Olympics

[david_carnell]

I'm interested because it is the pinnacle of human achievement in certain fields. Once every fours years (i.e. not that often) the greatest gather from around the world to test themselves against others in the zenith of their respective sports.

I'd like to see certain sports removed from the Olympics mainly because other events matter more in their calendar. Tennis for example. None of them care about the Olympics more than the four majors so it should be abolished. And not replaced by darts.

I don't know much about many of the athletes either, but as anyone who has ever done sport at a high level will attest, the determination and guile needed merely to get to the Games, let alone succeed when you're there, is worthy of our admiration, regardless of nationality. It's nice when a Brit wins something but I'm quite content watching even obscure sports I normally wouldn't bother with, because this is as good as it will get.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I know what I'm about to say is flippant, but I can't help it. Don't you think that the cyclists' helmets look like a bunch of sperm racing for an egg?

[david_carnell]

I know what I'm about to say is flippant, but I can't help it. Do you think you should be paying that close attention to cyclists' helmets?

;-) I'll get my coat.

[Cassius]

Nadal looks fairly serious about the tennis - just played a lovely match. Perhaps Murray would have played better if it had been for Scotland and not for GB - he was lacklustre to say the least.

[lozzyloz]

Spare a thought for the Georgian Women's Beach Volleyball team that thrashed Russia yesterday:

"It has been extremely hard for our team to compete here in Beijing because their minds have been on what is going on back home," said Akhvlediani. "It is far better to have contest in sport than anywhere else."

And did you know that the bikinis are restricted to a maximum size in the rules despite a T-shirt and baggy shorts being far more attractive.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I think we should lobby the Olympics Committee for beach cricket. As pertinent as beach volleyball me thinks.

[*Bob*]

French Cricket would be good

(It's a game - not a sexual act)

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Russia vs Georgia Womens beach vollyball on tv at the moment. It's good to see sport can bring beautiful people in hardly any clothes together.

[Rico]

I'm being drawn in. Enjoying it.

One funny note - this is one of those typical UK thread of expected responses (hate it!; hate USA!; hate corporate sponsorship!; etc.). So:

I just wonder if the guy from Uganda who was unable to compete and died in poverty - had he sought political asylum in the US and then competed again...would you all then whine when you saw him on a Channel 4 piece claiming the US only let him in for the gold medal?

[Moos]

(6) Rico, you do love controversy, don't you?

[LuvPeckham]

Marmora Man Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Can anyone explain why I should be interested in

> the Olympics. 200+ countries all fielding over 100

> athletes makes for 20,000+ sportsmen & women

> 99.99% of whom I have never heard of. They run,

> they jump, they swim and they do all kinds of

> other stuff in Beijing while I'm asleep.

>

Without sounding a complete MCP - Marmora Man it is simply because of one thing

Women's beach volleyball (as pointed out by other people in this discussion)

No other olympic event holds it for me in the same way... and as for who wins or loses I personally think it is about watching those who take part that is more important...

"Hmm checks post and realises is a MCP one... oh well"

[Rico]

Moos it's what the internet is for.

On a serious note, I sat watching last Saturday switching between CNN's coverage of Russia/Georgia and the UN emergency session live. It depressed me. Switching to the Olympics and seeing the same countries competing in a far more civil way encouraged me. It was a strange juxtaposition. But I felt much better watching the Olympics.

[Keef]

You wouldn't have seen him on channel 4 because it wouldn't be an interesting story worth making a documentary about. Also, he never died of poverty, in the end Puma gave him a cushy job as a sort of thank you for winning in their running shoes, so he ended up with cash. It never actually said how he died, but he was only 47 if memory serves.

He also did comete again, but well past his best. And he never got to race Edwin Moses, which was the race that people wanted at the time.

[Rico]

Ah. God bless corporate sponsorship.

[Ladygooner]

lozzyloz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Spare a thought for the Georgian Women's Beach

> Volleyball team that thrashed Russia yesterday:

>

> "It has been extremely hard for our team to

> compete here in Beijing because their minds have

> been on what is going on back home," said

> Akhvlediani. "It is far better to have contest in

> sport than anywhere else."

>

> And did you know that the bikinis are restricted

> to a maximum size in the rules despite a T-shirt

> and baggy shorts being far more attractive.

Did you know that the Georgian women only recently got their citizenship - they are in fact brazilian!

They admit they have only visited Georgia twice

[lozzyloz]

I think Georgia was originally a Brazilian colony founded by C?ndido Mariano da Silva Rondon around the end of the 16th Century. So basically Georgian/Brazilian, same difference, although the Brazilian girls are slightly more attractive. Ever had a 'Georgian'?

[jollybaby]

Now what's with this keirin cycling when the riders follow a moped on the track for the first few laps - crazy stuff.

[Keef]

Fair feckin play to Rebecca Adlington! beat second place by 6 seconds, and knocked 2.12 seconds of the longest standing world record in the pool, which apparently was set in 89, the year she was born

[SimonM]

And she's a Northerner too! >:D< I guess that's this year's BBC Sports Personality award sorted!

[Cassius]

It's being suggested on Talk Sport that she is should be made a Dame - after all they did it for Kelly Holmes!

[david_carnell]

Holy crap. If anyone else has just watched the 100m final....wow!

That's the greatest ever sprint performance and the man didn't even try for the last 10m. Incredible.

I can see Michael Johnson's WR in the 200m being under threat now, and that record is almost superhuman.

Usain Bolt, take a bow that man.

THAT is what makes the Olympics great!

[Keef]

What David said!

[MadWorld74]

Get in there GB! Wonderful!!!!

[paragon]

anyone up watching the marathon? fingers crossed but can't see radders lasting the distance.

[Ladygooner]

Can you believe we are third place in the medal table?! Roll on 2012!