Nuclear Beef

Hey there. Some Video Beef for you today, VCD (.mpg) clips from the parade of nations segment of last nights Olympic opening ceremony.

Pay close attention to the amount of applause each country receives. Cuba recieves more applause than Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran or Palestine, though of course all of these nations get more applause than Israel.

COURIC: Big cheer for Afghanistan, big triumph for this country. Flagbearer Nema Serubgerr (sp?) is a former basketball player who now teaches English and Phys Ed, she was chosen because her efforts to promote women in sports in her country. Afghanistan's returning to the Olympics after being suspended by the IOC because of the Taliban's severe suppression of women. And for the first time ever, two women from Afghanistan will compete in these Olympic Games.

COSTAS: How ever you may feel about American involvement in Iraq, this is a great sports story. As battles rage in Najaf and elsewhere in Iraq's borders.. within Iraq's borders, an Australian defense force airlifted the Iraqi Olympic Team out of Baghdad on a secret flight this week, and a warm warm reception for them.
COURIC: The Iraqi atheletes have a tortured past.. literally. They were subject to torture and imprisonment when its Olympic committee was overseen by Uday Hussein, the son of Saddam. And the return to these games represents a tremendous triumph not only for the atheletes but also for the people of Iraq.
COSTAS: Just last night their soccer team beat Portugal 4-2. A small bit of good news for the citizens of Iraq.

COSTAS: And now, a dose of cold reality here. The Iranian Judo World Champion, Arash Miresmaeili, may have withdrawn from the games (we're getting conflicting reports) he may have withdrawn from the games because he has drawn an Israeli Opponent, Udi Vaks in his opening match. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran has refused to recognize the right of Israel to exist. We'll follow that story, but we are expecting that he will withdraw from the Olympics rather than wrestle an Israeli.

COURIC: Israel. The atheletes from Israel will have additional security measures in the Athletes Village. The same was true in Sydney and in other past games. Although the official position of the Greek government is that no foreign security personell can be armed. That decision made last week.
COSTAS: That's the official position, it may not be the reality, given all the other world realities. But there is an interior additional metal fence around the apartments of the Israeli team within the Olympic Village. The United States turned down the same consideration, but there are plenty of US security forces here.

COSTAS: In June, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat carried the Olympic Flame to an Israeli checkpoint leading to Jerusalem. He claimed he was committed to an Olympic Truce during the games and recently has again expressed good wishes towards the Greeks and urged Arab support of these Olympics.

(transcribed by Allah, hat tip Michele)

[Saudi team enters]

COURIC: I love when the athletes wear their traditional clothing. This is not traditional, this is worn still in Saudi Arabia.

COSTAS: Since the wakeup call of 9/11, Americans have become more aware of aspects of Saudi society beyond the oil and their nominal status as a U.S. ally. Those aspects include widespread religious extremism and an antipathy towards women's rights, and here in Athens, there are 21 members of the Saudi delegation. None are women.

COURIC: [Silence. For nine seconds.]

Cuba was notable for the amount of applause they recieved.

North and South Korea enter with everyone holding hands.. uh..

Emphasis and transcription mine, except where noted. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Crap! The Saudi Video link was broken. Is fixed now. Thanks to steve and tagryn in comments.