Rio-2016

If it was about skill more than physical prowess, and something where dedicated training for four years could make a difference, then what about Olympic darts, bake-off, painting and sheep shearing...?

Of course, all the present sports have different degrees of each attribute, strength, stamina, speed and skill, and everyone will have their own view as to whether it should be limited to personal prowess or team. At the end of the day of course there has to be a practical limit, but in my view it has gone too far (i.e too big). My unintended alliteration perhaps leads to a possible idea for sport qualification crteria: maybe to qualify as an Olympic sport at least 2 of the four Ss must be pushed absolutely to the limit.

As for BBC TV, my gripe is that without at least guideline scheduling on the channel info text or broadcast very frequently it is nigh-on impossible to get to see things I want to see without sitting through loads of things that don't hold the slightest interest with constant flicking between the channels, while it is ridiculous to sometimes have the same thing on two of the channels, even if it is for only for 10 minutes, particularly when some regions only receive those two channels.

Innocent Bystander posted:

I thought it was supposed to be all about personal physical prowess, which includes both stamina and strength, so in my book it is yes to athletics and gymnastics except team events, swimming, diving, canoeing, cycling except team events and tennis (singles). No to team sports including sailing, rowing and synchronised anything, golf and shooting.

Of course that's a personal view, but it does seem to me that for those who have put in every ounce of physical effort the medals are devalued by someone also receiving one for, say, dressage, and the event is getting so big and so much crammed in that even multi-channel TV can only cover a fraction, while stadia are more than half empty for most events (I accept that latter has other contributory factors)  and the cost to the host country increases with every different type if sport.

My filter is simpler. If it has to be judged, it's out. Timed, measured, weighed or even scored (just) are OK. Judged? Nope.

Sports that require almost constant referee intervention are also questionable. Water polo and race-"walking", I'm looking at you.

Omnium final race - Go Laura!

G

GraemeH posted:

Omnium final race - Go Laura!

G

Fingers Crossed. I enjoyed last night's performance in the heats. And the name of the sport is cool !

But I just can't get the idea out of my head that it's a bit like "musical chairs" with one dropping out each lap

Fantastic! Laura now the most successful British woman Olympian of all time! And her other half's on soon so the medal tally might increase still further!

Now Katy Marchant wins Bronze in her first ever Olympics! Great stuff - and it means that every single member of the GB Track Cycling team has won a medal!

Laura Trott for Queen. She is top of the top drawer

Dame Laura (and Sir Jason and Sir Chris) at least surely?

Go Jason!

G

Careful now!

INCREDIBLE ride from Kenny there!

Now that was tense!

Fantastic! And absolutely the right decision to let all the riders start on both occasions imho.

G

Couldn't catch them all, but the velodrome events I saw were great stuff - men's and women's. I especially liked the elimination race. Nice to see Cav finally earn an Olympic medal.

The highlight for me today was Canadian Derek Drouin's gold medal performance in the high jump.

I agree, the velodrome events made compelling watching.. fantastic stuff.. and congrats team GB.

Yep, tho Laura needs to drop the "I wasn't expecting that..." act now. We know she's good, she knows she's good. Looks like she's already planning a king & queen of cycling post competing career to me.

But she is my favourite!

JamieWednesday posted:

 Looks like she's already planning a king & queen of cycling post competing career to me.

And their kids will be born with legs so well developed they'll  be Olympic champions first event after they learn to ride a tricycle.

(I nearly suggested their sprogs will be born with cogs)

Innocent Bystander posted:

JamieWednesday posted:

 Looks like she's already planning a king & queen of cycling post competing career to me.

And their kids will be born with legs so well developed they'll  be Olympic champions first event after they learn to ride a tricycle.

(I nearly suggested their sprogs will be born with cogs)

...or worse - Bigears!

G

winkyincanada posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I thought it was supposed to be all about personal physical prowess, which includes both stamina and strength, so in my book it is yes to athletics and gymnastics except team events, swimming, diving, canoeing, cycling except team events and tennis (singles). No to team sports including sailing, rowing and synchronised anything, golf and shooting.

Of course that's a personal view, but it does seem to me that for those who have put in every ounce of physical effort the medals are devalued by someone also receiving one for, say, dressage, and the event is getting so big and so much crammed in that even multi-channel TV can only cover a fraction, while stadia are more than half empty for most events (I accept that latter has other contributory factors)  and the cost to the host country increases with every different type if sport.

My filter is simpler. If it has to be judged, it's out. Timed, measured, weighed or even scored (just) are OK. Judged? Nope.

Sports that require almost constant referee intervention are also questionable. Water polo and race-"walking", I'm looking at you.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37104949

Judging.....

winkyincanada posted:

winkyincanada posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I thought it was supposed to be all about personal physical prowess, which includes both stamina and strength, so in my book it is yes to athletics and gymnastics except team events, swimming, diving, canoeing, cycling except team events and tennis (singles). No to team sports including sailing, rowing and synchronised anything, golf and shooting.

Of course that's a personal view, but it does seem to me that for those who have put in every ounce of physical effort the medals are devalued by someone also receiving one for, say, dressage, and the event is getting so big and so much crammed in that even multi-channel TV can only cover a fraction, while stadia are more than half empty for most events (I accept that latter has other contributory factors)  and the cost to the host country increases with every different type if sport.

My filter is simpler. If it has to be judged, it's out. Timed, measured, weighed or even scored (just) are OK. Judged? Nope.

Sports that require almost constant referee intervention are also questionable. Water polo and race-"walking", I'm looking at you.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37104949

Judging.....

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37107450

And corruption. Add to this the rampant nationalism (if I hear another work colleague gush how "we" won another medal, I'm going to puke).  I'm so over these games.

Sports are competitions. Some have discrete outcomes that can be directly measured, but still have rules and boundaries, and referees are required for interpretation. Even in a straightforward contest like archery, referees have to make judgment calls for arrows on the line. There can be lane violations subject to judgment in a simple 100-m race, and interactions between cyclists on the track. The need for judgment increases from there, but doesn't make it less a sport or competition. Diving, gymnastics, etc., couldn't exist without judging, so if you don't care for it why watch it? The games and judging seem to have gotten a lot better since the Cold War days and the Iron Curtain.

Have to agree with Joe

This split into judged sports/non-judged sports is an arbitrary one. I'm sure that an experienced watcher of gymnastics or diving has a pretty sound idea of what is good and what is not. Equally judges have a role in the most apparently 'pure' sports-witness the men's Keirin final.

There is nothing wrong with patriotism at a basic level as long as it is positive. Sport means a lot more if you have an engagement with the team or competitor. Hence I get excited watching GB competitors do well, I also applaud great performances from others but they don't give me quite the same kick. Not terribly logical, but there you go.

As for Laura Trott appearing to be surprised by her victory-I think it was genuine. It appears to me that the cycling team did not have an ounce of complacency. Those expected to win did so, and won well. Those not expected to win still did well. Every member of that team won a medal-some statistic. A fairly ruthless training environment it may be but it sure seems to get athletes peaking when it matters.

Bruce

GraemeH posted:

Fantastic! And absolutely the right decision to let all the riders start on both occasions imho.

winkyincanada posted:

winkyincanada posted:

My filter is simpler. If it has to be judged, it's out. Timed, measured, weighed or even scored (just) are OK. Judged? Nope.

Sports that require almost constant referee intervention are also questionable. Water polo and race-"walking", I'm looking at you.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/37104949

Judging.....

Interesting how we are saying sports should be out if they are judged, yet the "judgement" of the officials was what kept Jason Kenny in that race.

I suspect they are going to need to re-word and tighten up some of the regulations in the Kiren... it was a bit of a farce though on the re-start (the second attempt I mean) the competitors were a bit stupid to push the rules when the first attempt had been stopped!

As for the boxing ... don't they always "send some judges home" at this point ... they need less for the semis and finals than they need to adjudicate on the earlier rounds.

I think the reference (not mine)to excluding sports that have to be judged was in relation to where the decision on score is inherently a matter of a judgement, as oppose to fatest, longest, highest etc , not judgement on possible infrigements. That of course would exclude all gymnastics, diving, etc. 

No mention of Andy Murray? His performance was my favourite.

Volleyball and field hockey have taken a great step forward by implementing the challenge system. Correct errors in judgment calls by use of video technology to get the calls "right". Takes little from the flow of the game and provides fairness to the competitors as well as the fans.