London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

keith16 · 04-08-2012 11:20PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Yes but the athletes weren't competing for Russia. Are the medals from that era won by athletes from other former Soviet states recognised as Soviet, Russian or Kazak/Georgian/Estonian/etc?

Plus I think some of the events, sailing maybe? were held in what is now modern Estonia

yeah, the sailing was held in Tallin. Or "little Moscow" as it was known then.

Jorah · 04-08-2012 11:20PM

donfers wrote: »

their whole coverage has been a bit carried away

i don't blame them though, loads of medals and olympics in London for first time in over 60 years and great stadia and atmosphere

oh and by the way before someone jumps in and says we'd be exactly the same, i know that already - i just think it should be acknowledged that they do get very carried away, countless examples and not just in the olympic coverage, the news reports are terrible for it and it should really open your eyes to how news media frame stories relating to current affairs too

saying stuff like a drug cheat won the road race, saying when pendleton won her second gold that her rivals didn't get the lucky repreive of her being disqualified this time, just throwing in sneaky smug disrespectful little comments all the time - particularly in the road race where they seemed dismayed the peloton didn't just let cavendish win

booing the australians at the rowing, booing the uruguayan national anthemn, 2 of their boxers getting through when they were clobbered around the ring, one of their sailors acting like he's the terminator and claiming he was certain he didn't break the rules but then not being so certain he'd let the judges decide, one of their cyclists deliberatly falling over to force a restart and more stuff like this

they won 6 gold medals today and they should be rightly delighted with themselves but let's not pretend amid all the celebrations and parties and propoganda that some of what has gone on is not beyond criticism

i realise saying the above isn't going to very well-received or fashionable right now but we must be objective in our analysis particularly when the tempation is strongest to get caught up in the swirl of media hype and nationalistic fervour from our neighbours

well done team GB but the greatest of us recognise our failings even in truimph

oh and yes i am bitter and jealous that we have no medals yet and they have loads:(

LOL cry baby.

mike65 · 04-08-2012 11:21PM

The Aussies have decided that silver is the new gold

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/olympics/live-blog-london-2012/live-coverage-london-olympics-day-8-20120804-23mam.html

Silver Medal SILVER MEDAL TALLY
— AT END OF DAY 8

16 — China*
16 — Russia
13 — USA
12 — Australia
10 — Japan

keith16 · 04-08-2012 11:21PM

Jorah wrote: »

LOL cry baby.

off to bed with you

fryup · 04-08-2012 11:21PM

you know the British are getting so euphoric & jingoistic that i'm half afraid that they might start invading other people's countries again

hope the irish navy are on standby:eek:

My name is URL · 04-08-2012 11:23PM

How come India have historically won so few medals at the Olympics? Ireland have actually won more than them =/

Considering the size of their population you'd imagine that they'd have won far more. Maybe they're just too laid back to take it as seriously as other places.

namloc1980 · 04-08-2012 11:24PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Yeah yeah, I know host city not country but Moscow was part of the USSR in 1980

Moscow is, was and always has been in Russia. Russia was the largest Republic during the Soviet Union era.

johnmcdnl · 04-08-2012 11:25PM

My name is URL wrote: »

How come India have historically won so few medals at the Olympics? Ireland have actually won more than them =/

Considering the size of their population you'd imagine that they'd have won far more. Maybe they're just too laid back to take it as seriously as other places.

Cricket taking all the stars rabble rabble :P

el diablo · 04-08-2012 11:27PM

What a difference a year makes, eh. (Almost) this time last year London was on fire with the riots.

bwatson · 04-08-2012 11:27PM

donfers wrote: »

their whole coverage has been a bit carried away

i don't blame them though, loads of medals and olympics in London for first time in over 60 years and great stadia and atmosphere

oh and by the way before someone jumps in and says we'd be exactly the same, i know that already - i just think it should be acknowledged that they do get very carried away, countless examples and not just in the olympic coverage, the news reports are terrible for it and it should really open your eyes to how news media frame stories relating to current affairs too

saying stuff like a drug cheat won the road race, saying when pendleton won her second gold that her rivals didn't get the lucky repreive of her being disqualified this time, just throwing in sneaky smug disrespectful little comments all the time - particularly in the road race where they seemed dismayed the peloton didn't just let cavendish win

booing the australians at the rowing, booing the uruguayan national anthemn, 2 of their boxers getting through when they were clobbered around the ring, one of their sailors acting like he's the terminator and claiming he was certain he didn't break the rules but then not being so certain he'd let the judges decide, one of their cyclists deliberatly falling over to force a restart and more stuff like this

they won 6 gold medals today and they should be rightly delighted with themselves but let's not pretend amid all the celebrations and parties and propoganda that some of what has gone on is not beyond criticism

i realise saying the above isn't going to very well-received or fashionable right now but we must be objective in our analysis particularly when the tempation is strongest to get caught up in the swirl of media hype and nationalistic fervour from our neighbours

well done team GB but the greatest of us recognise our failings even in truimph

oh and yes i am bitter and jealous that we have no medals yet and they have loads:(

I'd have to pull you up on one thing there;

Ben Ainslie doesn't act like the Terminator, the Terminator acts like he's Ben Ainslie :P

robinph · 04-08-2012 11:28PM

namloc1980 wrote: »

Moscow is, was and always has been in Russia. Russia was the largest Republic during the Soviet Union era.

Russia have not been a competing IOC recognised country until something like 1994 though. Before that it was Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

Edit: But it was a stupid question anyway because of things like the multiple Russias and Germanys that have competed in the Olympics over the years will only ever result in confusion and arguments.

Diego Maradona · 04-08-2012 11:29PM

If there is one thing I will take from this olympics it's this word...."jingoistic".

WumBuster · 04-08-2012 11:31PM

mike65 wrote: »

The Aussies have decided that silver is the new gold

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/olympics/live-blog-london-2012/live-coverage-london-olympics-day-8-20120804-23mam.html

Im surprised with the Aussies with only one gold so far. They are normally up there in the top four or five. From living there for a time I know how much this would hurt them and how seriously they take their different sports and how high expectations they set for their athletes when they perform at the olympics.

delaad · 04-08-2012 11:31PM

Colmustard wrote: »

I won't watch the Olympic mens football I don't regard it as an Olympic event, women's yes because they are all amateurs, I have the same attitude to the tennis.

And, what about Athletics?

robinph · 04-08-2012 11:31PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

If there is one thing I will take from this olympics it's this word...."jingoistic".

Watch the RTE coverage then.

Jimoslimos · 04-08-2012 11:31PM

namloc1980 wrote: »

Moscow is, was and always has been in Russia. Russia was the largest Republic during the Soviet Union era.

So, are these current Olympics taking place in;

a) London, GB & NI
b) London, England

namloc1980 · 04-08-2012 11:34PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

If there is one thing I will take from this olympics it's this word...."jingoistic".

Seriously you can take that from EVERY Olympics. Beijing in 2008 was just one big Chinese nationalistic exhibition. The Yanks in LA in 1984 and in 1996 were sickening...seems like you just have a problem with the Brits having a bit of success.

Pherekydes · 04-08-2012 11:34PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

So, are these current Olympics taking place in;

a) London, GB & NI
b) London, England

London, England, the UK, the EU, Europe, NATO, Earth.

namloc1980 · 04-08-2012 11:35PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

So, are these current Olympics taking place in;

a) London, GB & NI
b) London, England

Both. However the UK is not a federation unlike the USSR.

fryup · 04-08-2012 11:35PM

el diablo wrote: »

What a difference a year makes, eh. (Almost) this time last year London was on fire with the riots.

and now its on fire in a different sense

Diego Maradona · 04-08-2012 11:35PM

namloc1980 wrote: »

Seriously you can take that from EVERY Olympics. Beijing in 2008 was just one big Chinese nationalistic exhibition. The Yanks in LA in 1984 and in 1996 were sickening...seems like you just have a problem with the Brits having a bit of success.

WTF?

Pherekydes · 04-08-2012 11:37PM

delaad wrote: »

And, what about Athletics?

The Olympics have always been the pinnacle of an athlete's career.

What does Roger Federer want more, a Gold medal or one of the four grand slam tournaments?

Which do soccer players want to win? Olympic gold or the Premier League?

Basketballers: NBA or Olympic gold?

mike65 · 04-08-2012 11:38PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

If there is one thing I will take from this olympics it's this word...."jingoistic".

robinph wrote: »

Watch the RTE coverage then.

namloc1980 wrote: »

Seriously you can take that from EVERY Olympics. Beijing in 2008 was just one big Chinese nationalistic exhibition. The Yanks in LA in 1984 and in 1996 were sickening...seems like you just have a problem with the Brits having a bit of success.

Diego Maradona wrote: »

WTF?

Calm down everyone!

keith16 · 04-08-2012 11:42PM

Diego Maradona wrote: »

WTF?

Listen, lay off Diego. He's just referring to the fact that he has learned this word.

A lot of people jumping in here without knowing the context.

keith16 · 04-08-2012 11:44PM

robinph wrote: »

Russia have not been a competing IOC recognised country until something like 1994 though. Before that it was Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

Edit: But it was a stupid question anyway because of things like the multiple Russias and Germanys that have competed in the Olympics over the years will only ever result in confusion and arguments.

Stupid question? Bit harsh. I mentioned it as a piece of trivia .. And so what if it results in arguments, is that not part of the essence of discussion boards?

mike65 · 04-08-2012 11:47PM

Someone was banging on about the BBC being partial in its coverage, and no one else getting a mention for their achievements, how others are better blah blah blah - well check this for a front page of Olympic reporting from the USAs paper of record The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics

Pherekydes · 04-08-2012 11:48PM

robinph wrote: »

Russia have not been a competing IOC recognised country until something like 1994 though. Before that it was Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

Edit: But it was a stupid question anyway because of things like the multiple Russias and Germanys that have competed in the Olympics over the years will only ever result in confusion and arguments.

It's not stupid. It's clear-cut. You can reassign Soviet medals here and there and argue over the Germanys till the cows come home, but it won't change the fact that Hungary are top of the gold medal table for non-hosts.

keith16 · 04-08-2012 11:48PM

robinph wrote: »

Watch the RTE coverage then.

Try reading his post.

bob50 · 04-08-2012 11:52PM

WumBuster wrote: »

We are a small country. We only produce probably one or two world class athletes every ten years or so. Roche/kelly in the 80's, Sonia in the 90's, Katie taylor in the noughties to present.

Yes agree except Sonia Ok she won silver in Sydney in 2000 but thats all

But why are we sending Athletes to the olympics ?? who are never going to get anywhere i.e swimmers excepting our finest Michelle Smith Athletics even equestrian where we have fantastic horses we just arent at the races excuse the pun

LordSutch · 04-08-2012 11:54PM

Is Katie Taylor the hot favourite for Gold on Monday, or would it be the case that any colour medal would do? is she the fave to win?

London 2012 Megathread [Part 1]

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