’s and women’s marathons; I will believe that NBC airs these in full when I see it. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if they just air Molly Seidel receiving her bronze medal, probably after coming back from a commercial. Okay, to be fair, they did show Eliud Kipchoge receiving his medal as well… > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > [@Telemark](#): > > > > The cascading lights that formed the Olympic rings was amazing. Was that done with drones? They seemed to be right above the athletes’ heads. > > Googling, that [display](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPgnZJaX7mQ) was entirely for the television audience and [was not visible for anyone there in person](https://dronedj.com/2021/08/08/olympics-closing-ceremony-drone-light-show/). That’s what I thought - they showed an exterior shot of the stadium right at the end of that segment, and you couldn’t see the rings. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/687 "2021-08-09T02:28:56Z")
It was a spectacular effect but I think they should only have effects that are really visible to people there in person. I remember during the opening ceremonies in Beijing there was an effect of [giant feet approaching the stadium](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiRyECW2UXk), done in fireworks, and that too was fake. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/688 "2021-08-09T02:34:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I remember during the opening ceremonies in Beijing there was an effect of [giant feet approaching the stadium](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiRyECW2UXk), done in fireworks, and that too was fake. I remember that too, and I feel cheated as well. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/689 "2021-08-09T02:35:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It was a spectacular effect but I think they should only have effects that are really visible to people there in person. Most of the athletes had their phones. Wonder if they could watch it? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/690 "2021-08-09T02:37:21Z")
Supposedly that effect was displayed on the giant screens in the stadium so my guess is that, yes, the athletes could probably watch it on their phones. But what’s the point of having people staring at their phones? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/691 "2021-08-09T02:38:40Z")
Well, duh. I should have realized they could watch it on the big screens. But your point is well taken. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/692 "2021-08-09T02:43:46Z")
BTW, the bit with the kids and the woman singing, was that supposed to be an homage to _The Sound of Music_? ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/693 "2021-08-09T04:06:06Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, the bit with the kids and the woman singing, was that supposed to be an homage to _The Sound of Music_ That was my first guess, too. The woman should have been dressed in a brighter color. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/694 "2021-08-09T05:30:36Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Googling, that [display](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPgnZJaX7mQ) was entirely for the television audience and [was not visible for anyone there in person](https://dronedj.com/2021/08/08/olympics-closing-ceremony-drone-light-show/). Ah, that makes it far less impressive. Certainly the drones at the opening ceremonies were the coolest effect. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think the flag flying from the Eiffel Tower was virtual effect as well. Still, the presentation from Paris was pretty cool. Maybe they’ll have a real flag by the time the Games roll around. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/695 "2021-08-09T12:00:48Z")
Watched part of the parade of nations - would have been nice if the announcers could have interrupted their chats to mention what country they were showing. For some reason, I couldn’t remember all the flags and uniforms from the opening ceremony (mostly because I didn’t watch much of it, but wouldn’t have any way). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/696 "2021-08-09T12:15:03Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Maybe they’ll have a real flag by the time the Games roll around. I hope not. That would take hurricane force winds to keep a flag of that size waving straight out. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/697 "2021-08-10T04:14:40Z")
And that’s it. I’m starting to get the creeping feeling that London 2012 was the last truly fun Olympiad we’ll ever have. Rio was plagued with disasters and internal misery from start to finish, and Tokyo got the insular, quiet competition they wanted and pretty much everyone else lamented. Even if we gotten this crazy pandemic under control by '24 (and right now I have zero confidence that we will), global warming is only getting worse, meaning any outdoor summer event is going to be hell on everyone involved. (Plus this new rise of fascism thing. What the hell’s up with _that?_) Get what positive vibes you can and don’t get greedy. Tomorrow’s another day. One parting question. I saw a shot of a beach volleyball team…I think it was the gold-medal winning April Ross and Alix Kilineman…right after a match, and they were wearing their Olympic jackets and pants. I can understand why gymnasts often want to cover up their legs once they’re done, but they’re under the Tokyo sun in the middle of August! How can _anyone_ possibly be cold in that? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/698 "2021-08-10T04:42:34Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > global warming is only getting worse, meaning any outdoor summer event is going to be hell on everyone involved. Paris doesn’t usually get all that hot in the summer; it could go up three degrees and it’d still be fine. It’d be easy to just have most of the Games somewhere tolerable. Los Angeles isn’t as hot as you’d think either, and Brisbane will be holding the Games in Australian winter. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2021, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/699 "2021-08-10T08:46:05Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > For the Philippines this was, I am sure, our most successful Olympics since we started participating in the Games. In addition to our first ever gold medal, we also got two silvers and a bronze. Several others also managed to get to the finals for their event, including skateboarding, gymnastics, and pole vault. For Israel as well - two golds medals (the country’s second and third, ever) and two bronze, increasing the country’s total historic medal count from 7 to 11. The two golds especially, in gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics, were huge surprises. I guess what we needed was an extra year to prepare. Who knew. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2021, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/700 "2021-08-10T09:34:49Z")
Apparently the Tokyo Olympics also broke records in terms of medal counts – 88 different nations won medals and 63 different nations won gold medals, both Olympic records. > **[Which nations have claimed their first-ever medals in Tokyo?](https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/which-nations-have-claimed-their-first-ever-medals-tokyo)** > > Entering the 2020 Olympic Games, 71 NOCs had never won a medal. That number is on the decline in Tokyo. Turkmenistan, Burkina Faso, and San Marino won their first ever Olympic medals. The latter claimed _three_. The Philippines, Bermuda, and Qatar won their first ever gold medals. The latter claimed _two_ gold medals. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/701 "2021-08-11T17:26:53Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > insomnia meant that I watched a lot of rhythmic gymnastics. That’s a really weird sport that desperately needs an overhaul. Weird, yes. Overhaul? Not if it eliminates moments like this: [![](https://i.imgur.com/bqIKH9i.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/bqIKH9i.jpeg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=36)