London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

garv123 · 31-07-2012 04:01PM

Samich wrote: »

I thought they called her Nicky?

could have, he hadn't a clue about the sport so he probably didn't even know who she was

Pudsy33 · 31-07-2012 04:01PM

Samich wrote: »

garv123 wrote: »

Chloe magee.. The player you were watching

I thought they called her Nicky?

Need to get those ears checked samich

hypersquirrel · 31-07-2012 04:01PM

Lapin wrote: »

I'm quite calm.

I just have a low tolerance to horse shít when I hear it.

I'm no expert on Badminton, but is 23 considered young for the game?

BTW, I wasn't trying to single out Magee there, my gripe is with the commentators and their back slapping, gallant performance, better luck next time response.

Call it as it is, we're not good enough. We weren't 4 years ago and won't be in 4 years time.

In 2008 if we go per capita we won more medals than the US. Our boxers are doing well, Our Badminton players were knocked out by the world number 1 and the world number 4, Annalise Murphy is doing brilliantly in the sailing. Aoife Clark finished 6th out of 74 in the eventing competing against people in their 6th and 7th Olympics.

I think you are confusing back slapping with supporting hard work and commiserating bad luck.

Samich · 31-07-2012 04:02PM

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Need to get those ears checked samich

I was nearly sure he said Nicky McGee :pac: And thought that was a funny little name :P

statesaver · 31-07-2012 04:02PM

Lapin wrote: »

I'm quite calm.

I just have a low tolerance to horse shít when I hear it.

I'm no expert on Badminton, but is 23 considered young for the game?

BTW, I wasn't trying to single out Magee there, my gripe is with the commentators and their back slapping, gallant performance, better luck next time response.

Call it as it is, we're not good enough. We weren't 4 years ago and won't be in 4 years time.

I agree with you. But maybe we could leave all that for the post mortem after the games. I'm just sitting back enjoying their performances but onces it's over i'll be as citical as anyone else.

keano_afc · 31-07-2012 04:02PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

most of the stuff we are god at is fairly cheap
Boxing
Middle distance running
Sailing
Dressage (it's already paid for by the Army)

Well I agree on the sailing. We're surrounded by water and it pisses rain all the time. You'd think we have more than one medal to show for all our efforts down the years.

Shryke · 31-07-2012 04:11PM

keith16 wrote: »

Really encapsulates the 'ah shure it's grand, next time, next time" and "shure we should be happy to even be here" attitude we have.

Roy Keane makes some very good points around this - albeit at very inappropriate times. I do think he is on to something though. We shouldn't be happy with just being there, going along for the sing song so to speak.

I thought Roy made some measured and carefully worded comments and I saw nothing wrong in anything he said. I was a little bit impressed if anything. That's going down another road.

I think commentators can take whatever kind of flippant attitude they want but its claiming successes of individuals that received no support from the state that rubs me wrong. I know that Irish pride and state funding are two entirely different things but it doesn't make it right that athletes should have no support and then be held as home grown national treasures only if they succeed, and after putting all of the effort in themselves.
It's a more complex thing than simple annoyance with me. I have great pride in all our competitors but I feel really badly too when I know the country could have done better by them.

Anyway, Olympics, Woo!

Lapin · 31-07-2012 04:11PM

hypersquirrel wrote: »

In 2008 if we go per capita we won more medals than the US. Our boxers are doing well, Our Badminton players were knocked out by the world number 1 and the world number 4, Annalise Murphy is doing brilliantly in the sailing. Aoife Clark finished 6th out of 74 in the eventing competing against people in their 6th and 7th Olympics.

I think you are confusing back slapping with supporting hard work and commiserating bad luck.

statesaver wrote: »

I agree with you. But maybe we could leave all that for the post mortem after the games. I'm just sitting back enjoying their performances but onces it's over i'll be as citical as anyone else.

Fair points, although as I said earlier, my criticism was directed more towards the commentary of the performances than the participants themselves.

I'm actually enjoying the games immensely !

tayto lover · 31-07-2012 04:11PM

Very disappointed in our Showjumpers. Surely with our history of great horses and horsemanship we should be doing far better in this sport. There seems to be a lot of money thrown at it too.
I wonder would our horseracing jockeys be any good at showjumping.

cgpg5 · 31-07-2012 04:14PM

Hard luck to Magee only caught the last set but the French girl was a level above her when it came to the important stage at the 3rd quarter.

Novak Djokovic is putting on an absolute exhibition on centre court v A.Rod one of the most complete tennis performances you will ever see.

Roll on the swimming later, two golds for Phelps?

statesaver · 31-07-2012 04:19PM

I don't have Sky Sports but do they have any coverage of the Olympics ?

Will be happy if the answer is NO

3ndahalfof6 · 31-07-2012 04:21PM

I hope the Brits win some golds soon, I don't think I can take much more of the bronze medallists, ( I am glad they got it I just hope the media don't beat the sheit out of it).

cricketfan · 31-07-2012 04:21PM

hypersquirrel wrote: »

In 2008 if we go per capita we won more medals than the US. Our boxers are doing well, Our Badminton players were knocked out by the world number 1 and the world number 4, Annalise Murphy is doing brilliantly in the sailing. Aoife Clark finished 6th out of 74 in the eventing competing against people in their 6th and 7th Olympics.

I think you are confusing back slapping with supporting hard work and commiserating bad luck.

I said earlier in the thread that our funding for sports has historically generally been poor and we have only looked inward and tended to only concentrate on Gaelic games for the last 60/70 years. I remember discussing this at work from 2000 onwards after the Irish media started to take a bitter stance towards home performances at successive games. They took the same line after Athens in 2004.

I just don't think there was ever any serious political will to invest in sporting academies like other countries, nurturing young talent etc. I really do feel all those boys and girls in London at the moment competing for Team Ireland have done a tremendous job just to get there. If they had any serious backing from the government over the last 10/15 years, we would be reaping the rewards now.

keith16 · 31-07-2012 04:22PM

Shryke wrote: »

I thought Roy made some measured and carefully worded comments and I saw nothing wrong in anything he said. I was a little bit impressed if anything. That's going down another road.

I think commentators can take whatever kind of flippant attitude they want but its claiming successes of individuals that received no support from the state that rubs me wrong. I know that Irish pride and state funding are two entirely different things but it doesn't make it right that athletes should have no support and then be held as home grown national treasures only if they succeed, and after putting all of the effort in themselves.
It's a more complex thing than simple annoyance with me. I have great pride in all our competitors but I feel really badly too when I know the country could have done better by them.

Anyway, Olympics, Woo!

100% agree. It seems we are happy to claim those "once in a life-time" athletes that come along by accident of birth more than anything else, rather than cultivate an environment of sporting excellence and development.

goodie2shoes · 31-07-2012 04:24PM

after watching the BBC coverage i'm getting the distinct feeling that somebody has burst their bubble.

looking at the medals table i'm not surprised. they are currently standing a lowly 20th, behind such Olympic heavyweights as Kazakhstan, Lithuania & Georgia.

similar countries like France, Italy, Holland and Germany are showing 'em a clean pair of heels.

maybe the pressure/expectations of being the hosts is beginning to tell?

any thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries

cgpg5 · 31-07-2012 04:26PM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

after watching the BBC coverage i'm getting the distinct feeling that somebody has burst their bubble.

looking at the medals table i'm not surprised. they are currently standing a lowly 20th, behind such Olympic heavyweights as Kazakhstan, Lithuania & Georgia.

similar countries like France, Italy, Holland and Germany are showing 'em a clean pair of heels.

maybe the pressure/expectations of being the hosts is beginning to tell?

any thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries

Seriously wait for track cycling/Athletics!

Samich · 31-07-2012 04:27PM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

after watching the BBC coverage i'm getting the distinct feeling that somebody has burst their bubble.

looking at the medals table i'm not surprised. they are currently standing a lowly 20th, behind such Olympic heavyweights as Kazakhstan, Lithuania & Georgia.

similar countries like France, Italy, Holland and Germany are showing 'em a clean pair of heels.

maybe the pressure/expectations of being the hosts is beginning to tell?

any thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries

We're only in the 4th day yet. DOubt there would have been too many certs for medals in the sports so far.

Tennis, rowing, cycling, athletics medals still to come.

opinion guy · 31-07-2012 04:28PM

Anyone else sick of the horsie ****e ?

Why is this even in the olympics ? Its a sport accessible to aobut 0.5% of the worlds population or less. Its hardly as impressive to do well as something like running that literally anyone out of 7billion can do. There is some Ozzie dude in his 7th olympics:eek: and aiming for an 8th. Most of the competitors come from families of previous olympic horsie people. The Queens grand daugther is in it.

Elitist tripe. Surely not in keeping with the olympic spirit of bringing sport fo the masses ?

3ndahalfof6 · 31-07-2012 04:31PM

opinion guy wrote: »

Anyone else sick of the horsie ****e ?

Why is this even in the olympics ? Its a sport accessible to aobut 0.5% of the worlds population or less. Its hardly as impressive to do well as something like running that literally anyone out of 7billion can do. There is some Ozzie dude in his 7th olympics:eek: and aiming for an 8th. Most of the competitors come from families of previous olympic horsie people. The Queens grand daugther is in it.

Elitist tripe. Surely not in keeping with the olympic spirit of bringing sport fo the masses ?

Its all about the horses you know, otherwise they would get eaten,

now who wants that, bun joor mise.

Mint Sauce · 31-07-2012 04:34PM

opinion guy wrote: »

Anyone else sick of the horsie ****e ?

Why is this even in the olympics ? Its a sport accessible to aobut 0.5% of the worlds population or less. Its hardly as impressive to do well as something like running that literally anyone out of 7billion can do. There is some Ozzie dude in his 7th olympics:eek: and aiming for an 8th. Most of the competitors come from families of previous olympic horsie people. The Queens grand daugther is in it.

Elitist tripe. Surely not in keeping with the olympic spirit of bringing sport fo the masses ?

Am I the only thinking that it should be the Horse that gets the medal.

keith16 · 31-07-2012 04:35PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Am I the only thinking that it should be the Horse that gets the medal.

If a horse can take drugs then surely it can wear a medal.

opinion guy · 31-07-2012 04:37PM

lol

"If this doesn't go well they could always become jockeys"

BraziliaNZ · 31-07-2012 04:38PM

Great event on now, women's team gymnast or whatever it's called! USA hot favourites but I'm up for the Russians

Beefy78 · 31-07-2012 04:39PM

goodie2shoes wrote: »

after watching the BBC coverage i'm getting the distinct feeling that somebody has burst their bubble.

looking at the medals table i'm not surprised. they are currently standing a lowly 20th, behind such Olympic heavyweights as Kazakhstan, Lithuania & Georgia.

similar countries like France, Italy, Holland and Germany are showing 'em a clean pair of heels.

maybe the pressure/expectations of being the hosts is beginning to tell?

any thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/medals/countries

Why do you care? Have you made a single contribution to this thread that isn't a dig at the British?

There are 205 nations competing at these games so why do you only comment on the medals collected by one of them?

I know I shouldn't rise to your trolling but here we are.

As Boris said earlier, we're being gracious hosts in letting everyone else win

statesaver · 31-07-2012 04:41PM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Great event on now, women's team gymnast or whatever it's called! USA hot favourites but I'm up for the Russians

China usually good at this

keith16 · 31-07-2012 04:41PM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Great event on now, women's team gymnast or whatever it's called! USA hot favourites but I'm up for the Russians

In Soviet Russia, parallel bars swing on YOU!

flikflak · 31-07-2012 04:42PM

statesaver wrote: »

I don't have Sky Sports but do they have any coverage of the Olympics ?

Will be happy if the answer is NO

No, I dont think so. They do however carry the extra BBC channels which can be accessed through the red button. Every sport in HD through it.

tayto lover · 31-07-2012 04:43PM

Those Chinese gymnasts are amazing but i have seen bigger kids coming out of creches. They are bred to be gymnasts and have their growth stunted so it's a bit cruel.

BraziliaNZ · 31-07-2012 04:43PM

God these Chinese girls are so tiny

goodie2shoes · 31-07-2012 04:45PM

cgpg5 wrote: »

Seriously wait for track cycling/Athletics!

absolutely they should be picking up a few Golds in these events, but in many of the events where you would have expected them to collect more they have produced very little/nothing. eg diving, babminton, swimming, archery, judo, shooting, fencing.

Don't get me wrong i wasn't expecting them to sweep the boards, but not even 1 Gold so far is not good imo, especially when compared with similar countries such as France or Germany.

London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

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