Thank you - I was going to search for a schedule-the one in the Washington Post was too complicated.

That is a very helpful schedule. Thanks for the link. I enjoyed the opening ceremony although I thought the announcers (Matt Lauer and who else?) did an awful job. They really needed someone with a better appreciation of the skill time and talent that went into this production. They came off as a couple of jocks trying to fake their way through it.

Sarah Brightman is popular in China? Who'da thunk it. The Chinese women are beautiful, don't you think?

Pam, I don't want to be contrary, but I didn't mind the commentary by Matt Lauer, Bob Costas and the "other guy". I will admit to dozing during the parade of nations, but overall I thought it was an amazing & awesome extravaganza.
(except for those poor atheletes that had to wear those horrible red & white skirt suits with hats that reminded me of cows--what country was that?)

Sarah Brighton? I know, and were those awful hair extensions or just awful hair? LOL She once performed at a fundraiser for a local hostpital. It was closer to 15 years ago so she was much more on the Phantom radar and hence more popular. IIRC, she was very, very costly and a not a friendly person either.
However all in all, I thought it was much better than in more recent Olympics.

Yeah, those uniforms were pretty bad. I know the ones you mean. I wasn't knocking the show at all, just the way those guys were "Calling the plays." I am usually a fan of Matt's -- hubba hubba.

I also felt sorry for the young Chinese women who had to keep swinging their arms for the entire time the Olympians were marching in. They were sort of like cheerleaders standing around the edge of the track. All I could think was boy, are their arms going to be sore in the morning. I bet they were having the time of their lives.

I remember when Sarah participated in the local public tv on-air fund raiser. One of the volunteer phone answerers tapped her on the shoulder and she reacted like someone had poured acid on her, like eww don't let that lowlife touch me. I do think she has an incredible voice and I don't understand why she goes for the "ethereal being" image.

I truly enjoyed the spectacle last night. Can you believe 15,000 people participated in it?

And Go USA -- we took all the medals in Women's saber fencing!!

When speaking to someone today, I was informed that those disasterous unflattering and hideous cow-like patterns was on the Hungarian team!
BTW I know that it was Sarah Brightman, not Brighton. Funny that you had seen a similar experience. I wonder how much the Chinese paid her??? LOL Then again for that kind of world press I'd do it for free!

Funny -- I didn't even notice the you renamed her.

Hungary? I guess that's not the center of the fashion world.

Here's a good link that discusses the commentary and a photo of the Hungarian attire!

Here is a link that might be useful: Commentary

That's a great site. I especially like their link to the Olympic Stud of the Day and would surely agree with them about the Italian flag bearer. Wow.

I think they agree with me that Lauer and Costas (never was a fan of his) were less than stellar.

I hope the opening ceremony is rerun since I missed a lot fo it and would love to see parts of it again. So far On Demand is not offering it.

I'm enjoying the coverage but feel all out of kilter by the fact that I hear reports about events and then see them later as if they hadn't already happened. It is so refreshing to see "pure" athletes who compete for the love of the sport. I'm sure the women fencers will not get rich doing what they do. Hopefully they'll show up on a box of Wheaties.

I missed it but friends taped it, so I'll be going over there soon to see it. Course, you know I want to see the table tennis! Go South Korea! Go Timo Boll! (Germany). Go Jan-Ove Waldner! (Sweden). I can't say Go USA, because we don't have a strong TT team.