Who's following the olympics, and what events are you mostly into?

[DarthNeil]

I somewhat agree (if our government was spending money where it should be going), and that's where I say half of the country if not the majority is at, yet some people seem to value a country on how its athletes do in events at the olympic level. Thus why I said some feel it's frivolous to spend that kind of money on those athletes. btw The government says they spend money into hospitals... yeah, that's why hospitals are still greatly understaffed. Why we're losing our best doctors to the US, and why the hospitals in my city atleast, are falling apart. The St. Boniface hospital is a joke here. The Cancer ward has tiles missing from the floor (also looks dirty), it smelled of urine (what a way to go out, taking that crap in), paint is discoloured and aged, and I don't believe it's all that sanitary, which you expect a hospital to be. They sign nurses to contracts that last a few years, and have those same nurses reapply for that same position when that contract runs up... One nurse told me they do this so they can't get a substantial raise. Maybe he was out of line, I don't know. I'm not in the profession. Regardless, it's a joke Neil. We spend money on frivolous statues and monuments for the city while that could go to healthcare, education, and fixing up our roads. I don't remember the last time my city went down my street to patch the potholes on my street that when filled up with water could support an entire ecosystem.

They spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a Louis Reil statue, because they felt the older already existing one at the time wasn't attractive enough, so they tore the old one down and put a new one in its place. Heck, I rather that be spent into an athlete vs. an already existing statue. I remember when our old mayor was in office, he had a multi-million dollar facility put on a newly built bridge. It was to be a posh restaurant that over looked the river. Great idea, but it took nearly 4 years until someone came along, and could actually afford to rent the space, at a much reduced fee mind you. I am assuming money was the lose there, but it is a cool idea, but people still giggle at the thought that a blue-collar Salsbury House franchise was put in place. Think Dennys, but lower. Don't get me started on how the NDP party here treats other issues. This party is really running the Province of Manitoba into the ground.. I can go a lot more into but I won't.

P.S. Roll your eyes all you want, but our government's spending habits may have great intentions, but how they follow up on it sometimes makes me wonder.

Anyway, this thread is about the Olympics, so lets keep the discussions to that.

Plagiarism!!! I'm sure I read this somewhere before.

 

[BadMoon]

Good Volleyball match right now.

 

[Vader AL]

Good Volleyball match right now.

yep.

i watched the men's beach volleyball(US vs Japan) earlier today and that was a freakin' nailbiter.

 

[LOTRFan]

I only skipped to the back of this thread and saw Bodie's "post" quoted --- I knew it was too deep for him.







PS - I am NOT giving Eli any credit. :emperor

 

[Dusty]

Frm ELI26:
"1. In China if you're young and really good at something they (the government) take you aside and train you against your own will until you're good enough to compete at elite status."

I found it funny how a number of times that the commentators where talking about the Chinese they always made it seem they go with the families blessing and are not just taken from them.

Well, if they are a really poor family, it may very well be with the family's blessing, given the alternative. Have your kid become famous and have all meals provided for, or live day to day not knowing if you'll be able to feed them that night. Not that I'm condoning it in any way, but I'm sure that's the thinking in some families.

 

[Bannister]

When will it end? That is, how is it possible for the human race to continue to push their bodies to break records year after year, Olympics after Olympics? For athletes not using drugs or steroids, is there a final limit to what can be achieved? In my lifetime, I've been fortunate enough to watch some of the world's greatest athletes and sport stars reach the peak of anyone in their sport! Arguably, the greatest in their sport... Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Muhammad Ali, Jim Thorpe, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps, Jeff Gordon... the list could go on! Are these truly the greatest ever in their sport, or is someone alive or about to be born who will supplant them? Is there an end???

In the case of swimming, they mentioned that the new suits and different pools have something to do with it. The announcers today were mentioning that it is crazy that Janet Evans record in the 800m is still standing and no one is even close. The next closest time to hers is like 2 seconds slower.

 

[DarthNeil]

Track & Field preliminaries have started... Check out the two first heats for the 100 men's... The two Jamaicans who won both put it on cruise control midway through the race-- power. Laying odds right now that the Jamaicans take the 400 relay in record time.

 

[Vader AL]

what a race by Soni in the women's 200 breast stroke! congrats!

 

[Vader AL]

Phelps isn't human.

 

[creecher]

When will it end? That is, how is it possible for the human race to continue to push their bodies to break records year after year, Olympics after Olympics? For athletes not using drugs or steroids, is there a final limit to what can be achieved? In my lifetime, I've been fortunate enough to watch some of the world's greatest athletes and sport stars reach the peak of anyone in their sport! Arguably, the greatest in their sport... Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Muhammad Ali, Jim Thorpe, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps, Jeff Gordon... the list could go on! Are these truly the greatest ever in their sport, or is someone alive or about to be born who will supplant them? Is there an end???

In the old days drugs would have been used if they felt so inclined. As well as that athletes weren't as well supported, or worked their jobs and their athleticism was more their hobby. These days generations are healthier and live longer, though fast foods has taken its toll on the general population. People are taller and stronger as a rule. As Bannister has stated, equipment lends a helping hand, computer technology is able to evaluate areas where improvements can be made. Phrases like 'this is considered a fast pool', but what makes it fast? Additives to the water, the depth of the pool, water temperature, what? So too are track surfaces improved, better footwear etc. People are well trained from childhood, than from their teens. It all helps to get better results. Next genetic engineering will be employed, so where it ends is still a guess.

 

[Vader AL]

In the old days drugs would have been used if they felt so inclined. As well as that athletes weren't as well supported, or worked their jobs and their athleticism was more their hobby. These days generations are healthier and live longer, though fast foods has taken its toll on the general population. People are taller and stronger as a rule. As Bannister has stated, equipment lends a helping hand, computer technology is able to evaluate areas where improvements can be made. Phrases like 'this is considered a fast pool', but what makes it fast? Additives to the water, the depth of the pool, water temperature, what? So too are track surfaces improved, better footwear etc. People are well trained from childhood, than from their teens. It all helps to get better results. Next genetic engineering will be employed, so where it ends is still a guess.

it ends when the machines take over the world.

 

[Eli26]

Well, if they are a really poor family, it may very well be with the family's blessing, given the alternative. Have your kid become famous and have all meals provided for, or live day to day not knowing if you'll be able to feed them that night. Not that I'm condoning it in any way, but I'm sure that's the thinking in some families.

That's true, but do they get punished if they don't do well? That's my other fears. We don't know what happens over there.

 

[Vader AL]

State-media story fuels questions on gymnast’s age

By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer

AP - Aug 9, 12:44 am EDT
1 of 37 Olympics Gallery BEIJING (AP)—Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government’s news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.

In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of “10 big new stars” who made a splash at China’s Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games. In the final, “this little girl” pulled off a difficult release move on the bars known as the Li Na, named for another Chinese gymnast, Xinhua said in the report, which appeared on one of its Web sites, www.hb.xinhuanet.com

The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible. Sports editors at the state-run news agency would not comment for publication.

If the age reported by Xinhua was correct, that would have meant He was too young to be on the Chinese team that beat the United States on Wednesday and clinched China’s first women’s team Olympic gold in gymnastics. He is also a favorite for gold in Monday’s uneven bars final.

Yang was also on Wednesday’s winning team. Questions have also been raised about her age and that of a third team member, Jiang Yuyuan.

Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games. He’s birthday is listed as Jan. 1, 1992.

Chinese authorities insist that all three are old enough to compete. He herself told reporters after Wednesday’s final that “my real age is 16. I don’t pay any attention to what everyone says.”

Zhang Hongliang, an official with China’s gymnastics delegation at the games, said Thursday the differing ages which have appeared in Chinese media reports had not been checked in advance with the gymnastics federation.

“It’s definitely a mistake,” Zhang said of the Xinhua report, speaking in a telephone interview. “Never has any media outlet called me to check the athletes’ ages.”

Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: “We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?”

“We already explained this very clearly. There’s no need to discuss this thing again.”

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the “accepted proof of a gymnast’s eligibility,” and that He and China’s other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls’ passports and deemed them valid.

A May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, said He was 14. The story was later corrected to list her as 16.

“This is not a USAG issue,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “The FIG and the IOC are the proper bodies to handle this.”

 

[Mesa]

Again, not reading any previous posts for tonight because don't want spoilers, but is anyone else watching the God awful scoring by the judges on the Womens Gymnastics?

Mutha-F'n G'damn ricockulous!!!!!!!

USA girls are getting SHAT on.

I guarantee this is a big story in tomorrow's headlines if US doesn't score gold. Event isn't over, so I don't know who has won or wins gold, but China is making the same mistakes and more of them on same degree of difficulty and they are scoring higher. It's as clear as day. I'm used to teh media and liberals crapping all over the US, guess I have to add olympic judges to that list too.

uneven bars and balance beam scoring was very unbalanced.


EDIT: Nevermind, all worked out well in the end, sorry for getting excited. US Women just said, "Oh yeah? F you judges and try and score me low on floor exercises. Take that you biased beeatches!" during the floor exercise.

Gold and Silver, more than deserved.

 

[Eli26]

Again, not reading any previous posts for tonight because don't want spoilers, but is anyone else watching the God awful scoring by the judges on the Womens Gymnastics?

Mutha-F'n G'damn ricockulous!!!!!!!

USA girls are getting SHAT on.

I guarantee this is a big story in tomorrow's headlines. Event isn't over, so I don't know who has won or wins gold, but China is making the same mistakes and more of them on same degree of difficulty and they are scoring higher. It's as clear as day. I'm used to teh media and liberals crapping all over the US, guess I have to add olympic judges to that list too.

Stop crying bud. Atleast your country is actually winning something (a lot infact) and we're currently at 0! YAY!!!

 

[DarthNeil]

Well we took the #1 USA to overtime in women's soccer-- lost 2-1 but a pretty good result for the first time the Canadian women have ever fielded a team in the Olympics-- a little scare into our neighbours (with a "u") to the south is always good thing.

Track & Field starting I'm hoping that Canada will start to get on the podium. Also our rowers will represent in the finals-- The goal of the country was to get in the top 16 for countries (medalwise)-- I don't know if that's reachable but maybe we'll try and get as many medals as Phelps (not all gold mind you).

 

[BadMoon]

Stop crying bud. Atleast your country is actually winning something (a lot infact) and we're currently at 0! YAY!!!

That's because none of the sports have anything to do with hockey.

 

[-Super Hans-]

brits have won 3 at the moment. not bad for a small island

 

[The Craw]

Again, not reading any previous posts for tonight because don't want spoilers, but is anyone else watching the God awful scoring by the judges on the Womens Gymnastics?

Mutha-F'n G'damn ricockulous!!!!!!!

USA girls are getting SHAT on.

I guarantee this is a big story in tomorrow's headlines if US doesn't score gold. Event isn't over, so I don't know who has won or wins gold, but China is making the same mistakes and more of them on same degree of difficulty and they are scoring higher. It's as clear as day. I'm used to teh media and liberals crapping all over the US, guess I have to add olympic judges to that list too.

uneven bars and balance beam scoring was very unbalanced.


EDIT: Nevermind, all worked out well in the end, sorry for getting excited. US Women just said, "Oh yeah? F you judges and try and score me low on floor exercises. Take that you biased beeatches!" during the floor exercise.

Gold and Silver, more than deserved.

i wanted to whine about this last night but i already shut down the computer. the scoring in olympics in general seems very biased against the US for the last few games winter and summer. at least in my opinion. sure the 2 americans won gold and silver but based on those performances they should have won by a lot more. the chinese girl(whatever her name was) made quite a few mistakes and shawn johnson was great but she barely won the silver WTF. im happy for nastia luikin and her father. what a great feeling that must have been for that family. well deserved.

 

[Vader AL]

i'm not sure if it's against us or just biased against whoever is up against the chinese. i saw a boxing match where a chinese boxer was up against a boxer from somewhere in the old USSR and it made me mad to watch.

i do agree the women's US gymnasts should have won by more. how fun is it to watch Bela Karolyi's reaction in the studio with Costas.