Olympics Thread
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<p> A few thoughts:</p>
<ul><li>Lisa Carrington sure lifts a dull day at work</li>
<li>Burling/Tuke well done you came to the party</li>
<li>Nick Willis an outside medal prospect</li>
<li>Hockey Chicks must be a fair chance for revenge<em> </em>against GB in the semi</li>
<li><em>Shit, Willis left it late </em></li>
<li>Are there any weightlifters who are clean</li>
<li>Mark Cavendish (GB cyclist who caused crash) has previous form, further taints cycling image</li>
<li>The main athletics stadium is <em>still </em>half-empty </li>
</ul> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="605884" data-time="1471384674">
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<p>What is the point of the keirin?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>The Japanese like it? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wiki tells me: <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A </span><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_News' title="BBC News">BBC News</a><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> investigation, reported in July 2008, found evidence that following admission into the Olympics, the </span><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Cycliste_Internationale' title="Union Cycliste Internationale">Union Cycliste Internationale</a><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> required (in writing) the </span><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JKA_Foundation' title="JKA Foundation">Japan Keirin Association</a><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> to support UCI projects in "material terms"; over a period of time the association subsequently gave US$3 million to UCI in consideration of "the excellent relationship the UCI has with representatives of the Olympic movement."</span><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;"> Four members of the governing body were subsequently arrested in Tokyo.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Still, it's better than the Madison, which is thankfully gone from the Olympics. Not as good as the kilo time trial though, which is also gone.</span></p> -
Not sure if anyone's been watching the boxing. It's the one sport Ireland have managed to get a few medals in previous Olympics. Not this time though. They've been abysmal this time round, albeit with some post-fight murmuring about quality of referees and judges from a few countries. <br><br>
It hit a high point today with the final boxer Michael Conlon losing his fight to a Russian fighter, Vladimir Nikitin. Conlan decided he wasn't happy with the verdict and has thrown the biggest hissy to any media that wants to listen (and they do). Everyone from refs, judges, the IABA and even Russian Premier, Putin have come into his firing line across various media including his Twitter account.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="https://mobile.twitter.com/mickconlan11/status/765587723457589248">https://mobile.twitter.com/mickconlan11/status/765587723457589248</a><br><br>
He didn't hold back in his TV interviews either - <a class="bbc_url" href="https://lovin.ie/entertainment/videos/video-michael-conlon-gave-this-explosive-expletive-laden-interview-after-he-was-robbed-in-rio">https://lovin.ie/entertainment/videos/video-michael-conlon-gave-this-explosive-expletive-laden-interview-after-he-was-robbed-in-rio</a><br><br><br>
Something tells me this will not go well for Conlan.... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="605879" data-time="1471383369">
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<p>The worst Olympic nation has to be India. 1.3 billion and not a single medal.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Not really. To go all statistical on you, olympic success is a two factor regression.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Populate</p>
<p>2. Money thrown at it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>GB has really stumped up the number 2 part, additional funding in the last 20 years is unreal. Fair play to them, they have a huge rivalry with Aus, and they were bloody sick of getting towelled by them!</p> -
<p>Totty of the day. Stina Troest of Denmark in the hurdles</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="605909" data-time="1471391473">
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<p>Is there any chance he's right?</p>
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<p>I'd say there's an extremely strong chance. Olympic boxing is a joke. At the 2012 games, there was a boxer who beat the crap out of his opponent, knocking him down five times and he still lost.</p> -
<p>ooooo the Aussie javelin thrower just dislocated her shoulder</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="605911" data-time="1471392276">
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<p>Not really. To go all statistical on you, olympic success is a two factor regression.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Populate</p>
<p>2. Money thrown at it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>GB has really stumped up the number 2 part, additional funding in the last 20 years is unreal. Fair play to them, they have a huge rivalry with Aus, and they were bloody sick of getting towelled by them!</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>That's true if you want to win big medals, but you can't say that's the case across all countries. Places like Georgia, Kosovo, Vietnam, Uzbekistan etc. have all won medals this games, and India hasn't even gotten close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's amazing they don't have one or two stars in any sport considering their population. Obviously there are genetic factors that influence sporting success - sounding like Eugenics but maybe the subcontinental genes just aren't the best for athletic success?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="605918" data-time="1471393464">
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<p>That's true if you want to win big medals, but you can't say that's the case across all countries. Places like Georgia, Kosovo, Vietnam, Uzbekistan etc. have all won medals this games, and India hasn't even gotten close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's amazing they don't have one or two stars in any sport considering their population. Obviously there are genetic factors that influence sporting success - sounding like Eugenics but maybe the subcontinental genes just aren't the best for athletic success?</p>
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<p>Wait until Kabbadi is introduced - well for a few Olympics anyway until the rest of the world catches up.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="605881" data-time="1471383499">
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<p>Tom Walsh also still a chance I think - heard Jacko Gill the other night saying he thinks Tom is going to win.</p>
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<p>To be fair Jacko GIll has become a bit of a dick in recent years so I'm not thinking this is a good recommendation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If all putters throw to their best, Walsh won't win - but he's close enough to be in the mix and is a real triumph for real strength over gym strength.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="605918" data-time="1471393464">
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<p>That's true if you want to win big medals, but you can't say that's the case across all countries. Places like Georgia, Kosovo, Vietnam, Uzbekistan etc. have all won medals this games, and India hasn't even gotten close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's amazing they don't have one or two stars in any sport considering their population. Obviously there are genetic factors that influence sporting success - sounding like Eugenics but maybe the subcontinental genes just aren't the best for athletic success?</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Could just be a cultural thing. We don't give a flying shit about the Winter Olympics in NZ, for example, and that translates to limited success in those sports.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="605918" data-time="1471393464">
<div>
<p>That's true if you want to win big medals, but you can't say that's the case across all countries. Places like Georgia, Kosovo, Vietnam, Uzbekistan etc. have all won medals this games, and India hasn't even gotten close.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's amazing they don't have one or two stars in any sport considering their population. Obviously there are genetic factors that influence sporting success - sounding like Eugenics but maybe the subcontinental genes just aren't the best for athletic success?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<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>
<p> </p>
<p>Georgia - Weighlifting, Judo, Wrestling</p>
<p>Kosovo - Judo</p>
<p>Vietnam - shooting (hmmm....)</p>
<p>Uzbekistan - Weighlifting, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling</p>
<p> </p>
<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> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="605916" data-time="1471392977"><p>I'd say there's an extremely strong chance. Olympic boxing is a joke. At the 2012 games, there was a boxer who beat the crap out of his opponent, knocking him down five times and he still lost.</p></blockquote>
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I'm not an expert on the sport so can only go by what other experts are saying. Irish boxing analysts think he was hard done by, as was Katie Taylor who has got serious credibility as multi-world champion winner in her weight. A couple of British boxing analysts thought he had a point too. <br><br>
But given one of the Irish boxers got pulled by his own Association for a suspected doping offence after he'd arrived in Rio, credibility is undermined somewhat with the team being tainted as sore losers/whiners. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="605925" data-time="1471394565">
<div>
<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>
<p> </p>
<p>Georgia - Weighlifting, Judo, Wrestling</p>
<p>Kosovo - Judo</p>
<p>Vietnam - shooting (hmmm....)</p>
<p>Uzbekistan - Weighlifting, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling</p>
<p> </p>
<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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</blockquote>
<p>Hockey?</p> -
<p>I've honestly always struggled with the Olympics having subjective sports. Diving, Synchronised Swimming etc where judges decide points etc.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fastest, Highest, Strongest was the original motto. I'm happy with that being extended to most goals / points etc. But highest score as decided by judges? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just doesn't sit right with me.</p> -
Jeez - just watched Irish runner, Thomas Barr, steam though his 400m hurdles semi-final to win it. The last time there was an Irish 400m finalist was 84 years ago. And he won the final. <br><br>
There's hope for us yet.
