To an End

In just a few hours, the London Olympics will be coming to an end. After 7 years of constructing and planning and 4 years of waiting, the whole event is about to draw to a close.

After this fantastic period, it's another 4 years wait ahead and the road seems so long and distant. Whatever will I do with this time? Next hosting city will be Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Thanks to Singtel's Mio TV/ESPN and IOC/Youtube deals, I've watched a fair share of my favourite sporting events throughout this 2 weeks. This is the first time ever I've caught so much action, live or otherwise, in the Olympics. I can only hope that future Olympics will enjoy the same coverage.

London is the first city to host the Olympics 3 times, who knows when it will be back again. Will I have another chance to catch it? One of my goals is to attend an Olympics and be there in the midst of the sporting action.

Another Bronze

Singapore has won another bronze medal, this time in the women's Table Tennis team event!

This was the goal and the team has achieved it! Congratulations!

This is the first time I heard Singapore supporters at the venue being so vocal. This is also the first time that such a large group is present. The resulting feeling is quite heartwarming and of course, there's pride.

I love the way the crowds react and cheer, quite loudly, for their home teams. I love the way some of them go the extra mile to wear crazy hats, paint their faces and drape the nation flags around their shoulders. It is this sense of national pride that binds the people together. The cheers and groans are part of the charm in sporting events.

Perhaps, with time, more Singaporeans will be willing to go out there and support Singapore's athletes in that loud and boisterous way. Asians are so reserved, aren't they?

The Olympic Spirit

Only 1 week to go before the new semester starts. Like I said before, basically, I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

In other news, Singapore has won a bronze medal in the Olympics! It may not seemed that significant as compared to the feats achieved by other nations' athletes but it's still an occasion to cheer because this is only the second time a Singapore athlete won a medal in a singles event. Furthermore, it's after a 52 years drought.

Thank you, Feng Tianwei, for achieving this for Singapore! 

I'm not even going to comment on how some petty Singaporeans are questioning her "nationality" and other rot. I reckon this is what people call armchair cynicism. The question is not what the country has done for you but what have YOU done for the country.

When was the last time you did something to make the country proud of you? When was the last time you bring hundreds/thousands of people to their feet and inspire them? It's pathetic how this "jealousy" is so prevalent in today's society.

I'm not sporty. But, I can appreciate an athlete's hard work and dedication. I admire them in the way they achieve their goals and more.

If there's to be something relevant to take away from the Olympics, it is that it is a good time for self-reflection.

Many of these athletes are in their teens to the late 20s. Where was you when you were 18 years old, when some have walked the Olympic Stadium and won their first gold? Where do you think you will be when you reach 25 years, when some are already retiring from their long yet successful career?

For some of these athletes, they are considered legends by their countries, mere humans like us can only hope to get a taste of it.

Lovely July

Today is the last day of July, a bittersweet ending.

August will herald in the new semester where I'll be a Year 2 undergraduate. Am I ready? Not in a million years.

So, in this entry, I shall bid adieu to July, a very lovely month, where the Olympics is taking place and I am fortunate enough to catch lots of events on television.

Olympics on Holidays

I love the Olympics. I love holidays.
Therefore, to be able to catch so much action of the Games for the first time ever is like a dream come true. I'm free to do what I like whenever I want. It's really fortunate that I get to stop working during this period too.

Alas, dark clouds are looming on the horizon, for the day the Olympic Games end in London is the last day of my summer holidays. It's so apt, isn't it?

But for now, I intent to cherish whatever little time I've left to make merry and be happy.

London Olympics Opening Ceremony

Breath-taking. Magnificent. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Spectacular.

All those adjectives above describes what the London Olympics Opening Ceremony is like. It's truly a wonderful tribute to all things British - from the sprawling countrysides to the Industrial Revolution to the swinging sixties to beloved British fictional characters. It is a gigantic party!

This is a ceremony that showcases and celebrates the beauties of London, its rich history and culture, at the same time, incorporating the British sense of humour. The country has contributed so much to the various industries.

Film director Danny Boyle deserves a salute for orchestrating the whole event -Isle of Wonder. This ceremony is really incomparable because it was just a league of its own. Who else has a parachuting "Queen"?

I especially love the segment that features Queen Elizabeth 2 with James Bond actor, Daniel Craig. "Good evening, Mr Bond". She is truly a great sport! I enjoyed Rowan Atkinson's cameo as Mr Bean as well.

The formation of the Olympic Rings with "red, hot iron" is exceptionally memorable as with the lighting of the cauldron. It was a break from tradition with 7 young athletes lighting the flame at the same time.

I'm not a British subject but I did get that warm and fuzzy feeling seeing the success of the opening.

I love reading the tweets from Britons themselves because they are true testimonies of how proud they are.Yes, there may be complaints, grouses and unhappiness, but I think, when the Games are truly underway, it is the time to stand together as a nation and celebrate this glorious moment. Be proud of how far the nation has come and what it has achieve.

Happy Olympics Day

Happy Olympics Day!

Only 4 more hours to go before the London Olympics Opening Ceremony 2012 opens with a bang!

One Day to London 2012

Only 1 day left to the London Olympics 2012! I've waited 4 years for this and I've been anticipating it since April.
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It may be weird for someone who live such a sedentary lifestyle to have such enthusiam for the greatest sporting event, but hey, that's that. I've always been interested in high-profile events since I was young; entertainment events, sporting events, you name it. Perhaps, I know that it is nigh to impossible for me to go to these events that makes me longed them even more. One day, I tell myself, I will go to Comic-Con and the Olympics, amongst other things.
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I'm always excited for the Games but this time more so than ever, because it's held in London, UK. I can be considered an Anglophile. I love the British culture and (some) traditions. I love its long line of talented authors and actors. I like its long history and monarchy. I especially love the accent! Besides, London is one of my favourite cities in the world, and I look forward to the day I get to take a vacation there.
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The opening ceremony takes place at 4.00am (Singapore Time) on Saturday. As much as I'd like to watch this direct telecast, I love my sleep more than anything and I've to go work. I can only contend myself with watching the encore at 6.00pm.
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I can't wait to see what surprises Danny Boyle has in store for viewers. Despite leaks from the ceremony, nothing beats watching it in entirety to fully experience the grandeur and magnificence.

It's Rather Fine

The year 2012 is shaping out to be a rather nice year, isn't it? Studies aside, 2012 is a year filled with promises and exciting events.

Of course, Sherlock series 2 premiered in the UK in January, and I managed to watch them all. The London Olympics is just around the corner and while I'm always interested in the Games, this time round it is a larger dosage of anticipation. This is probably due to it being held in London, one of my favourite cities, with the additional love for it from British TV influence.

Near to the end of the year, there'll be two hugely anticipated movies - Breaking Dawn Part 2 and The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey.

I'm more drummed up over The Hobbit, naturally. The leading character (Bilbo Baggins) is played by Martin Freeman, an exceptional actor and the John Watson to BBC's Sherlock. My love for The Hobbit has increased and became more "personal", because the actors from Sherlock co-starred in the production as well. How can I be expected to just look on with detached interest?

A note to myself, I've to go to the annual Comic-con one of these years. The temptation is just too great and I feel that I'm losing out so much of the awesome stuff that is happening in the entertainment industry. This year's convention is obviously marvellous since I've so much interest in the movie offerings. Gods, I've missed out...

Pinch

One will only feel the pinch when one is spending one's own money. It's the holidays which means that the pocket money has ceased and I'm "living" on my savings. Thank goodness I have a part-time job or else the situation will be worse.

After spending a sum on painting stuff and books, I have to earn back what I spent. As much as I hate working for longer hours, 4 days a week, I've not much choice. If I want to have the autonomy to buy what I want, then I've got to work for it, isn't it?

It's the third week of the summer holidays and I'm slacking at home, which is good as it is what I want and have been dreaming of. When else is there a chance for your brain to shut off completely? This is what I call a holiday; less worries with less burdens and full relaxation. I have more control of how I want to spend my time and my activities, which more or less means sitting in front of the laptop.

Unfortunately, there's no plans of going overseas this holiday. Else, it would have completed my goals. I'm 21, and I've yet to fulfil my goal (going to Florida).

I guess I have shifted my perspective a little. It's still on my agenda but now I'm more interested in Europe, in particular, England. This interest is of course, brought on by my love for Sherlock (BBC) and the upcoming Summer Olympics. The places which were shot in the series look inviting and beautiful. It is inevitable that people are going to gain awareness about London from these 2 events.

Olympics and National Day 2008

Beijing Olympics opening ceremony was magnificent! No words can describe it. I caught the whole of the much-anticipated event live on TV. This is my 1st time watching the opening ceremony so I can't really compare. I can't believe I missed the 2004 Athens Olympics.
From the performers to the fireworks, everything was great! The fireworks were the best of all!
I had enjoyed myself. The delegates from the countries and territories walking in was also a must-watch, though it's a long affair. Team USA looked smart in their navy coats and white berets and so did some of the European countries while some African countries donned their traditional garb. Some like Team Ukraine wore blue and yellow which was memorable. Team Singapore look fine in red and khaki.
All I can say is "Well done China, you have prove yourself to the rest of the world."
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Watched the preliminary round of male gymnastics. My favourite games will be gymnastics, diving and pole vault. You can see that the 3 games shared a common thing.
Honestly, how many people have the strength to balance themselves on the rings or parallel bars and do somersaults or handstands? I really admired these people.
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National Day Parade was just as magnificent. Though I can't be there, it's great to watch it at home. Each year, the parade gets better.
Shine for Singapore!