[Jeff Albertson]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is?

Just curious really after the discussion about the bikes today

[Kjellson]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is? Just curious really after the discussion about the bikes today

Does horse count?

[Randdalf]

Basketball works because big national match stages are rare. Football is so pointless, even with the age limit. It's not the highlight of anything. Get football out. No one wants to sit through this tournament really. I can't get myself to watch a whole match, even the final. Now that the women had a massively successful world championship there's no need for women's football either. OUT.

Actually, the most recent match with the GB women's team had the highest attendance (70,000) of any post-war women's football match.

Football should not go, why should the most popular sport in the world not be contested in the largest sporting championship in the world? Nobody watches it because usually there are only 3 players worth watching in each team, and because there are other bigger football tournaments where we can see all the best players. The Olympics has been traditionally been more about events that don't see much coverage outside of the Olympics like track & field and swimming any way, but that doesn't mean sports like football shouldn't be in the games. It's a small event in comparison to other football tournaments, but it still counts.

[tino]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is? Just curious really after the discussion about the bikes today

Probably those boats, or competition horse?

[Bo-Locks]

Fuck yeah. The coolest looking Olympic events. Tell that to the people who paid big money to watch actual matches. And, well, no. Stuff like this isn't "smart" anything. It's just a way of crapping all over everything the Olympics are supposed to represent.

Coolest venue, too.

[Dynopia]

Fun fact of the day:

12,602 athletes competing at the games, only 20 are openly gay lol

[duderon]

Missed seeing that women's archery finals are tomorrow. So fun to watch.

[Kjellson]

What time is the archery finals?

[weekend_warrior]

im sorry but throwing matches to get favorable seeds is smart mechanics. its the stupid round system thats in place is whats wrong. it was even more interesting that in the indonesia vs korea match both teams were deliberately trying to lose. it was like that malcom in the middle episode where they were trying to lose in billards. anytime there is META like this its just makes it more amazing.

The disqualification seems a lot more appropriate after actually seeing them "play".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsjDEGPIIZo

[zero_suit]

Fun fact of the day: 12,602 athletes competing at the games, only 20 are openly gay lol

Uh huh, I wonder what's happening in the village.

[Jeff Albertson]

Fun fact of the day: 12,602 athletes competing at the games, only 20 are openly gay lol

Any stats on the male / female divide in that 20 or the sports they compete in?

Just be interesting to see a breakdown, also there are probably more openly gay but just not known about

[Dynopia]

Uh huh, I wonder what's happening in the village.

Indeed, I'd add another 2 0's to the end :-P

[Napoleonthechimp]

What were the Chinese reactions to the badminton disqualifications? I'm always interested in hearing how they react to things like this.

[Dynopia]

Any stats on the male / female divide in that 20 or the sports they compete in? Just be interesting to see a breakdown, also there are probably more openly gay but just not known about

3 Men, 17 Female, 1 Team GB and 1 Team Aus, 1 Team Netherlands.

Matthew Mitcham (Australia, diving);
Edward Gal (Netherlands, equestrian);
Lisa Raymond (U.S., doubles tennis);
Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling);
Seimone Augustus (U.S., basketball);
Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing);
Megan Rapinoe (U.S. soccer);
Marilyn Agliotti (Netherlands, field hockey);
Carl Hester (Britian, equestrian);
Carlien Dirkse van den Heuval (Netherlands, field hockey);
Mayssa Pessoa (Brazil, Handball);
Rikke Skov (Denmark, handball);
Maartje Paumen (Netherlands, field hockey);
Natalie Cook (Australia, beach volleyball);
Alexandra Lacrabère (France, handball);
Jessica Landström (Sweden, soccer);
Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden, soccer), Lisa Dahlkvist (Sweden, Soccer)
and Carole Péon (France, triathlon) and Jessica Harrison (France, triathlon).

[HoodWinked]

Tell that to the people who paid big money to watch actual matches. And, well, no. Stuff like this isn't "smart" anything. It's just a way of crapping all over everything the Olympics are supposed to represent.

ticket holders watch more than one match. plus the system is whats broken, because of the way the draws works you could essentially have #1 and #2 teams face off at the start of elimination and that means whoever loses will place something like 8th which is just complete nonsense. make a system where teams are drawn accordingly.

they dont even have a respchage to compensate for stupid seeding.

[LQX]

Not a huge baseball fan but I really miss seeing some of these countries like Cuba kick ass. Such a slap in the face to the US and many Latin and Asian countries all because Europe does not have any teams.

[ag-my001]

What time is the archery finals?

It starts 4:00am Eastern, wrapping up around 10:30 for the Gold Medal match.

Highlighted selections:

Schuh (FRA) vs. Choi (KOR) 4:13 am (This is Queen Glasses from the .gif)

Ki B.B. (KOR) vs. Hayakawa (JPN) 4:39 am (Princess String-mark. Also, be careful with Google searches for Hayakawa, seems to be someone else with a similar name that causes an auto-correct)

[CrunchinJelly]

Not a huge baseball fan but I really miss seeing some of these countries like Cuba kick ass. Such a slap in the face to the US and many Latin and Asian countries all because Europe does not have any teams.

It got kicked out because there were uncertainties about their doping policies and the IOC wanted assurances the best baseball players (MLB) would be there.

[Brazil]

3 Men, 17 Female, 1 Team GB and 1 Team Aus, 1 Team Netherlands. Matthew Mitcham (Australia, diving); Edward Gal (Netherlands, equestrian); Lisa Raymond (U.S., doubles tennis); Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling); Seimone Augustus (U.S., basketball); Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing); Megan Rapinoe (U.S. soccer); Marilyn Agliotti (Netherlands, field hockey); Carl Hester (Britian, equestrian); Carlien Dirkse van den Heuval (Netherlands, field hockey); Mayssa Pessoa (Brazil, Handball); Rikke Skov (Denmark, handball); Maartje Paumen (Netherlands, field hockey); Natalie Cook (Australia, beach volleyball); Alexandra Lacrabère (France, handball); Jessica Landström (Sweden, soccer); Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden, soccer), Lisa Dahlkvist (Sweden, Soccer) and Carole Péon (France, triathlon) and Jessica Harrison (France, triathlon).

She's our goalie and the best player in the team.

[HoodWinked]

What were the Chinese reactions to the badminton disqualifications? I'm always interested in hearing how they react to things like this.

they put a good media face and denounced it when they were essentially the ones that started the domino of events by having the #1 pair in the world to lose deliberately.

[tino]

What were the Chinese reactions to the badminton disqualifications? I'm always interested in hearing how they react to things like this.

Half of them blame the coach, half of them blame the new rule change, which clearly backfire on the face of Badminton league. Also a big potion think the athelics deserved to be DQ'd.

I would like to read more but the thread was promptly deleted. ;)

[Deadly]

I just read about the clock getting reset in women's fencing. Wow that must suck so bad, I would be devastated. What's the general opinion on this one?

[Brazil]

I just read about the clock getting reset in women's fencing. Wow that must suck so bad, I would be devastated. What's the general opinion on this one?

I think that Allen Iverson "We Got Robbed" gif is the most appropriate answer to that question.

I don't have it on me, though.

[Kjellson]

It starts 4:00am Eastern, wrapping up around 10:30 for the Gold Medal match. Highlighted selections: Schuh (FRA) vs. Choi (KOR) 4:13 am (This is Queen Glasses from the .gif) Ki B.B. (KOR) vs. Hayakawa (JPN) 4:39 am (Princess String-mark. Also, be careful with Google searches for Hayakawa, seems to be someone else with a similar name that causes an auto-correct)

Better get to bed then, lol. Thanks!

[Psychotext]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is?

An Olympic swimming pool. ;)

[Bo-Locks]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is? Just curious really after the discussion about the bikes today

I'd imagine some of the custom bikes, especially the paralympians' wheelchairs. The sailing boats can be just as expensive (£10,000+).

[ag-my001]

I just read about the clock getting reset in women's fencing. Wow that must suck so bad, I would be devastated. What's the general opinion on this one?

You can look in the first topic for the GAF running commentary (starting around post 17560). We had about as much information as the German press, so it's an interesting read.

[Jeff Albertson]

3 Men, 17 Female, 1 Team GB and 1 Team Aus, 1 Team Netherlands. Matthew Mitcham (Australia, diving); Edward Gal (Netherlands, equestrian); Lisa Raymond (U.S., doubles tennis); Judith Arndt (Germany, cycling); Seimone Augustus (U.S., basketball); Imke Duplitzer (Germany, fencing); Megan Rapinoe (U.S. soccer); Marilyn Agliotti (Netherlands, field hockey); Carl Hester (Britian, equestrian); Carlien Dirkse van den Heuval (Netherlands, field hockey); Mayssa Pessoa (Brazil, Handball); Rikke Skov (Denmark, handball); Maartje Paumen (Netherlands, field hockey); Natalie Cook (Australia, beach volleyball); Alexandra Lacrabère (France, handball); Jessica Landström (Sweden, soccer); Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden, soccer), Lisa Dahlkvist (Sweden, Soccer) and Carole Péon (France, triathlon) and Jessica Harrison (France, triathlon).

Am I allowed to say I now want to be in the women's Swedish football locker room?

[D4Danger]

What do people think is the most expensive piece of induvidual olympic apparatus is? Just curious really after the discussion about the bikes today

probably a boat

[Gamer @ Heart]

It got kicked out because there were uncertainties about their doping policies and the IOC wanted assurances the best baseball players (MLB) would be there.

Yeah. If the MLB agreement had gone through, I think it would have gotten the votes.

[Timbuktu]

probably a boat

I dunno, a horse might have that beat.

[HoodWinked]

I just read about the clock getting reset in women's fencing. Wow that must suck so bad, I would be devastated. What's the general opinion on this one?

just aint a summer olympics without having koreans getting screwed out of gold medals because of incorrect officiating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ha...al_controversy

[Brazil]

just aint a summer olympics without having koreans getting screwed out of gold medals because of incorrect officiating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ha...al_controversy

Or bullshit in general.

[D4Danger]

just aint a summer olympics without having koreans getting screwed out of gold medals because of incorrect officiating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ha...al_controversy

It's karma for rigging the '88 games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Jon...Amateur_career

Jones represented the United States at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, where he won the silver medal.[2] He dominated his opponents, never losing a single round en route to the final. His participation in the final was met with controversy when he lost a 3–2 decision to South Korean fighter Park Si-Hun despite pummeling Park for three rounds, landing 86 punches to Park's 32.[2] Allegedly, Park himself apologized to Jones afterward and the referee told Jones that he was dumbstruck by the judge's decision.[3] One judge shortly thereafter admitted the decision was a mistake and all three judges voting against Jones were eventually suspended. An official IOC investigation concluding in 1997 found that three of the judges were wined and dined by South Korean officials. This led to calls for Jones to be awarded a gold medal, but the IOC still officially stands by the decision, despite the allegations. Jones was awarded the Val Barker trophy, as the best stylistic boxer of the 1988 games, which was only the third and to this day the last time in the competition's history when the award did not go to one of the gold medal winners. The incident led Olympic organizers to establish a new scoring system for Olympic boxing.

[-Eddman-]

Yeah. If the MLB agreement had gone through, I think it would have gotten the votes.

I really miss baseball. Went to the Pan Am Games baseball last year and had a blast, great USA vs Canada final. Fucking IOC :(

[HoodWinked]

It's karma for rigging the '88 games http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Jon...Amateur_career

thats boxing tho, when is it NOT rigged.

[Koodo]

Fun fact of the day: 12,602 athletes competing at the games, only 20 are openly gay lol

"Huh? I downloaded Grindr accidentally!"

[Gorillaz]

Basketball works because big national match stages are rare. Football is so pointless, even with the age limit. It's not the highlight of anything. Get football out. No one wants to sit through this tournament really. I can't get myself to watch a whole match, even the final. Now that the women had a massively successful world championship there's no need for women's football either. OUT.

This. I don't see the point of soccer/football still being in the olympics at this point

[Battersea Power Station]

I just read about the clock getting reset in women's fencing. Wow that must suck so bad, I would be devastated. What's the general opinion on this one?

It was not a deliberate screwjob; just a shortcoming of the timekeeping. The stupid clock only keeps seconds, so if the timekeeper starts it, and a touch happens within a second, it doesn't change, even if .8 of that second has elapsed. So the one second replayed a couple of times, which is where the controversy comes from.

It was kind of a perfect storm of bad circumstances. I've never seen this happen before; 999 out of 1000 times it won't.

The referee didn't do herself any favors because she started the fencers from too close together. The starting distance is supposed to be long enough for both of them to be able to extend their arms and not interact with their blades, but she didn't follow this rule. Again, it won't make a difference most of the time, but combined with the clock shenanigans, this might've made the difference.

The governing body, FIE, will immediately change the clocks to ones that use tenths and hundredths because this was pretty embarrassing.

Don't feel too bad for the Koreans: they took in a Gold and a Bronze today in 2 individual fencing events, and the team events are yet to start. :)

They're definitely one of the strongest fencing nations now.

[Tapiozona]

just aint a summer olympics without having koreans getting screwed out of gold medals because of incorrect officiating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ha...al_controversy

Dunno, it sucks for the Korean but I agree with the American argument. Had Hamm known he was behind because of the error in officiating, he would have changed his gameplan in order to catch up. You can't change the score of something which happened midgame to change the outcome of the game after the game has finished because the entire rest of the competition would have played out differently based on the change. The Korean may have choked under the pressure of leading at the midpoint of the all around.

[-Eddman-]

This. I don't see the point of soccer/football still being in the olympics at this point

I was going to say that it was a great opportunity for young promises from developing countries to show their abilities, but the FIFA u-17 and u-20 world cups have been doing just that nicely in the past few years.

I love both but baseball should replace football in future Olympic Games.

[Brazil]

I was going to say that it was a great opportunity for young promises from developing countries to show their abilities, but the FIFA u-17 and u-20 world cups have been doing just that nicely in the past few years. I love both but baseball should replace football in future Olympic Games.

Fortunately that won't happen because football is infinitely more popular than baseball in general and in terms of attendance in previous Olympics.

I honestly don't understand the obsession some posters here have with the removal of random modalities from the Olympics. I'm all for inclusions, but removals? Nope. Let the others have their fun.

[Psychotext]

I love both but baseball should replace football in future Olympic Games.

Baseball would be about as competitive as Basketball is currently. What would be the point?

[TylerD]

Hey guys, maybe China wont win this diving gold!

They do

[Bo-Locks]

Hey guys, maybe China wont win this diving gold! They do

Is NBC editing stuff to increase the drama/tension?

[Kjellson]

Fortunately that won't happen because football is infinitely more popular than baseball in general and in terms of attendance in previous Olympics. I honestly don't understand the obsession some posters here have with the removal of random modalities from the Olympics. I'm all for inclusions, but removals? Nope. Let the others have their fun.

Agreed. I hate the idea of removing Olympic sports.

[Napoleonthechimp]

How will it ever be possible to win against China when their athletes spend their entire lives training in these events?

[weekend_warrior]

Hey guys, maybe China wont win this diving gold! They do

Really dude? Thanks for spoilering the result. >:(

j/k

[pirateben]

im sorry but throwing matches to get favorable seeds is smart mechanics. its the stupid round system thats in place is whats wrong.

No. Shitty tournament structure does not excuse or force one to commit a fraudulent / dishonest act, which is what this is at its core; it would be disingenuous (upon watching the match video) to imply it was simply harmless gamesmanship. Players were rightly DQ'd and coaches (if they were involved) should be reprimanded also. Watch the matches: they were wrong, and no matter how wrong the system also is, it still doesn't remove the responsibility they have to themselves, the fans, the occasion, and the sport as a whole.

[OpinionatedCyborg]

It's karma for rigging the '88 games http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Jon...Amateur_career

that article doesn't mention one of those three judges went on to found ain't it cool news while the other two now work in games journalism