This kid could win an Olympic medal with that blue tongue.
Well, this is it, it’s been a great run for London 2012. Now that the Games are over, all we can do is remember the good times — and, of course, the weird and funny times. So, in no particular order of preference, here is what The Periscope Post thought to be the funniest and most eccentric things to take away from the 2012 Olympic games.
1. “God save our gracious Queen…” Is it me, or was that a little off?
As many viewers noticed, the national anthem didn’t sound quite the same this year. That is because it was rearranged by composer Philip Sheppard, who, among other modifications, added a few “goosebumpy” chords to capture the tension and excitement that surrounds the 2012 Olympic games, according to the BBC. Not everyone took a particular liking to this version of the anthem though. Commentator, Norman Lebrecht from the Arts Journal, joked on a ‘Lost’ poster that a few notes were missing from the composition; “If found, return to: the national anthem, Great Britain. C/O the Olympic Organizing Committee”.
2. What the Smurf is going on with the athletes’ tongues?
Some of the more perceptive of us noticed some of the athletes’ blue tinted tongues before competitions, including GB Team’s football goalie, Jack Butland. The working theory is the athletes had been drinking blue energy drink Powerade, an Olympic sponsor, which has been known to “colour tongues in berry-like shades”, the BBC reported. But this is more of a guess than a definitive answer, so feel free to come up with wacky theories of your own – lucky ritual, perhaps?
3. No country for these men (and woman).
This is not specific to this year’s games, but many more people paid attention to the the Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA), individuals not representing any particular country, but still allowed to compete. This is because, for one reason or another, their countries currently lack a National Olympic Committee, thus forcing the athletes to compete independently under the Olympic flag. There were four IOAs this year; three from the Netherland Antilles, which dissolved in 2010, and one from South Sudan, which gained independence just last year, according to Buzz Feed.
4. Mysterious shadow figure on the grass?
Viewers have been commenting on a small, mysterious shadow speck on the grass in long-range shots of the stadium. This, viewers, quoted in the BBC, have likened to either a “dead fly” or “dangling spider”. Again, there is no given explanation for this.
5. Party like you just won an Olympic medal
Imagine it: You’ve spent the last four and probably many more years living the cloistered life of the dedicated athlete. Then you’ve competed in your event, win or lose – what are you going to do now? Disney World? How about clubbing instead? Olympians like 11-time gold medalist American swimmer Ryan Lochte, or British rowing champion Sophie Hosking, were seen living up the London nightlife in clubs like Chinawhite. But you don’t have to be first to have fun, as Belgian bronze medal cyclist Gijs Van Hoecke proved this week: After four years of abstinence, the 20-year old partied so hard he had to be carried out of the club by his teammates. He was then sent home “by the humourless Belgian Committee on Thursday”, according to The Guardian, for his embarrassing behavior. For those of us with a sense of humour, however, we can surely agree with The Mirror that “He may not have won a medal for his country inside the velodrome but [he] certainly takes gold for his partying efforts”.
