Olympics Thread

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="595578" data-time="1468074301">KTN did seem a little scathing of the environment though. There must be something in it other than Baker's sour grapes. Add to that some questionable selections and poor performances, suggests all is not well IMO.</blockquote>
I have complete faith in Titch. If there were players who were openly questioning his authority than I don't have a problem with them getting the shepherds crook.

Frye

Haha great story. 
Chur chur to the guy next to him as well.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="595578" data-time="1468074301">KTN did seem a little scathing of the environment though. There must be something in it other than Baker's sour grapes. Add to that some questionable selections and poor performances, suggests all is not well IMO.</blockquote>
 
Why has this not surfaced before then? I doubt Titch would be changing a great deal of his tried and tested in his quest for gold, so I expect the other factor is the players, has Messam said anything in his whinge about missing out?

Mokey

I was rather meh about Rio, especially with all the shitty stories coming from there, and athletes withdrawing. But yesterday Youtube happened to suggest some sport vids, and I watched Jack Lovelock 1500m, Peter Snell 800/1500 double and the men's eight in 72. And I got the rah rah feeling.
 
So bring it on, world.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="595578" data-time="1468074301">
<div>
KTN did seem a little scathing of the environment though. There must be something in it other than Baker's sour grapes. Add to that some questionable selections and poor performances, suggests all is not well IMO.
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</blockquote>
Te Nana isn't in the environment and it appears from the Titch conversation isn't aware of how some 15s players are available for the 7s team.
 
Baker is a goose, you only need to look at his idiocy on the field to see good reasons for his exclusion and why he's a risk for the team.
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="595591" data-time="1468095874">
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Why has this not surfaced before then? I doubt Titch would be changing a great deal of his tried and tested in his quest for gold, so I expect the other factor is the players, has Messam said anything in his whinge about missing out?
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</blockquote>
When did Messam have a whinge?

taniwharugby

he hasnt (as far as I know) which is the point I was making...

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="595651" data-time="1468109096">
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he hasnt (as far as I know) which is the point I was making...
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Neither has anyone else as far as I can remember, and Titch has been at it for decades. The weight of numbers are in his favour

booboo

<a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11676547">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11676547</a> <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 Bookies favour Kiwis with gold medal odds 
Eric Murray and Hamish Bond of New Zealand celebrate in their gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics. 
By Sam Hewat 
The bookies have found favour with several New Zealand athletes heading to Rio, with odds firmly on some of our Olympic favourites. 
Hamish Bond and Eric Murray top the list with odds of just 1.02 euros at Irish bookermaker Paddy Power for them to back up their London gold medal in the coxless pair. 
Lisa Carrington closely follows with odds on her to win the Women's K1 200m at 1.16. 
Despite being the favourite in the K1 500m as well, Carrington's odds for the longer form are much more profitable at 3.00. 
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke go for 1.33 in the Men's 49er Sailing. Considering they only just lost their first race in four years last week, there is money to be made with the next best competitor coming in at 4.00. 
Next down the list is the Men's Sprint Team Cycling who are favourites to gain gold at 1.40. France is the next best at 4.50. 
London gold medallist, Mahe Drysdale, is at 1.57 to win the Men's Single Sculls while Valerie Adams is the favourite in the Women's Shot Put at 1.80. 
After that, the odds push out a lot further. 
The more risky punters will be looking to cash in on some of our outside hopefuls. 
The Men's Sevens team is paying at 3.50 and the Womens at 3.00. 
Tom Walsh is paying a whopping 9.00 in the Men's Shot Put while Lauren Boyle is second favourite in the Women's 800m Freestyle at 15.00. 
If the favourite, Katie Ledecky from the United States, should happen to false start or blow a fuse, betters could land huge money from a bet on Boyle. 
Some have also predicted Zoe Stevenson and Eve Macfarlane to win gold in the Women's Double Sculls, and they are currently paying 4.00. 
In any case, New Zealand can expect a number of medals; gold, silver and bronze. 
All odds are in Euro currency </blockquote>
Not sure how odds can be in Euros ...

dK

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="597958" data-time="1468864478"><a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11676547">http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11676547</a> 
Not sure how odds can be in Euros ...</blockquote>
Paddy power = Ireland = Euro

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dK" data-cid="597967" data-time="1468875299">
Paddy power = Ireland = Euro</blockquote>
Agree with Booboo. Decimals odds are currency agnostic. If the odds are 1.16 than you receive 0.16 (extra) units for every unit invested. 
Specifying the currency at the end of the article is gobbledygook.

booboo

Odds are odds. They're a ratio not a monetary unit. Throw away cooment really and not important in the context of the story. Was more interested in likely/possible NZ medallists.

dogmeat

Both Gracenote and Luciana Barra had predicted NZ to finish 10th on the Gold Medal table with 8 and 10 respectively, although Gracenotes lasts update has us dropping one gold but still gathering a record 25 in total (7 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze).
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.gracenote.com/gracenote-refreshes-2016-olympic-medal-predictions-30-days-opening-ceremonies/'>http://www.gracenote.com/gracenote-refreshes-2016-olympic-medal-predictions-30-days-opening-ceremonies/â€‹</a>
 
Predicted medallists at olympicmedalsprediction.com
 
<a class="bbc_url" href="https://postimg.org/image/envxcrfqf/"><img src="https://s31.postimg.org/envxcrfqf/Medals.jpg" alt="Medals.jpg"></a>
â€‹

dogmeat

None of the predictions factor out the dirty cheating Russkies.
 
We predictably win most of our medals sitting down.

booboo

8 golds would be astonishing. With or without the Russkies. That's getting to the realms of fantasy. 
Hell 6 in Lodnod was amazing. By far the most we had ever won (double previous best I think) excluding the LA boycott. 
I do think that 3 is not only our most golds but also par for the course. 
Off the top of my head: 
London 6 
Beijing 3 
Athens 3 
Sydney 1 
Atlanta 3 
Barcelona... 1??? 
Seoul 3 
LA 8 
Montreal ... 2 (Walker, Hockey) ... or 3 ... ? Dunno 
Munich ... now I'm struggling ... more ... Eights plus? 
Will have to go the Google

booboo

... from above ... 
Montreal 2 
Munich 1 
Mexico City 1 
Tokyo 3 
Rome 2 
Melbourne 2 
Helsinki 1 
Berlin 1 
Amsterdam 1 
Stockholm 1 (kind of ... as a member of the Australasian swim relay)

booboo

And only one in Barcelona confirmed (Barb Kendall)

JC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="598003" data-time="1468886954">
<div>
Both Gracenote and Luciana Barra had predicted NZ to finish 10th on the Gold Medal table with 8 and 10 respectively, although Gracenotes lasts update has us dropping one gold but still gathering a record 25 in total (7 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze).
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.gracenote.com/gracenote-refreshes-2016-olympic-medal-predictions-30-days-opening-ceremonies/'>http://www.gracenote.com/gracenote-refreshes-2016-olympic-medal-predictions-30-days-opening-ceremonies/â€‹</a>
 
Predicted medallists at olympicmedalsprediction.com
 
<a class="bbc_url" href="https://postimg.org/image/envxcrfqf/"><img src="https://s31.postimg.org/envxcrfqf/Medals.jpg" alt="Medals.jpg"></a>
â€‹
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</blockquote>
No love for Val Adams in that list? Surely she's odds on for a medal, if not a Gold.

mariner4life

This Olympics is probably going to be the worst ever. 
 
I read a story in the paper today with a couple of the Aussie sailors. They have been out practicing on teh course, and while the sewerage has been cleaned up, they reckon they have to stop their boat a couple of times a session to clean the rubbish off their foils. And they are constantly at risk of hitting something big enough to hole them. 
 
Rio was an appalling choice.

Smudge

No NZ-based Fairfax or NZ Herald journos attending the Olympics.
 
<div style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);"><a class="" href="https://twitter.com/mark_geenty">Mark Geenty â€@mark_geenty </a> <a class="" href="

" title="5:22 PM - 20 Jul 2016">1h1 hour ago</a></div>
<div style="color:rgb(41,47,51);font-family:Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(245,248,250);">
Yes, it's true. Eight-strong NZ-based Fairfax team told this morning our accreditation for Rio has been withdrawn over dispute with Sky.
 
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<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/mark_geenty'>https://twitter.com/mark_geenty</a>
 
Update: Herald pulls out of Rio due to Sky TV fight 
<div> </div>
<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/tmurphyNZ'>https://twitter.com/tmurphyNZ</a></div>
 
 
Background here.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://thespinoff.co.nz/featured/18-07-2016/the-war-for-the-olympics-skys-secret-plan-to-control-other-media-covering-rio/'>http://thespinoff.co.nz/featured/18-07-2016/the-war-for-the-olympics-skys-secret-plan-to-control-other-media-covering-rio/</a>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
The conditions have led to a heated behind-the-scenes media fight which could affect how much Games coverage you can watch on your mobile or computer. Most troublingly, some of the disputed points are contained in the News Access Rules â€“ if journalists donâ€™t sign up they cannot be accredited as media for the games. Meaning that Sky is attempting to use its position as rights holder to circumvent New Zealand copyright law and deny other organisationsâ€™ journalists access to the games if they donâ€™t agree to its demands.
The fight reaches a critical deadline today, and if there is no progress from Sky, there has been talk within both of the NZME and Fairfax of retaliating by sending vastly scaled back teams to the games, and it remains a very real possibility that one or both organisations might respond in this way.
The long wrangle has even extended to whether general media wanting to use Skyâ€™s footage can air criticism of Sky TV commentators and if they can make Gifs of Olympic moments. Sky argues it â€˜paid dearlyâ€™ for the rights and the conditions offered to others in New Zealand are the same or better than overseas.
At one point there were moves to stop competitors showing Olympic video clips for three hours after events. Itâ€™s understood the delay now would still be 40 minutes. There are fears in media circles that the restrictions, if accepted, would be used to attempt to reduce the amount of video coverage of other top sports going forward.
</blockquote>
 
 
As someone who still loves READING stories, this is a genuine shame.

Smudge

NZ Herald's take on it. 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
The New Zealand Herald has withdrawn its reporting team from the Rio Olympics after failing to secure an agreement with Sky Television over use of Games footage on its news website. 
NZME Managing Editor Shayne Currie today confirmed the Herald has informed the New Zealand Olympic Committee of its decision which follows similar action taken by Fairfax Media last night. Neither organisation will now send reporters, photographers and videographers to Rio but will still cover the Games. 
Currie said "unduly restrictive" conditions imposed by Sky, who have purchased New Zealand broadcasting rights for the Games from the International Olympic Committee, had driven the decision.
"This has been a difficult decision but ultimately we cannot accept what we view as unduly restrictive and unnecessary News Access Rules as proposed by the New Zealand rights holder, Sky Television," Currie said. "These do not allow for fair-use of copyright material in accordance with the New Zealand Copyright Act and have the potential to impact heavily on our ability to cover the Games in a fair and meaningful way.
"We also believe that they run counter to the Olympic charter. As a result, NZME Publishing - publisher of New Zealand's biggest newspaper, the NZ Herald; one of the two largest New Zealand news websites, nzherald.co.nz; and five regional daily newspapers - will no longer be sending a team of journalists to Rio.
"Through our syndicated agencies and partnerships, plus with our award-winning sports journalists in New Zealand, we will be doing our utmost to provide the best Games coverage possible."
Fairfax confirmed a similar position with executive editor Sinead Boucher saying the conditions Sky had sought to impose around Games footage were "unprecedented".
Boucher said that the rules, as first presented, seemed designed to prevent other media from covering the Games to the level they had in the past. She added that Sky's actions were contrary to the public's interests when so much taxpayer money was directed towards the Olympics and the Games itself is a major news event.
"We are being asked to waive our rights to fair dealing under the Copyright Act," she said.
Rules that were suggested but since have been negotiated away included a requirement that news websites delay any news video highlights by three hours and to not criticise Sky's commentary. Under New Zealand copyright law, media organisations are legally allowed to provide news coverage under "fair dealing" which includes delayed video news footage of events.
Sky offered several options to media organisations in an effort to solve the impasse but Currie said that ultimately NZME was not able to reach agreement with the pay TV network.
Media organisations have been frustrated by Sky trying to not only introduce delays around when footage could be viewed on news websites but also restrictions on how they are presented and the volume of content. Having to present the footage as "news bulletins" which could only be updated as little as twice a day had been another problem area.
The media industry is also believed to be upset with the NZOC's role in the discussions, believing they should not have to negotiate access to the Olympics with a commercial rival in Sky. 
"It's pretty disappointing for Kiwis in that the news coverage won't be what it could have been," Sky TV spokeswoman Kirsty Way told Newshub.
 
"Sky stands by its news access rules that they're the most generous in the whole world and have been acceptable worldwide, but apparently they're not acceptable to our news agencies in New Zealand."
</blockquote>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11678777'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11678777</a>

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread