dezbee2008

Yep, that makes sense. @Agger makes chances of winning and I ruin them. Very logical.

We gave 12 to Ireland the second time they won, but at this rate, I'm actually gonna give points to the winner. Still I'm staying shush about it.

You know our strategy well.

Back from breakfast, so here's my chance again to thank (3) (6) (9) (6) and (2) for the combined 26 points. I'll be here quite often this afternoon, especially towards the end.

Morning, people. I wouldn't say I'm surprised because that's how 4 of the last 5 contests started out with us, but my early thanks to (2) (7) and (6) for the combined 15 points.

Well done on the opening ceremony @Werloc it was pretty cool to see the country at its best and the where are they now segment was a nice touch. Also, the US delegation thanks you for the tribute to Christina. It was touching.

My team is staying at that hotel as well in Kaunas! I was gonna wait until tomorrow my time to post it, but hey, our room is not far from Poland's.

My team arrived in Vilnius last night and stayed at this hotel They have a gym in there. My team was sold on that one. So, today, we should be arriving in Kaunas by train by the late afternoon/early evening hours

Team USA will be arriving tonight in Vilnius after stopping in Helsinki. We'll be arriving in Kaunas tomorrow afternoon.

Well, @Werloc, you just bought the American delegation more time to prepare our flight plan, so we support the reschedule.

Ooh, nicely done. My team is finalizing our flight plans and all we need to do now is to find a carrier that will take us to Vilnius (not directly because we don't have direct flights to Vilnius from New York City) so once we arrive, we'll probably stay in Vilnius for 3/4 of a day before taking the train to Kaunas

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo I get to go last Here's a funny thing, while I was reading through I was thinking "gotta hold on top number 33" and lo and behold.

So, am I supposed to take it as bestmen is the Algerian Donald Trump saying that this whole thing is rigged? Is it wrong of me to ask what he's is taking? That's what we do here in America if someone acts like him in places like YouTube comments. But, seriously, though, cut it out.

Votes have been sent

Wow, thanks for the insight @dcro Getting at least 94 points this time around is gonna be a tough task for the delegation, but nothing is impossible for Team USA. Anyway, I should have my final 15 by tonight, so expect my votes to come in by the end of the week.

First phase done, got it down to 24. Next phase will come early next week, where hopefully I can get my final 15, so expect my votes to come in late next week, about 24-48 hours before the deadline

I'll start listening to the songs later this week since I just went through a major storm and am on my mobile hotspot, but I will make the deadline.

LOL!!! I had planned to do this since Wednesday, but I guess I wasn't counting on Canada to beat me to it.

Alright guys, it was a tough decision for me to make. Like I said earlier, I was stuck on two songs, both from female singers, both were popular radio hits in my country (and maybe in some others) in 2002, one was about taking in a moment, and is a ballad, and the other was about letting go and having fun, and is a nice pop tune, but in the end, the American jury has chosen to send a ballad for the very first time to the contest. Enjoy. Kelly Clarkson, from Fort Worth, TX, is American Idol's first-ever winner Lyrics What if I told you It was all meant to be Would you believe me, Would you agree It's almost that feelin' That we've met before So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy When I tell you love has come here and now... A moment like this Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Some people search forever, For that one special kiss Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Everything changes But beauty remains Something so tender I can't explain Well I maybe dreamin' But 'till I awake Can we make this dream last forever And I'll cherish all the love we share For a moment like this Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Some people search forever, For that one special kiss Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Could this be the greatest love of all I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall So let me tell you this... Some people wait a lifetime For a moment like this Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Some people search forever, For that one special kiss Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this Oh, like this oh, I can't believe it's happening to me. Some people wait a lifetime, For a moment like this. Oh, like this.

UPDATE: So I'm planning to go on the same route that I took last year for the contest when I picked Train's 'Drops of Jupiter', but now I'm stuck on two songs from two female singers, one about taking in a moment, and the other about letting go and having fun. I'll let you know what (and who) I picked as soon as I can.

That statement alone reminds me of a Swedish member of an Eurovision forum that I'm a part of. Year in and year out, he complains of a lack of native languages in the contest (which is true, I ain't gonna lie), but like at Eurovision, which hasn't enforced the native language rule since it was dropped 17 years ago, I don't see that happening here.

I've been out of the loop lately as well, but I should have the song ready by Saturday. As for Mexico, sure they can use the song. Santana's from Mexico and it satisfies the rule with the duets, so I will offer my blessings to @mrv86 And @bestmen you're cool, but you are not running this contest, @Werloc is. When Algeria wins, then you can run it, but for now, you can challenge all you want, but you don't get the final say.

is in, and we will do so with heavy hearts because if you missed what happened 3 months ago, we lost our first-ever representative of this contest (she was shot dead not far from where I live, and hours before the much bigger news story, but that's another time), and Team USA is not going to miss a contest for the world, so consider us in.

Sporting Rivalries and Medals (26) 1- Medals will be awarded to more nations than at the 2012 Summer Games - with at least 86. [YES - 6] 2- The best-placed European NOC in the overall 2016 Summer Olympics medal table will be Russia. [YES - 4] 3- Brazil will achieve their best ever placement in the overall 2016 Summer Games medal table, finishing within the top 14.[YES - 5] 4- Finland will fail to win a medal for the first time in history. [NO - 7] 5- At least 4 countries will win their first olympic medal. [YES - 2] 6- Rio 2016 will be India's best ever performance in overall medals won (7 or more). [YES - 4] 7- Denmark will be placed higher than any other nordic country in the medal table (Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden).[NO - 5] 8- Netherlands will win more silver medals than any other color. [YES - 8] 9- Maghreb countries (ALG, TUN, MAR, MTN, LBA) will win at least 5 medals total. [YES - 1] 10- Japan will finish ahead of South Korea in the medal table. [NO - 2] 11- Azerbaijan will finish ahead of Turkey in the medal table. [NO - 4] 12- Ethiopia will finish ahead of Kenya in the medal table. [NO - 9] 13- Cuba will finish ahead of Jamaica in the medal table. [YES - 5] 14- Germany will finish ahead of France in the medal table. [YES - 6] 15- Serbia will finish ahead of Croatia in the medal table. [YES - 2] 16- The youngest medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics will be younger than 16 years. [YES - 3] 17- Spain will win more than one medal in all team sports combined. [NO - 3] 18- Iran will achieve their first medal won by a woman. [YES - 5] 19- At least 15 different american nations will win medals. [YES - 4] 20- At least two nations that last won a medal in Atlanta 1996 or before, will medal again in Rio 2016. [YES - 4] 21- There will be at least one nation who will win 8 medals or more, but won't win a gold medal. [YES - 5] 22- Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Singapore will all win a medal. [YES - 1] 23- Like in London 2012, more silver medals than gold medals will be awarded. [NO - 8] 24- The top 5 in the overall medal table will change its order on the very final day of the 2016 Summer Olympics. [NO - 4] 25- Argentina will win at least one gold medal in Rio 2016. [YES - 10] 26- Lithuania alone will win more medals than Estonia and Latvia together. [NO - 6] Aquatics - Diving (2) 27- China will win all four Synchronised Diving events. [NO - 5] 28- Canada will medal in all four Women's events. [NO - 3] Aquatics - Swimming (9) 29- Australian athletes take at least 2 golds out of the following 4 events: Women's 50m FS, Women's 100m FS, Men's 50m FS, Men's 100m FS. [NO - 7] 30- A nation will win 2 or more medals in Marathon Swimming. [NO - 5] 31- A nation will medal in all six relays. [NO - 4] 32- Great Britain will finish in the top 5 of the pool events' medal table. [YES - 7] 33- There will be at least one false start in an individual final. [YES - 2] 34- Either Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) or Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) will defend his/her olympic title in 100m Breaststroke. [NO - 1] 35- A gap of one second or more between the gold and silver medal winners will be clocked in 3 or more individual finals, ranging from 50m to 200m events. [NO - 2] 36- At least 5 world records will be broken in Rio 2016. [YES - 3] 37- At least 3 of the following 5 NOCs will win a medal: Bahamas, Egypt, Iceland, Jamaica, Singapore. [NO - 4] Aquatics - Synchronized Swimming (1) 38- At least 4 different nations will finish the Synchronised Swimming competitions with any medal. [YES - 2] Aquatics - Water Polo (2) 39- The men's final will be played by two ex-yugoslav nations (CRO, MNE, SRB). [NO - 3] 40- In the knockout stage, any 4th placed team from the group stage will upset a group winner and qualify for the semifinal. [NO - 2] Archery (2) 41- At least one top 8 seed in Women's or Men's Individual Archery will suffer an early exit in the Round of 64. [YES - 1] 42- South Korea will win all the gold medals in Archery. [NO - 8] Athletics (12) 43- Usain Bolt (JAM) will repeat a gold medal treble once again. [YES - 4] 44- There will be at least one sweep of medals, athletes from one country taking gold, silver and bronze. [YES - 3] 45- At least 5 olympic records will be broken. [NO - 3] 46- At least two teams will be disqualified in the 4x100 finals (men and women combined). [NO - 6] 47- The Women's and Men's Olympic champion in High Jump will have cleared a height of at least 4.40m combined.[YES - 1] 48- All medals in both marathon events will be won by African nations. [YES - 3] 49- Poland will achieve a double gold in Hammer throw events. [NO - 2] 50- A non-european athlete will win gold in either Men's or Women's Javelin Throw. [NO - 2] 51- A former olympic champion, who is not currently a defending one, will become champion again in Rio 2016 (not counting relay events). [NO - 2] 52- The whole final in the Men's 400m comprises of athletes representing nations including red in their flag. [NO - 2] 53- The leader after the first five events in the Men's Decathlon will finish outside the top 3 on the following day. [YES - 1] 54- The gold medalist in Men's Discus Throw will throw 70.00m or more. [YES - 1] Badminton (2) 55- At least one set in any event will end with a score of 30-28 or higher. [NO - 2] 56- A non-asian country will win a gold medal. [NO - 4] Basketball (2) 57- The United States will win the gold medal in Women's as well as in Men's Basketball. [YES - 10] 58- The Men's final will end by a margin of at least 20 points. [YES - 1] Boxing (2) 59- Both Nicola Adams (GBR) and Katie Taylor (IRL) will return home with a medal. [NO - 2] 60- The whole Boxing program will result in at least 8 bouts decided before the end of the 3 reglamentary rounds. [YES - 2] Canoeing - Slalom (2) 61- At least one country will win 3 or more medals between all events. [YES - 1] 62- Two or more nations will be represented in all four slalom canoeing finals. [YES - 3] Canoeing - Sprint (2) 63- At least one athlete starting from an outer lane (1 or 8) will win a medal. [NO - 1] 64- Isaquias Queiroz (BRA) will delight the home crowd with either one gold medal or at least two medals of any colour. [NO - 1] Cycling - BMX (2) 65- There will be a crash (between two or more riders) in either the Men's or Women's Final. [YES - 3] 66- Australia will win at least one gold medal. [NO - 5] Cycling - Mountain Bike (2) 67- Nino Schurter (SUI) will complete his set of medals with a gold medal from Rio 2016, after previously winning bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012. [YES - 1] 68- Mauritius', Rwanda's or Lesotho's male rider(s) will finish ahead of at least one athlete coming from a nation represented by 3 riders (SUI, FRA, ESP, CZE, ITA). [NO - 2] Cycling - Road (2) 69- A group finish with at least 20 riders clocking the same time will decide the medals in Men's Road Race. [NO - 3] 70- Less than half the riders will finish in the Women's or Men's Road Race. [NO - 4] Cycling - Track (3) 71- Australia will win a gold medal in both Team Pursuit events. [NO - 3] 72- The world record in the Men's Team Pursuit will be broken. [NO - 6] 73- The winner of either the Men's or Women's Omnium will win at least 3 of the 6 events. [NOS - 3] Equestrian (2) 74- At least 15 athletes will be eliminated or will retire during the cross-country stage of Eventing competition. [NO - 2] 75- Germany will win more medals than the Netherlands. [YES - 2] Fencing (2) 76- At least 2 countries will win at least 3 gold medals. [YES - 1] 77- There will be an overtime period in the Women's or Men's Individual Épée final. [NO - 3] Field Hockey (2) 78- India's Men will end their medal drought since 1980 with any medal won in Rio. [YES - 2] 79- The Women's Tournament will have medalists from three different continents. [YES - 4] Football (3) 80- At least 4 matches, in both the Women's and Men's Tournament, will be decided in a penalty shoot-out. [NO - 2] 81- Brazil will win their first Men's Olympic Football title. [NO - 3] 82- At least 8 red cards will be awarded in the Men's Tournament. [YES - 2] Golf (2) 83- The eventual winner in the Men's Tournament won't be placed among the top 5 after the first day of competition.[NO - 1] 84- USA will win a medal in both the Men's and Women's Tournaments. [YES - 3] Gymnastics - Artistic (3) 85- Romania will fail to win a medal in Artistic Gymnastics. [NO - 4] 86- Simone Biles will win at least four total medals. [NO - 3] 87- At least one finalist in both Men's Horizontal Bar and Men's Pommel Horse will fall during their routines. [NO - 2] Gymnastics - Rhythmic (1) 88- Both gold and silver medals will be won by ex-USSR countries. [NO - 9] Gymnastics - Trampoline (1) 89- China will win the gold medal in both Trampoline events. [NO - 1] Handball (2) 90- A non-european nation will win a medal (Men's or Women's). [NO - 2] 91- At least twice will we see the at least 40 goals scored in the Men's Tournament. [YES - 2] Judo (2) 92- Teddy Riner (FRA) will be beaten. [NO - 2] 93- A nation will win it's first Judo Gold Medal. [NO - 1] Modern Pentathlon (2) 94- In either the Men's or Women's event, the athlete starting first in the Combined stage will win the gold medal. [YES - 2] 95- A non-european athlete in either the Women's or Men's Competition will win a medal. [NO - 3] Rowing (3) 96- Ekaterina Karsten (BLR) will reach her 6th Olympic final in Women's Single Sculls. [NO - 2] 97- More countries will win medals in Rowing compared to London 2012 (18 countries). [NO - 2] 98- Athletes from all 5 continents will win a medal. [NO - 3] Rugby Sevens (2) 99- All the medals in the Men's Tournament will be won by nations from Oceania. [NO - 3] 100- At least one match on the Women's side will end in a tie. [NO - 2] Sailing (2) 101- At least one boat will be guaranteed the gold medal before the final Medal Race. [NO - 3] 102- Brazilian Robert Scheidt will win his 6th consecutive olympic medal. [NO - 2] Shooting (3) 103- All 15 events will see at least one medal winner from an Asian country. [YES - 8] 104- There will be at least one new world record set in any event. [NO - 4] 105- At least one shooter will repeat their gold medal success from the 2012 Summer Games. [NO - 1] Table Tennis (2) 106- Chinese athletes will take all 4 gold medals. [YES - 8] 107- The Women's Team final will result in a 3-0 score. [NO - 2] Taekwondo (2) 108- At least one medalist athlete in this sport will be winning at the same time the first ever olympic medal for his/her country.[YES - 2] 109- At least one of the four invited athletes (Boui CAF, Ferrera HON, Louissant HAI, Rawal NEP) will advance into the quarterfinals. [NO - 2] Tennis (2) 110- Serena Williams will fail to win a gold medal (in all events). [NO - 3] 111- An unseeded player in the women's or men's singles competition will go as high reaching at least the semifinals. [YES - 3] Triathlon (2) 112- The Brownlee brothers will celebrate together on the podium. [NO - 2] 113- The eventual winners of both the Men's and Women's Races will not be among top 5 placed after the swimming and cycling stages. [NO - 1] Volleyball - Indoor (2) 114- No medal matches in either the Women's or the Men's Tournament will end with a 3-0 score. [NO - 2] 115- An african team will win a group stage match for the first time in history (either Men's or Women's). [YES - 1] Volleyball - Beach (2) 116- There will be an all-Brazilian final in Men's or Women's Beach Volleyball. [NO - 4] Weightlifting (2) 117- At least one leader after the Snatch part will have three invalid lifts in the Clean & Jerk. [YES - 3] 118- A medal will be won by an athlete starting from Group B. [NO - 2] Wrestling (2) 119- At least one gold medal match will end by a fall. [NO - 5] 120- Russia will win more Freestyle gold medals than Japan. [YES - 5]