Monzanator

9 minutes ago, NearPup said:

I think Osaka was a really bold choice as final torchbearer. I definitively appreciate that.

Not exactly bold. Everyone knows she and Matsuyama will be the faces of these Games for Japan

3 minutes ago, Grassmarket said:

Sadly, there will forever be a Moscow or Los Angeles style asterisk beside all the medals won here. 

Neah, it's the same for everyone. No need for asteriks. Montreal 1976 was boycotted by 20+ African countries and nobody gives a damn about that anymore.

7 minutes ago, pdr4332 said:

Wut? 5 years ago it was overrun by far-leftists instead of the loud (but I think still in the minority) culture-warrior "right" contingent of the present day?

So the political compass swung from one end to the other?

The number of posts in the Political Thread has decreased dramatically ever since Biden became President. The left-wingers achieved their goal and are sitting quiet and keep their fingers crossed this honeymoon period lasts forever

Just now, orangeman said:

Since never.  In my defence, I lived in Korea for 10 years and China for 4.  I've only visited Japan.  I get the xenophobia here, but I don't accept it.  And I don't accept it from anyone else. 

I'm pretty sure there is xenophobia between China, Japan & Korea over past history too. Old demons will always live on no matter what the current agendas are.

1 minute ago, orangeman said:

Now here's something I can agree with because it's not based on identity politics.  

Since when Canadians are experts on Japanese politics anyway?

17 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

Just to add to the cauldron lighter conversation…

 

I think Osaka is a fine choice, but it would have been even better is she was paired with Hideki Matsuyama. Two modern Japanese sporting icons coming together in a show of equality, resilience, and excellence. That’s just my two cents on the topic though.

Even equality has it's borders. Osaka is the undisputed money girl of the global sport like tennis. No offense to Matsuyama but USA has enough own top golfers not to give a damn about him. Whereas Osaka covers both the US & Asian market. She's a marketing man's dream. And she's also a woman which negates the alleged sexist masculine advantage. She checks off every single liberal, political, BLM or what have you box. All this 21 years after Cathy Freeman lighting the caludron and she's barely even remembered these days. Watch Ashleigh Barty light the cauldron in Brisbane 2032

Not a bad name. Waiting for the Angels vs Guardians divine derby

12 minutes ago, dcro said:

Cathy Freeman route. Only less organic.

The modern short-attention span generation probably doesn't even know who Freeman is. She came to the spotlight w/o the political corectness advantage and sadly because that was in the pre-social media era it's like she never existed.

2 minutes ago, ChandlerMne said:

Japan had so many great options and they picked Naomi??? 

Cant understand this.

Money talks. Osaka has insane BIg Tech support in USA & Asia. For being viewed as a traditional country Japan went with the Big Tech latest trend.

2 minutes ago, Federer91 said:

Osaka avoiding the spotlight again i see. 

Will she answer the journalists questions this time? Obviously in English, not in Japanese?

Osaka barely speaks Japanese  I suppose her mental health is doing okay now?

Yeah, Osaka. Who else?

Just now, intoronto said:

Apparently her match got moved from tomorrow to Sunday... whatever that means

It was rumoured she will be a part of the torch relay so it makes sense. The question is will she be the last person in the relay?

And there goes my Nomura pick

I'll be disappointed if it's Naomi Osaka...

Okay, the human pictograms are cool.

One guy has to remember all 50 events in the right order?

Bach still talking? Someone pull the damn plug!

Just now, heywoodu said:

Which is already from when I was barely a teenager, time flies. The shit from your time was from before television existed?

I had General Daimos & Captain Tsubasa as my childhood cartoons

Time for the communist utopian hymn aka "Imagine"

1 minute ago, heywoodu said:

Goku. With a well-aimed kamehameha.

I had to google what a Goku is. I'm too old for this Dragonball / Pokemon shit

Any bets who lights up the cauldron?

My money is on Tadahiro Nomura

After Kvitova and Cepede Royg, Jelena Ostapenko completes the WTA flag bearer trio!

As usual our men wear non-white/red suits. It literally happens at every SOG.

Here's

Which means Poland is two away - but this time Belgium instead of Philippines in between

with a very limited presence.

Tonga in oil again. Polish ES jokes it's the same oil at every Games