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Fro
June 6th, 2016, 1:20 PM
Dates: August 5 - August 21, 2016

So I figured we could get a thread going on this as we approach the games. Some topics of note:



Zika virus concerns - some athletes are dropping out due to this and some scientists worry that the attendance of 500,000 international visitors could cause the virus to spread to other countries and create a global catastrophe. So hopefully that doesn't happen.
Sanitation - there's a lot of poop and sewage in the waters where some of the aquatic events will be held.
Crime - Brazil has some of the highest violent crime rates in the world. In Rio, favelas — slums typically ruled by drug lords and rife with gangs — climb the hillsides and sprawl beside wealthy neighborhoods. The proximity of so much poverty with so much wealth has created an environment ripe for robbery, assault, and murder. The athletes should be fine but it wouldn't be surprising if some of the fans/spectators end up being victimized.
Golf returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904. Too bad they missed the whole Tiger Woods craze but this should be cool.
Basketball - Steph Curry just announced he will not play in order to rehab his knee injury he suffered earlier in the playoffs. Too bad since he's the most electric player in the sport currently. Pau Gasol is a notable player who will not play for Spain due to the Zika concerns. The USA is expected to announce their final roster later this month.


Any events or athletes you're looking forward to? How will your country fare? Does anyone really care about this stuff like we used to back in the cold war era? Discuss.

Percussion
June 6th, 2016, 1:36 PM
Still love the Olympics.

Looking forward to Usain's Olympic swan song. Triple three-peat would be unreal.

Wouldn't blame a single athlete for not competing, as all the concerns seem quite nasty.

My country will win, again. :D

LOCONUT
June 6th, 2016, 1:56 PM
They should just have the games in Fallujah.

MTR
June 6th, 2016, 1:58 PM
I am looking forward to watching as much as I can. I will pretty much watch anything honestly. Love it all.

Most forward to watching the taekwondo matches though. Just because that is my daughter's sport of choice and she just recently worked out with one of the Americans competing.

MikeHunt
June 6th, 2016, 4:54 PM
is there a playstation game coming out for this?

hopefully rory mcilroy goes and gets the dreaded zika and dies.

Simmo Fortyone
June 6th, 2016, 7:17 PM
I'll probably watch an insane amount of random sports like I always end up doing.

The Aussie swim team is full of absolute cockheads. I hope they all lose by a lot.

Kneeneighbor
June 8th, 2016, 12:12 PM
Summer Olympics don't do a lot for me. There are not a lot of sports I truly enjoy that are apart of it.

Tyson
June 8th, 2016, 11:17 PM
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar thinks the 2016 Brazil Summer Olympics are going to be a shit show...

Fro
June 21st, 2016, 9:04 PM
A couple interesting stories coming out of Rio today:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/06/17/09/356440A300000578-3646384-image-m-37_1466153400483.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozm3Ia6DcZ0


A shooter takes aim at a line of unsuspecting cars filing along the main road into Rio de Janeiro in a scene that should terrify every athlete and visitor to the Olympics this summer. The road is the Red Line, Rio's main highway and the only route into Brazil's Olympic city along which will every sports fan, athletics delegation and foreign dignitary will travel to get to the mega-event. The 13-mile express way runs from Rio's international airport into the city, and is in the most part lined with sprawling favela shanty towns which are dangerous no-go zones controlled by heavily-armed drugs gangs. With just seven weeks to go before the Olympic party kicks off, the image - posted by bragging bandits on social media yesterday - shows that, despite promises to clean up the city's crime-ridden slums, gangsters appear to be still firmly in control.
Experts expressed amazement at how the gangs could get hold of what appears to be an AR-15 gun, complete with a state-of-the-art holographic sight, which even the Brazilian army don't possess.

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20160621&t=2&i=1142283109&w=400&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&sq=&r=LYNXNPEC5K1MA


The jaguar was trotted out during an Olympic torch event in Brazil, where the official team mascot is named Ginga, a smiling, yellow jaguar.But the appearance at a zoo attached to a Manaus military compound did not end well for the jaguar: A soldier shot the animal after it escaped from its handlers, according to a Brazilian army statement. The jaguar was first tranquilized and then approached a soldier, after which it was shot, the Amazon Military Command said.

“We guarantee that there will be no more such incidents at Rio 2016,” the local organizing Olympic committee said in a statement, according to Reuters.

“We made a mistake in permitting the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and unity, to be exhibited alongside a chained wild animal,” the group said. “This image goes against our beliefs and our values.” The incident comes not just at a time of heightened scrutiny over the upcoming Olympic games in Rio, but also on incidents in which animals were killed after human interaction.

:scared:

Fro
June 22nd, 2016, 9:28 AM
Rory McIlroy has pulled out of the Olympics due to Zika concerns. "Even though the risk of infection is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take. I trust the Irish people will understand my decision."

Fro
June 26th, 2016, 2:20 PM
Lebron dropped out. Here's the final USA basketball roster:

G-Kyrie Irving
G-Kyle Lowry
G-Jimmy Butler
G-DeMar DeRozan
G-Klay Thompson
F-Kevin Durant
F-Carmelo Anthony
F-Harrison Barnes
F-Paul George
F-Draymond Green
C-DeMarcus Cousins
C-DeAndre Jordan

If I had to pick a starting lineup I would go Kyrie-Klay-Durant-PG-DeAndre

Fro
June 29th, 2016, 2:48 PM
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/3E8E/production/_90141061_welcometohell.jpg

this is really not what you want to see when you get off an international flight. effective though, I think these are union protesters and this was a great idea to get some internet buzz for their cause.

Tyson
June 29th, 2016, 11:15 PM
Going to be an absolute shit show...

_me
June 29th, 2016, 11:26 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/29/rio-de-janeiro-mutilated-body-beach-olympics-volleyball?CMP=twt_b-gdnnews

Mr. Boombastic
June 30th, 2016, 7:56 AM
Am I crazy or do these "Olympic city is not prepared for the games" stories pop up during every almost every Olympics the last 15 years or so. It seems this year they have been playing this up more than in previous years, but seriously I can remember this being a news story for Sochi in 2014, China in 2008, and Greece in 2004 and even to a lesser extent London in 2012 and Salt Lake City in 2002 (mostly because it was just a few months after 9/11). I guess we will see how things play out, but its seriously not anything new.

Bandit
July 1st, 2016, 10:10 PM
The recurring storyline of the olympics being held in a location that doesn't appear capable of hosting is certainly not new. But Rio in 2016 definitely seems to be in a completely different spectrum from the aforementioned cities in terms of potential danger of the athletes as opposed to the city/country just being unfit/unprepared to handle such a large-scale event.

For every athlete that cites Zika concerns as the reason for dropping out, I'm instead just envisioning a general
https://m.popkey.co/492f3a/4V4ax.gif

Hero!
July 27th, 2016, 10:45 AM
http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/channel-nine-crew-in-rio-mugging-scare/news-story/415358896b57ccc62fa1c0c4c54c00c3

Just a snippet:


A CHANNEL Nine crew had a lucky escape after almost being robbed of their camera gear by a group of transvestites along Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach.

Percussion
July 27th, 2016, 1:21 PM
Alex Cuadros ‏@alexcuadros · Jul 26 (https://twitter.com/alexcuadros/status/757940078442315776)


Rio cocaine dealers now using the Olympic logo, plus the warning "don't use near children," which is very thoughtful

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoS-Ut9W8AIwXeK.jpg

That's the Olympic spirit...

Fro
July 27th, 2016, 9:10 PM
I know they do it everytime but it's crazy how they deliver like 400,000 condoms for the athletes to use. I mean good on them for promoting safe sex but the number seems excessive.

Hero!
July 28th, 2016, 12:02 PM
http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/rio-2016-olympic-athletes-told-to-keep-your-mouth-closed-when-in-contaminated-water/news-story/45e6ae4643f4dbd4001281f669b898c1

The athletes are being told to keep their mouths shut when in the river, as the water is contaminated

Mr McGregor
August 5th, 2016, 9:17 AM
But aside from all spectators, athletes, workers, local residents, journalists, protestors, and ambassadors potentially being infected, robbed, kidnapped, injured, or murdered, along with the crumbling, unsanitary living quarters, the venues falling apart, the human rights abuses, the organisers losing the keys, and the torch being extinguished or dropped through attempts to steal it, it's not looking too bad.

Don't really follow the swimming or diving, but I like that they've moved it back outside this year. Really fond memories of Barcelona '92 with the backdrop of the entire city preceding every dive, it just looked really very cool while also a little bit like they were all systematically committing suicide.

https://www.rit.edu/news/lib/filelib/201106/diver.jpg

They won't have that in Rio I realise.

Probably the only sports I won't be tuning in to are the equestrian events, archery, shooting, and soccer. Always look forward to the athletics and gymnastics particularly, but it's always fun to see sports like beach volleyball, tae kwon do, and field hockey, for example, on the big stage. Lots of late nights ahead.

Fro
August 5th, 2016, 9:47 AM
Team USA Basketball decided to stay on a giant decked-out yacht instead of in Olympic village. Good call.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-57a24076/turbine/ct-team-usa-basketball-olympics-cruise-ship-20-001/750/750x422

Beefy
August 5th, 2016, 9:55 AM
All the predictions of doom and gloom were there for the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, which passed off relatively incident-free.

London 2012 was probably the most amazing sporting event I've ever witnessed and hopefully Rio gets as much out of it as we did.

I'm all about the Handball this time around. What a sport. Are BBC showing everything on the app?

Mr McGregor
August 5th, 2016, 10:09 AM
Are BBC showing everything on the app?

Well, they claim to have "a live stream for every sport and every session", but that they'll only be "broadcasting up to 24 streams concurrently" which doesn't seem consistent. Easily plenty to find something to watch though.

And yeah, it was predicted that London would be a shitstorm as well, that they didn't have the infrastructure etc. Turned out great.

I think I still prefer Beijing though.

G-Fresh
August 5th, 2016, 10:17 AM
I prefer Eric Rudolph.

Percussion
August 5th, 2016, 1:39 PM
So the problems in Rio have officially jumped the shark ...

Rio officials lose keys to Olympic Stadium (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rio-officials-lose-keys-to-olympic-stadium-080908840.html)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SEdURjU45Y

Fro
August 6th, 2016, 3:19 PM
Does anyone actually watch the opening ceremony of these things? I watched the first 5 minutes but they're soooo long.

USA Men's basketball plays China at 6pm US Eastern time so I'm gonna tune in for that

Chris Scott
August 6th, 2016, 4:19 PM
Nah don't think anyone does, I watched first half an hour and turned it off. I'll be watching the BB tonight as well.

MikeHunt
August 6th, 2016, 4:27 PM
The refugee athletes enterance and reception would bring a tear to a glass eye. beautiful.

Mr McGregor
August 7th, 2016, 5:34 AM
Felt like I was really hyped about the opening before the time, but once it started I became hugely cynical and couldn't see the relevance of anything. Was expecting greatness, instead it was "oh, you've done a puppet that takes 15 volunteers to drag across the floor". And there's something about seeing a bunch of jaunty angled baseball caps on one-too-many, not-relevant-to-anything hip-hop dancers at these things that makes me hit peak sarcasm and everything has to go off. These twats show up at every opening ceremony, whatever and wherever it is, and nobody knows why.

Did anyone see any fun sportingness yesterday? I'm a tad put-off by the gymnastics so far having witnessed two pretty awful wrestling-inspired injuries within a few minutes of each other - a German guy twisted his knee Seth Rollins style finishing a tumble on the floor, and then minutes later on vault we got to see a French guy snap and hold up his dangling fib/tib for way longer than necessary, Sid Justice style. Nasty enough to make it's way onto LiveLeak, wouldn't be surprised if there's some fault with the equipment like in Sydney. Not eager to see any more right now.

Mik
August 7th, 2016, 5:49 AM
Miserable fucker. This is the olympics. It's weeks of wall to wall sport. I was watching some cycling, swimming, table tennis, hockey, football and gymnastics last night, it was great.

Women hockey players all look tremendous.

Percussion
August 7th, 2016, 9:16 AM
Did anyone see any fun sportingness yesterday?

I was made aware of the fact that Marisa Dick of Trinidad created a new move earlier in the year that will be newly and officially part of the code of points at this years Olympics. Per tradition the move will be named for it's creator.

Here's ... the Dick Move

https://media.giphy.com/media/YqYCUqRzYk9oc/giphy.gif

Mr McGregor
August 7th, 2016, 10:35 AM
Incredible. Pure magnificence. Everything about it.

G-Fresh
August 7th, 2016, 10:40 AM
I can do that, but I don't wanna crush muh ballz.

Percussion
August 7th, 2016, 10:08 PM
With all due respect to Adam Peaty being a mermaid (merman?) in the water, watching Cody Miller's reaction to winning a bronze in the same race was just great. Guy knew he had no chance to win (against a merman and all) and just wanted to celebrate like mad making a lifetime accomplishment medaling in the Olympics. Cheers to both men there.

Percussion
August 7th, 2016, 10:50 PM
https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13901519_1046355122139008_8116536699679954697_n.jp g?oh=cd66c790c6f435133a4b956c2a4a5374&oe=581810D1

:boink:

Kneeneighbor
August 9th, 2016, 6:17 PM
Spain, who many thought was the second best basketball team behind the US lost again today and are 0-2 in pool play.

Fro
August 9th, 2016, 6:19 PM
I like how ping pong is an Olympic sport. it would be cool to be a competitive ping pong player but can you call yourself an athlete?

They should also add billiards and foosball

Mik
August 9th, 2016, 6:22 PM
Well ping pong isn't athletics though. But would you say it was a less athletic sport than say shooting?

Fro
August 9th, 2016, 6:36 PM
Ping pong is more athletic than shooting (you can get a workout playing ping pong tbh) but isn't shooting part of a triathalon where you also have to cross country ski and climb a tree and build a snowman or something

Kneeneighbor
August 9th, 2016, 6:38 PM
America's first win came in 10 m Air Rifle. No snowman building there.

Mik
August 9th, 2016, 6:39 PM
Nah shooting is an Olympic sport of its all. You're thinking Paralympic I think.

I play quite a bit of table tennis. A good game can actually be pretty knackering. Not like a game of football, but just in a totally different way.

Fro
August 9th, 2016, 6:47 PM
There's some winter event that combines riflery and cross country skiing, I'm pretty sure. I don't think shooting by itself should be an Olympic sport. Archery at least takes physical strength. Shooting is just aiming and yes that's a skill but it's not an athletic skill. Might as well throw on rocket launcher shooting and drone strikes.

I too love a good game of ping pong

Mik
August 9th, 2016, 7:06 PM
Sorry, I meant Winter Olympics, not Paralympics.

Pablo Diablo
August 9th, 2016, 8:24 PM
Biathlon

Percussion
August 9th, 2016, 11:40 PM
Beginning to doubt Simone Biles' humanity. Just, wow.

Percussion
August 10th, 2016, 12:36 AM
Congrats to Travis Stevens for taking a judo silver. First with great back to back pins to get to the semis. Then got a huge submission win over the world no 1 there before looking strong in the final itself only to be cleverly caught off balance and finally stopped. Sure he's gutted to lose in the final like that, but hopefully this very very impressive run will sink in soon and he can enjoy as he deservedly should.

Mik
August 10th, 2016, 5:13 AM
Judo is the craziest sport. All that training for four years and then it can literally all be over in 5 seconds.

Mr McGregor
August 10th, 2016, 6:15 AM
Beginning to doubt Simone Biles' humanity. Just, wow.

Right? I could not comprehend the direction in which she landed some of her tumbles, you only realise she's added twists after several seconds of rationalising it, and by then she's already done another one. Unbelievable. Haven't seen any of her A-bar or vaulting yet, if she performs those. Looking forward to it.

Apparently the diving pool turning green is no biggie/perfectly safe. Makes me thirsty for Slurm.

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.12155324.1470795726!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_960/image.jpg

Peter Griffin
August 10th, 2016, 6:47 AM
Biathlon

I used to suck so hard at that on Lillehammer 94 for mega drive :happysad:

Dave
August 10th, 2016, 9:19 AM
There's some winter event that combines riflery and cross country skiing, I'm pretty sure. I don't think shooting by itself should be an Olympic sport. Archery at least takes physical strength. Shooting is just aiming and yes that's a skill but it's not an athletic skill. Might as well throw on rocket launcher shooting and drone strikes.

I too love a good game of ping pongThere's also Modern Penthathlon which combines swimming, fencing, showjumping, running and shooting.

I love the olympics, though bloody NBC fucking with the timings of the swimming is annoying. I stayed up for Peaty's gold, but since the I've been recording it and watching it the morning after. Definitely makes me miss the benefits of having them happen in my own timezone.

Mik
August 10th, 2016, 9:26 AM
This Chinese table tennis women looks better than most of the guys I've seen from any other country.

Clive Plasma
August 10th, 2016, 10:44 AM
Women's Handball is an absolute dream to watch. I watched Norway vs Spain the other day, these are fierce, athletic, hot women essentially playing an aggressive game of catch. It's quite a violent game, loads of goals, ridiculous penalties and goes on forever.

Norway are playing again tonight, and you get to see players like;

Nora Mork

http://o2hir.hu/images/hirek/Mork_valogatott0.jpg

Veronica Kristiensen

http://g.api.no/obscura/API/dynamic/r1/ece5/tr_480_330_l_f/0000/dram/2015/12/9/21/1449693648364.jpg?chk=D42318

Stine Bredal Oftedal

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/stine-bredal-oftedal-of-norway-in-action-during-the-golden-league-picture-id457170278?k=6&m=457170278&s=594x594&w=0&h=Zz_1FdQvhnof2IgSZUGLi789zvgixskj2iUqvVIBPPA=

So good.

Percussion
August 10th, 2016, 10:58 AM
Judo is the craziest sport. All that training for four years and then it can literally all be over in 5 seconds.

Yes, the intensity is extraordinary.

Beefy
August 10th, 2016, 11:20 AM
Women's Handball is an absolute dream to watch. I watched Norway vs Spain the other day, these are fierce, athletic, hot women essentially playing an aggressive game of catch. It's quite a violent game, loads of goals, ridiculous penalties and goes on forever.

Norway are playing again tonight, and you get to see players like;

Nora Mork

http://o2hir.hu/images/hirek/Mork_valogatott0.jpg

Veronica Kristiensen

http://g.api.no/obscura/API/dynamic/r1/ece5/tr_480_330_l_f/0000/dram/2015/12/9/21/1449693648364.jpg?chk=D42318

Stine Bredal Oftedal

http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/stine-bredal-oftedal-of-norway-in-action-during-the-golden-league-picture-id457170278?k=6&m=457170278&s=594x594&w=0&h=Zz_1FdQvhnof2IgSZUGLi789zvgixskj2iUqvVIBPPA=

So good.

I was lucky enough to go to loads of things at London 2012 - the Athletics, the Basketball Semi-Finals and several other things were good but the Women's Handball was by far the best thing I saw. What an amazing, brilliant sport.

Percussion
August 10th, 2016, 11:47 AM
I don't get the appeal of watching outdoor cycling at all. It's just a camera on a guy riding by some trees seemingly static for minutes on end. No relative competition to view really before the camera switches to another guy, perhaps miles apart, also riding static by some trees and maybe a few passerby. The indoor velodrome stuff is dope, very entertaining. But this fascination people seem to have with watching dudes just ride a bike through the hillside is baffling to me.

Spedizzo
August 10th, 2016, 2:36 PM
Biathlon

biathalon? whats that? a confused triathalon?

aheheheh

Mr McGregor
August 10th, 2016, 4:57 PM
I hope you don't find out what they call one with six events :yes:

Have they always played that barely audible background music during the gymnastics? It's kind of irritating now that I've noticed it. As well as the tannoy bing-bongs, the odd announcement and now the constant drone of crap music sounding as if it's coming through someone else's earphones, this is a noisy gum-chewer and a racial incident away from being on public transport.

Mik
August 10th, 2016, 7:47 PM
Why do basketball players wear such long shorts?

Percussion
August 10th, 2016, 11:36 PM
Why do basketball players wear such long shorts?

Are you asking why the prefer them practically or how did they come about?

Mik
August 11th, 2016, 5:44 AM
...both.

it just seems to me like they aren't the best clothing choice for the sport, practically.

Mr McGregor
August 11th, 2016, 6:54 AM
They didn't used to be so long did they? In the Seventies and Eighties they all wore pretty short shorts. Maybe it's just to differentiate the sport - remove a few sweatbands from a Seventies player and he could quite easily be mistaken for a track athlete of that time. Allegedly it's influenced by street fashion, but then there surely would've been a change since the early Nineties for that?

Just have them all in a Speedo. In every sport. Speedo.

Spedizzo
August 11th, 2016, 9:06 AM
the long shorts is so the bulge of the basketball players isnt as pronounced as they are in tighter fitting short shorts

this obviously isnt an issue in tennis

Percussion
August 11th, 2016, 11:36 AM
...both.

it just seems to me like they aren't the best clothing choice for the sport, practically.

Story goes that Jordan was the first to make a stink about getting the Bulls shorts lengthened in the late 80's because he would tug at his when playing defense. Ok. Then came the fab five at Michigan and they upped the stakes by going full on long and baggy with black socks/shoes and kinda just took the whole thing from a street/culture setting to the organized ranks. It caught fire nationally and fast forward to today it's the current standard with little reason to think it will change.

The previous tightie whitie style never looked comfortable itself and this is just really a 180 from that in terms of comfort/style/culture that took over the game and the league in a hurry.

Percussion
August 11th, 2016, 1:39 PM
Michael Phelps tied a 2,168-year-old Olympic record (http://www.sbnation.com/2016/8/9/12419516/michael-phelps-gold-medal-record-leonidas-of-rhodes)


Phelps' 12 individual gold medals is by far the record for the modern games -- early 20th century American track-and-field star Ray Ewry is next with eight. But Leonidas won 12 titles in the second century B.C. A renowned runner, Leonidas won three events -- the stadion, a sprint; the diaulos, a longer run; the hoplitodromos, a run performed while wearing armor -- in four straight Olympiads. He is believed to have won more Olympic titles than anybody at the ancient Olympic games. .

If we're being technical, Phelps is alone with the record for most gold medals -- they didn't give out gold medals at the ancient Olympics, instead giving athletes a crown of olive leaves. He'll pass Leonidas for most Olympic titles (medals or wreaths) if he wins either of his two other individual events, the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley.

Who said you can't compare eras?

kangus
August 11th, 2016, 2:22 PM
You know what, I'm loving this rugby sevens. I don't know the first thing about rugby but it's really fun watching these guys go.

Mik
August 11th, 2016, 6:37 PM
We got smashed in the final though.

I can't help but think that the swimmers have an unfair advantage when it comes to medal hauls. It's not a fair comparison between them and any kind of other Olympic athlete.

Its strange whi kazakhstan has such good amateur boxers.

Pablo Diablo
August 11th, 2016, 7:00 PM
Swimmers definitely have an unfair advantage. Followed probably by the top gymnasts.

kangus
August 11th, 2016, 7:53 PM
The athletic juggernaut known as Canada has exactly 0 gold medals thus far. I'm leaving the country if this doesn't change soon.

Dreyski
August 11th, 2016, 8:22 PM
Michael Phelps - 22(?) golds. Usain Bolt - 6 golds (with potentially 3 more). Phelps is the outstanding swimmer of a this generation, but something seems a little off there. Maybe they should run the 100 metres backwards and sideways as well.

On the topic of Phelps, heard a stat that made me sit up and take notice: Phelps is 7 inches taller than the 1500 metres world record holder, Hicham El Guerrouj. Their trousers have the same inside leg measurement. :wtf:

MTR
August 11th, 2016, 11:27 PM
Not sure Phelps is human at this point.

And yeah top swimmers have unfair advantage when it comes to medal hauls so many more races they can do. Not to take anything away from what Phelps and Locke and others have done. Not easy to swim in four or five Olympics and keep winning medals.

Percussion
August 12th, 2016, 12:29 AM
Not sure how accurate this is, but just heard on broadcast that Simone Biles' margin of victory in the all-around is greater than those from 1980-2012 ... combined.

Good grief, that girl is a pleasure to watch perform.

Mr McGregor
August 12th, 2016, 8:36 AM
Biles by miles. Although she didn't do a lot wrong I was underwhelmed by her ABars and she doesn't vault as well as I was hoping, but her beam thing was flawless, not a wobble, and her floor performance was exceptional - she should be wearing that gold also following the event final on Tuesday.

No gymnastics today. Might give trampolining a go but it's something I can only watch through my fingers. Athletics also starts proper, woop :yes:

Where's BMX? I'm sure I've seen the venue but no races so far.

Pablo Diablo
August 12th, 2016, 8:57 AM
Gotta give a shout-out to the Canadian 16 year old Penny Oleksiak. She's become a star in Canada. 2 bronze, 1 silver and last night topped it off with a gold.

Clutch
August 12th, 2016, 9:13 AM
Gotta give a shout-out to the Canadian 16 year old Penny Oleksiak. She's become a star in Canada. 2 bronze, 1 silver and last night topped it off with a gold.

Did you watch the gold medal race? Fucking incredible! Amazing come-from-behind win (she actually tied with the American).

Pablo Diablo
August 12th, 2016, 10:06 AM
I did. I thought she was out of it at the half way point. What a close. Especially from someone so young who had been a part of so many races already.

The Rosk
August 12th, 2016, 10:46 AM
That was one of the best things I've ever seen in athletic (the women's 10k). Fuck me.

Mr McGregor
August 12th, 2016, 11:51 AM
It's horrible to see these venues so empty. There are currently more people on the field than in the seats :(

MikeHunt
August 12th, 2016, 2:34 PM
USA vs Sweden women's football match has been outstanding.

Mik
August 12th, 2016, 5:05 PM
That was one of the best things I've ever seen in athletic (the women's 10k). Fuck me.

I just saw it on the news, smashed the world record by 14 seconds?

Kneeneighbor
August 12th, 2016, 5:46 PM
USA vs Sweden women's football match has been outstanding.

The Womens Soccer and Men's Gymnastics are two US teams I have found my self actively cheering against. Their personalities just have rubbed me the wrong way.

The Beer Monster
August 12th, 2016, 5:47 PM
Is there a good reason the running track is the wrong colour?

JP
August 12th, 2016, 6:07 PM
Bradley Wiggins is as amazing as Hope Solo is contemptible.

What a fucking race that was.

virms
August 12th, 2016, 9:04 PM
The Womens Soccer and Men's Gymnastics are two US teams I have found my self actively cheering against. Their personalities just have rubbed me the wrong way.

Move back to Russia then. :usa:

Watched men and women's volleyball yesterday. Had no idea I would get into it so much. Makes me wish I had more time to watch other events.

:usa:

Percussion
August 12th, 2016, 9:08 PM
Dirado, ffs!

Kdestiny
August 12th, 2016, 9:29 PM
Looks like Phelps is ending his Olympic career with a three way tie for 2nd.

A three way tie has to be almost impossible though right?

Canuck
August 12th, 2016, 9:54 PM
Elliot Friedman lololol

virms
August 12th, 2016, 10:06 PM
I think kangus will be relocating after that.

JP
August 13th, 2016, 8:33 PM
Rutherford in the lead, Farah currently running, Ennis-Hill favourite for Gold.

Not again, surely not again.

Clive Plasma
August 13th, 2016, 9:36 PM
Mo Farah... what a guy.

JP
August 13th, 2016, 9:43 PM
Mo Farah... what a guy.

The race was one thing, that interview another. Very little makes me prouder to be British than Mo Farah and his life.

Also, Greg, Bronze. Ennis-Hill either Gold or Silver.

Might not be 3 Golds again, but possibly even more impressive than 4 years ago. Half way around the world.

SheltonLondon
August 14th, 2016, 12:39 AM
Just out of interest. Chances of Phelps being a drug cheat for the majority of his career? I know he smokes weed, but are there many rumours about him using PEDs or anything? Guy is a literal freak, and some of the dips/rises in form seem a bit suspect to me from the outside, but I don't follow it too closely!

I think it's quite likely that across most sports there is probably more doping going on than we have ever been told about, but wanted to gauge other people's thoughts on the matter?

Randolph
August 14th, 2016, 12:41 AM
Watched my first full tennis match today. Nadal made the game interesting, but it sucked he lost. He can sleep with my wife anyday.

LOCONUT
August 14th, 2016, 1:22 AM
Just out of interest. Chances of Phelps being a drug cheat for the majority of his career? I know he smokes weed, but are there many rumours about him using PEDs or anything? Guy is a literal freak, and some of the dips/rises in form seem a bit suspect to me from the outside, but I don't follow it too closely!

I think it's quite likely that across most sports there is probably more doping going on than we have ever been told about, but wanted to gauge other people's thoughts on the matter?

He has failed multiple tests. Drug cheat all the way.

Myles
August 14th, 2016, 12:26 PM
Watched my first full tennis match today. Nadal made the game interesting, but it sucked he lost. He can sleep with my wife anyday.

nadal is the worst

Peter Griffin
August 14th, 2016, 2:35 PM
What is so hard to understand about put you phone away? Also,as a spectator, how dense do you have to be to go to pick up the ball?

JP
August 14th, 2016, 3:20 PM
We are currently second in the medal table. This is fucking insane.

Clive Plasma
August 14th, 2016, 3:35 PM
Currently weighing up whether to stay up for the 100m tonight. Lose about 3 hours sleep for 10 seconds...

Canuck
August 14th, 2016, 4:09 PM
3m springboard judging is a bit retarded.

Chris
August 14th, 2016, 6:20 PM
I didn't realise the tennis final was 5 sets instead of 3. This could go on for hours yet.

Mik
August 14th, 2016, 6:57 PM
Nah, one more set.

Mik
August 14th, 2016, 7:03 PM
This Buatsi is a cracking boxer for such a young lad. I've been very impressed with him throughout this competition.

Mik
August 14th, 2016, 7:06 PM
Cracking fight this.

Mik
August 14th, 2016, 7:45 PM
Some tennis match this bugger too.

Chris
August 14th, 2016, 8:07 PM
That was an epic. Murray makes history and caps off a brilliant night for Team GB. He dug in deep while Del Potro gradually faded, despite some unbelievable returns in the latter half. Big comeback for Del Potro after all of his injury troubles - I hope he goes on to be competitive in the Slams over the next few years.

Mik
August 14th, 2016, 9:18 PM
Jesus, I didn't see johnson's 400m record going for a long time yet. Nobody has even looked close and this track wasn't even supposed to be fast...and from lane 8 too. Wow.

Pablo Diablo
August 14th, 2016, 9:38 PM
Bolt doing Bolt things. Proud of De Grasse though. Getting Bronze is amazing.

Simmo Fortyone
August 14th, 2016, 9:48 PM
Missed the start by about two minutes and still won in a canter.

Freak.

Mr McGregor
August 15th, 2016, 8:52 AM
Grand Theft Auto IV theme an obvious choice for this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNyD6kd2NBc

I understand this being a sport included in the Olympic games, I can see why idiots maybe don't think it should be considered either. It's peculiar and pretty sure it causes nightmares.

They could synchronise a bunch of other events. There's already synchronised Diving and Trampolining. Synchronised Javelin maybe? Synchronised 100m? Such possibilities.

Also, obviously the gymnasts have gender-specific apparatus, but are there any sports remaining which the blokes compete in which the ladies do not?

Percussion
August 15th, 2016, 7:17 PM
Anyone else think because of Bolt's size and obvious ability that it looks like a little league thing with a kid who's clearly a few years older competing in the wrong age group?

http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/57b10fc1ce38f234008b6a31-1332/usain%20bolt%204.jpg

My goodness this man is the perfect sprinting machine.

Canuck
August 16th, 2016, 3:27 PM
What a terrible attempt at a tackle that was.

son_of_foley
August 16th, 2016, 5:19 PM
Conlon is on a war path. I think putin might get a hiding here

Clive Plasma
August 16th, 2016, 5:52 PM
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14063785_882559065497_1437623479606069310_n.jpg?oh =46693f14623fc6b8f7d998198a599e67&oe=58599183

MTR
August 17th, 2016, 10:43 AM
No Americans going to day in taekwondo but enjoying the matches I am streaming so far. Americans won't go until Friday and Saturday.

Fro
August 17th, 2016, 11:08 AM
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/video_previews/l/t/ltbnfjnte6sdkwunbktxif4gkf8q1w-large.jpg

I'm not sure how much this was an issue but I guess there was some backlash that this woman basically dove across the finish line to win gold? It seems fair game to me, but if diving really does help (and it seems that it did cause her to beat the other woman here) then shouldn't all sprinters/runners dive across the finish line every time? :chin:

MTR
August 17th, 2016, 12:26 PM
Not against the rules to dive but most of the time diving actually slows you down and won't help you. So on this level you typically won't see it. This is one of the minority instances where someone won with diving. Been doing some reading on this. :) Basically the backlash is coming from casual fans that don't know rules and what not. People that follow track and what not were fine with the result.

Mik
August 17th, 2016, 1:07 PM
To be fair I think she might well have won it if she hadn't done it.

Its just oust a more extreme example of ducking for the finish line as far as I'm concerned.

Pablo Diablo
August 17th, 2016, 1:30 PM
When watching it I felt like she was losing her balance a bit and the dive was the best option to just give that last little push.

Mr McGregor
August 17th, 2016, 1:35 PM
There were some pretty awful ignorant reactions to that. I guess they could eliminate the potential for that type of finish by measuring when the back of the torso crosses the line instead of when the front reaches it, but the rules are what they are. Personally, I'd love it if they all had to pancake over the line to finish on every race. It's good slapstick.

BMX is starting in a sec. I remember watching the X Games when I was younger, I take it that's still a thing? Wonder if it's an issue having the Olympics steal their thunder, because Skateboarding is currently set to be introduced at the next games in Tokyo also...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYvAL5JB8yg

Fro
August 17th, 2016, 1:41 PM
I still enjoy the X-Games but I think it gets burned out because they do it twice a year (winter and summer). They should go at most once a year where summer and winter alternate years. I never know when it's going to come on because there's no hype for it anymore, but every 6 months when I see it on TV I'll tune in for the good events.

I do think that the Olympics is smart to adopt those sports though. Half pipes and big air and all that.

Fro
August 17th, 2016, 6:51 PM
soooo I guess Ryan Lochte made up being robbed and Brazil wants to seize his passports but he fled the country before they could seize them

hm.

Percussion
August 17th, 2016, 7:24 PM
On a lighter note, this guy ...

Inconvenient Penis Is A Huge Problem For Japanese Pole Vaulter Hiroki Ogita In Rio


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIRmVw3zP4U

... may return home a national hero.

Fro
August 18th, 2016, 1:14 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3747442/The-truth-told-drunk-Video-shows-Lyin-Ryan-swimmers-destroying-gas-station-bathroom-Brazilian-police-furiously-deny-robbery-claims-brazen-Lochte-laughs-social-media.html

Not sure if this Lochte/U.S. swim team story is getting play outside the U.S. but it's become quite the ordeal over here. These guys are real assholes. Lochte always has been. Fuck that dude.

I'm still curious as to why they made up the robbery story. Seems they could have gotten away with being assholes at the gas station and this never would have been a big fiasco if they didn't lie about being robbed which brought attention on themselves.

Mr McGregor
August 18th, 2016, 1:33 PM
Yeah, I wouldn't really go by that particular news source, pretty much UK's version of the Enquirer. I was almost convinced by it this morning after another similar story, this time about a British athlete also being robbed at gunpoint, but there's too much conflicting information. They seem like a bunch of wankers, they probably are and it's probably a story to sell somewhere, I'll wait to see more.

Fro
August 18th, 2016, 1:42 PM
True enough, I know what Daily Mail is but I just included that link (instead of CNN) because it had all the videos from the incident and everything. It's not like they're going out on a limb on this one.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/18/sport/us-swimmers-olympics-robbery-questions/index.html

Mr McGregor
August 18th, 2016, 1:58 PM
Yeah, sorry I get it, it's definitely a 'dishier' article, no foul. They tend to sensationalise. The first one I read on BBC simply said they damaged a bathroom door, the Daily Mail describes it as "destroying a bathroom", and now the CNN one (via the local newspaper) says public urinating and throwing stones. It's just funny, and whichever one's more accurate, I'm trying to work out why they felt the need to make up the story if they satisfied the payment of any damage caused.

Wonder how they'll be punished. I've heard Brazilian jails are nice.

Fro
August 18th, 2016, 2:06 PM
I hope Lochte is banned from the Olympics (by the U.S.) assuming everything is as it seems and he made up the story. Not that I'm so pissed at what he did just that if you get the chance to represent the nation and pull some punk shit like this which embarrasses everyone and takes away the spotlight from other athletes, you should just stay home. He might be too old in 4 years anyway but I think he plans to swim in Tokyo.

JP
August 18th, 2016, 3:45 PM
The dumbest fucking reaction they could have had.

StevieV
August 18th, 2016, 5:37 PM
So. The women's relay. What happened?

Mr McGregor
August 18th, 2016, 6:11 PM
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2016/8/18/f1e9bc56-1ce0-465e-80c7-57266e9728fe.jpg

Never seen this before. Apparently they challenged an obstruction by Brazil that caused one of them to drop the baton, so were allowed to re-run. That'll cheer the host nation up.

Pablo Diablo
August 18th, 2016, 6:21 PM
It's the Chinese who are most upset since they lost their spot. Brazil wasn't close to qualifying anyways.

Mik
August 18th, 2016, 6:32 PM
Well the Brazilians got disqualified.

Mr McGregor
August 18th, 2016, 6:46 PM
China would only have been happy with gold anyway.

I just watched the replays, the Brazilian athlete stayed in her lane, they were all running right at the edge of their lanes in every lane, 2 per lane. America got hit in her non-baton hand and somehow the thing went flying.

These games are so stressful this year.

Pablo Diablo
August 18th, 2016, 9:42 PM
Once again Bolt will Bolt. So dominant for 3 Olympics in a row. Amazing.

Well in for the Canadian De Grasse though, definitely looking like the future.

Fro
August 18th, 2016, 10:14 PM
200m race. 100 on track, 100 in water. Bolt vs Phelps. Who wins?

Percussion
August 18th, 2016, 10:15 PM
World's greatest ever sprinter.
World's greatest ever swimmer.
World's greatest ever gymnast (in the making :D).

These games...

Percussion
August 18th, 2016, 10:34 PM
200m race. 100 on track, 100 in water. Bolt vs Phelps. Who wins?

Bolt owns the current 100m world record by a ridiculous full tenth of a second+. Phelps on the other hand has never touched the fastest 100m ever timed in a pool, and his best is over half a second behind the current world record.

Now of course we don't know how well Bolt can swim or Phelps can run, but just going by who does their best 100m versus their competitive peers, I'll lean toward Bolt a little on this.

Pablo Diablo
August 18th, 2016, 11:53 PM
Phelps would win probably pretty handily. Simply because even a record running Bolt runs 100m in 9.58 seconds. An average athletic person can run 100m in 14 seconds without really training.

Phelps this year did a 47.12 second split in 100m free relay. Getting under a minute is good for your average athletic person who has been training.

While both events require technique, the total time difference between an elite and an untrained is just going to be so much greater in swimming compared to running.

Percussion
August 19th, 2016, 12:02 AM
That is a pretty big split. Think I just have a mental block for imagining Phelps running.

Pablo Diablo
August 19th, 2016, 12:11 AM
The one I think back to is that one case in the 2000 Olympics in the heat. The guy from Africa who ended up swimming by himself.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rqI8xwXVac

He allegedly had even been practicing swimming in ponds/lakes but never in an Olympic size pool. Now obviously Bolt would do much better and I'm sure rehabbing some injuries he's done swimming. But just seeing this video reminds me how important training specifically for elite swimming is.

MTR
August 19th, 2016, 11:00 AM
Watched Aaron Cook lose in taekwondo a little while ago. Wow. Didn't see that coming. He is 2nd in the world and the matched was called with 20 seconds left due to point gap. He has to hope that guy gets to the final so he has a chance at bronze.

Badger
August 19th, 2016, 5:50 PM
What a result for the GB women's hockey team!

Fro
August 20th, 2016, 11:14 AM
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:2016

Medals per capita- kind of a cool way to look at things

Percussion
August 21st, 2016, 9:29 PM
Shinzo Abe as Super Mario was so ... well, Tokyo. Can't wait for 2020.

Peter Griffin
August 21st, 2016, 9:42 PM
I feel a bit bad I didn't watch more of this, watched swimming,a bit of track and thats it, only happens once every 4 years but with my state of mind I just haven't been able to get into anything.
Maybe I can give the Paralympics more attention.