Commonwealth games

[mr.bluesky]

So the Commonwealth games start today in Birmingham,  any one interested  as usual the BBC has gone way overboard with its saturation coverage on both channels.  As a Rugby fan I will only be interested in the Rugby 7's tournament which will probably be won by New Zealand or Fiji as for the athletics and other sports they have little or no interest to me .The Commonwealth wealth games are the poor cousin to the Olympics as far as I'm concerned

[Thephoenix]

Always love the Commonwealth games......the friendly games.
Looking forward to watching as much as I can.

[lamboman]

I'm going on the last day for the athletics and I might pop down for the men's road race as it's not far away.
Still plenty of quality athletes competing.
Hopefully it's on Eurosport aswell.

[JontyR]

I don't think the BBC has gone ovverboard on the coverage. They will be tasked to provide coverage for all events as we are the host nation. It would be a bit of a waste for them not to then transfer this onto the channels they provide.

I'm interested in what folks thought of the opening ceremony. Coming from the West Midlands I appreciated most of it. Even the fact that there was a bike in the canal over Lenny Henry's shoulder! It shows up that kind of humour of the region...we can take the mick out of ourselves but heaven help you if you try to mock us for it.

I don't quite know how it will translate for the rest of the country or the world as a whole. Parts of it did look like a fever dream.

No, its not the Olympics. But it shouldn't try to be. I do like the fact that there is greater representation of countries and territories than in the Olympics. How cool must it be to represent your island territory or nation?

[mr.bluesky]

I'm going on the last day for the athletics and I might pop down for the men's road race as it's not far away.
Still plenty of quality athletes competing.
Hopefully it's on Eurosport aswell.

On Eurosport  I hope not that will be one less sports channel I will watch. I think the BBC is giving it more than plenty of air time.

[mr.bluesky]

No, its not the Olympics. But it shouldn't try to be. I do like the fact that there is greater representation of countries and territories than in the Olympics. How cool must it be to represent your island territory or nation?

Of course England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete as separate countries rather than as GB

[lamboman]

I think the BBC is giving it more than plenty of air time.

Mostly inane chatting from the likes of Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson  or even worse that idiot at the Olympics who thinks he's a comedian.
Eurosport actually show some of the action.

[mr.bluesky]

Mostly inane chatting from the likes of Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson  or even worse that idiot at the Olympics who thinks he's a comedian.
Eurosport actually show some of the action.

Like sky sports do with all its sports . An hours build up then an hour talking about it afterwards,  it lasts longer than the event itself    Looking at The Eurosport schedule it looks like they are not showing any of it. 

[lamboman]

Like sky sports do with all its sports . An hours build up then an hour talking about it afterwards,  it lasts longer than the event itself    Looking at The Eurosport schedule it looks like they are not showing any of it. 

Sky sports coverage is completely different to Eurosport,BBC is great if you're an uninformed viewer.
Rubbish for an actual sports fan.

[Thephoenix]

Of course England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete as separate countries rather than as GB

Yes, I knew a chap who swam in the commonwealth Games for the Isle of Man which had it's own team.

[Bummer]

Just watched the women’s diving :: jeez can the costumes be any more revealing ...I hope so 

[timsussex]

I rather like having the para sports mixed in rather than separate pre/post games meaning they to perform in front of full stadiums

[Thephoenix]

Just watched the women’s diving :: jeez can the costumes be any more revealing ...I hope so 

......and that's only the guys!


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[lamboman]

I'm not sure why I've not really noticed before but as a Welshman I find the use of Jerusalem for English winners devoid of any meaning.
I love the emotion shown with a national anthem but this is not evident with Jerusalem.

[mr.bluesky]

I'm not sure why I've not really noticed before but as a Welshman I find the use of Jerusalem for English winners devoid of any meaning.
I love the emotion shown with a national anthem but this is not evident with Jerusalem.

Well the Welsh and Scottish have their own national anthems so it's only right that England do. Let's be honest God save the Queen is a dreary anthem and the words of Jerusalem are relevant  to England if you look up the lyrics.

[lamboman]

Well the Welsh and Scottish have their own national anthems so it's only right that England do. Let's be honest God save the Queen is a dreary anthem and the words of Jerusalem are relevant  to England if you look up the lyrics.

GSTQ is dreary but at least it gets the emotion going.

[Thephoenix]

GSTQ is dreary but at least it gets the emotion going.

Not mine!
I've started threads before about this.
One of the best things Charles could do when he takes over the firm would be to announce a competition for a new National Anthem like Australia did.

It was hilarious when the opera singer sang GSTQ at the charity shield match when hardly any of the players or coaching staff were British.

I'm always jealous of the Scots and Welsh when I hear them singing their anthems with such fervour.

Ok!....God save the Queen for a few more years yet......Respect!
....but c'mon!....God save King Charles and Queen Camilla?

[snaitram99]

Anthem was originally God Save the King.

Haven't England previously used Land of Hope and Glory in Commonwealth Games? Jerusalem specifically refers to England, but Blake's words are full of Christian imagery, which I would have thought might cause problems for those of other faiths, even if not for atheists of agnostics. Not intending this as discussion of religion as banned subject.

[timsussex]

Nice to see Ladies Hockey team win Gold and sing along with Jerusalem on the podium

[SmoothieNeil]

Women's diving was pretty good, some seriously nice bums on display!

[fredhiggins]

I went to the Smithfield site today. It was a fanzone kind of thing with activities. There was a young woman on stilts holding a beach volleyball net up; on the stilts her bum was at my eye level and her short skirt was blowing up in the wind.   

[SmoothieNeil]

Just watched the women’s diving :: jeez can the costumes be any more revealing ...I hope so 

Indeed, I'm wondering if it's ok to ogle Andrea Spendolini-Siriex, she might be 17 but she is 18 in September, she is seriously pretty for me

[Marmalade]

Nice to see Ladies Hockey team win Gold and sing along with Jerusalem on the podium

I put it on in the background. Worked out blue knicker team were Aussies. Camera seemed to give their bums better exposure. Weirdly interesting game, don’t think I’ve figured out their rules yet.

Watching the women’s diving is a treat. BBC seems a bit vague about what’s on when (I’ve not looked very hard). I like artistic gymnastics but pole vault must be the best for fit crotch shots and I find that interesting as a sport. The other stuff you have to spend serious time getting into it enough to care.

Russian TV used to be the best for crotch shots. Their Wimbledon coverage used to be hot with lots of low  cameras. Are they covering the Commonwealth?

Has Scotland won anything? Do we get to hear them sing Flower of Scotland or is that unacceptable to woke audiences?

You can tell I’m not a big sports fan. But watching women compete does inspire me to keep fit more than watching the guys who look so out of my class it’s like science fiction. Leaping into the air using a pole to clear 5.5 metres ffs??? That is just unreal!

[Marmalade]

Not mine!

I'm always jealous of the Scots and Welsh when I hear them singing their anthems with such fervour.

Ok!....God save the Queen for a few more years yet......Respect!
....but c'mon!....God save King Charles and Queen Camilla?

Best would be just continue with GSTQ no matter who’s on the throne. She’s a bit of ‘living legend’ that will be hard to beat. Surely god could just keep saving her every year after she’s dead.
 

[mr.bluesky]

Has Scotland won anything? Do we get to hear them sing Flower of Scotland or is that unacceptable to woke audiences?

I Don't know is curling in the commonwealth games  that's one sport you always seem to do well at. 

[lillythesavage]

I put it on in the background. Worked out blue knicker team were Aussies. Camera seemed to give their bums better exposure. Weirdly interesting game, don’t think I’ve figured out their rules yet.

Watching the women’s diving is a treat. BBC seems a bit vague about what’s on when (I’ve not looked very hard). I like artistic gymnastics but pole vault must be the best for fit crotch shots and I find that interesting as a sport. The other stuff you have to spend serious time getting into it enough to care.

Russian TV used to be the best for crotch shots. Their Wimbledon coverage used to be hot with lots of low  cameras. Are they covering the Commonwealth?

Has Scotland won anything? Do we get to hear them sing Flower of Scotland or is that unacceptable to woke audiences?

You can tell I’m not a big sports fan. But watching women compete does inspire me to keep fit more than watching the guys who look so out of my class it’s like science fiction. Leaping into the air using a pole to clear 5.5 metres ffs??? That is just unreal!

Had me searching AW for flat chested women  , any of the female UK relay teams would do  .

[Marmalade]

Had me searching AW for flat chested women  , any of the female UK relay teams would do  .

All the running events are at such a distance they could be cis except for the very occasional shot. Or greyhounds. 

The beeb can’t be relied on to show them flexing their glutes, bent over at the starting line, with clear view of how those inner thighs synchronise with the butt.

The rest could be Doncaster. 

[lillythesavage]

All the running events are at such a distance they could be cis except for the very occasional shot. Or greyhounds. 

The beeb can’t be relied on to show them flexing their glutes, bent over at the starting line, with clear view of how those inner thighs synchronise with the butt.

The rest could be Doncaster. 

Close enough to give me the horn 

[lamboman]

Has Scotland won anything? Do we get to hear them sing Flower of Scotland or is that unacceptable to woke audiences?

Yes they have they won another gold when I was their last night.
Superb event,great atmosphere and very well done Birmingham.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

The atmosphere in my city since the games started has been wonderful. I was at the athletics yesterday and the noise was incredible at times, the  best I’ve experienced outside of a football match.

I’ve always been a proud Brummie but these last few days have really made me even more proud of my city. I just wish my dad has been around to see it, he’d have been chuffed to bits.

[Marmalade]

Yes they have they won another gold when I was their last night.
Superb event,great atmosphere and very well done Birmingham.

Any music?

[Thephoenix]

The atmosphere in my city since the games started has been wonderful. I was at the athletics yesterday and the noise was incredible at times, the  best I’ve experienced outside of a football match.

I’ve always been a proud Brummie but these last few days have really made me even more proud of my city. I just wish my dad has been around to see it, he’d have been chuffed to bits.

Good for you!
I believe you're also getting the European Athletic Championship and bidding for the world championship and possibly the Eurovision song contest.

[lillythesavage]

The atmosphere in my city since the games started has been wonderful. I was at the athletics yesterday and the noise was incredible at times, the  best I’ve experienced outside of a football match.

I’ve always been a proud Brummie but these last few days have really made me even more proud of my city. I just wish my dad has been around to see it, he’d have been chuffed to bits.

Even the opening song on the BBC is spot on, the atmosphere comes across on TV, something good from our colonial past so many want to write out of history.

It gives athletes who would never see events like it a chance to shine, and none of them are complaining about history, no matter what we cannot change that and Birmingham has welcomed them with open arms, even the Scots