London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

Beefy78 · 29-07-2012 01:32AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

The BBC broadcast their signal into Ireland, I have every right to comment on it and be critical of it, as I am of the RTE coverage, get over yourself.

How does that work? You don't pay the licence fee. If you've an issue with the BBC signal being broadcast here then I'd suggest taking that up with UPC and Sky.

Someone definitely does need to get over themselves.

SharpshooterTom · 29-07-2012 01:33AM

Beefy78 wrote: »

That was it. And yet apparently that is jingoistic. :rolleyes:

I don't know if that was jignonistic because I didn't watch it, I said that. I haven't watched most of it, infact I've avoided anything British related (and even Irish), the tennis and volleyball is all I've watched.

Beefy78 wrote:

Someone definitely does need to get over themselves.

Yeah you by the sounds of it, we're just joking and taking the p!ss and you're getting uptight, why don't you just ignore it? Jeez.

Happyman42 · 29-07-2012 01:34AM

bwatson wrote: »

Why is he tetchy? Because he is giving his honest opinion on how the race went when asked a question?

No other nation attempted to front the peleton in order to close the gap with the breaking group. Many had the ability but simply not the ambition. Why? because it would have benefited the best sprinter in the world. These nations had no desire to do anything but stop Mark Cavendish win the race. The British gave it everything they had but a five man team, even with the likes of Froome, Wiggins and Millar, simply couldn't have enough influence on the race. Other nations (Germany) can't say the same.

Its refreshing to see athletes have the honesty to say such a thing if asked a direct questionreally. Its certainly not bitter or tetchy.

Two riders, with no team support came first and second. GB got their tactics wrong and the hunt is on in the Beeb to blame somebody else, because they have egg on their face.
There they are at it again on the World News, right now......'British riders are programmed for victory' :rolleyes: Better call in the software techs!

Namlub · 29-07-2012 01:34AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Well I didn't watch it, but this is problem I have with some of the commentary, I know they say this happens in all host countries, but the whole things still off putting. My big fear is when they're so wrapped up in team Geebee, nothing else matters and I hope that isn't the case and I'm sure they're not all like that. It reminds me of euro 96 when a lot of the non-England games didn't sell out because nobody else cared about the foreign teams lol.

And RTE devote a lot of coverage to how Irish athletes are doing, it'd be ridiculous to expect otherwise.
Your whole self-loathing British person thing is just boring and irrelevant to the thread tbh.

Richard Hillman · 29-07-2012 01:34AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

It's a race, like today's, anythig can happen. There wasn't one presenter on the Beeb who talked down Cavendish's chances. A good broadcaster will reflect the doubt and the certainty. Like the RTE football panel, they will call it as they see it, often disagreeing with each other. That's why they are streets ahead of the beebs football pundits.

:pac: Well then they must be blind because those dinosaurs see a whole different game to rest of the world. RTEs football panel is tabloid trash. Its sensationalism at its worst, made for the Little Irelander drinking "scoops" in the pub, with "De Ladz" and his premier league jersey on.

Beefy78 · 29-07-2012 01:37AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

I don't know if that was jignonistic because I didn't watch it, I said that. I haven't watched most of it, infact I've avoided anything British related (and even Irish), the tennis and volleyball is all I've watched.

I know you said that. I read your post. Yet without seeing the 'offending' segment you felt qualified to talk about it.

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Yeah you by the sounds of it, we're just joking and taking the p!ss and you're getting uptight, why don't you just ignore it?

Aren't jokes supposed to be funny?

goodie2shoes · 29-07-2012 01:37AM

outside of the Brit-media fed hype the rest of the world is distinctly underwhelmed, especially by the over-hyped embarrassing opening ceremony to which that Bufoon Boris said and I quote "we tore spots off Beijing's" ??????!

Get real you clown! When all the Brit-tabloid fed hype dies down most sensible people will realize just how 2nd rate, cringe-worthy and amateurish it really was.

i sincerely Irish people wake up to the fact that just because they are near neighbours, we are quite entitled to call it as we see it, ie Typical Brit claptrap!

Happyman42 · 29-07-2012 01:37AM

Beefy78 wrote: »

How does that work? You don't pay the licence fee. If you've an issue with the BBC signal being broadcast here then I'd suggest taking that up with UPC and Sky.

Someone definitely does need to get over themselves.

I live on the border, it comes in on my ariel whether I want it or not. If somebody sends me a bill I'll pay it.

SharpshooterTom · 29-07-2012 01:39AM

Right lets get back on topic, too many "patriots" taking too much offense to everything on here.

Swimming has 4 gold events every day till sunday is that correct? So plenty of medals there for Britain to collect still.

I noticed Murrays out of the doubles, guess that might help him in the singles, plus he has a good track record of winning 3 set tournaments.

Happyman42 · 29-07-2012 01:43AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

:pac: Well then they must be blind because those dinosaurs see a whole different game to rest of the world. RTEs football panel is tabloid trash. Its sensationalism at its worst, made for the Little Irelander drinking "scoops" in the pub, with "De Ladz" and his premier league jersey on.

Do you think it was good sports journalism to do what they did before the cycling race or not? Is that what you expect of 'good' sports journalism, to not countenance the possibility of defeat? I can understand the Sun indulging in it, considering the demographic that buys that, but is it right for the BBC to be engaging in it?

SharpshooterTom · 29-07-2012 01:45AM

China now odds on to top the medal table.

China 8/11

USA 6/4

goodie2shoes · 29-07-2012 01:47AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Right lets get back on topic, too many "patriots" taking too much offense to everything on here.

Swimming has 4 gold events every day till sunday is that correct? So plenty of medals there for Britain to collect still.

I noticed Murrays out of the doubles, guess that might help him in the singles, plus he has a good track record of winning 3 set tournaments.

as the host nation it has been a disappointing opening day.
did Boyle feature any bottlers in his 2nd rate production?:rolleyes:

DEFTLEFTHAND · 29-07-2012 01:48AM

Ireland's hopes seem firmly set on Katie. Surely to christ we can bring something else home, when you look at countries with a similar population to us like New Zealand and Norway its embarrassing how badly we fair in the medal haul.

SharpshooterTom · 29-07-2012 01:50AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Ireland's hopes seem firmly set on Katie. Surely to christ we can bring something else home, when you look at countries with a similar population to us like New Zealand and Norway its embarrassing how badly we fair in the medal haul.

Ireland are really hit and miss at sports, sometimes they overproduce, like in Rugby and Golf, but can't produce a single tennis player. Heck they're even better are cricket then they are tennis.

bwatson · 29-07-2012 01:51AM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

outside of the Brit-media fed hype the rest of the world is distinctly underwhelmed, especially by the over-hyped embarrassing opening ceremony to which that Bufoon Boris said and I quote "we tore spots off Beijing's" ??????!

Get real you clown! When all the Brit-tabloid fed hype dies down most sensible people will realize just how 2nd rate, cringe-worthy and amateurish it really was.

i sincerely Irish people wake up to the fact that just because they are near neighbours, we are quite entitled to call it as we see it, ie Typical Brit claptrap!

Got any links which show that the globe has already formed a very poor opinion of this a 16 day sporting marathon after one day of competition?

Does the fact that Britain has over the last few years developed a sense of identity and self-confidence scare you?

Beefy78 · 29-07-2012 01:53AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

Do you think it was good sports journalism to do what they did before the cycling race or not? Is that what you expect of 'good' sports journalism, to not countenance the possibility of defeat? I can understand the Sun indulging in it, considering the demographic that buys that, but is it right for the BBC to be engaging in it?

The thing is that you're right in your criticism but completely out in your assumption of the reasons.

BBC Sports coverage is categorised not by an arrogant assumption that the Brits will win everything, but by a general lack of knowledge of most of the rest of the field. When Sonia O'Sullivan was in her pomp she was being talked up by the BBC on the basis that they know who she is. You see it most markedly in the football coverage where no one knows anyone not playing in England.

The lack of any knowledge or analysis from the 'experts' on the BBC annoys myself and many British people as well as we either are paying or have paid for their wages. But that's a completely different crime to the one that you're trying to accuse them of.

RTE are no better for it , by the way. RTE panels tend to argue amongst themselves about whose ill-informed opinion is least far away from the facts but that's the only real difference.

goodie2shoes · 29-07-2012 01:53AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Well I didn't watch it, but this is problem I have with some of the commentary, I know they say this happens in all host countries, but the whole things still off putting. My big fear is when they're so wrapped up in team Geebee, nothing else matters and I hope that isn't the case and I'm sure they're not all like that. It reminds me of euro 96 when a lot of the non-England games didn't sell out because nobody else cared about the foreign teams lol.

it was very poor imho.
a 16 year old girl had just swam what was a truly remarkable race, coming from behind to win in spectacular style and create a NEW WR in the process.
the BEEB barely mentioned it, and instead concentrated on Hannah Miley who came in 5th!
to add further insult the pair then made passing references to possible performance enhancement in order to explain the Chinese girl's victory.

Very tawdry indeed.:mad:

Jimoslimos · 29-07-2012 01:54AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

Do you think it was good sports journalism to do what they did before the cycling race or not? Is that what you expect of 'good' sports journalism, to not countenance the possibility of defeat? I can understand the Sun indulging in it, considering the demographic that buys that, but is it right for the BBC to be engaging in it?

Expectation was high, 1-2 in the TdF. Cavendish taking his tally of stage wins to 23, including 4 in a row on the Champs-Élysées. Compare it to the hype surrounding Katie Taylor and many here already crowning her with the gold medal.

Beefy78 · 29-07-2012 01:57AM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

it was very poor imho.
a 16 year old girl had just swam what was a truly remarkable race, coming from behind to win in spectacular style and create a NEW WR in the process.
the BEEB barely mentioned it, and instead concentrated on Hannah Miley who came in 5th!
to add further insult the pair then made passing references to possible performance enhancement in order to explain the Chinese girl's victory.

Very tawdry indeed.:mad:

You make it sound like they went on about Hannah Miley for ages when the reality is that it was a 45 second interview followed by Clare Balding asking the guy in the studio who knew Hannah personally a couple of questions. They then went on to talk about the young girl who won.

The commentators went on, and on about what an amazing achievement it was by the 16 year old.

I didn't hear a single allusion to doping. There was a comment made about the size of the Chinese population being a factor. Could you tell me exactly when this was, please? In what context? It's bound to be on the iPlayer.

Samich · 29-07-2012 01:59AM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

it was very poor imho.
a 16 year old girl had just swam what was a truly remarkable race, coming from behind to win in spectacular style and create a NEW WR in the process.
the BEEB barely mentioned it, and instead concentrated on Hannah Miley who came in 5th!
to add further insult the pair then made passing references to possible performance enhancement in order to explain the Chinese girl's victory.

Very tawdry indeed.:mad:

Ha you complain about the BBC concentrating on their athlete, yet RTE refused to show live swimming this evening and had a repeat of our boxers fights on.

Richard Hillman · 29-07-2012 02:03AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Ireland's hopes seem firmly set on Katie. Surely to christ we can bring something else home, when you look at countries with a similar population to us like New Zealand and Norway its embarrassing how badly we fair in the medal haul.

Its a very poor record. What i think is worst is that we have only won medals in 4 different events; Boxing, Athletics, Sailing and Swimming (although the swimming medals are very tainted). Im watching the Olympics and all the different events cursing that i wasted so much of my youth playing football. Out of those 4 events we excel at Boxing but we cant compete at Athletics anymore because of our genetics. We can compete at sailing but in Swimming we dont have a sufficeint swimming programme to compete Internationally. The likes of the Aussies, Americans and Chinese are competing at a high level in secondary school. How many secondary schools in Ireland even have swimming pools? We've only had a full size swimming pool in Ireland just over 10 years.

In Ireland we tend to brush aside people who are not good at football, GAA or rugby and just tar them as "not naturaly sporty". In my school all we did for PE was play football. People who didnt like football just sat it out. I would imagine that is replicated all over the country. How many people that sit out PE every week in Ireland would be good at the likes of Archery, Badminton, Fencing or Judo?

We need to lower the emphasis on the trinity of Football, GAA and Rugby and make more sports accessable.

Happyman42 · 29-07-2012 02:05AM

Beefy78 wrote: »

The thing is that you're right in your criticism but completely out in your assumption of the reasons.

BBC Sports coverage is categorised not by an arrogant assumption that the Brits will win everything, but by a general lack of knowledge of most of the rest of the field.

They have the resources to bring in experts, and they had them. They just weren't interested in anything other than victory.

RTE are no better for it , by the way. RTE panels tend to argue amongst themselves about whose ill-informed opinion is least far away from the facts but that's the only real difference.

RTE almost always has one person on the panel who calls it right. They set the panel up so that there is a range of opinion. Which is the correct and professional thing to do, regardless of what you think of the individual 'experts' opinion.

SharpshooterTom · 29-07-2012 02:05AM

Samich wrote: »

Ha you complain about the BBC concentrating on their athlete, yet RTE refused to show live swimming this evening and had a repeat of our boxers fights on.

Yeah thats bad and stupid. I guess the great thing about the BBC's coverage is that there are so many channels you can easily avoid the hype of British athletes that compete haha.

Seriously though there's an Irish guy on a British forum laying into their hype and its just turned into a mature debate, no ones calling him a little irelander etc infact some people are agreeing with him.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1704386

He's getting less of hostile reaction that he would on here!

goodie2shoes · 29-07-2012 02:07AM

bwatson wrote: »

Got any links which show that the globe has already formed a very poor opinion of this a 16 day sporting marathon after one day of competition?

Does the fact that Britain has over the last few years developed a sense of identity and self-confidence scare you?

outside the Brit controlled media, there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of interest let alone hype. just Google it.
here's a quote from Forbes,

"The firework display of the glowing rings in the brief video above was thrilling and well-executed, but otherwise, this evening’s opening ceremony from the Olympics in London was positively cringe-inducing. I’m sure some of the less self-conscious performers were having a good time, but some must have wondered why they were there.

Unlike the awesome (and a bit terrifying) display of synchronized drumming and acrobatics from the Beijing games in 2008, that attempted to symbolize the entire Chinese industrial economy, there was no obvious talent or social organization in the London mob. The overwhelming feeling was of a desperate mediocrity. And it was boring."

the comments from contributors were equally damning.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/07/27/london-olympics-the-most-embarrasing-opening-ceremony/

i suppose you'll be tellin me now the Yanks are frightened by your new-found self-belief! LOL!;)

Happyman42 · 29-07-2012 02:08AM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Expectation was high, 1-2 in the TdF. Cavendish taking his tally of stage wins to 23, including 4 in a row on the Champs-Élysées.

Yes....

British cyclists are programmed to win

:rolleyes:

Samich · 29-07-2012 02:13AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Its a very poor record. What i think is worst is that we have only won medals in 4 different events; Boxing, Athletics, Sailing and Swimming (although the swimming medals are very tainted). Im watching the Olympics and all the different events cursing that i wasted so much of my youth playing football. Out of those 4 events we excel at Boxing but we cant compete at Athletics anymore because of our genetics. We can compete at sailing but in Swimming we dont have a sufficeint swimming programme to compete Internationally. The likes of the Aussies, Americans and Chinese are competing at a high level in secondary school. How many secondary schools in Ireland even have swimming pools? We've only had a full size swimming pool in Ireland just over 10 years.

In Ireland we tend to brush aside people who are not good at football, GAA or rugby and just tar them as "not naturaly sporty". In my school all we did for PE was play football. People who didnt like football just sat it out. I would imagine that is replicated all over the country. How many people that sit out PE every week in Ireland would be good at the likes of Archery, Badminton, Fencing or Judo?

We need to lower the emphasis on the trinity of Football, GAA and Rugby and make more sports accessable.

We did badminton, bitta shotput and there was cross country done for the province too. I think it's a shortage of athletics clubs around the place.

I'd have loved to have played badminton or table tennis.

Samich · 29-07-2012 02:15AM

Nice hot blonde on BBC 1 now too

bwatson · 29-07-2012 02:16AM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

outside the Brit controlled media, there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of interest let alone hype. just Google it.
here's a quote from Forbes,

"The firework display of the glowing rings in the brief video above was thrilling and well-executed, but otherwise, this evening’s opening ceremony from the Olympics in London was positively cringe-inducing. I’m sure some of the less self-conscious performers were having a good time, but some must have wondered why they were there.

Unlike the awesome (and a bit terrifying) display of synchronized drumming and acrobatics from the Beijing games in 2008, that attempted to symbolize the entire Chinese industrial economy, there was no obvious talent or social organization in the London mob. The overwhelming feeling was of a desperate mediocrity. And it was boring."

the comments from contributors were equally damning.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/07/27/london-olympics-the-most-embarrasing-opening-ceremony/

i suppose you'll be tellin me now the Yanks are frightened by your new-found self-belief! LOL!;)

If that is the opinion of a certain number of Americans, then fair play to them. It was a uniquely British spectacle and if it didn't hit the spot for those Americans then we move on. Because I tell you, they certainly will have. Right at this moment they probably couldn't care less about the opening ceremony. We are so incredibly insignificant to them that their attention will have switched firmly to their medal hopes. The creativity and production value of the ceremony (or lack of it depending on your viewpoint) don't matter to most any more who couldnt give a toss about Britain. Then we come to you... Full of disdain, full of mockery, yet still utterly fixated. Something more must be going on there.

More to the point though, you have suggested that "the Yanks" were completely unenthused by the whole affair, suggesting that as a nation they unanimously laughed and mocked London's attempt to put on a show. The reaction from many of their large (larger than Forbes) media outlets would suggest this isn't quite the case though.

goodie2shoes · 29-07-2012 02:20AM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Ireland are really hit and miss at sports, sometimes they overproduce, like in Rugby and Golf, but can't produce a single tennis player. Heck they're even better are cricket then they are tennis.

yes cycling is another good example, of how we produced 2 world beaters during the '80s and very little of note thereafter.

don't get me wrong i wish the Brits well, but the tabloidesque (is that a word?) flag-waving is both amateurish & nauseating.

and as me granny used to say "self praise is no praise"

Nite!:)

Jimoslimos · 29-07-2012 02:22AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Its a very poor record. What i think is worst is that we have only won medals in 4 different events; Boxing, Athletics, Sailing and Swimming (although the swimming medals are very tainted). Im watching the Olympics and all the different events cursing that i wasted so much of my youth playing football. Out of those 4 events we excel at Boxing but we cant compete at Athletics anymore because of our genetics. We can compete at sailing but in Swimming we dont have a sufficeint swimming programme to compete Internationally. The likes of the Aussies, Americans and Chinese are competing at a high level in secondary school. How many secondary schools in Ireland even have swimming pools? We've only had a full size swimming pool in Ireland just over 10 years.

In Ireland we tend to brush aside people who are not good at football, GAA or rugby and just tar them as "not naturaly sporty". In my school all we did for PE was play football. People who didnt like football just sat it out. I would imagine that is replicated all over the country. How many people that sit out PE every week in Ireland would be good at the likes of Archery, Badminton, Fencing or Judo?

We need to lower the emphasis on the trinity of Football, GAA and Rugby and make more sports accessable.

Other sports, tend to cost a lot more, whether in terms of equipment or technical training. It's much easier to throw a ball to some kids and say 'kick'.

London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

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