I'm sitting here watching the Olympics, and I notice a significant percentage of the commercials shown are simulations of Olympic events. I don't mean that they are Olympic-related (ie: “Official sponsor of the 2004 Olympics!“) I mean these commercials show actor-athletes participating in events.

Air Canada - Cycling
Volkswagen - Cycling
LG Plasma TV - Relay, high jump, diving, gymastics
Bell Expressvu - Weightlifting, gymnastics
Royal Bank - Running
Air Canada - Floor dance

All within a fifteen minute span of watching TV. I think these type of commercial has been overused.

I did not know this, but in order for a new Olympic record to be set in weightlifting, the old record has to be broken by at least 2.5 kg (or 5 lbs). Apparently, the officials at the Olympics didn't know this either. A female weightlifter from Thailand thought she had set a new record by lifting 125.5 kg, beating the previous record of 125 kg. Even official news sources celebrated her new record. But “she should not have been allowed to lift that weight” according to an anonymous official.

The good news is that this female lifter asked the Prime Minister of Thailand if she could join the army, and he said yes. It's important to have dreams, I guess.

Tennis superstars Venus Williams and Andy Roddick are finding themselves playing in front of record crowds - record-low that is. For instance, the first match Venus Williams played was in front of about 500 spectators in an arena that seats 8,000.

When was the last time Venus Williams played a real event in a stadium only 5% full? I'm guessing it has been since the days before she turned pro.