The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Games of the XXX Olympiad Pub, London

First topic message reminder :

The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Games of the XXX Olympiad Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

This week the pub has set up in the host city London, where we can watch the greatest athletes from all four corners of the globe compete in a multitude of Sports under the one thousand flame Olympic torch... each wearing the 5 coloured Olympic rings of blue, white (or black), red, yellow and green.

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger) has been the motto for the modern Olympic Games since their beginning in 1896.
(but not too high obviously!)

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Marcus Aurelius, Henri Didon, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Sir Steve Redgrave, Cameron Van De Burgh, Marianne Vos, Murray Rose, Jesse Owens, Emil Zátopek,
Zara Phillips and her fabulous horse "Toytown" and last but not least.... Boris Johnson playing whiff-whaff against Danny Boyle.



Last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t32901-the-zone-virtual-sports-bar-hamilton

Thom I buy my nephew an Ireland rugby kit every b'day...I'm sure his auld fella isn't best pleased and he'll probably get bullied at school but sure we can't be having no England rugby fans in the family...... ....

Giggisy to miss the spotter. Lucky replied to the PM


Well I was wrong.

Poor goal keeping there. Giggs was always going left.

Blydi Chelsea.

GB out of the soccerball. Not altogether disappointed about that if I'm being honest.

I've a lot of respect for Giggs, mainly for his Yoga commitment, but wouldn't really care too much about the GB soccer team. Sorry.

I'm happy they're out Rodders, they shouldn't be there considering not all the Associations want to be part of it and partially because of the whole Irish barstooling instead of supporting the Irish teams. Stunning penalties from Korean lads some cojones. That blue tongue thing from Butalnd didn't work.

Credit to Lord Coe, he might be a Tory fiecer, but he was an unbelievable athlete and hes done a phenomenal job with these games.

No need to look so smug though....

Jess Ennis

We have China in our sights. (just whisper it though)

Bout ye Willser, sure you trained the Chinese gymnasts ya feicer!

Not a chance Willy. No way in hell will that happen. Are you only a GB follower yeah, or would you have your foot in both camps? Interesting to find those from Ulster and NIs view as it is obviously a complicated issue. If you don't want to answer fair enough.

Well that emptied the place.....

Oh sorry, I'd fallen asleep in my cidre.

I know Thomond I was only joshing. Third would be one hell of an achievement. Especially as I was seriously worried our athletes would choke.

Of course I have a foot in both camps! I flicked away from the cycling today to watch young paddy barnes win his fight. One more win and he's guaranteed a medal?

Well Thom I can only answer for myself...its not a black an white one for me personally.

In terms of the NI athletes well, regardless if they are representing Ireland or GB then I am full behind them no question, whether it is Paddy Barnes or Allan Campbell.

Beyond that I want to see Ireland do well but I'd be lying if I didn't feel a sense of happyness and pride at how well things are going for for team GB, particularly for the likes Ennis, Farrah and Andy Murray who I would have a lot of respect for individually.

That might be a bit cagey and having my cake and eat it but I don't really have another answer.

It is almost 11 o clock.

Gower Show tomorrow #frightfullyposh

I'm still bewildered by the athletics. We're crap at athletics. Three events with huge prestige as well. We never win the 10k. Lyn the Leap won the 64 long jump but nowt since. And only the hardest Blydi event in women's athletics, the Heptathelon! Blydi ell mun!

Now that's an odd one: 'having your cake and eating it'. Well what else are you going to do with a cake?

If an Irish athlete was competing in an event, regardless of the colours they where wearing, then I'd be supporting them.

Its nice to see British athletes who've worked so hard do well in their home olympics. If team GB get 3rd on the table then thats fantastic.

Yeah, Rodders I'd expect you to be proud of Team GBs appearance must seem to have their foot in both camps as you should, which in a lot of ways shows how far NI has come. (before it would be Team GB or Ireland) That's great to see really.


Barnes gets a medal if he wins next bout. As do the other 3 boxers (Conlan might be from NI, Nevin and Taylor) If our Laser Sailor wins she gets gold.

I kind of feel a bit of pride for the GB lads and lassies given their achievements. We feicing comepted for GB in the first 4 or 5 like, We're really similar....

I actually don't really like cake but hey ho....

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Now that's an odd one: 'having your cake and eating it'. Well what else are you going to do with a cake?

Give it to poorer people and make them eat it thus fulfilling Marie Antoinette's views.

Otherwise walk on it.

Also interview with Paddy Banres there that fella has some thick accent! Barely understood him half the time!

Glas a du wrote:Gower Show tomorrow #frightfullyposh

I read that as gowershowerpower!



It's you, isn't it?

I don't really see it as a foot in both camps Thom. If an Irish athlete was in contention I'd be supporting them.

Beyond that I don't have a problem supporting either team GB or individual athletes from other countries that I like and respect like Bolt or Phelps.

As my taxes are contributing to the event it makes sense that I want to see a return on my investment in terms of GB medals...

That whole 'let them eat cake' was a bit of a misinterpretation, apparently. When she was told that the Parisians didn't have any bread, what Marie Antoinette actually asked was, 'can't they make brioche?' which is cheaper to make than bread. Or something.

I really need to stop engaging these cold callers from India in conversation...

So, I fell asleep at half 7 or so and missed all the athletics. Well that is a bit annoying.

More than a bit I'd have thought, Munsty! How's Chester?

Lucky I find staring at the microwave and describing its functions and asking them why that didn't help my computer is a great way of dealign with them. Wastes my own time but still.


Rodders, suppose that's a good way to look at it I'm Irish first and formeost be they competing for ROI, NI, GB or Mars (more on that later) then I suppsoe liek to see the neighbours do well, GB, France etc, Then the exiled relatives.


Oc course in GAA this has no bearing whatsoever. IHD and all that.

Lucky - re the cider. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thom - thanks for your support, and good luck to the Irish boxers.

Most of us here know quite a few Irish people as friends and drinking companions. It would be nice for the ines I know to have something to cheer. Was juat talking to my Irish mate about the sailing and boxing.

Thomond wrote:

Also interview with Paddy Banres there that fella has some thick accent! Barely understood him half the time!

Didn't hear the interview, Thom, but reminds me of a conversation when I was at Uni.

We were doing Computer Science and the leacturer was American; one of the guys in the class had a very thick Derry accent. Particularly after the summer holidays, it took the rest of us Southerners time to retune and understand him. The class was very small (first year of the course at UCD) so lecturers were very casual. When ever you wanted to you just interrupted the lecturer and asked your question. Thing is when our friend from Derry asked a question, the rest of us would be desperately trying to decifer it only to realise that our American friend was already answering it. Got us every time.

Anyway when the course was over and we were all out for a pint in what passed for a bar in UCD then, we asked Bruce (lecturer) how come he always knew what question Manus (lad from Derry) had asked. Part of our course had been on linguistics and formal definitions and structure of language. So Bruce launches into a theoretical discussion on the links between NI and American accents due to the early years emigration from NI. We were well down our umpteenth pint of the black stuff and I have to admit it sounded quite plausible but then one of us said "Go on pull the other one".

The truth was that Bruce hadn't a clue what Manus had said either, but was embarrassed to ask him to repeat the question which he would have had to do a few times in every lecture as Manus was always asking questions. So he guessed what was an appropriate question to be asked at this point in the lecture and that is what he would answer - invariably it worked.

I think the Leinster crowd could see a huge increase in attendence in a few years if the sailor wins, everyone will be looking for a boat to row in and there they will meet the D4 lads suppign Heino in their chinos, Ralph Lauren Sweaters over their shoulder in that rich boy way (you know what way I mean) and they will talk about this great sport where the beer flows roysh and there's loike 99s in the stadium.


So in summation, this is another great move by the Leinster marketing department!

In fairness, it is awkward to ask someone to repeat themselves when you don't understand them. Which is why I end up asking the cold callers their views on the French Revolution.

Well I'm from Derry and can't understand what anyone says up here....

I understand that the Brandywell is randy and that Mark Farren is a hero but other than that my deciphering of Derry linguistics has a long way to go. I got "Lovely jubbly Patterson was in some space for the goal" too.

You been up here Thom? Must be some trek?

6 hours or so have been a few times. Nice stadium, Derry have great fans. Great link with us, some problems up there at the moment though some fans are getting restless and their best players will probably be gone by the end of the year. Budget being lowered, when they got caught for dual contracts in 2010 they were relgated but still went on with unsustainable budgets. No fan action or serious change in the club (board changed but papered over the cracks). They are in a bit of financial bother. Of course they might be signing one of the better players in the League next year, you only see a team with no money make a signing like this in Ireland. No wonder nearly every team (two are not in money troubles, both are fan owned and run) in the top tier are in financial dificulty.

I'm still in Limerick Thom. Going back for just over a week on the 15th though for a festival type thing down in Somerset.

Thom think I was only ever at the brandiwell once as a kid. No reason just not bothered about the old local soccerball.

Glad you've been up and had a good time here .

Actually if you're ever up again give me a shout I'll meet you for a

Yeah it's a nice spot, some great wins up there which always helps. Nice city but no Cork like. It's a bit below Limerick (which gets a bad rap but is actually a great place I feel)

I used to house-share with a bloke from Limerick. He was a bit of a cyclist and he was here because we have a velodrome.

Don't rub your velodrome in our face anyway...

KiaRose wrote:

Thomond wrote:

Also interview with Paddy Banres there that fella has some thick accent! Barely understood him half the time!

Didn't hear the interview, Thom, but reminds me of a conversation when I was at Uni.

We were doing Computer Science and the leacturer was American; one of the guys in the class had a very thick Derry accent. Particularly after the summer holidays, it took the rest of us Southerners time to retune and understand him. The class was very small (first year of the course at UCD) so lecturers were very casual. When ever you wanted to you just interrupted the lecturer and asked your question. Thing is when our friend from Derry asked a question, the rest of us would be desperately trying to decifer it only to realise that our American friend was already answering it. Got us every time.

Anyway when the course was over and we were all out for a pint in what passed for a bar in UCD then, we asked Bruce (lecturer) how come he always knew what question Manus (lad from Derry) had asked. Part of our course had been on linguistics and formal definitions and structure of language. So Bruce launches into a theoretical discussion on the links between NI and American accents due to the early years emigration from NI. We were well down our umpteenth pint of the black stuff and I have to admit it sounded quite plausible but then one of us said "Go on pull the other one".

The truth was that Bruce hadn't a clue what Manus had said either, but was embarrassed to ask him to repeat the question which he would have had to do a few times in every lecture as Manus was always asking questions. So he guessed what was an appropriate question to be asked at this point in the lecture and that is what he would answer - invariably it worked.

Earlier this year, I was at a men's event and they asked for someone to read a couple of verses. Now as someone proud of their speaking voice, I said I'd do it after the standard awkward silence. So, I put on my best voice and recited the lines. There was a short silence afterwards while I thought everyone was taking it in. It was punctuated then when a mature student, who is originally from Ghana, not so quietly whispered, which everyone could hear, to the person next to him "Was he speaking English?"

No it is actually shoite, whereas limerick is a really nice place

I'm sure you got the message across!

I haven't been there for more than 3 days in total but I enjoyed if during the Orange walk on July 12th no violence and some good craic.

Thomond wrote:Yeah it's a nice spot, some great wins up there which always helps. Nice city but no Cork like. It's a bit below Limerick (which gets a bad rap but is actually a great place I feel)

I went for a late night walk around Limerick there a couple of weeks back. Along the river in the city centre really is a beautiful area. It's a shame that at that time of night, you can never feel truly safe, not because of the rough reputation, just all the people on the night out, well lubricated shall we say.

That Greg Rutherford is a confident guy eh?

You could say that about pretty much any spot though Munsty, Cork despite it's greatness can be a bit of a hole at night in the city. Around "the fountain" in particular attracts some rapscallions (how often do you get to use that word?) Just have to move on quickly.

Munsty the weekend I was down in Limerick for the HEC QF was one of the best times I can remember. I think limerick is a fantastic place.

Loved the people, loved Clohessys, loved Thomond park, loved the Milk market. Its a beautiful city.

Aww, Dame Mary Peters and Lyn 'the leap' Davies on the telly in the pub here.

MBTGOG wrote:I'm still in Limerick Thom. Going back for just over a week on the 15th though for a festival type thing down in Somerset.

What "Festival type thing in Somerset", Munsty?

We cancel the ones we don't like and don't always give the the prospective attenders much notice!

Blimey today has been some day! . I'm knackered and all I've done is sit on the sofa and shout at the telly!

Lucky, you're right, Jess is Yorkshire's finest . Did I say she's from my home town?... <Veryproud>

Greg Rutherford came across as pretty unlikeable to be honest, Munsty. I'm sure it was just his 'game face', though.