The Olympic Ideal

Davidth88

So golf is now an Olympic sport

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/8292584.stm

What do people think


I like the idea TBH , would they offer prize money or is purely for the lump of gold at the end ?

Aidric

Good news. Nice feather in the cap of Harrington as well, given he presented the case for golfs inclusion at todays ceremony.

Mister Sifter

I wonder if McIlroy has asked Poulter for a lend of his Union Jack pants and cardigan yet?

f22

Aidric wrote: »

Good news. Nice feather in the cap of Harrington as well, given he presented the case for golfs inclusion at todays ceremony.

Wonder how many times he said "eh" in his presentation?

PhilipMarlowe

Was going to suggest Lowry in the McIlroy thread a while back, tongue in cheek

Miley Byrne

Davidth88 wrote: »

I like the idea TBH , would they offer prize money or is purely for the lump of gold at the end ?

No cash I'm afraid, the Olympics are a cash free zone when it comes to prizes. Just the lump of gold for the winner!!

Trampas

Did the tennis players not get some cash?

aster99

I think it should only be amatuer golfers allowed play in the olympics

heavyballs

aster99 wrote: »

I think it should only be amatuer golfers allowed play in the olympics

Why? There are some gr8 amatuers but surely commercially it would be a lot more of a spectacle to have the likes of Woods(who said he would play btw)playing than am's.
Sure are they not nearly all pro's anyway bar the boxers

PhilipMarlowe

According to europeantour.com

Based on player feedback, the IGF has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).

The IGF also has recommended an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, using the Official World Golf Ranking as a method of determining eligibility. The top-15 world-ranked players would be eligible for the Olympics, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players would be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.

Current world rankings from both the men’s and women’s games show that at least 30 countries would be represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, from all continents, under this proposal.

Pisco Sour

Licksy wrote: »

According to europeantour.com

Why is there no mention of a team event aswell? Combine the scores of both players from each country to decide the team competition. Would be a good idea I think.

aster99

heavyballs wrote: »

Why? There are some gr8 amatuers but surely commercially it would be a lot more of a spectacle to have the likes of Woods(who said he would play btw)playing than am's.
Sure are they not nearly all pro's anyway bar the boxers

The olympics are built on amatuer sport. In fact the majority are amatuer, bar the likes of tennis, basketball!

Tom Ghostwood

There's already the four majors. Golf doesnt need the olympics.

Pisco Sour

aster99 wrote: »

The olympics are built on amatuer sport. In fact the majority are amatuer, bar the likes of tennis, basketball!

Incorrect, many sports are not amateur. Track and Field and Swimming, the 2 biggest sports in the Olympics have both been professional a long time. Ever heard of the GOLDEN league!?

aster99

No never... which sport is that in?

Pisco Sour

aster99 wrote: »

No never... which sport is that in?

Athletics. Its the main Grand Prix circuit where all athletes who win all 6 events get a share of the 1 Million Jackpot. Amateur eh?!

aster99

yeah well i'd still prefer if the golf was for amatuers only, just my own opinion.

postalservice

Tom Ghostwood wrote: »

There's already the four majors. Golf doesnt need the olympics.

Olympics>PGA championship no debate imo

As PH said, its one of the most international sports in the world.

Prediction: 1.PH to win gold:P
2. Maguire twins to win silver and bronze. (That Alexis Thompson:mad:)

Kevinmarkham

I think it's a joke including golf - but then it was a joke when they included football and tennis.

First, David started this thread off about the 'Olympic Ideal'. I think today's 'Ideal' is purely commercial. I'm waiting for Darts, Motor Racing and Tiddlywinks to be included in the next 20 years. They throw in as many sports as possible and the number just keeps rising.

Second, The Olympics cripples the host nation/city for decades. London is spending over £9 billion, and everyone knows that will go up further (initial bid said it would only cost 5). Londoners will be paying for it in some form of tax for a long time to come.

Third, once upon a time, The Olympics was for amateurs. I think the participants in the golf should still be amateurs, but that was never going to happen. All the other sports are packed with professionals and the IOC must have been licking their lips at how many viewers would be drawn in by Tiger Woods... and how much money they can charge 'sponsors' as a result.

Fourth, 'a 72 hole strokeplay event' format. WOW, how imaginative. Why not 36 holes and then have a matchplay for the top 16. Do something different for @^*^s sake.

Fifth, I haven't watched the Olympics since Sydney and including golf is not going to change my mind now.

Sixth... good luck Padraig

And don't get me started on the rugby

Osgoodisgood

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I think it's a joke including golf - but then it was a joke when they included football and tennis.

Couldn't agree more. The idea that Woods, Harrington, Wie or any other unbelievably wealthy golfer is going to be comparing gold medals with a swimmer who trains twice a day, works 2 jobs and survives on meagre handouts from their national olympic organisation is just silly. Yes, I'm well aware that the true amateur is almost extinct but it doesn't make it any easier to watch or better for the change. I can list every major winner for the last 30 years, every league and FA cup winning team for the last 40 years and yet I haven't the feintest notion which tennis player has won olympic medals ever and I don't care to learn.

And don't get me started on the rugby

There was a time when rugby resonated some of the olympic spirit. That's long gone now.

Pisco Sour

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

I think today's 'Ideal' is purely commercial.

Fifth, I haven't watched the Olympics since Sydney and including golf is not going to change my mind now.

1) Its no different to any other sporting event. Why else would FIFA protect the big teams and seed the World Cup Playoffs? Why else is the Ryder Cup being constantly awarded to the UK? Its modern sport, Money plays a huge role. The Olympics is no different to any other sports event.

2) If you dont watch the Olympics then why on earth do you care anyway!

BombSquad

Tom Ghostwood wrote: »

There's already the four majors. Golf doesnt need the olympics.

Golf does need this. There are plenty of countries that wouldn't support golf prior to this. Countries like China and eastern European nations will now pump money into developing golfers. This will have a huge impact on the growth of golf in places that wouldn't have concerned itself with golf prior to inclusion in the Olympics. Why do you think the PGA and European tours are supporting this? It'll make their markets much bigger. This will be massive for golf worldwide. I don't see a problem with that.

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. The idea that Woods, Harrington, Wie or any other unbelievably wealthy golfer is going to be comparing gold medals with a swimmer who trains twice a day, works 2 jobs and survives on meagre handouts from their national olympic organisation is just silly.

Michael Phelps working 2 jobs? I'd be surprised if there are more than 5% of Olympians working and training at the same time... It's not possible to hold down a job and compete internationally in any sport. Are there any medallists in the last 10 years that have had full time jobs? Maybe in shooting... nothing else.

Osgoodisgood

Michael Phelps working 2 jobs? I'd be surprised if there are more than 5% of Olympians working and training at the same time... It's not possible to hold down a job and compete internationally in any sport. Are there any medallists in the last 10 years that have had full time jobs? Maybe in shooting... nothing else.

You're probably right, in fact 5% seems optimistic although in fairness I did concede that the true amateur is all but extinct.

I personally don't like the way the olympic ideal and concept has become just another sporting event, marketed to within an inch of its life and in my opinion, cheapened by its unseemly pursuit of big bids and profits. Including sports like golf is just another step away from the olympic roots and further towards a nondescript grab-bag of sponsors favourites with a few traditional events thrown in for purely nostalgic purposes. For the record I realise that this is just my opinion and that the majority of people would disagree. Oh well.

Sandwich

Am sick.

That golf could degrade itself with that vile corrupt cess pit that calls itself the olympics.

I hope some prominent golfers have the courage to stand up and state openly that they are declining to take part, not because it doesnt fit in to their schedule, or some such platitude, but because they have more respect for themselves and for golf, than to take part.
Sorry I'm not a world class golfer. Would love to be the one to do so.

I wont be watching.

Pisco Sour

Sandwich wrote: »

Am sick.

That golf could degrade itself with that vile corrupt cess pit that calls itself the olympics.

I hope some prominent golfers have the courage to stand up and state openly that they are declining to take part, not because it doesnt fit in to their schedule, or some such platitude, but because they have more respect for themselves and for golf, than to take part.
Sorry I'm not a world class golfer. Would love to be the one to do so.

I wont be watching.

Whats your beef with the Olympics? Its a fantastic celebration of sport. Becoming an Olympian is a truely amazing honour and achievement. The Olympics have brought this country some amazing moments of joy that we still talk about to this day. Carruth, Delaney, Sonia. The country stopped for these moments. You think the Olympics have sold out? Well I hate to break it to you, Golf is just as bad. Ever tried watching the Open Championship on US Television? Ads every 4-5 minutes.