The Olympic Games 2008 (sport topic)

[Albie]

It's not the competition or lack thereof I find boring with the Tour de France. Fact is, when it's on TV, it's literally hours of showing people riding their bikes. What's supposed to be interesting about that?

I have a friend at work - that actually records the Tour de France (and not just the highlights either).

Talking of the cycling, I must say it's a tad embarrassing at the dominance of the British team in the Track Cycling. out of 10 available golds, they got 7 of them and a total of 12 out of 30 medals overall. However, you have to hand it to them for getting it spot on for these games - and this is the result of a blueprint for British cycling that was started 15 years ago when they stated they wanted to be the best. Many millions of pounds (through lottery funding) later and there we have it.

The only problem we may have is that if they continue to dominate like this (as they did in the World Championships a few months back), the sport will become of little interest to anyone outside of the UK. Not every country will be able to a] have the interest to want to fund cycling in their own country in the first place, and b] have the funds available. It would be a shame though because we have eventually found something we are good at - only for everyone else to possibly loose interest in the sport.

 

[Onhell]

What I have noticed in every olympic is that overall medal (and gold medal) count usually coincides with political power/influence...

 

[Natalie]

I just wanted to say (I know I'm late with this) how impressed I am with the prestation of Michael Phelps in this Olympics, and that I'm really happy for the Jamaicans (man and woman) who won the 100 m dash. What Phelps has done is something that may never be repeated in my lifetime, so I'm glad to have experienced it.

 

[Albie]

What Phelps has done is something that may never be repeated in my lifetime, so I'm glad to have experienced it.

You say that, but it has happened twice in my lifetime thus far (OK, Spitz only won 7 gold medals, but only because he competed in 7 - had he had that 8th event, he may well have gotten all 8.

As for the 100 metres, I have to say that, for me, has to be one the greatest moments in Olympic history. God knows what time Bolt would have knocked up had he not slowed down with 10 metres to go. Absolutely brilliant.

And then we have Michael Johnson's reaction to it. Almost as good as the race itself.

 

[Forostar]

Talking of the cycling, I must say it's a tad embarrassing at the dominance of the British team in the Track Cycling.

Indeed. 

 

[Albie]

Indeed. 

And apparently the Australians have said that Team GB only win gold when they are sitting down. Which is quite funny.

 

[LooseCannon]

What's important is that Canada has won even more medals!  In such well known sports as coxed eights and show-jumping!

 

[Onhell]

From the one Canadian who doesn't care about Summer Olympics

 

[LooseCannon]

You Mexican't detect my sarcasm, I see.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I have a friend at work - that actually records the Tour de France (and not just the highlights either).

My fiancee and her whole family is so into Tour de France just like your friend at work.  The only thing that I find remotely interesting about Tour de France is the view of Champs d'Elysee and other natural and man-made sights.  Some crashes are also nice to see, especially if the cyclists bikes over a cliff and lose their bikes.  (Asshole Mode).  But this family obsession is great, as I can tape every game of Euro Cup or the World Cup and watch it if I want to as a compromise on TV time. 

As far as the current Olympics go, I only heard a little of it as I go about my daily business.  I'm just glad that Canada is finally winning some medals, so I don't have to hear jokes or arguments about Canada's lousy dedication to Olympic sports on my local radio.

---

What's important is that Canada has won even more medals!  In such well known sports as coxed eights and show-jumping!

Hey, no need for sarcasm.  It seems all Jamaicans have stayed in Jamaica this time around, so no Donovan Bailey for Canada in Beijing 2008, and leaving us to contend with less glamorous sports.

 

[Forostar]

I'm surprised that Canada didn't win more medals yet, for such a huge country. Are these the worst Olympic Games ever for Canada?  I guess some more will come though.

Current standings:

(gold, silver, bronze, total)

  1. China                44  14  19  77
  2. USA                  26  26  27  79
  3. Great Britain       16  10  10  36
  4. Russia               11  14  18  43
  5. Australia            11  12  12  35
  6. Germany            11   8   9  28
  7. South Korea        8  10   6  24
  8. Japan                 8   6   8  22
  9. Italy                  6   7   7  20
10. Ukraine              5   4   8  17
11. France               4  12  14  30
12. Netherlands        4   5   4  13
13. Romania             4   1   3   8
14. Spain                 3   4   2   9
15. Poland               3   4   1   8
16. New Zealand       3   1   5   9
17. Slovakia             3   1   0   4
18. Canada              2   6   5  13

 

[Perun]

Wooh, Germany has 11 gold medals. Yippideeh-Yeah.

 

[Natalie]

Both Austria and Sweden have had a shite Olympics. Oh well, like I care.




P.S. And not to mention Mexico .

 

[Shadow]

According to today's newspaper, Sweden hasn't done this bad since 1896. OH NO!!!11

I dislike the nationalistic aspect of the Olympics anyway. In fact, I'd like to see the participants enter the opening ceremony grouped by sport and not nationality. Never going to happen, but even so.

 

[Natalie]

When I see anything to do with running, jumping, all that, I remark on the merit of the individual and I hardly notice which country they're from...that's secondary whereas as what's really important is the individual prestation. That's why I almost prefer the Champions League to the Euro or World Cup (soccer), because it's not about nations.

 

[Forostar]

I'm an idealistic person but not this idealistic. International sport is the most innocent form of nationalism, especially olympic sports, so I disagree 200%.

But all this is more "feeling" than "ratio".

When it comes to sports I can be quite enthousiastic, and my country has some nice traditions in some disciplines, but I also like it when countries are suddenly good in specific sports.

E.g. these Olympics are the first to feature 100 m and 200 m with Jamaican winners.

Another example: The Dutch women are in the water polo final(!) which is excellent, and fairly new for me to experience. The final vs the USA is tomorrow and I am more interested in this than the Hockey final, where the Dutch ladies are the big favourites.

 

[Onhell]

Both Austria and Sweden have had a shite Olympics. Oh well, like I care.




P.S. And not to mention Mexico .

HEY! We won gold in Tae Kwan Do, which means not only will we jump your fences, we'll kick your ass too!

Seriously though, we have had a disapointing olympics.

As for the nationalism thing I agree with Foro. It's not just about being "into" sports, nothing wrong in being proud for your nation and support your countrymen who ultimately represent you at these events...

 

[Perun]

In what way do those people represent me?

 

[Forostar]

You are a difficult case (kidding mate ).

 

[Perun]

I know I am and I'm fucking proud of it