Brendan Hansen Online: News Links

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

News Links

South Africa Will Not Enter 400 Free Relay at World Champs

London beats Paris in final round to secure 2012 Olympics

Armstrong retains Tour de France lead as McEwen wins fifth stage

Peirsol Accepts Role as Ambassador for Surfrider Foundation

U.S. swimmers focused on 'first-string' results at WUGs

USA Swimming announces site of 2008 Olympic Trials

So, how does everyone feel about Omaha in 2008?

29 Comments:

Well, living in Austin i was REaaaaly hoping Trials would take place in San Antonio (so close!!).
But still, i hear Omaha is a good sports town (definately baseball).

Congrats to London for getting the Olympics. Even though it was pretty much a race between London and Paris i was sort of hoping Madrid would get it. Ive never been but i hear Spain is beautiful. I pretty much figured from the start New YOrk wasnt going to win the bid.

By jenny, at 7/06/2005 2:55 PM
Wooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

London? Omaha?

Sounds like one really big roadtrip, if you ask me. :)

By Steph R., at 7/06/2005 3:16 PM
At this very moment, plane tix from NYC to Omaha, one year in advance, are going for $351 (with connection in Detroit) or $413 (direct). Plane tix from NYC to London, one year in advance, are going for $303; NYC to Paris, $328.

Yup, it's cheaper for me to fly to LONDON or PARIS than Omaha.
That's saying something, I think.

By Dana Cara, at 7/06/2005 3:21 PM
I really wanted Moscu... only to see Sasha's face more often.
but London is very pretty but very expensive too. Paris is a little cheaper and also pretty.

But sadly, tickets costs almost 4 times what DC posted and my salary is probably 4 times less.

But we've got a long way to go until 2012.

By Lena, at 7/06/2005 3:32 PM
Lena: I calculated. There are something like 2500 days between now and opening ceremonies of the 2012 Games. SO, if you save $1 a day in a little piggy bank, you should be good to go. Start today! :)

By Dana Cara, at 7/06/2005 3:56 PM
I am so obnoxiously thrilled about London, you don't even know. I've already told my friend (who's moving to London this fall) that he should plan on staying in London until the 2012 games so I'd have somewhere to stay. Weee, London.

Omaha, meh. It's Nebraska. What is there really to say about it?

By a, at 7/06/2005 4:37 PM
We need to start a push for World Trials in San Antonio since we can't get Olympic Trials there. I'd take a Florida location as well. Trials is early enough in the spring that the weather would be perfect for it.

By Michelle, at 7/06/2005 4:50 PM
I'm excited for Omaha on behalf of an online friend who only lives an hour from there and is always complaining that *nothing* good ever happens near her. Well, she has to wait 3 years, but it's going to happen. I might even plan a trip there myself so I can meet her in person and see yet another swim event.

London? Well, I was hoping for NY as I doubt we could ever afford Europe, but who knows what kind of salary we'll be making in 7 years, so I'm not counting it out yet.

By Teagan35, at 7/06/2005 4:58 PM
Michelle: Imagine, 2006 Worlds Trials in South Beach. Sushi at Nobu ... BHO lemonade party @ the Delano ... outdoor pool, palm trees? FANTASTIC.

Wikipedia provides us with a lovely writeup of Omaha and its amenities:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha%2C_Nebraska#History
Please do not miss the "Songs about Omaha" section. Priceless.

By Dana Cara, at 7/06/2005 5:04 PM
We need to start a push for World Trials in San Antonio since we can't get Olympic Trials there

Or even better..Austin. ;) It looks like they have hosted the World Trials before.

By Shannen, at 7/06/2005 5:21 PM
But I want an outdoor pool Shannen. The better for taking all those lovely photos. And Natatoriums are so freakin' LOUD. And humid. My hair goes frizzy and I can't hear anything. What does San Antonio have?

By Michelle, at 7/06/2005 5:33 PM
What about bringing World Trials back to California? Come back to California, Hot Swimmers!

By a, at 7/06/2005 5:37 PM
But I'd like to have lots of Fried Stuff and Cheesey Things with my World Trials and you get better Fried Stuff and Cheesey Things in the South. I mean, we even fry bread here. Besides, you guys get enough swimming already. Let us have a little.

By Michelle, at 7/06/2005 5:47 PM
What does San Antonio have?

I'm not sure, but I think (don't quote me) that it was probably an indoor pool, as it will be in Omaha. I think I saw somewhere that USA Swimming chooses Trial venues that will mimic the Olympic venues--since Athens was outside, the Trials were outside, since Beijing is indoors, these Trials need to be indoors. So if that's the case, San Antonio probably would have been indoors as well.

I don't know how they choose them for World Trials though. I'm guessing since those don't generate the same buzz as Olympic Trials, they'd tend to choose venues that already have an Olympic size pool(instead of constructing temp ones, as the Olympic Trial cities would/are doing.) I'm guessing the majority of those would be indoors.

By Shannen, at 7/06/2005 5:54 PM
Oh, and I do have to say the nat in Indy was pretty decent--it was kind of loud (of course, that also could have been because the Florida and USC teams were right under us and they cheer like *crazy*) but I didn't think it was too humid, and I was pretty worried about that since it's tough for me to breathe when it's humid.

I thought Indy did a pretty good job, with the exception of a)lying about how far away the pool was(8 blocks my butt!) and b)forgetting to open the doors one day. But other than that, it wasn't too bad.

By Shannen, at 7/06/2005 5:58 PM
you get better Fried Stuff and Cheesey Things in the South. I mean, we even fry bread here. Besides, you guys get enough swimming already. Let us have a little.

ITA with Miss Michelle. Some of us Southern girls can't leave the South, you know. (I *must* have my very, very sweet tea. You can't just add sugar to unsweetened iced tea!)

I'm even willing to spend some time in Auburn, even though I'm a Bama fan. That must mean something, right? :)

By BeachGirl, at 7/06/2005 7:11 PM
london- ok
omaha- good
san antonio/anywhere in texas- great

By Anna, at 7/06/2005 8:14 PM
I don't think I care one way or another about Omaha or London, though both seem like perfectly cool cities to me.

BTW, Shannen, I don't think USA swimming mimics the Olympics in its trials. If I recall correctly, Athens was supposed to be an indoor venue. They just got so far behind, they never built the roof. Something like that. There was a big article about the Athens construction issues right before the games, in Time magazine I think.

By crackinup, at 7/06/2005 9:47 PM
If I recall correctly, Athens was supposed to be an indoor venue. They just got so far behind, they never built the roof.

Even with a roof, I don't think it was going to be completely closed, ala a natatorium. The way it looked, the back and sides would still be open, and you'd still have the sense that you were swimming outdoors--I got the impression that the roof was more of just a shade providing device (sort of like how an awning works) that would just go over the top, but you'd still basically be outdoors.

But anyway, that's what I read--that they try to make the Trials in as similar of a pool as they can, but that could have just been a mistake on the reporter's part.

Speaking of press...check it out! BHO got a shout out in the Media Guide for Worlds in Bren's personal info:

Personal Info

Woo! Oh, and I have to giggle a little at Brendan's name problems. Brandon? How 90210. ;)

By Shannen, at 7/06/2005 10:03 PM
*Taking a break from my King Arthur marathon*

Omaha, nice, only about 8 hours from here. Though I'm sure I'll (still) be in Texas by that time. Sigh. Still not too far. Nice news.

*Ends break*

By Kayte, at 7/06/2005 10:34 PM
Lena: I calculated. There are something like 2500 days between now and opening ceremonies of the 2012 Games. SO, if you save $1 a day in a little piggy bank, you should be good to go. Start today! :)

DC... that is great if it weren't for the fact that I'm already pushing the piggy bank for "Amsterdam 2006: the thesis trip" and "Outdoor 2005-06: I need new arrows" projects. Stupic academic and sports life...

By Lena, at 7/06/2005 11:21 PM
Oh man I am so upset not to be seeing the SA relay team! I was such a shocker to see them win that race. The looked so great in their Arena suits too. I wonder if the SSA is not still a little chapped about that. The athletes seem to have such a tough time with the SSA that I am not surprised that they can't keep a relay team together. Too bad. That was such a miraculous victory!

By lala, at 7/07/2005 2:44 AM
Yeah, I was bummed to see that too lala. Competition is always more exciting when the very best athletes are all competing. Although the American-centric side of me found the SA victory a little less miraculous once I learned where they *trained*.

Shannen, I think you're right about the half roof thing, though Long Beach was definitely no roof. Still a more exact comparable than an indoor pool though. I'd never heard that before, interesting stuff.

By crackinup, at 7/07/2005 3:58 AM
Scary day, LONDON ... heartbreaking ...

Thinking about anyone who's over there ... my college roommate's family lives just outside Kings Cross station, they are all safe but absolutely devastated ...

By Dana Cara, at 7/07/2005 7:22 AM
Scary day everywhere.

Dana Im praying for your friends family and all those in London.
So scary.

By Kate, at 7/07/2005 8:20 AM
My thoughts and prayers to those in London as well as those with friends and family there. It's devestating news and the memories are still very fresh of just how scary it can be.

By Teagan35, at 7/07/2005 8:55 AM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

By swimphilly78, at 7/07/2005 8:56 AM
poor poor London. I feel awful...few days after doing an awesome job with Live 8, one day after hearing that they are hosting the olympics, all cause for great celebration, and now this. Dana, my prayers are with your friends too, and with everyone over there.

By swimphilly78, at 7/07/2005 9:08 AM
My prayers go to your friends in London, Dana Cara, as for my friends that are over there too.

Awful and devastating news...

By Lena, at 7/07/2005 12:46 PM

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

News Links

29 Comments:

Brendan's Schedule