Olympic Games.. What a shame

[cybereye (Mario)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Hmmm?..resident Super hero huh? ta da!! "Capt Sedentary"

I'm never one to compare degrees of effort (much less worth) across differing disciplines or activities, to me if I see someone put forth great effort or show great skill whether it be academic or physical, I think both achievements require varying degrees of gift and usually a lot of hard work, whether mental or physical... so I applaude them all.

I can happily make allowances for those who show dissapointment at not winning.... and I don't laugh at those who grunt (or even scream) either

Mike

Nicely put Mike.

Mario

[Poita (Peter)]

Here is the other side of the coin

http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/news-...801-23di1.html

Like everything it kinda boils down to individuals.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Poita

Here is the other side of the coin

http://www.smh.com.au/olympics/news-...801-23di1.html

Like everything it kinda boils down to individuals.

Yes, a great outlook, sometimes when you aren't expecting to be up there but are happy to just be competing, great performances happen, not putting the pressure on one self can have welcomed side effects for sure .

Mike

[Varangian (John)]

Who gives a second thought (not me) about whether someone can swim faster than someone else, there are so many other people doing much more important work in the world than an athlete.

Athlete's are under so much pressure because of media beat up, not to mention the the fact that people need to belong to a group to establish a safe sense of place, us against them, partriotism. It's all crap when you realise just how small we all really are in the multiverse.

[Colin_Fraser]

It's all came down to this... Money

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-0...4?WT.svl=news4

[Steffen]

I prefer disciplines that have no losers, like the Messier Marathon

Cheers
Steffen.

[kustard (Simon)]

I remember as a kid that the Olympic games were all about bringing the world together and competing in a friendly manner. It always seemed a remote thing for me.

I was thinking about this not long ago and realised that it has been forums like IIS (and the internet in general) that has garnered me more friends than any other activity and not just ones in my local area but people from all over the world

[Gem (Grant)]

Well, I personally enjoy the Olympics and believe it does bring people together - whether tourists or competitors. I enjoy seeing sports that you don't hear about until next Olympics. I can appreciate that it ain't for everyone, but I love my four-yearly fix of international sport.

[Gem (Grant)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

BS, atheletes are trained and cranked up to come 1st, nothing else matters. Winning is everything, the "olympic spirit" is a myth. 2nd is a devistating loss.

Really? How many Olympic athletes do you actually know personally? I personally know a couple of gold medalists (previous games). One was absolutely stoked to get a 5th place at World Champs. Just making a top 8 put a massive smile on her face... Don't judge all Olympians off a couple of interviews on TV... the majority of Olympians don't even get interviewed!

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by blink138

BMX!!!!!
WTF?
we may as well all roll over and admit defeat if crap like this is considered an olympic disciline(?)

What is considered an Olympic discipline? getting naked, greasing up and wrestling?
Events come and go with the generations.
BMX requires skill, far more than basically riding a bike in a straight line or a circle.
Kinda like comparing Drag Racing or Speedway with Rallying.

Yes it is sad an event is getting dropped, but for the better in my opinion.

[AndrewJ]

What is considered an Olympic discipline?

Sadly, these days, i think its any sport that can bring in "compliant" sponsors, who are happy to wine and dine the IOC and pump in enough cash to make the dog and pony show roll on.
I think we need to accept the Olympics is now a business machine
that uses athletes as the "entertainment" to help flog advertising.

Ie i find it strange that an athlete can be trained and supported by their own coaches and sponsors, but when they get good enough, if they want to be an Olympian, they have to accept the sponsors and coaches "specified" by the relevant organisations.

I say go "Eric the eel", "Eddie the eagle" and all like them, who are in it just for the honour of representing their "country" not some multinational.

Andrew

[Octane (Humayun)]

Read this:

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/20...urrentPage=all

If that doesn't make you mad, nothing will. The IOC is up there in the corruption stakes with FIFA.

I haven't, and, won't be watching a single event.

H

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Unfortunately the IOC has succeeded only in devaluing the Olympic brand. Endemic corruption, rank commercialization, brand police stalking ordinary citizens... These things degrade the sporting events even more than drug cheats and bad sportsmanship.

But anyway, getting back on topic, delight in a new PB - good; dummy spit for coming second - bad. (Do we really put these incredible expectations and pressures on these young people? Appalling.) Surely sportsmanship can't be that hard a concept for these elite athletes to comprehend.

I won't take any credit when a sports person wins (even if it was my taxes or hi-tech swimsuits that assisted them), just as I won't be ashamed if they bring up the rear. But some over-entitled teenager whinging in the name of my nationality? Thanks, but no thanks. Even the six year olds I've dealt with have been taught to behave better than that, especially in the immediate aftermath of an event.

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Octane

I haven't, and, won't be watching a single event.

H

We haven't watched TV for almost 20 years ..... disconnected the darn thing back then and we've never looked back.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

C.mon fellas cheer up a bit.
Its not the end of the world.

[Octane (Humayun)]

RB, 11 years for me coming up next month.

Way to go.

H

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Octane

RB, 11 years for me coming up next month.

Way to go.

H

We should have a secret handshake so we can tell.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

As far as I am concerned they are all winners by just being selected for the Olympics win or not win

Adrian

[Gem (Grant)]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Sadly, these days, i think its any sport that can bring in "compliant" sponsors, who are happy to wine and dine the IOC and pump in enough cash to make the dog and pony show roll on.
I think we need to accept the Olympics is now a business machine
that uses athletes as the "entertainment" to help flog advertising.

And yet fencing is one of the few sports to be in every Olympics since 1896. There is still some tradition!

Judging by most of the comments on this thread - people are looking at a few top athletes in a couple of sports and judging all other athletes and sports by them. Most athletes are happy to just make it and are competing in sports that get little sponsorship or fame. Olympics is their pinnacle before they retire proud and happy that they made it...

[taminga16 (Greg)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

BS, atheletes are trained and cranked up to come 1st, nothing else matters. Winning is everything, the "olympic spirit" is a myth. 2nd is a devistating loss.

Fred,
Your avatar says it all.
Greg.