Last week Rio de Janeiro was awarded the hosting of the 2016 Olympic Games in a close contest with Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago. All countries had brought leaders and celebrities to Copenhagen to promote their bids. The US President Barack Obama even came to promote Chicago, that nevertheless, to many people's surprise, were the first to be eliminated.
Prior to the decision, Pelé had said about the presence of the US president: "If they have Obama, we have Pelé."
Of course!!!! I would much rather meet Pelé (although I would probably not vote for him): Pelé is a King, a Legend, a living Star!!! In comparison to that, Obama is just another mediocre salesman.
I am personally delighted Pelé and Rio de Janeiro won.
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olympics. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Gold for Argentina
The Olympic final between Argentina and Nigeria was not an entertaining match: in fact, it was one of the worse matches Argentina played in this tournament, and while Nigeria was tactically sound, and managed to control the deadly Argentinean strikers, the heat in the stadium in Beijing seemed overwhelming for both teams.Nevertheless, Argentina wins gold for the second time in a row (on a fine goal by the Benfica player Angel Di Maria) and emerge as one of the favourites in the coming World Cup.
I have never hidden my outright preference for Argentina, and I am of course delighted! I have to thank the Nigerians for a great tournament, and must add that the three best teams got the medals in the Olypic games of Beijing:
Gold: Argentina
Silver: Nigeria
Bronze: Brazil
Congratulations and thank you to these teams!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Argentina in the Olympic final
I do not think that the game was played harshly: in fact, I feel that the Brazilian red cards were way too harsh! Nevertheless, the Argentinean victory was fully deserved in this semifinal between Argentina and Brazil which should have been the final.
3-0 for Argentina on two goals by Kun Agüero and one penalty by Juán Román Riquelme, and they are now ready to face Nigeria in a repeat of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic final, where the Nigerians ran away with a not entirely deserved victory.
But thank you to the wonderful Brazilians; I hope they win the bronze medal against the poor Belgians, and well... GO ARGENTINA!
3-0 for Argentina on two goals by Kun Agüero and one penalty by Juán Román Riquelme, and they are now ready to face Nigeria in a repeat of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic final, where the Nigerians ran away with a not entirely deserved victory.
But thank you to the wonderful Brazilians; I hope they win the bronze medal against the poor Belgians, and well... GO ARGENTINA!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
2008 Olympics
The football tournament has started and today I watched my first match: Brazil destroyed New Zealand 5-0, and one could really see the different levels! Brazil was sooooo superior to New Zealand that it was almost sad! And Ronaldinho played excellently, although the background was a poor New Zealand side.
I guess that is one of the down-sides of the Olympics, even more than world cups (where it nevertheless happens as well): too many teams of a very low level...
So until now, the predictions are holding: Brazil and Argentina (with an incredible Messi) have won both their games until now.
On a different note, I also watched a woman's game: the USA defeated Japan. I don't have much positive to say; the game was a bore, and the atmosphere was irritated by continued high-pitch screams throughout the match....
I need a life.
I guess that is one of the down-sides of the Olympics, even more than world cups (where it nevertheless happens as well): too many teams of a very low level...
So until now, the predictions are holding: Brazil and Argentina (with an incredible Messi) have won both their games until now.
On a different note, I also watched a woman's game: the USA defeated Japan. I don't have much positive to say; the game was a bore, and the atmosphere was irritated by continued high-pitch screams throughout the match....
I need a life.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Olympic football
The Olympic games in Berlin are about to start, and football is one of the sports where the country's will be competing.
The history of olympic football has always been rather awkward, and still today, the position of olympic history is very strange: something in between a semi-youth tournament supplemented with some star players.
For the first Olympic games, when there was no world cup, the Olympics were considered like the world cup, dominated by Europeans. This was just until unknown Uruguay in 1924 blew all Europeans away, and the groundwork was laid for the first world cup in 1930 in Uruguay. Then, for many years, olympic football became the ground of amateurs, dominated by Eastern Europeans, who had "state amateurs".
In general, it was a bore, and no competition with the World Cup: one can also see this in relation to countries that were the best in the world, were not to be seen in the Olympics: Brazil, England, West Germany, Argentina... (with only possible exception of some Eastern European countries).
Over the last years this has started to change, and the allowing of new players has made the tournament a bit more interesting, although some participating nations still only show off with a secondary youth team.
The great exceptions for these Olympics in Beijing are Brazil and Argentina. Argentina are defending champions from 2004, and Brazil is keen on winning its first gold ever in football. They therefore have shown up with very strong teams, and are by far the favourites to win the whole thing.
Nevertheles, because olympic football is such a bore, one doesn't know what may happen. However, I may add that it is not really worth bothering with games in the first rounds, until the semi-finals, unless you are from one of the countries playing.
The history of olympic football has always been rather awkward, and still today, the position of olympic history is very strange: something in between a semi-youth tournament supplemented with some star players.
For the first Olympic games, when there was no world cup, the Olympics were considered like the world cup, dominated by Europeans. This was just until unknown Uruguay in 1924 blew all Europeans away, and the groundwork was laid for the first world cup in 1930 in Uruguay. Then, for many years, olympic football became the ground of amateurs, dominated by Eastern Europeans, who had "state amateurs".
In general, it was a bore, and no competition with the World Cup: one can also see this in relation to countries that were the best in the world, were not to be seen in the Olympics: Brazil, England, West Germany, Argentina... (with only possible exception of some Eastern European countries).
Over the last years this has started to change, and the allowing of new players has made the tournament a bit more interesting, although some participating nations still only show off with a secondary youth team.
The great exceptions for these Olympics in Beijing are Brazil and Argentina. Argentina are defending champions from 2004, and Brazil is keen on winning its first gold ever in football. They therefore have shown up with very strong teams, and are by far the favourites to win the whole thing.
Nevertheles, because olympic football is such a bore, one doesn't know what may happen. However, I may add that it is not really worth bothering with games in the first rounds, until the semi-finals, unless you are from one of the countries playing.
| Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1900 Paris | Great Britain | France | Belgium |
| 1904 St. Loius | Canada | United States | |
| 1908 London | Great Britain | Denmark | Netherlands |
| 1912 Stockholm | Great Britain | Denmark | Netherlands |
| 1920 Antwerpen | Belgium | Spain | Netherlands |
| 1924 Paris | Uruguay | Switzerland | Sweden |
| 1928 Amsterdam | Uruguay | Argentina | Italy |
| 1936 Berlin | Italy | Austria | Norway |
| 1948 London | Sweden | Yugoslavia | Denmark |
| 1952 Helsinki | Hungary | Yugoslavia | Sweden |
| 1956 Melbourne | USSR | Yugoslavia | Bulgaria |
| 1960 Rome | Yugoslavia | Denmark | Hungary |
| 1964 Tokyo | Hungary | Czechoslovakia | East Germany |
| 1968 Mexico City | Hungary | Bulgaria | Japan |
| 1972 Munich | Poland | Hungary | USSR |
| 1976 Montreal | East Germany | Poland | USSR |
| 1980 Moscow | Czechoslovakia | East Germany | USSR |
| 1984 Los Angeles | France | Brazil | Yugoslavia |
| 1988 Seoul | USSR | Brazil | West Germany |
| 1992 Barcelona | Spain | Poland | Ghana |
| 1996 Atlanta | Nigeria | Argentina | Brazil |
| 2000 Sydney | Cameroun | Spain | Chile |
| 2004 Athens | Argentina | Paraguay | Italy |
| 2008 Beijing | |||
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Argentina King of the Olympics!
The Argentine victory against Paraguay in the Olympic final was expected. Although a boring game against a brutal Paraguayan side, Argentina crowned an awesome tournament with their first ever football gold medal in the Olympics.
Later the same day, and much more surprising, Argentina won the gold medals in basketball defeating Italy 84-69. This came after the great Argentinians had defeated the USA in the semifinal!
In the Olympics, there seems to be a strange focus on the amount of medals won by a country. People get overly happy about winning a medal in a sport nobody has ever heard about...
I would rather win these two gold medals than all other together. Who cares about all other sports? Basketball and football are the two greatest sports in the world, and in my humble view Argentina has swept up as the greatest nation in these Olympics!
Later the same day, and much more surprising, Argentina won the gold medals in basketball defeating Italy 84-69. This came after the great Argentinians had defeated the USA in the semifinal!
In the Olympics, there seems to be a strange focus on the amount of medals won by a country. People get overly happy about winning a medal in a sport nobody has ever heard about...
I would rather win these two gold medals than all other together. Who cares about all other sports? Basketball and football are the two greatest sports in the world, and in my humble view Argentina has swept up as the greatest nation in these Olympics!
Monday, August 23, 2004
Paraguay-Iraq
Sensationally, Iraq has reached the semifinals of the Olympics. They will face a very strong Paraguayan side for one spot in a final.
I have little knowledge of Iraqi football, besides the many stories about the dominance of Mr. Hussein's son in the football association.
Notwithstanding the for me pretty irrelevant political-historical context, I do know that in Mexico 1986, Iraq participated in their only World Cup ever. Back then, they were paired with a group with hosts Mexico, Belgium and Paraguay. They lost every game.
So, meeting Paraguay is not a first for the Iraqi's. In 1986, Paraguay won 1-0, on a goal by the great Paraguayan player Julio Cesar Romero - a.k.a. "Romerito".
Although I haven't seen any of Iraq's matches, I assume that their strength should be a good fight and spirit. However, I think that like in 1986, Paraguay will have the edge, and win a close fight. This doesn't take away that it is great for Iraqi football to be back on the World stage, where they belong.
I have little knowledge of Iraqi football, besides the many stories about the dominance of Mr. Hussein's son in the football association.
Notwithstanding the for me pretty irrelevant political-historical context, I do know that in Mexico 1986, Iraq participated in their only World Cup ever. Back then, they were paired with a group with hosts Mexico, Belgium and Paraguay. They lost every game.
So, meeting Paraguay is not a first for the Iraqi's. In 1986, Paraguay won 1-0, on a goal by the great Paraguayan player Julio Cesar Romero - a.k.a. "Romerito".
Although I haven't seen any of Iraq's matches, I assume that their strength should be a good fight and spirit. However, I think that like in 1986, Paraguay will have the edge, and win a close fight. This doesn't take away that it is great for Iraqi football to be back on the World stage, where they belong.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Olympic quarterfinals
I just saw my first game during these Olympics, when I watched Portugal get humilliated 2-4 by an excellent Costa Rican side.
The quarterfinals for August 21st are as follows:
Mali-Italy
Iraq-Australia
Argentina-Costa Rica
Paraguay-South Corea
As compared with other tournaments, the interesting teams are Mali, Iraq and Australia, who have an otherwise lacking appearance in World Cups (Iraq in 1986, and Australia in 1974).
In spite of the surprises seen so far, I think Argentina stands the best chances of winning. They have many young super-stars as D'Alessandro, Saviola and Tevez, well supplemented by older players like Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Heinze.
Paraguay also stands good chances, as they have shown amazing strength so far. It is becoming interesting to follow.
The quarterfinals for August 21st are as follows:
Mali-Italy
Iraq-Australia
Argentina-Costa Rica
Paraguay-South Corea
As compared with other tournaments, the interesting teams are Mali, Iraq and Australia, who have an otherwise lacking appearance in World Cups (Iraq in 1986, and Australia in 1974).
In spite of the surprises seen so far, I think Argentina stands the best chances of winning. They have many young super-stars as D'Alessandro, Saviola and Tevez, well supplemented by older players like Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Heinze.
Paraguay also stands good chances, as they have shown amazing strength so far. It is becoming interesting to follow.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Olympic football - go Iraq!
I have never been muh of an Olympic football fan. But as a football fanatic, I obviously follow its results, and will watch the final. Often, games are interesting and entertaining.
Although I have not watched any game yet, I have noticed the sensational victories of Iraq, first over Portugal and now over Costa Rica. This has secured this suffering nation a place in the quarterfinal.
I hope for Iraq that they can make it all the way. It would be wonderful if during these hard times for Iraq, a boost of happines could be given through sport. Although maybe too often forgotten, football is a game, to enjoy, and bring together people of all nations.
Go Iraq!!!
Although I have not watched any game yet, I have noticed the sensational victories of Iraq, first over Portugal and now over Costa Rica. This has secured this suffering nation a place in the quarterfinal.
I hope for Iraq that they can make it all the way. It would be wonderful if during these hard times for Iraq, a boost of happines could be given through sport. Although maybe too often forgotten, football is a game, to enjoy, and bring together people of all nations.
Go Iraq!!!
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