Olympics Thread
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i saw this news this morning, laughed, and moved on.
I watch and care about so very little at the olympics already that it doesn't worry me. I watch the running (cross country would have been great) and the cycling, and very little else.
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@mariner4life said in Olympics Thread:
I watch and care about so very little at the olympics already that it doesn't worry me.
I'm with you on this. Drugs have completely farked it for me, I don't know who's clean and who's not, and testing sure as shit ain't picking up the cheats.
So I'm OK with not watching.
Also, in teh modern world you have regular meetings of teh world's best athletes. I far prefer a World Cup, where it builds over a few weeks to a final, and you get all the tension and spectacle of meaningful knockout matches.
Edit: except cricket ODI world cups. Those things hurt.
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@nzzp said in Olympics Thread:
@mariner4life said in Olympics Thread:
I watch and care about so very little at the olympics already that it doesn't worry me.
I'm with you on this. Drugs have completely farked it for me, I don't know who's clean and who's not, and testing sure as shit ain't picking up the cheats.
So I'm OK with not watching.
Also, in teh modern world you have regular meetings of teh world's best athletes. I far prefer a World Cup, where it builds over a few weeks to a final, and you get all the tension and spectacle of meaningful knockout matches.
actually teh drugs thing isn't even on my radar
my main gripe was the fact it became more and more of a nationalistic dick-waving contest, with more focus on medal tables than human achievement.
The Australian Free to Air coverage may have had a significant part to play in that. But little old NZ is not above it, especially when "per capita" and "per dollar spent" tables start coming out. Return on Investment is for my work, not my sport watching.
Piss off, i want to see someone run a record pace no matter where they are from. I want to watch Bolt win 12 straight golds in 12 events. fuck off swimming.
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Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
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@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
It's a team sport and the ref isn't handing out judgement on artistic flair as well as technical merit.
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
Like slow tennis?
I just don't understand why in the modern era we give a shit who doggy paddles the fastest.
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@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
100%!
Was really disappointed the Olympics was canned this year. It used to be difficult with one channel and having to endure Australia vs China in the basketball ffs, but now you can pick and choose your events. Being in Japan too means friendly time zone.I’ve always loved the swimming, even when I never swam myself. Being heavily involved with it now makes me truly appreciate how much devotion and sacrifice are required to even get to the Olympics, let alone win a medal.
Hopefully no more unpleasant surprises in 2021.
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@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
It's a team sport and the ref isn't handing out judgement on artistic flair as well as technical merit.
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
Like slow tennis?
I just don't understand why in the modern era we give a shit who doggy paddles the fastest.
So you'd also ban diving? Anything that awards points for style? That's all gymnastics. Figure skating at the Winter Games too?
I've never been to live tennis actually. The idea of watching 2 blokes slug it out for 5hrs never excited me, especially in Australian heat
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@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
I get that.
Having lived in the Netherlands for years as a teenager, I've seen quite a bit of ice speedskating. The 500m sprint is fun, but the long races are quite exciting to watch, too - once you understand a bit how building up a good 5km/10km race works (not dissimilar to running). For some, it's just some guys or gals skating big circles, but it's still one of my favourite sports of the Winter Olympics, along with downhill skiing, (grand) slalom and combined.
You won't see it in the Olympics, because Winter Olympics will never be held in the Netherlands, but the atmosphere at Thialf Ice Arena in Heerenveen is the best in the world. It's one big party!
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@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
It's a team sport and the ref isn't handing out judgement on artistic flair as well as technical merit.
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
Like slow tennis?
I just don't understand why in the modern era we give a shit who doggy paddles the fastest.
So you'd also ban diving? Anything that awards points for style? That's all gymnastics. Figure skating at the Winter Games too?
Yes. I simply don't value those as athletic achievements as I do people who can cover a set distance the fastest, jump the highest or fling themselves or something else the furthest.
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
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@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
It's a team sport and the ref isn't handing out judgement on artistic flair as well as technical merit.
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
Like slow tennis?
I just don't understand why in the modern era we give a shit who doggy paddles the fastest.
So you'd also ban diving? Anything that awards points for style? That's all gymnastics. Figure skating at the Winter Games too?
Yes. I simply don't value those as athletic achievements as I do people who can cover a set distance the fastest, jump the highest or fling themselves or something else the furthest.
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
I’m sorry but that last comment is the most ridiculous non-Winger thing I’ve ever read on TSF. Even Bradbury himself would give you a flick in the dick for that.
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@Stargazer said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
I get that.
Having lived in the Netherlands for years as a teenager, I've seen quite a bit of ice speedskating. The 500m sprint is fun, but the long races are quite exciting to watch, too - once you understand a bit how building up a good 5km/10km race works (not dissimilar to running). For some, it's just some guys or gals skating big circles, but it's still one of my favourite sports of the Winter Olympics, along with downhill skiing, (grand) slalom and combined.
You won't see it in the Olympics, because Winter Olympics will never be held in the Netherlands, but the atmosphere at Thialf Ice Arena in Heerenveen is the best in the world. It's one big party!
Ice skating in Holland is kind of like rugby in NZ isn’t it? A national obsession and ridiculously high expectations.
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@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
Shit, I love the Olympics. I choose to ignore the drugs, just pretend it doesn't happen. Same as for the TdF. Ignorance is bliss.
I love seeing these young kids achieve their dreams.
I'll watch a final of just about anything, I only draw the line at anything synchronised or any of the walking events.
I get the stupidity of a million swimming events, but no point whining about that, they've been here forever. I also don't want to see anything added where the Olympics isn't the pinnacle achievement of the sport. So bye bye rugby, tennis, any soccer events. Even basketball could bugger off.
Cant remove all judging, that would remove boxing, wrestling, all gymnastics, and in any case is a judge that different from a ref?
It's a team sport and the ref isn't handing out judgement on artistic flair as well as technical merit.
Edit: just with swimming, if you've never been to a live meet, its actually really fun. The atmosphere you can generate in that sweaty little arena is pretty cool, and with races so short, its constant entertainment
Like slow tennis?
I just don't understand why in the modern era we give a shit who doggy paddles the fastest.
So you'd also ban diving? Anything that awards points for style? That's all gymnastics. Figure skating at the Winter Games too?
Yes. I simply don't value those as athletic achievements as I do people who can cover a set distance the fastest, jump the highest or fling themselves or something else the furthest.
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
Leaving aside the ludicrous last comment, how can you not see the athletic achievement in sticking a landing on a double somersault with 3 fucking twists? Why on earth is throwing round ball of steel more impressive than that?
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@Rancid-Schnitzel Yep, ice speed skating is the most popular Winter sport, despite the fact that the last 3-4 decades, good quality natural ice is not always available (not cold enough). There are plenty of artificial ice arena's. Football is still no. 1 overall.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
I’m sorry but that last comment is the most ridiculous non-Winger thing I’ve ever read on TSF. Even Bradbury himself would give you a flick in the dick for that.
Correction. Phelps has won a single Olympic gold medal where he alone was the fastest over a distance: 200m freestyle. Paavo Nurmi and Carl Lewis are better Olympians.
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
Leaving aside the ludicrous last comment, how can you not see the athletic achievement in sticking a landing on a double somersault with 3 fucking twists? Why on earth is throwing round ball of steel more impressive than that?
Sure it's demanding and technical. It doesn't fit the Olympic motto and requires judgement beyond the technical. Have a World Gymnastics Championship.
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@antipodean couldn't disagree with you more. Stronger and higher have everything to do with gymnastics. The motto is not "stronger, higher, faster and 100% objectively assessed"
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@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
I’m sorry but that last comment is the most ridiculous non-Winger thing I’ve ever read on TSF. Even Bradbury himself would give you a flick in the dick for that.
Correction. Phelps has won a single Olympic gold medal where he alone was the fastest over a distance: 200m freestyle. Paavo Nurmi and Carl Lewis are better Olympians.
@voodoo said in Olympics Thread:
@antipodean said in Olympics Thread:
I put Steven Bradbury's medal above Michael Phelps'.
Leaving aside the ludicrous last comment, how can you not see the athletic achievement in sticking a landing on a double somersault with 3 fucking twists? Why on earth is throwing round ball of steel more impressive than that?
Sure it's demanding and technical. It doesn't fit the Olympic motto and requires judgement beyond the technical. Have a World Gymnastics Championship.
So relays and any team sports don’t count? And if apparently the fastest means of getting from A to B is the only thing that deserves recognition, what about hurdles? Different weight classes in lifting and wrestling?
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Well if you're a midget that presses only 80kg, why should you get the same medal as someone who can do triple that?
At least with hurdles regardless of how many,how high or the distance covered, the first person to cross the line is still first.
People complain about the cost of hosting Olympics, my solution drastically alters that.
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Another Fern thread turns rapidly into 'grumpy old men'.
I love the Olympics, and I'll watch pretty much everything. I just enjoy watching the best in the world competing against one another, no matter what that may be.
I cringe a little at the addition of breakdancing and competitive climbing, but you know what? I'll probably watch it and I reckon I'll get into it too. By the end I'll be an expert - "ahh yes Finland have such a great pipeline of breakdancing talent, no surprise to see them dominate the medals".
I can't wait for Tokyo, also because of the advances of TV coverage. As Rancid said, you don't have to sit through swimming heats or early round hockey games, I can watch the obscure finals like the 10m air pistol or the team fencing.
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I like the olympics, still, but it is too big. Adding more sports just makes me like it a bit less.
I like the diving and gymnastics. Especially now I have a girl dominated house.
Athletics is my absolute favourite, though.
Swimming, I do find myself feeling resentment at the confetti medals that other athletes aren't favoured with. Rather than radiating warmth to them via my my tv.
I'm a traditionalist though, so I like the traditional sports, but yeah ... I watched BMX when we had medal chances .....
It is good now with the multi-channels so I don't have sit through TVNZ assuming I care about an NZ womens football or basketball group match.
Of the team sports - only interested in hockey, basketball, volleyball.
