The London 2012 Olympics: Sports discussion

[gba93]

Something that will probably slip under the radar but
MANY CONGRATULATIONS
to the Woman's Rhythmic Gynastics Team !!!!!
They had to finance themselves (at least £80,000) and fight a court case to get to appear at London 2012 on a Home Country place and, although they didn't get anywhere near the medal places, they did come 11th out of 12 (when everyone including, probably British Gymnastics, expected them to come last).

The team of Annie Bartlett, Georgina Cassar, Louisa Pouli, Francesca Fox, Jade Faulkner, Lynne Hutchison, Rachel Smith did themselves, and Team GB, proud (if you want proof watch their routine).

Best wishes to them and their coach and good luck for the future - there's much more to come.

Doesn't their 11th place finish justify the lack on interest and funding from UK Sport?

[gba93]

Originally Posted by Damien

Doesn't their 11th place finish justify the lack on interest and funding from UK Sport?

If everyone took that view our Artistic Gymnastics team would never have got the funding a few years ago that brought us medals at London 2012 - if you've got a group of girls, coaches and parents like this (who are prepared to invest their own time and money) and they can achieve what they did (again look at their performance if you doubt me) then how much more is possible with the injection of funding and encouragement.
They deserve all the congratulations they get and I, for one, am looking forward to Rio 2016 to see what they can achieve there.

[Shadow Demon UK]

I went to the athletics last night. It was a fantastic experience, got to see some great athletes, unfortunately no British medals, but its still a night i will remember for a very long time. I am proud of the British athletes and how they have performed but now even more so of the volunteers working in the olympic park and stadium. They really are brilliant and deserve all the praise they have been given, i didn't see one without a smile on their face and they were all really helpful and happy.

We had great seats in the stadium, right next to the flame...

[carlwaring]

I always preferred watching these things on TV as thought that you would be able to see so much but actually, that's not a bad view

How far up were you, roughly? (I would imagine those at the very top of the stadium don't see too much!)

Originally Posted by gba93

If everyone took that view our Artistic Gymnastics team would never have got the funding a few years ago that brought us medals at London 2012 - if you've got a group of girls, coaches and parents like this (who are prepared to invest their own time and money) and they can achieve what they did (again look at their performance if you doubt me) then how much more is possible with the injection of funding and encouragement.
They deserve all the congratulations they get and I, for one, am looking forward to Rio 2016 to see what they can achieve there.

Yeah but they were offered a chance to qualify and failed to get to the standard required didn't they? This is why they had such a hard time getting into the Olympics because the British Gymnastic association didn't put them forward as a result. Their performance (2nd from last) suggests this wasn't a poor decision and they are unlikely to get much funding to come.

There will be a cull of certain sports after these games. We're no longer the home nation and won't have as large a team going into 2016, naturally investment will be focused on sports where we can make an impact. Basketball and Handball are likely losers as well.

That's not to say that I don't admire their drive but I don't think the sporting authorities have any question to answer over their non-selection.

[gba93]

Originally Posted by Damien

Yeah but they were offered a chance to qualify and failed to get to the standard required didn't they? This is why they had such a hard time getting into the Olympics because the British Gymnastic association didn't put them forward as a result. Their performance (2nd from last) suggests this wasn't a poor decision and they are unlikely to get much funding to come.

There will be a cull of certain sports after these games. We're no longer the home nation and won't have as large a team going into 2016, naturally investment will be focused on sports where we can make an impact. Basketball and Handball are likely losers as well.

That's not to say that I don't admire their drive but I don't think the sporting authorities have any question to answer over their non-selection.

1) No they didn't fail to get the qualifying standard as the court hearing established
2) Given they got no funding I'm sure "not much funding" would be greatly appreciated
3) Of course the team for 2016 will be smaller but as cycling and judo have proven investing in the right people with desire, determination and commitment is the important thing
4) There are no questions to answer as they were selected (eventually)

[denphone]

Simply the greatest sprinter there has ever been.

[thenry]

yup. brilliant stuff

[gba93]

Originally Posted by denphone

Simply the greatest sprinter there has ever been.

I'll second that
but all respect to David Rudisha of Kenya - a stunning 800 metres run resulting in a World Record

[denphone]

Originally Posted by gba93

I'll second that
but all respect to David Rudisha of Kenya - a stunning 800 metres run resulting in a World Record

Yes l have to agree with you on David Rudisha as it was a brilliant performance and its just a matter of time before he goes under 100 seconds.

[gba93]

Congratulations to Jade Jones our new Taekwondo GOLD MEDAL winner

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

I always preferred watching these things on TV as thought that you would be able to see so much but actually, that's not a bad view

How far up were you, roughly? (I would imagine those at the very top of the stadium don't see too much!)

I was near the front of the second tier, about row 42 i think. It goes back to row 75 but i think you would still get a decent view from back there. The big screens help when the action is on the other side of the stadium.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Damien

Yeah but they were offered a chance to qualify and failed to get to the standard required didn't they? This is why they had such a hard time getting into the Olympics because the British Gymnastic association didn't put them forward as a result. Their performance (2nd from last) suggests this wasn't a poor decision and they are unlikely to get much funding to come.

There will be a cull of certain sports after these games. We're no longer the home nation and won't have as large a team going into 2016, naturally investment will be focused on sports where we can make an impact. Basketball and Handball are likely losers as well.

That's not to say that I don't admire their drive but I don't think the sporting authorities have any question to answer over their non-selection.

And shooting which we always do well in but as the guy on the beeb said, its funding has been stopped and rightly so. Why rightly so, I'm no fan of the sport particularly but for years now I've been hearing.and seeing these people labelled gun nuts in rags and on the Telly and frankly I'm sick of it, God knows how people who enjoy or used to participate in it put up with it.

first gold of the day goes to Ed McEeever in the 200mtr kayak