Ha! The Milli Vanilli Olympics

[coop41]

Welcome to the Milli Vanilli Olympics
by Dan Bickley - Aug. 13, 2008 01:02 PM
The Arizona Republic

BEIJING - It was the perfect Olympic moment: A beach volleyball team from war-torn Georgia exchanging pre-match hugs with the team from enemy Russia. The unifying power of sport was again trumping the barbarity of war.

One problem: The team from Georgia wasn't exactly from Georgia. The two athletes are Brazilian ringers awarded Georgian citizenship in anticipation of these Games. Worst of all, their Georgian identities - Saka and Rtvelo - aren't even their real names.

"I have double citizenship," pleaded Saka, whose real name is Cristine Santanna. "I feel like I'm a Georgian. I have a Georgian passport and a Brazilian passport."
Ugh. Welcome to the Milli Vanilli Olympics, where nothing is what it seems.

Here, we learn the gorgeous little girl singing the Chinese anthem during the opening ceremony was actually lip-syncing someone else's vocals because the real singer wasn't deemed pretty enough by the host government. Shame on you, China, and let's hope the chubby girl with the gorgeous voice has a sturdy sense of self.

Here, we learn the host committee is filling half-empty stadiums with volunteers cheering madly for games and people they don't even know. And beware of the new loophole exploited by countries seeking a slice of Olympic glory: drive-thru citizenship for really good athletes.

You may have heard about Becky Hammon, who grew up in South Dakota and caused a fury by enlisting with Russia's women's basketball team. If you thought it was strange to see a Black Russian performing on the men's team, that's Pittsburgh native and former Bucknell star J.R. Holden, who plays for a team in Moscow beloved by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

No problem getting a passport with those connections.

Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant couldn't believe it when he heard Clippers' center and Chris Kaman was playing for Germany.

"I went up to him and said, 'Give me one word in German. Just one. Just one," Bryant said. "He couldn't do it."

If you thought the Olympics lost their innocence when the Dream Team showed up in Barcelona, the year when Michael Jordan covered the Reebok team sponsor logo to please his bosses at Nike, the lines are getting even more blurry.

Now, the Olympics are developing a mercenary feel, where athletes are becoming global free agents. If they've played professionally abroad or have some ancestral link to a foreign land, they're free to mock the nationalism and homeland pride that once served as the backbone of these very Games.

Hammon will get a $150,000 if Russia wins silver, $250,000 if they win gold. Imagine the cost if she makes a game-winning shot to beat Diana Taurasi and Team USA.

Yet nothing felt as outrageous as the scene Wednesday morning, when an unknowing media horde descended upon the beach volleyball venue, anticipating a great Olympic confrontation. After getting trampled in the first set, the team from Georgia rallied with great determination. Saka fought off heat exhaustion. With the three-set victory, they became an instant parable and morale boost for the people back home living in fear and rubble. And when photographers chased Rtvelo (real name: Andrezza Martins ) as she ran out of the venue in triumph, covered with sweat and sand and waving a Georgian flag, it honestly felt historic.

"We know that some (of our athletes) lose friends and family members," said Giorgi Tchanishvili, Georgia's press attaché. "That's why every win, every success for Georgia is much important."

Except moments later, at the official press conference, the hugs were gone and the teams began hissing at each other. On her way out of the arena, Russia's Natalya Uryadova doubted that either opponent could name the Georgia president. Now, she bitterly pointed out the absurdity their triumph.

"If they were Georgian, they would certainly be an influence," she said. "But in fact, they are not."

Offended and mostly embarrassed, Saka promptly tried to diffuse the situation, giving much credit to the Russians. And then this actually came out of her mouth:

"I don't want this to be a war between us."

No, there's enough of that going around already.

[phillyidol]

"I feel like I'm Georgian"?

And how about the team from Spain posing for a picture and all giving the "slanty eyes". Nice.[V]




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!

[obs]

Don't forget the pre-recorded fireworks for the opening ceremony. I guess they were worried about a fireworks wardrobe malfunction.

[KYYX4ever]

no to mention the tiny little'uns playing grown-up Chinese gymnasts. I was reading how the IOC was "trying not to offend China" by not investigating the evidence that those talented [i]little girls[/i] are not yet 16 ! WTF ?

[Spectre General]

[quote]Originally posted by coop41
[br]Here, we learn the gorgeous little girl singing the Chinese anthem during the opening ceremony was actually lip-syncing someone else's vocals because the real singer wasn't deemed pretty enough by the host government. Shame on you, China, and let's hope the chubby girl with the gorgeous voice has a sturdy sense of self.
[/quote]

lol, Dude it's China. That girl was probably served as burgers the next day. I wish I was kidding.

-------------------------------------------------
What is love after all
but occasional steps
of a dance.........
.......In a trance?

[Bitter Almonds]

[quote][i]Originally posted by phillyidol[/i]
<br>"I feel like I'm Georgian"?

And how about the team from Spain posing for a picture and all giving the "slanty eyes". Nice.[V]




Worlds GREATEST Photographer!
[/quote]

<p align="justify">Spaniards are racists?! zOMG, don't stop the presses! That's old news[}:)]

[Bitter Almonds]

[quote][i]Originally posted by obs[/i]
<br>Don't forget the pre-recorded fireworks for the opening ceremony. I guess they were worried about a fireworks wardrobe malfunction.
[/quote]

<p align="justify">Kinda ironic coming from the country that invented them.