Olympic Games Paris 2024 - AH Thread [Thread banned posters listed in first post.]

Paris for atmosphere and intensity was one best games ever

Funding LOI academies is a no brainer for me.

We should study other countries like NZ, Australia, GB and see what works for us.

I still think grassroots and schools are the key but high performance is important also.

If you view it as a pyramid, the base of the pyramid is local clubs and primary schools and the tip of the pyramid is the Olympics. Without a strong base, you've nothing.

It probably needs a root and branch review of everything such as PE in primary school, drop out rates in teen years, encouraging adults back into sport, coaching coaches, paying full time coaches and games development officers etc...

The French taking the podium in the men's BMX race and Benjamin Thomas winning the Omnium were my non Irish highlights. The atmosphere for both was just insane. The crowds outside the Sacre Coeur deserve a mention too.

Off the top of my head I can't remember witnessing any really historic moments.

Its about time the penny dropped with some politicians that investment=performances=feel good factor=pride=happier populace=votes.

There is no downside to shovelling huge money into sport.

But a little bit of that money should ensure that P.E. is available to all schools, up to Leaving Cert, twice a week before Junior Cert, and that all schools have a group insurance to protect all kids running and jumping in every setting.

Then that every town above above 5,000 people has a 25 metre public pool, that every town over 10,000 has a public running track and indoor and outdoor multisport venue, prioritised for schools and community sports clubs. And eventually that every town over 50,000 has a 50 metre pool, outdoor and indoor tracks and velodrome, and upper end multisports complexes of the kind only seen in the cities and universities thus far.

In Olympic disciplines, our lodestar should be New Zealand.

Their 5.1 million population to our 7.2 million just produced 10 Golds, 7 Silvers and 3 Bronzes. An almost unbelievable return.

And I don't want to hear the GAA argument, the Kiwis play Rugby Union and Cricket to every bit as much a cult level as we play GAA sports.

This might interest some of ye. Nothing too shocking but it breaks down some of the differences between the haves and the have nots.

It's not just GAA though. We play soccer in huge numbers and have a significant number playing rugby. Much like with the church and schools/hospitals it was too easy for previous governments to let them do all the work.

We have been a wealthy country for 30 years now though so old excuses don't hold up anymore and I think people want to see infrastructure to match this sustained wealth.

Agree with some of this but it's a bit over the top regarding facilities.

We don't need that many 50m pools.

Probably one per city would be loads.

I agree about multi sport facilities though.

For example Louth GAA are building a new stadium in Dundalk. They couldn't share with the LOI team!?

Facilities are expensive so we should use them as much as possible. Do Limerick and Galway really need 3 stadiums for 3 different sports? They're empty most of the time.

I still think the key is grassroots, local clubs, primary schools.

I think Adeleke was in school sports and beat all the boys and then was encouraged to join an athletics club aged 11. (I'm open to correction on this).

I bet there's loads of talent out there slipping through the net.

We do have certain advantages like a youngish growing population and also a decent sized immigrant population.

We do have decent sports infrastructure already and good spread of clubs and whatnot also. So it's not like we're starting from scratch but more like we need to get more professional and organized.

GAA and Soccer are definitely not an excuse but definitely they scoop up all the kids and often people don't have time for any other sports, so it does impact it negatively in that way. Basketball and rugby do also but to less of an extent.

I played GAA, soccer and basketball so I wasn't going to do any other sports than those but I guess if I felt I had actual talent in something, I might've switched.

I think John Delaney set Irish soccer back decades.

Definitely running tracks aren't good for atmosphere in soccer stadiums but they're still prevalent.

I agree about track and field being non existent in schools or at least it was in my school.

I guess if they could promote the schools athletics championships the same way as GAA and rugby is, it would encourage schools to take it more seriously.

I was referring to you saying that soccer, rugby and GAA should share. Running tracks are really not that prevalent anymore outside of national stadia.

We don't really need running tracks with big stands or whatever anyway. We just need running tracks full stop.

As a former relay runner (4x100m) on a team that were obsessive about baton changes, I feel I can give a valid opinion.

The problem you refer to is caused by the fact that the runner giving the baton is no longer going at full pelt, unlike in the 100m equivalent. They are at the end of the 400m, which is an exhausting run and they're just about hanging on. If the receiver was to go when the giver 'hit the mark' (as in the 4x100) the receiver, being fresh and full of oats, would probably burst away and never be caught by the giver.

Then there's also the matter of there being no lanes in effect after the first change. Whoever is leading gets the inside lane and 2nd to their immediate right, etc. This can lead to some argy, bargy and bodily contact.

The Irish changes were fine for a 4x400m.

The point about China prioritising winning medals above all else is very well made. The Chinese absolutely dominate diving, having won 55 golds, including 23 out of a possible 28 in the synchronised events since they were introduced in 2000. China won all 8 diving golds in Paris. If diving events were not limited to two competitors per nation (one pair for each synchronised event), then other countries might as well not bother to turn up. We should probably avoid devoting serious resources to any sport that the Chinese dominate. China won 3 golds and 2 silvers in the 6 women's boxing events in Paris … just saying 🤐