Olympics Thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="605973" data-time="1471402868"><p>
I never watch the Olympics and go "fuck this is boring, I wish it would be over soon." If you cut swimming events then you don't actually achieve anything. There will just be less swimming events. If the current amount of swimming events bores you, you can watch handball or basketball or volleyball which seem to be on at the same time. If you cut down the swimming events, they won't be replaced by anything cool. There will just be nothing on at that time except for basketball, handball or volleyball.<br><br>
You can argue that having so many events devalues the Olympics but I think winning a gold in the pool is still harder to come buy than gold in lots of other sports.</p></blockquote>
It's not about boredom. <br><br>
It's about fairness and the scarcity value of an Olympic gold.<br><br>
People (well me) resent swimmings proliferation of medals. The lack of fairness that the sport has many multi medalists, and those countries that do swimming 'cash in' compared to those who do other sports.<br><br>
Gymnastics matches it for the amount of multi-medalists, but not amount of medals.<br><br>
Track cycling also has s a problem. Get one good rider per gender and you generally clean up 50% or more of the gold medals on offer. But again, total medals, your talking about 10 golds up for grabs rather than 30 odd. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="605977" data-time="1471403668">
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<p>I don't really care if swimming has lots of events and medals - but, it does annoy me a bit to hear Phelps described as "The Greatest Olympian". The way events are structured, at present, if you're measuring "greatest" by the number of medals won, the "greatest" is pretty likely to be a swimmer (maybe a gymnast). Lots of disciplines you've got no chance of winning 20+ medals if you compete in every Olympics for a lifetime. </p>
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<p>I don't really warm to these pot hunting quests of "Can Phelps/Ledecki/Thorpe/Biondi win x number of medals. Usually I'm cheering for the other guys!</p>
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<p>Have to say, this time I've barely watched any swimming - 15 minutes max.</p>
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<p>I think I watched almost all the swimming coverage, it's a huge passion of mine</p>
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<p>Phelps is one of the greatest athletes of all time (in my opinion). </p>
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<p>He's been at the top of one of the most physically demanding sports for 16 years.</p>
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<p>Watching his training videos etc made me realise that he can do things in the water that no other swimmer can do..... If they didn't limit the amount of underwater swimming after the turn then he'd be the greatest freestyler of all time (in addition to being the greatest butterflyer and probably medley swimmer already)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="605915" data-time="1471392959"><p>
Totty of the day. Stina Troest of Denmark in the hurdles</p></blockquote>
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Thank you kind sir, or takk as they would say in Denmark! -
People complain about too many swimming events, but what about all these ridiculous cycling events. Hey lets follow an electric bike around for a couple of laps and then race for 10 seconds. What horseshit.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="605984" data-time="1471404869">
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<p>People complain about too many swimming events, but what about all these ridiculous cycling events. Hey lets follow an electric bike around for a couple of laps and then race for 10 seconds. What horseshit.</p>
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<p>There are 5 medals given out in track cycling for each gender. The nature of the track is that you can only have so many different events and they already had a big cut down before 2012. Brazil built a $62 million velodrome and there is only six days of competition.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="605974" data-time="1471402947">
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<p>What is your point? enlighten me</p>
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<p>From the above I deduced it was you find the swimming coverage tedious?</p>
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<p>So I suggest you change the channel to another sport if this is the case</p>
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<p>Confirmed. You missed my point.</p>
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<p>As I was saying, I don't think people hate swimming at the Olympics</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="605925" data-time="1471394565">
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<p>They didn't win medals in disciplines they aren't traditionally strong in though right. Traditionally strong means national interest, means funding. NZ Rugby is the beacon of this point! National funding per capita is probably the highest on the planet. Look at the medals gained by each of these countries:</p>
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<p>Georgia - Weighlifting, Judo, Wrestling</p>
<p>Kosovo - Judo</p>
<p>Vietnam - shooting (hmmm....)</p>
<p>Uzbekistan - Weighlifting, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling</p>
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<p>It is true that you would think they would at least have a shot at something, though. Although outside cricket and squash, I can't think of a sport where India has a really good track record.</p>
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<p>Culturally India has a strong tradition in bodybuilding. It's surprising that few of their bodybuilders have made the leap from there into serious weightlifting.</p>
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<p>Surely with a population that large you'd expect a few genetic freaks to appear who could be more than competitive on the world stage.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="605987" data-time="1471405258">
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<p>Confirmed. You missed my point.</p>
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<p>Well that's obvious considering I asked you this</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="605974" data-time="1471402947">
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<p>What is your point? enlighten me</p>
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<p>Why not just tell me what it is instead of being a Willis about it :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JC" data-cid="605988" data-time="1471405276"><p>
Culturally India has a strong tradition in bodybuilding. It's surprising that few of their bodybuilders have made the leap from there into serious weightlifting.<br><br>
Surely with a population that large you'd expect a few genetic freaks to appear who could be more than competitive on the world stage.</p></blockquote>
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Iirc they dominated weightlifting at the CG in Auckland in 1990. They then all got busted for using drugs. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="605989" data-time="1471405767"><p>
Well that's obvious considering I asked you this<br><br><br><br>
Why not just tell me what it is instead of being a Willis about it :)</p></blockquote>
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I am not sure he can spell it out any simpler than he already has. Hell, I even got the point. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="605993" data-time="1471406926">
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<p>I am not sure he can spell it out any simpler than he already has. Hell, I even got the point.</p>
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<p>He said people don't hate swimming but find it tedious yet now he is saying that that isn't his point?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="605993" data-time="1471406926">
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<p>I am not sure he can spell it out any simpler than he already has. Hell, I even got the point.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="605994" data-time="1471407197">
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<p>He said people don't hate swimming but find it tedious yet now he is saying that that isn't his point?</p>
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<p>You're obviously as thick as me Hydro, that's how I read it too.</p> -
I thought his point was he thought there were too many similar events leading to people being able to collect medals.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crazy Horse" data-cid="605996" data-time="1471407328">
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<p>I thought his point was he thought there were too many similar events leading to people being able to collect medals.</p>
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<p>All he has said is this:</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="605967" data-time="1471402163">
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<p>Dunno if it is hate. I think most enjoy it but the sheer repetition of similar events gets tedious.</p>
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<p>I don't think your conclusion of what he said follows from what he said.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="605986" data-time="1471405214">
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<p>There are 5 medals given out in track cycling for each gender. The nature of the track is that you can only have so many different events and they already had a big cut down before 2012. Brazil built a $62 million velodrome and there is only six days of competition.</p>
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<p>That's still a lot of medals for riding a bike vertically around in a cylinder while wearing something from the set of Star Wars. 62 million is ridiculous. They should fark that velodrome shit right off and send them outside. Time trials, road races, farking hill climbs would be much better than this space-aged wanky shit.</p> -
Oh well Mrs Crazy Horse is right. I am not as smart as I think I am. Although 'share repetition of events' is pretty similar to 'too many similar events' don't you think? I deserve a 50% pass at least I reckon.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="605986" data-time="1471405214">
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<p>There are 5 medals given out in track cycling for each gender. The nature of the track is that you can only have so many different events and they already had a big cut down before 2012. Brazil built a $62 million velodrome and there is only six days of competition.</p>
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<p>What a waste of money and Brazil will be in debt in perpetuity. Just wondering when different events will be farmed out to different countries every 4 years to limit the cost of hosting these money pits.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="606001" data-time="1471407906">
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<p>What a waste of money and Brazil will be in debt in perpetuity. Just wondering when different events will be farmed out to different countries every 4 years to limit the cost of hosting these money pits.</p>
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<p>They were in a shitload of trouble financially after FIFA WC. </p>
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<p>Here's Greece, 12 years on: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2014/aug/13/abandoned-athens-olympic-2004-venues-10-years-on-in-pictures'>https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2014/aug/13/abandoned-athens-olympic-2004-venues-10-years-on-in-pictures</a></p>
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<p>Softball anyone?</p>
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<p><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/8/13/1407945050442/4a454e6a-7537-4f44-b45d-9a8d40af7be7-2060x1361.jpeg?w=1010&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=60c8eaf1231c0c462092f0e7bad13622" alt="4a454e6a-7537-4f44-b45d-9a8d40af7be7-206"></p>
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<p>Admittedly, the hockey field has held up well - might show this to Mrs TA as proof we should astroturf the backyard :think:</p>
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<p><img src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/8/13/1407944936403/56bca6d4-3df7-4827-a2f2-c589e148b811-2060x1371.jpeg?w=1010&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=23043b31672e13e8dd819bcfef8fbe56" alt="56bca6d4-3df7-4827-a2f2-c589e148b811-206"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="605940" data-time="1471398074">
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<p>slow start, but those front two fucked off sharpish for the last lap. Not sure what your coverage was, but mine cut to the pom being overtaken in 3rd and missed the Kenyan's decisive move.</p>
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<p>I love the 1500</p>
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<p>I listened to it on the radio and the commentary asked the question about the cameras doing that.</p>
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<p>Seems a lot of angst about the limited coverage TVNZ and TV3 are allowed to play in the news segments due to the coverage Sky has.</p>
