Not the Blog

Olympic Twitter Archive 4

2008-08-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

With Nick's dad in Auckland airport. Many proud kiwis congratulating him. Met my wife & boys in obvious interest at St Marks School in games 5 minutes ago from web

Left Beijing in pouring rain. Glad not to have been knocked over crossing the road which is a major achievment over the course of a week. 10 minutes ago from web

They talk about electric atmospheres but that was GAS! Bolt breaks one of the best records on the books. We sing happy birthday he is 22 tom 02:35 AM August 21, 2008 from txt

Nick smiles & steps onto the podium as the kiwi flag flies in the birds nest for the second time in 3 days, Now we all wait to see a BOLT 01:24 AM August 21, 2008 from txt

Medal table just come up on screen with GB 3rd & NZ 14th with 3 golds! - guessing 3rd is board sail but when you are here you dont get news 12:36 AM August 21, 2008 from txt

In the birds nest for the last time. Right behind the cage for the womens hammer. Not the kind you get in mitre 10 - wonder how this started 11:12 PM August 20, 2008 from txt

In the official merchandise store - so many things so little choice. Off to see some terracotta warriors who are browning olympic green. 08:44 PM August 20, 2008 from txt

Hot & hazy morning at the hockey- floodlights on. Party atmosphere around the ground as we get ready for esp v usa. Shame we're not in semis 02:56 PM August 20, 2008 from txt

Nick looked done in on his lap of honour. He gave it his all. His father was smiling as he went for the line. Bet his dad was pleased too 01:48 PM August 20, 2008 from txt

Alison Shanks stands on the seat next to me as we celebrate Nicks brilliant bronze - until security tell us to get down! What a night! 04:08 AM August 20, 2008 from txt

GB win a fantastic 400. The atmosphere is amazing. The stage is set for the final event of the night. Come on Nick run like never before 02:24 AM August 20, 2008 from txt

So close to the start for the 110 hurdles if I sneeze I could cause a false start or a minor diplomatic incident. Acceleration is awesome! 12:38 AM August 20, 2008 from txt

In row 2 in birds nest about 2 metres from lane 9 starting block, can see the olympic flame overhead - fantastic seats tonight - stoked ! 11:08 PM August 19, 2008 from txt

Chinese set us an initiative test to get back from the triathalon involving 3 buses, 1/2 GB badminton team & a bit of walking. We failed. 08:59 PM August 19, 2008 from web

Olympic Twitter Archive 3

2008-08-19T01:44:00.001-07:00

Chinese guy takes out a wad of notes & offers to buy my NZ flag. I refuse & wave Bevan home to a brave bronze in blistering conditions. 9 minutes ago from web

82% humidity, 27 degrees in the water and 30 and climbing in the air - its going to be hard enough watching never mind doing 51.5 km about 7 hours ago from txt

Triathalon venue is great - stands built onto dam. Fantastic views but it is going to be a hot one! The bikes to our left stand waiting about 7 hours ago from txt

Up bright & early to get to triathalon venue. I suspect a good number of the kiwis here will be heading the same way. Come on the boys! about 8 hours ago from txt

Crowd erupt as Isinbaeva breaks world pole vault record. 4 russians in front of us have the biggest flag pole I've ever seen smuggled in. about 18 hours ago from txt

Stadium comes most to life when a chinese athlete is in action. Every good performance is cheered by all. Hope to see another world record. about 20 hours ago from txt

Even higher up in birds nest tonight. Climbed 215 steps to my seat - not sure though was getting altitude sickness towards the end! about 21 hours ago from txt

In forbidden city - a powerful reminder that dynasties end. The old guy wearing the aussie swim team shirt probably agrees with me. 08:30 PM August 18, 2008 from txt

In tianaman square a place resonant with history ancient and modern. Long live the spirit of the olympics! 08:16 PM August 18, 2008 from txt

Just seen a sign advertising "Massage by blind masseurs". I wonder if there is a global market for this service? 06:16 PM August 18, 2008 from web

Olympic Green has a few patches of grass but it feels more like Olympic Grey. Interesting architecture & sculpture but feels industrial. 03:43 PM August 18, 2008 from web

Aussie guy missed entire 3000 waiting in line to buy a drink-still it was a world record! Hope he got back to see 2 jamaican silvers in 100m 02:38 AM August 18, 2008 from txt

Great to finally be in a capacity crowd. Nick safely through despite a few bumps. All 12 qualifiers within 1 second - game on for the final 02:24 AM August 18, 2008 from txt

Perched on upper twig in birds nest. Hard to describe the scale of the place but it would take some pretty big eggs Its awesome like valerie 12:46 AM August 18, 2008 from txt

4 crews in that last race wearing the same colours so we just cheered for the red & whites. We got gold, silver & bronze & danes were happy 08:33 PM August 17, 2008 from txt

Arrived in time to see GB win rowing gold. Sitting with a longboatful of Danes. Got free Chinese red hats so we blend in. Great atmosphere 08:15 PM August 17, 2008 from txt

In a taxi with a driver who does not speak english, cant read a map & is not a very good driver. There are no seatbelts. 07:41 PM August 17, 2008 from txt

Grey day in the skies but the black shirts are walking taller. Black Blades, Wheels & Vests entered the medal table with a bang. 14th now! 03:30 PM August 17, 2008 from web

So many emotions today. Triumph & disaster, delight & dismay & the margin between small. In sport we glimpse perfection & feel more alive. 04:23 AM August 17, 2008 from web

I think I broke an Olympic record tonight for the number of passengers in a bus. It was totally full and then we stopped & 30 more got on. 03:53 AM August 17, 2008 from web

Olympic Twitter Archive 2

2008-08-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

On bus with Jason & Yuge. Jason got his love of sport at Well Coll & is still wearing his shorts. They reckon the rowers all did great. 11:02 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Its the twins winning gold in a photo finish! Shouts of Kiwi Kiwi echo round the lake. Suddenly saturday is looking super again! Great stuff 09:05 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Mahe is back on his feet for the medal ceremony. The NZ flag flies. Not what he hoped for but still an inspirational kiwi & a great guy! 08:29 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Brave effort Mahe-you did us proud that took guts. The norwegian coach threw his bike in the lake when their guy won. Mahe looks in trouble 08:07 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Uru & Taylor win the B final in style but it wasn 't the race they wanted to be in & these are not the races we are really here to see 06:49 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Jamie from Wellington has his fingers crossed. He and girlfriend won a trip here by acting out a great NZ olympic moment. Hope he sees some 06:11 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

We were the first into stand 102. Once again opposite VIPs so good chance of spotting GovG! Can see the mountains clearly. The stage is set 04:41 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Standing waiting to get into Shunyi. Gates slow to open. Feel like I am being barbecued.Wondering if the all black top was such a good idea 04:08 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Blue skies over Beijing for super saturday. There WILL be kiwi medals today. But we want some gold. A nation holds its breath. Come on! 03:23 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Met GB Chris Hoy's family celebrating his cycling gold & got to touch Jamie Staff 's gold medal too. Fantastic! 02:30 PM August 16, 2008 from txt

Britain win gold. This is the best velodrome I've been to. Actually its the only one I've been to. I would come back though cycling rocks! 11:28 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

There might be 9 million bicycles in Beijing but for the next 45 seconds it is 6 bikes &riders who will decide who wins gold & who silver 11:09 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

Bradley Wiggins sets a new olympic record & its GB 1 and NZ 2 in qualifying. Great stuff & a final to look forward to. 10:15 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

The governor general is here as well - he may be following me! Roulston is looking good. Anyand smiles. Lots of other kiwis cheer wildly. 10:06 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

There is a man in the velodrome firing a pistol. But it appears to be part of the individual pursuit! Good atmosphere & great fun. 09:26 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

Fantastic seats in row 2 in the velodrome. Can almost touch the cyclists as they thunder past. China v Japan crowd go crazy 08:43 PM August 15, 2008 from txt

People cycle here with umbrellas up. Yesterday for the rain, today for the sun. I can't see it catching in on in Wellington! It is very hot. 05:43 PM August 15, 2008 from web

Birds Nest & Water Cube look great. Sunshine today. Fans wearing logos & flags mix with locals in a collage of colour. Off to the velodrome. 04:12 PM August 15, 2008 from web

The girls run round having lost a close match. Some are in tears. In the stand families & friends share the loss. Knowing how much they gave 02:40 AM August 15, 2008 from txt

The blacksticks score and the governor general in the stand opposite goes ballistic! But seconds later GB equalise. Lots of chanting "kiwi" 01:35 AM August 15, 2008 from txt

Olympic Twitter Archive 1

2008-08-19T01:41:00.000-07:00

Watching blacksticks warm up. Its a bit like Fraser Park only warmer, with louder music and with a few more people watching! 12:17 AM August 15, 2008 from txt

Standing in line at security. Getting into venue is like airport security. Tired, thirsty but happy to have ticket, 11:06 PM August 14, 2008 from txt

At hotel, booking rather confused and no sign of some tickets we thought would be here. We also suffer who only stand and watch! 04:34 PM August 14, 2008 from web

Great Air NZ flight. There are helpers everywhere. At terminal 2 now waiting for friend from scotland, watching hockey on giant screen . 02:44 PM August 14, 2008 from txt

They have special gates for athletes and officials to save them standing in line. Everywhere you look there are signs of how hard China ... ... 02:44 PM August 14, 2008 from txt

Met the chef de mission of the Peru team. They have 12 athletes here. He gave me a neat little badge. Also met up with my friend from Sc ... ... 02:44 PM August 14, 2008 from txt

At Auckland Airport Hepthathlete Becky Wardell's parents are here as is Nick Willis dad. I am as excited as 10 year old on Christmas eve. 08:16 PM August 13, 2008 from web

Wasn't Mr Phelps the guy from Mission Impossible? Well 8 golds is looking less impossible for Michael. Phelps is phenomenal. 08:10 PM August 13, 2008 from web

Really good effort by the Black Stick girls but if all the tickets for everything have sold out why are there so many empty seats? 03:24 AM August 13, 2008 from web

Well done Moss. 1st Kiwi in a swim final since 1996. Wonder how many people have helped him from Tauranga to the Water Cube? Now 200m to go. 06:51 PM August 12, 2008 from web

Staying up late, watching sports you don't usually care about, against countries you barely know - it must be the Olympics. It's brilliant! 01:30 PM August 12, 2008 from web

Managed to replace nearly all our tickets. Just a couple of black stick tickets to go. Watching "One Sport" but there are way more than one! 09:48 PM August 10, 2008 from web

Here we go everyone. 7 years of planning and now the curtain rises. If you are not excited by what lies ahead you better check your pulse. 11:57 PM August 08, 2008 from web

Got my visa. I was way more excited than the official who gave it to me. All he said was: "60 dollars please". Maybe he was jealous of me. 04:03 PM August 08, 2008 from web

My first tickets arrived today. This simple thing gives me access to adventure and glory. I think I will sleep with them under my pillow!! 10:14 PM August 07, 2008 from web

Dinner at a Chinese rest in Christchurch. The waitress was so proud that the games were in her homeland. "You will see us at our very best!" 12:59 AM August 07, 2008 from web

Dunedin today saw a family in a bookshop. The mum was buying each of the kids a book on the Olympics. So many great kiwi stories to tell. 10:21 AM August 06, 2008 from web

Now on a frantic ticket hunt. Fortunately only 1/3 of our tickets were with them. Feel bad for those who lost everything through deception. 07:52 AM August 05, 2008 from web

Gutted to discover that some of our tickets booked ages ago were with the fraudulent beijingticketing scam. Unbelievable how many affected. 07:48 AM August 05, 2008 from web

At the Chinese Embassy handing in my Visa application. Waiting in line reading Dom Post predictions for Kiwi medals. So much anticipation. 11:38 AM August 01, 2008 from web

Olympic Logos

2007-06-27T01:22:00.001-07:00

Much controversy around the logo for the London Olympics in 2012. Produced at an alleged cost of £400,000. It's probably not as bad as people think. Who knows it may be fashionable in the future.

You should not underestimate the difficulty of producing a logo but what I find interesting is the process. In an age of internet democracy and mass participation a short list could have been voted on. Monopoly in Australia and New Zealand recently selected the properties on their updated local versions on a public vote. If you want to see some of the alternatives that were rejected the video below has a few.

Not much point in a campaign to change a logo. Well known global phenomena that sports administrators are totally disinterested in what the public think about anything. Interesting to see how the Olympic logos have changed from city to city through history. At best I think you have to say it is patchy! Which one do you like the best? And how many of them are worse than the London one for 2012? Still it might grow on you!

You may notice the quality of the logos diminshes as we go back into the inter war years. Back then logos were less of a deal but the people they had working on the official posters produced some stunners. These three posters moving from 1924, the real birth of the modern olympics in a meaningful sense, post Great War optimism beginning to take shape, through to the gathering clouds and start of politics in sport at Berlin heralding the end of the modern age of innocence, these three posters capture the spirit of the age. These three posters could be a PhD thesis for someone. " Art, sport, culture and the inter war Zeitgeist"

Scotty not Spotty

2006-09-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Okay here is the story.

This is not our blog - it exists purely because my business cards had a typo where the address was given as pacificspots rather than www.pacificscots.blogspot.com

Just for the record we are Scots not Spots! Capatain Kirk used to say "Beam me up Scotty" not "Beam me up Spotty". You can find our real news and pictures at www.pacificscots.blogspot.com

We will not be posting to this blog unless during adolescence the boys feel that this more accurately describes their visages.

So move on...there's nothing to see here.

Apart from a few more spots of course...

visit instead: pacificscots.blogspot.com