SPORTS !!!

[Willy The Londoner]

Vince. There was no indication on the full length show that that section was for the victims of the bombs just announcing it was for people no longer able to enjoy the Olympics.  Of course the London bombings were appropriate as we was still celebrating the news the previous day of London being awarded the games.

The following week another group attempted the same thing but were foiled. This put the City on high alert commuters were traveling in fear and when misleading information was supplied following surveillance an innocent man was shot dead by a police officer on an underground train.

The photo's came on and went by in mass very quickly.

Rhonald, I could not decide who was the most appropriate person to light it but the result surprised every, especially the bookmakers who returned the money placed in best on various choices.

China still ahead with 4 gold but that will change when the more middle of the road and prestige events take place but I think China is now surprising people in the swimming pools.

Willy

Will

[Rhonald]

Rhonald, I could not decide who was the most appropriate person to light it but the result surprised every, especially the bookmakers who returned the money placed in best on various choices.

Yes I heard about the bookmakers, having a spine, did the decent job of returning the bets on who was to be the candlemaker.

My memory has failed me because I remember twice seeing a Canadian presence in the shows opening, one being the Poppy. Its symbol because of the poem "In Flander's Field" written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. But I can not recollect the second time I uttered - that's Canadian not British.

Alas, being Canadian, I always feel a kindred spirit to England as its traditions has shaped our country. I am not Anglo Saxon but feel that I am, maybe because of the Scarlett Red Tunic our RCMP wear, or maybe seeing the Queens profile on portraits on walls and our currency. During my cadet years I wore that old fashioned woollen Battle Tunic from the WW2 era - dam did it itch - so I believe I have England in my blood.

I liked the part of the speech where he referenced to being England as the birth place of the modern Olympics because of the spirit of fair play being codified.

[Willy The Londoner]

I see so far the Australians are not talking about the Olympics.

But I look forward to hearing from the New Zealanders whose small team are well above them on the medal table.  I hear one Aussie Newspaper has left New Zealand off the table they publish  because of their position well above the Aussie squad.

Nice race between China and the USA  for top spot on medal table.

Nice to hear that that non human Michael Phelps is retiring after this one. Gives a lot more people the chance in future.

Willy

[Arnold]

2012 Medals2012 medalistsAll-Time standings by sportAll-Time standings by yearUPDATED: 9:54a ET - 8/7/2012
    Total
Australia 3 12 9 24
Track & Field  0 1 0 1
Canoe/Kayak  0 1 0 1
Cycling  1 1 3 5
Rowing  0 3 2 5
Sailing  1 0 0 1
Swimming  1 6 3 10
Triathlon  0 0 1 1

Well one can see, the Aussies are best in the Water. Funny, with all them 'Sharks" around.. that they even go near the Water?

[Willy The Londoner]

Well one can see, the Aussies are best in the Water. Funny, with all them 'Sharks" around.. that they even go near the Water?

When their around that teaches them to swim very fast.

Willy

[Scottish_Robbie]

The Aussies must have been getting some word from back home, they have moved up the table and starting to win a few medals now

[Willy The Londoner]

Well that is the olympics coming to an end today.  26 gold medals - the cost of game 13 billion pounds so that is about half a billion for each.  Well worth the money - glad I am no longer a British taxpayer though   Just got the closing ceremony tonight.

Oh well, football season is very close now and definately the Tour of Spain to look forward to.


Willy

[shaun]

1   United States        44   29   29   102
2   China                   38   27   22   87
3   Great Britain         28   15   19   62
4   Russia                  21   25   33   79
5   Korea                   13   7   7   27
6   Germany              11   19   14   44
7   France                 10   11   12   33
8   Italy                    8   7   9   24
9   Hungary               8   4   5   17
10   Australia              7   16   12   35
11   Japan                  6   14   17   37
12   Netherlands          6   6   8   20
13   Kazakhstan           6   -   4   10
14   Ukraine                5   4   9   18
15   New Zealand         5   3   5   13
16   Iran                     4   5   3   12
17   Jamaica                4   4   4   12
18   Cuba                   4   3   5   12
19   DPR Korea            4   -   2   6
20   Spain                   3   9   4   16
21   Brazil                   3   4   8   15
22   Belarus                3   4   5   12
23   Czech Republic      3   3   3   9
24   South Africa          3   2   1   6
25   Ethiopia               3   1   3   7
26   Romania               2   5   2   9
27   Denmark              2   4   3   9
28   Kenya                  2   3   4   9
29   Poland                 2   2   6   10
30   Azerbaijan            2   2   5   9
31   Turkey                 2   2   1   5
32   Croatia                 2   1   2   5
33   Norway                2   1   1   4
34   Switzerland          2   1   -   3
35   Canada                1   5   12   18
36   Colombia              1   3   4   8
37   Mexico                 1   3   3   7
38   Sweden                1   3   3   7
39   Georgia                1   3   2   6
40   Ireland                 1   1   3   5
41   Argentina           1   1   2   4
42   Lithuania              1   1   2   4
43   Slovenia               1   1   2   4
44   Serbia                  1   1   1   3
45   Tunisia                 1   1   1   3
46   Dominican Rep.     1   1   -   2
47   Trin. & Tobago      1   -   3   4
48   Uzbekistan           1   -   3   4
49   Latvia                  1   -   1   2
50   Algeria                 1   -   -   1
51   Bahamas              1   -   -   1
52   Grenada               1   -   -   1
53   Venezuela            1   -   -   1
54   Thailand               -   2   1   3
55   Egypt                  -   2   -   2
56   India                   -   1   4   5
57   Mongolia              -   1   3   4
58   Slovakia               -   1   3   4
59   Armenia               -   1   2   3
60   Belgium               -   1   2   3
61   Finland                -   1   2   3
62   Bulgaria               -   1   1   2
63   Estonia                -   1   1   2
64   Indonesia             -   1   1   2
65   Malaysia               -   1   1   2
66   Puerto Rico           -   1   1   2
67   Chinese Taipei      -   1   1   2
68   Botswana             -   1   -   1
69   Cyprus                 -   1   -   1
70   Gabon                  -   1   -   1
71   Guatemala            -   1   -   1
72   Montenegro          -   1   -   1
73   Portugal               -   1   -   1
74   Greece                 -   -   2   2
75   Moldova               -   -   2   2
76   Qatar                   -   -   2   2
77   Singapore             -   -   2   2
78   Afghanistan          -   -   1   1
79   Bahrain                -   -   1   1
80   Hong Kong           -   -   1   1
81   Saudi Arabia         -   -   1   1
82   Morocco               -   -   1   1
83   Tajikistan             -   -   1   1
84   Kuwait                 -   -   1   1

[Jason B]

Only 7 gold medals for Oz!! Not our best olypmics ever, but lets try and justify it a little........7 / 21 million = 4 million.......so for every 4 million people in Oz we got a gold.......

US say 300 million people 300 million / 44 = 6 million (approx)...

so does this mean that actually Oz is still better at sports???

[Willy The Londoner]

Not quite Jason

They have established that Grenada has the honour of having most gold per person pro rata to population.

Well at the end of a day the Olympics were a triumph for sport, a triumph for London and a triumph Britain.

Willy

[Willy The Londoner]

U.S. President Barack Obama might rest soundly on Sunday night in the knowledge his country topped the medals table at the London Games, but he might be slightly put out to discover that as a head of state he still comes second to Britain's queen.

Thanks to her role as head of state for 16 countries, Queen Elizabeth is the world leader whose athletes have won more gold medals at London 2012 than any other and in her diamond jubilee year too. That's 48 golds for Elizabeth to Obama's 46.

Alongside Britain's 29 golds, only six of the queen's other countries were needed to top the medal count with seven from Australia, five from New Zealand, four from Usain Bolt and his fellow Jamaicans and one each from Bahamas, Canada and Grenada.

Willy

[shaun]

Willy I don't think Obama is resting soundly.  He is upset but not for the reasons you state.  It is because America won to many metals.  In his mind America should not win that many metals.  America isn't that great.

I know it is political but...   

[Willy The Londoner]

Willy I don't think Obama is resting soundly.  He is upset but not for the reasons you state.  It is because America won to many metals.  In his mind America should not win that many metals.  America isn't that great.

I know it is political but...   

Get off the Southern Comfort Shaun - they are medals not metals.   But suppose gold is a metal.

Mind you they are solid gold and heavy.  They should help the balance of payments a little.

Willy

[David E]

Only 7 gold medals for Oz!! Not our best olypmics ever, but lets try and justify it a little........7 / 21 million = 4 million.......so for every 4 million people in Oz we got a gold.......

US say 300 million people 300 million / 44 = 6 million (approx)...

so does this mean that actually Oz is still better at sports???

Dont want to rain on your parade Jase....

But 21 divided by 7 = 3 !!!!!!!!!....which makes the population rate per gold medal even more favourable.  But I think we all know that in Aus, these athletes are getting too much money, too much "fame", too much Facebook, too much Twitter....and not enough Graft and blood, sweat and tears.  Offering an athlete $1 million for winning a gold medal is the end of a long slippery slide (IMHO)

Cheers...David

[shaun]

Oh the humiliation of it all.  I've been had by my own self.  Yes Willy, I know the difference and am surprised I made the mistake. 

But then again if that makes you feel better because your country won fewer medals than mine did then I accept this rebuke for whirled peas.