The London 2012 Olympics: Sports discussion - Page 6

danielf · 01-08-2012, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Is Phelps the greatest ever? I dislike measuring it in terms of medals since swimming has a absurd amount of different events which differ from each other only slightly (in comparison in Athletics where people have sprinting, hurdles, high jump and so on). Even having the chance to win 8 gold medal during a single Olympics is crazy.

Despite what I said earlier about Eric Heiden, I think Phelps probably is the greatest ever. Just look at Bejing. Even disregarding the relays, Phelps took Gold in 100 and 200 m Butterfly, 200m Freestyle, and the 200 and 400 m Individual medley. That's 3 distances, two strokes plus the medleys. You'd be hard pressed to find a track athlete that excels in the 100-400m range, and it's not that common for swimmers to compete over that range either. It's still tough to compare him to Heiden who won everything from 500m to 10,000m, but Heiden did that 30 years ago when people didn't specialise as much as they do these days. Then consider Phelps's haul in Athens, as well as London. So yes, I do think he is the greatest ever.

Itshim · 01-08-2012, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Olympics badminton: Four pairs charged with not trying.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677

Lets hope they all get thrown out.

Rule saying you have too? that`s a question there may well be one

Did not the same thing happen in that rowing "show" Bert and someone on The BBC the other night. Nothing is new.

danielf · 01-08-2012, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Olympics badminton: Four pairs charged with not trying.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19072677

Lets hope they all get thrown out.

Personally, I blame the format. What do you expect if teams can get an easier draw if they lose a match? It's not that different to a football team resting players for a game when they've already qualified. Or a relay team that fields lesser athletes for the heats. I think the organisers should come up with a format that doesn't incentivise a loss. This is four pairs out of the last eight, i.e. half the qualifying pairs. That should tell you something's wrong with the format.

mertle · 01-08-2012, 11:58

first to congrats amy oliver archery she ranked 37 just beat this morning world number 1 indian Deepika Kumari 6-2.

great result for GB. In the last 32

carlwaring · 01-08-2012, 12:00

And we just got our first GOLD for Women's Pair in Rowing

01-08-2012, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Personally, I blame the format. What do you expect if teams can get an easier draw if they lose a match? It's not that different to a football team resting players for a game when they've already qualified. Or a relay team that fields lesser athletes for the heats. I think the organisers should come up with a format that doesn't incentivise a loss. This is four pairs out of the last eight, i.e. half the qualifying pairs. That should tell you something's wrong with the format.

apparently this is the first year that we have had group stage format for badminton......... and i suspect the last

**Maggy** · 01-08-2012, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlwaring

And we just got our first GOLD for Women's Pair in Rowing

Terrific effort!

denphone · 01-08-2012, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlwaring

And we just got our first GOLD for Women's Pair in Rowing

Wonderful news.

danielf · 01-08-2012, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

apparently this is the first year that we have had group stage format for badminton......... and i suspect the last

I'm not so sure now: All eight have been disqualified:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...ified-olympics

denphone · 01-08-2012, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

I'm not so sure now: All eight have been disqualified:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...ified-olympics

The right decision.

danielf · 01-08-2012, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

The right decision.

I'm not so sure. We've lost 4 of the 8 quarter finalists, due to a format that incentivises losing. I think they need to look at the format, not the players.

denphone · 01-08-2012, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

I'm not so sure. We've lost 4 of the 8 quarter finalists, due to a format that incentivises losing. I think they need to look at the format, not the players.

Perhaps we do need to change the format dan but at the end of the day cheating is cheating and in a lot of peoples mind that what they did.

danielf · 01-08-2012, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Perhaps we do need to change the format dan but at the end of the day cheating is cheating and in a lot of peoples mind that what they did.

I don't consider it cheating, although what they did was rather blatant. There's plenty examples of athletes who don't perform at their best in races that don't matter too much in order to avoid showing the opposition how strong they really are. Are they cheats as well?

Is a football team that rests players for less important matches cheating?

I think you're better off thinking of a format where losing doesn't help.

**Maggy** · 01-08-2012, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

I don't consider it cheating, although what they did was rather blatant. There's plenty examples of athletes who don't perform at their best in races that don't matter too much in order to avoid showing the opposition how strong they really are. Are they cheats as well?

Is a football team that rests players for less important matches cheating?

I think you're better off thinking of a format where losing doesn't help.

It hardly epitomises the Olympic ideal though does it? So I think it's the right result..Format or not they had a duty to do their best and they patently didn't.

After all the Athletes oath is

Quote:

"In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these
Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the
true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."

danielf · 01-08-2012, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It hardly epitomises the Olympic ideal though does it? So I think it's the right result..Format or not they had a duty to do their best and they patently didn't.

After all the Athletes oath is

True, but the question also is if we're now seeing the best Athletes competing for the medals. Not having the best Athletes isn't exactly in the Olympic spirit either is it?