h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Except Ms Freeman.

Moondancer, in answer to your well-put question, one word. M-O-N-E-Y

IMHO, the whole rent-a-passport thing should be stamped out. Who knows where it will end. In no time at all they will have All Blacks turning out for Wales

Oh good, Loony is feeling better this morning.

The Closing Ceremony: UNBELIEVABLY SPECTACULARLY MIND-BLOWING, including the greatest pyrotechics display ever, including last year's pseudo Millennium efforts. Watch the 'river of fire' start at the Olympic Stadium, literally run down the Parramatta River all the way into Sydney Harbour, and the grand finale at the Bridge. All in all, a fitting closing extravaganza to match what has been the BEST Olympics of the modern era. Watch it live if you can.

So what do we chat about next week, friends?

Walter

Walter, IMHO, all modern Olympics owe there success to the example set by Munich in 1972. Munich set the standard for others to match or better. Munich had one feature that has never been equalled, much less bettered, it was followed by the Munich Beer Festival. Trust me. Oh the memories. Glug.

Loony,

Yeah mate, Munich certainly had one feature that has never been equalled, thank God.

Walter.

THANK YOU AUSTRALIA!

Brilliant closing ceremony bringing a very fitting end to the Best Olypics ever - I can't see how Athens or Beijing have a hope of matching it.

Needless to say, my husband is at this very moment sitting next door watching replays of Kylie (especially the bit where she wiggles on the surf board!!) - so he's happy too

Well done Australia!!

See - with all the excitement, I can't even write Olympics properly!!

11 Golds well done Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

*does manic dance*

WOW!!!! Totally Brilliant. Just everything. Elle's got a better wiggle than Kylie. But just Thanks Sydney and didn't Auntie BBC cover it well!

Good morning everyone,

Walter and twenty million others basking in glow and warmth of the closing ceremony. It is very hard to explain how this event has gripped Australians, you need to have been in the country to truly understand what it has meant, and how everyone has been touched and moved. The overwhelming impression is feeling good with each other and the rest of the world. Tomorrow, or the next day, maybe the emotional hangover starts as we return to more or less normal.

Yes Demon Drawer, a top effort from the Poms, and what about the Dutch? My favourites: our equestrians led by Andrew Hoy, and Jumping Jai Flash. Marion Jones, poetry in motion; Michael Johnson, the best and perhaps the nicest male runner. The Cameroon soccer team.

Thanks one and all for chatting, and the kind words. I shall miss this forum. A lot. Take care,

Walter.

As the Olympic Games depart we are left with the ineffable Olympic mix of the heroic, the tragic, the ludicrous and the tawdry.

The nicest moment: Kenyan Reuben Kosgei, winner of the 3000m steeplechase, stares seriously at the flag during the sombre Kenyan national anthem. When it ends, Kosgei's face crumples into a smile of bliss and beatification. Astonishing that we can be so moved by a stranger's happiness. And so indifferent to their humiliation. A pole-vaulter impales himself in a delicate place during his descent and TV recycles the clip endlessly as part of its Olympic bloopers.

Best entertainment: the men's weightlifting. These athletes are built to appeal to our parental instincts. They are as round and cuddly as babies or Sumo wrestlers. They laugh and weep as readily as toddlers. After the lift their minders wrap them quickly in shawls and blankets. Behind the door where the cameras stop, they presumably tuck them into their carrycots and give them a fresh bottle of steroids.

For tragic victory and political farce, there was Cathy Freeman, crushed on the track after her expected gold in the 400m. She collapsed under the weight of her country's expectations according to the pundits. Maybe; perhaps she also realised her win was a propaganda victory for Australia's white politicians, especially PM John "I never say sorry to black people" Howard. A great athlete soars to glory. A low political beetle has his triumph too.

Let's hope Turkey and Greece kiss and make up before 2004.

So no doubt we'll all be back on a different thread at the Athens Games of 2004

May I invite the researchers of the world to meet again and discuss the Olympiad of 2004 games.

We've got the 2002 winter games to go before that.

Yeah but I won't be going

GOLD

or

SILVER

or even

BRONZE

Every few hours then will I

You never know. But it is I agree unlikely.

I mean this games has been fun to watch for us Brits I even shared some of our great triumps on ICQ with fellow researchers and allways et you guys know when we were doing well.

Hi Sydney, I still remember you. Where was Frank Ifield and is the new 'Crocodile Dundee' film cashing in on Sydney's success?

Gooday Mixer,

Frank Ifield! Where is he now? My God, that song must be around the 1962 mark. (Walter slips away quietly into his middle age).

Walter.

Hi Walter, I was a mere lad of ----- Harumph------rather not say, don't you know, when Frank yodelled his way to the top.Oh Happy days. Haven't had quite the same level of hysterical following for the Paralympics have we? Though I have seen some of the BBC2 coverage, I find it difficult to decide whether I am applauding the act of overcoming the handicap, or just applauding their athletic achievement. But Kylie was there singing her little chest off at the opening ceremony!!!!

Mike