Olympics.

kneemos

Will you watch the Olympic Games or has it become a parody of itself in terms of the amount of drug taking.Russia looks as if it could well be excluded for failing to comply with drug testing,we're far from innocent ourselves.
The human drama is compelling,but they're all pretty much guaranteed to be taking some sort of "go juice" I'd imagine.

Fleawuss

The opening ceremony, final of the 100 m and the end of the marathon.

beans

Don't forget the babies with the tiny heads

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I'm fed up with all this sports bull**** on the tv now for the entire summer

everlast75

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I'm fed up with all this sports bull**** on the tv now for the entire summer

The Olympics is only on every 4 years - as are the Euros, as is the World Cup.

Us males have to contend with soaps, 2 hours a night, EVERY night

cowboyBuilder

beans wrote: »

Don't forget the babies with the tiny heads

Not even remotely funny .

SEPT 23 1989

I would let them juice themselves up the eyeballs and give them bionic limbs

Maybe a sniper in the stands to liven up the 10000 metres

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

everlast75 wrote: »

The Olympics is only on every 4 years - as are the Euros, as is the World Cup.

Us males have to contend with soaps, 2 hours a night, EVERY night

It's too much!!

Badly Drunk Boy

Fleawuss wrote: »

The opening ceremony, final of the 100 m and the end of the marathon.

I don't see that appeal of opening ceremonies of any event. Okay, have them to open the event, but don't expect me to watch!

I might watch the second half of the 100m finals, though...

timthumbni

I don't know anything about the sprinters at the Olympics. All I know is I always bet on the black man. (Copyright frank Drebin re boxing)

4zn76tysfajdxp

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Not even remotely funny .

Agreed, whoever posted that is pretty small minded. :mad:

Duggy747

I want my drugged up Olympics, dammit. I want to see roided-up athletes jump 30 feet into the air or do the shot put and throw that metal ball 3 miles down the field.

everlast75

LexieOnRale wrote: »

It's too much!!

I agree - let's ban soaps

ShadyAcres

I'll be watching it. I've always loved the Olympics and will try and catch as much as i can. Roll on the opening ceremony.

What are those?

Don't enjoy the Olympics as much as I did because of all the drug use you know is going on behind the scenes (which in fairness has been happening for years) Ill watch most of the athletics finals ie 100m 200m etc aswell as all the irish Olympians no matter which sort they compete in. Some of the sports in it are not worth their salt being there, such as soccer and golf (which id watch regularly but have no right in being in the Olympics in my opinion) I wont be watching those aswell as many others which get coverage outside the Olympics and shouldn't be there

gramar

kneemos wrote: »

Will you watch the Olympic Games or has it become a parody of itself in terms of the amount of drug taking.Russia looks as if it could well be excluded for failing to comply with drug testing,we're far from innocent ourselves.
The human drama is compelling,but they're all pretty much guaranteed to be taking some sort of "go juice" I'd imagine.

Drugged to his eyeballs he may have been but Ben Johnsons' gold in Seoul in 1988 is for me the greatest olympic moment I've ever seen.

Speedwell

I was an Atlanta resident when the city hosted the Olympics in 1996. Never, never, never, never again.

Zaph

I will watch every possible minute that I can, apart from the opening and closing ceremonies. There's no medals handed out for them and they're generally tedious as hell. Oh and the gymnastics and synchronised swimming because they're sh*te.

Mr. CooL ICE

I love the Olympics. I turn on the TV, watch a bit of some sport I barely recognise and try to figure out what's going on. It's great!

arybvtcw0eolkf

I can hardly wait.

Judo, wrestling, boxing, fencing and weight lifting are some of my fav events.

Then the big names in T&F.

Even typing this I get butterflies thinking of the Olympics.

murpho999

Female Beach Volleyball

cowboyBuilder

Zaph wrote: »

I will watch every possible minute that I can, apart from the opening and closing ceremonies. There's no medals handed out for them and they're generally tedious as hell. Oh and the gymnastics and synchronised swimming because they're sh*te.

The opening ceremonies are amazing, London 2012 was just out of this world

iDave

murpho999 wrote: »

Female Beach Volleyball

My biggest disappointment of London 2012 was seeing beach volleyball listed on UPC, turned over in a hurry and saw men!

valoren

I always make sure to watch or record these events at every games.

The medley relay finals in the swimming. They're always brilliant.
The track finals and particularly the 4 * 100m relay in the Athletics.
The individual time trials in the cycling.
The sprint finals and the team pursuit finals in the Track cycling.
The marathon.

gramar

Do people fancy Ireland's chances for gold in hurling this year?

kneemos

Speedwell wrote: »

I was an Atlanta resident when the city hosted the Olympics in 1996. Never, never, never, never again.

There must be some reason cities fight tooth and nail to host the event.As often as not they seem to be left with empty stadiums and a massive bill.

kneemos

kneemos wrote: »

There must be some reason cities fight tooth and nail to host the event.As often as not they seem to be left with empty stadiums and a massive bill.

Certain people make money out if it, they're generally the ones who head up the campaigns. Seb Coe's companies made loads and have continued to do so with "legacy" stuff, all coming from the taxpayer.
Similar with American football and baseball in the US, cities or states will part-fund new stadiums, give tax breaks and add a sales tax all so a multi-billionaire can have a shiney $1 billion dollar toy without it costing him anything.

gramar

kneemos wrote: »

There must be some reason cities fight tooth and nail to host the event.As often as not they seem to be left with empty stadiums and a massive bill.

Most reports on host cities of major events say they are net loss making events especially when a significant amount of infrastructure is required.

The Sidewards Man

everlast75 wrote: »

Us males have to contend with soaps, 2 hours a night, EVERY night

you secretly enjoy it though.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I have always watched, and will always watch, every heat and final of every athletics event shown. The cycling, boxing, shooting, swimming and gymnastics will also be etched as much as possible. I love the Olympics.

gutenberg

Looking forward to watching the swimming - it's not a sport that's on TV much at all. Want to see how Michael Phelps does at his fifth Olympics (he qualified for Sydney at age 15), and whether Katie Ledecky will win her projected 5/6 gold medals. Woo! The drugs aspect does bother me a little, but I think swimming hasn't *as* big a problem with it as some other sports (doubtless I'll be proved wrong in the future, but still...).

valoren

Always remember Frankie Boyle on Mock the Week about the cost of London 2012.

"£20 billion? For that they could have just written 'F*CK OFF GERMANY' on the Moon!"

Badly Drunk Boy

gutenberg wrote: »

Looking forward to watching the swimming - it's not a sport that's on TV much at all. Want to see how Michael Phelps does at his fifth Olympics (he qualified for Sydney at age 15), and whether Katie Ledecky will win her projected 5/6 gold medals. Woo! The drugs aspect does bother me a little, but I think swimming hasn't *as* big a problem with it as some other sports (doubtless I'll be proved wrong in the future, but still...).

Recently I saw a list on the top 10 Irish Olympians ever. Michelle Smith wasn't even mentioned! 3 golds and a bronze.

gutenberg

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

Recently I saw a list on the top 10 Irish Olympians ever. Michelle Smith wasn't even mentioned! 3 golds and a bronze.

There is an interesting little online documentary series called something like 'Unknown Olympians' or similar, and Michelle Smith is the subject of one of them. It talks about how despite winning that many medals, she doesn't make lists like the one you mentioned, and the curious story behind it all. I was only 6 years old when Atlanta was held, but I find it fascinating in a way.

gramar

As a viewer you take the drugs issue for granted, as in most athletes do intentionally take some form of banned substances and it doesn't really affect your enjoyment. You want to see the best performances...world record times, lifts and distances.

As an athlete if you're clean I can imagine that the feeling of competing against others who you know or suspect to be doping must be infuriating.

jester77

LexieOnRale wrote: »

It's too much!!

Defo. I used to live with someone that would watch Cornation street, fair city, brookside, emmerdale farm, eastenders, etc every night. It was the most depressing nonsense ever, anytime I came into the room this crap was always on. I would imagine she is still single sitting on a couch somewhere gorging herself in the misery that they provide to justify that her life is not so bad.

Lyaiera

Zaph wrote: »

Oh and the gymnastics and synchronised swimming because they're sh*te.

Synchronised swimming is rubbish but the gymnastics are superb. Watching those feckers jump and tumble three times in the air, before landing and doing it again is amazing. Watching someone run fast for ten seconds is boring. The 4*100 is much more entertaining.

I'll watch a fair bit of the Olympics. And definitely the basketball if RTE has the same commentator, "RAZZLE DAZZLE!" "All the way to the HOOP!"

gutenberg wrote: »

The drugs aspect does bother me a little, but I think swimming hasn't *as* big a problem with it as some other sports (doubtless I'll be proved wrong in the future, but still...).

You are wrong! Phelps was caught smokin' a bong, not too sure that should be a problem though, outside of things like shooting, and archery. I don't think there's any sport in the world that isn't rife with PEDs. In fairness to cycling, they're doing a huge amount to address it after a lot of internal, and public pressure.

bodice ripper

everlast75 wrote: »

The Olympics is only on every 4 years - as are the Euros, as is the World Cup.

Us males have to contend with soaps, 2 hours a night, EVERY night

Should have found partners you have something in common with so. Ah well.

Winter Olympics ftw.

gutenberg

Lyaiera wrote: »

You are wrong! Phelps was caught smokin' a bong, not too sure that should be a problem though, outside of things like shooting, and archery. I don't think there's any sport in the world that isn't rife with PEDs. In fairness to cycling, they're doing a huge amount to address it after a lot of internal, and public pressure.

Is marijuana considered a PED now?

Lyaiera

gutenberg wrote: »

Is marijuana considered a PED now?

It's proscribed, and if found in your system you'll be banned and stripped of medals. I don't know if the rules distinguish between being not allowed because something is performance enhancing, or just because it's not allowed. I doubt it would enhance performance in every sport. I don't think traces of alcohol (as opposed to be smashed) is against the rules in most sports. But like I said in things like archery and shooting, where having a steady hand is vital alcohol is considered a PED. Because a small amount of alcohol will stop small shakes.

Moo Moo Land

gutenberg wrote: »

Looking forward to watching the swimming - it's not a sport that's on TV much at all. Want to see how Michael Phelps does at his fifth Olympics (he qualified for Sydney at age 15), and whether Katie Ledecky will win her projected 5/6 gold medals. Woo! The drugs aspect does bother me a little, but I think swimming hasn't *as* big a problem with it as some other sports (doubtless I'll be proved wrong in the future, but still...).

There are way too many swimming events though. They ruin the start of the Olympics for me.

gutenberg

Lyaiera wrote: »

It's proscribed, and if found in your system you'll be banned and stripped of medals. I don't know if the rules distinguish between being not allowed because something is performance enhancing, or just because it's not allowed. I doubt it would enhance performance in every sport. I don't think traces of alcohol (as opposed to be smashed) is against the rules in most sports. But like I said in things like archery and shooting, where having a steady hand is vital alcohol is considered a PED. Because a small amount of alcohol will stop small shakes.

In Phelps's case, I believe he was suspended for 3 months, but didn't lose any medals, and his suspension by USA Swimming was on the grounds that he was a bad example to younger athletes, and he had a responsibility as a role model, rather than because marijuana is a PED. I imagine it depends on the sport as to whether it's considered a PED - I imagine it would hinder reaction times, for example, but obviously it assists muscle relaxation, so.... Interesting about archery & shooting though!

Moo Moo Land wrote: »

There are way too many swimming events though. They ruin the start of the Olympics for me.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one!

Captain Chaos

jester77 wrote: »

Defo. I used to live with someone that would watch Cornation street, fair city, brookside, emmerdale farm, eastenders, etc every night. It was the most depressing nonsense ever, anytime I came into the room this crap was always on. I would imagine she is still single sitting on a couch somewhere gorging herself in the misery that they provide to justify that her life is not so bad.

I'd rather watch that than 3 football matches per day plus all the before and afters shows on each talking about it.

foggy_lad

I used to watch the Boycott games of the 80's and early 90's but not bothered any-more as most of the controversy is based on twit-ter and face-puke comments

Lia_lia

Yes will be watching alright. Love the Olympics.

looksee

Will watch bits of it if I think of it, like the gymnastics and diving.

Alf Veedersane

gramar wrote: »

As a viewer you take the drugs issue for granted, as in most athletes do intentionally take some form of banned substances and it doesn't really affect your enjoyment. You want to see the best performances...world record times, lifts and distances.

As an athlete if you're clean I can imagine that the feeling of competing against others who you know or suspect to be doping must be infuriating.

While it irks me to know that a lot of athletes are getting away with taking drugs and that it tarnishes too many athletes by association, I can watch the Olympics and completely separate drugs from sport in that moment.

As someone said, that 100m final in '88 was exhilarating. It was 55 hours later the news broke about Johnson and it's been called the dirtiest race in history...but at that moment in time it was 9.79s of unadulterated excitement.

I love the Olympics.

Dirty Dingus McGee

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

The opening ceremonies are amazing, London 2012 was just out of this world

I watched the first 20 minutes and it bored me to detah.Ended up watching a great film instead called The Rainmaker, directed by Franics Ford Copolla and starring Dany De Vito and Matt Damon.I'd recommend watching it instead of any opening cermony.

Dirty Dingus McGee

gramar wrote: »

Do people fancy Ireland's chances for gold in hurling this year?

No.Kilkenny will beat them.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

Recently I saw a list on the top 10 Irish Olympians ever. Michelle Smith wasn't even mentioned! 3 golds and a bronze.

Thats because she cheated.

Caoimhgh1n

I only watched the volleyball last time, I didn't even know the rules. :P