It’s probably time to kick off a thread, but the normal enthusiasm for the Olympics just isn’t there. My personal opinion is that they shouldn’t go ahead, but that’s balanced a bit by the realization that many athletes have worked extremely hard to be in their best possible shape for the upcoming games. To time it just right is a tricky task and they’ve already had the disappointment of last year’s postponement.
Normally at this time there are usually some great lead -up performances as teams are finalised. I’m a big track and field fan so that’s where my main interest will be. It may just be because we’ve had a bit of a starvation of competition over the last eighteen months but I’m actually a bit surprised that lead up performances are so good considering the lack of training opportunities and competition. We’ve seen a few world records.
It’s probably not good to be too sceptical, but when it comes to athletic records, some of us have become a bit cynical. I’m wondering whether testing regimes have been quite as tight during this period, or have a few folks taken the opportunity to add an extra ‘weetbix’ to their brekkie.
Cancel it ... if only just to annoy pampered palace chook have her jollies
Only interested in the Basketball at the Olympics but I have my doubts it will even go ahead or be a very cut down form.
The Japanese people dont want it if you go by the polls and I'd be calling it off..
It’s not really up to the Japanese or Tokyo. They’ve signed a contract with the IOC and the IOC has them by the short and curlies.
This is really a no win scenario, the question becomes how much pain are you prepared to wear whether you proceed or halt.
It’s not really up to the Japanese or Tokyo. They’ve signed a contract with the IOC and the IOC has them by the short and curlies.
The IOC has
no authority (and never will) that exceeds the national interest of any country awarded the games.
https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2021/06/08/1383364/explainer-can-the-japanese-government-cancel-the-olympics-yes-it-can
Article written by a Monash University Law lecturer. From yesterday.
It’s similar to the issues over Sovereign Risk, for instance when the Andrews Government was considering whether to legislate away the deal that the outgoing Bailieu Government made with private contractors to build the East-West link. Yes, the Victorian parliament could just have passed a law terminating that contract without compensation but this would have led to sovereign risk fears. Investors would fear that the government could walk away from other deals.
Sure, Japan can refuse to hold the Games, but it would be very wary of doing so without the IOC agreeing to discharge the contract. And unlike the Victorian Government it has no way to pass legislation to terminate the contract without compensation. As noted in the article in Paul’s link, the contract allows the IOC to make its claim in Switzerland and I doubt if Japan would thumb its nose at any judgment made against it.
https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2021/06/08/1383364/explainer-can-the-japanese-government-cancel-the-olympics-yes-it-can
Article written by a Monash University Law lecturer. From yesterday.
Posturing. The IOC have no teeth.
?
They get to sue in their own backyard (as the IOC is based in Lausanne, Switzerland). Switzerland is very protective of its corporations. And the Japanese don't blow off legal obligations like Trump or China. They don't want to lose face.
*if* the games go ahead, it'll be interesting to see how the athletes go without a massive crowd and the electric atmosphere and noise spectators bring.
I'd anticipate performances to be at or below previous record olympic record levels given the scheduling delays and lack of crowd support to egg the athletes on that little bit more...
And if (say) two major countries pulled out tomorrow citing safety concerns? The IOC are legal nobodies with zero comeback.
The Japanese have stopped a Tokyo Olympics before, and I don't mean last years. ;)
Sweden really laying on the big bad bully Aussie angle against the girls, 2-2 at 55min
Sweden up 3-2, 63mins
Worst opening ceremony I have ever seen.
Sweden up 3-2, 63mins
Unlucky to be awarded the first penalty to Kerr. Kerr's effort with the penalty she did get was very ordinary. Could have easily been 4-4, if my nonna had balls she'd be nonno to. Sweden will probably win gold.
I'm torn about these athletes pulling the pin, I can appreciate why but not having experienced headspace issues myself I can't rationalise this with my own experience, at least none I'm aware of! ;D
But I also appreciate the other side of this coin, in some cases they have taken millions of dollars of public funding, along with taking a spot from a fellow competitor who was probably a Nats away from making the cut.
It's not as black and white as I think, but I appreciate they have to do what's right for them. The question probably then becomes do they get another change?
I recall that poor girl from the rowing, but then I recall her poor team-mates as well!
I've been on the end of a loss due to a Greg Norman like crumbling team-mate in a state final, that same person had already failed before in other teams and had been ejected by them, what to do? Luckily we stuck fat, the next year we got them through in the right frame of mind and we won, we knew from in season performances they were good enough having made and failed in multiple finals, but the Olympics is a different issue due to the long interval you might only get one shot!
In the context of a global pandemic causing a lot of people a lot of angst, I think its a miracle that people are able to go on living life as normally as possible, and kudos to everyone who is able to continue playing life each and every day with a straight bat.
Life is pretty ordinary at the moment for a lot of people, and getting yourself in peak competitive condition is likely difficult given its very easy to lose focus in the scheme of things. For us, life is not terrible, and it could be much worse, but most of the people we are talking about have very little in the way of these sorts of issues and uncertainty hanging over their head. I have to say on a personal level, seeing the uncertain future is quite shocking but I am a bit more level headed than most, and can appreciate that it is what it is. Being an Olympic athlete, having had the games canned once, having no certainty about them going ahead until the 11th hour, and then getting there and not necessarily having a very good time might be something that would cause enough problems for most competitors.
Add the "#me too" factor to someone like Simone Biles and its completely understandable.
In the context of a global pandemic causing a lot of people a lot of angst, I think its a miracle that people are able to go on living life as normally as possible, and kudos to everyone who is able to continue playing life each and every day with a straight bat.
Life is pretty ordinary at the moment for a lot of people, and getting yourself in peak competitive condition is likely difficult given its very easy to lose focus in the scheme of things. For us, life is not terrible, and it could be much worse, but most of the people we are talking about have very little in the way of these sorts of issues and uncertainty hanging over their head. I have to say on a personal level, seeing the uncertain future is quite shocking but I am a bit more level headed than most, and can appreciate that it is what it is. Being an Olympic athlete, having had the games canned once, having no certainty about them going ahead until the 11th hour, and then getting there and not necessarily having a very good time might be something that would cause enough problems for most competitors.
Add the "#me too" factor to someone like Simone Biles and its completely understandable.
I hope Biles isn't playing the mental health card because she she fluffed a few landings. Disgrace if she did.
'sides all that histrionic rubbish, we are doing pretty well. Just wish those blasted uniforms were a dark green, not the shade of a faded eucalypt leaf.
I hope Biles isn't playing the mental health card because she she fluffed a few landings. Disgrace if she did.
Saw an interview and she indicated she knows she's near the end and that 24 is old aged for a gymnast.
She's a world champion and I made a comment to my wife the other night that she looked like she was going to burst into tears when competing.
Saw an interview and she indicated she knows she's near the end and that 24 is old aged for a gymnast.
She's a world champion and I made a comment to my wife the other night that she looked like she was going to burst into tears when competing.
I'll stand corrected but there was an interview with her the night and it was after she pulled the pin. I find that very odd that a person suffering mental health issues would given an interview. Don't even start me on Cambage.
I'll stand corrected but there was an interview with her the night and it was after she pulled the pin. I find that very odd that a person suffering mental health issues would given an interview. Don't even start me on Cambage.
Fundamentally I agree with you. Mental health gets used to explain away all manner of shocking behaviour, but I'd have to say that the last 18 months has probably tested more people more frequently, and some people who have previously had it all together are likely falling apart, and I've seen some other people I previously thought were a bit fragile actually coping better than expected and my assumption is that they probably feel a little bit more like they have a reason to not be at their best which relieves the pressure.
Mental health scenarios aren't that black and white. Where you are good and you are bad. Think more like a dam wall holding back a river. For the most part, it holds and it does a decent job but you don't really see the leaks until its at breaking point. The river is pretty much life. The leaks where we see people starting to crack. You'll see it on peoples faces and hear it in their voices where they just look defeated, and then one day the dam wall breaks and it takes a lot of help to put it back together again, but it is repairable provided there is no permanent damage done which prevents that from occurring. The river symbolises life and its pressures. The dam wall peoples ability to hold it all together. The breaking is more the point where people tend to act in a manner that's out of character.
The modern issue is that its become a reason to explain what appears to be poor behaviour, but the hard part is determining whether or not the bad behaviour is the cause or the effect.
Fundamentally I agree with you. Mental health gets used to explain away all manner of shocking behaviour, but I'd have to say that the last 18 months has probably tested more people more frequently, and some people who have previously had it all together are likely falling apart, and I've seen some other people I previously thought were a bit fragile actually coping better than expected and my assumption is that they probably feel a little bit more like they have a reason to not be at their best which relieves the pressure.
Mental health scenarios aren't that black and white. Where you are good and you are bad. Think more like a dam wall holding back a river. For the most part, it holds and it does a decent job but you don't really see the leaks until its at breaking point. The river is pretty much life. The leaks where we see people starting to crack. You'll see it on peoples faces and hear it in their voices where they just look defeated, and then one day the dam wall breaks and it takes a lot of help to put it back together again, but it is repairable provided there is no permanent damage done which prevents that from occurring. The river symbolises life and its pressures. The dam wall peoples ability to hold it all together. The breaking is more the point where people tend to act in a manner that's out of character.
The modern issue is that its become a reason to explain what appears to be poor behaviour, but the hard part is determining whether or not the bad behaviour is the cause or the effect.
Understand all that, having been close to a couple of people that have had mental breakdowns, at the point when the dam wall broke, the last thing on their mind was to talk "publicly" (obviously I dont mean hold a press conference). Quite the opposite. As you say, it manifests itself differently in different people.
Jess Fox, what a legend, The GOAT, what a story!
And her old man, how Richard Fox keeps it together while commentating his daughter's sport is a miracle, I'd be a basket case!
You can see the gene pool that delivers the results, and AFL want to kybosh F&S! I realise it isn't a guarantee, but when you get a goodun they are seriously good!
btw; I did not hear it, I'm not even sure you can hear it on repeat, but I heard SEN did a freakish live broadcast of the run that should be considered legendary in itself!
Jess Fox, what a legend, The GOAT, what a story!
And her old man, how Richard Fox keeps it together while commentating his daughter's sport is a miracle, I'd be a basket case!
You can see the gene pool that delivers the results, and AFL want to kybosh F&S! I realise it isn't a guarantee, but when you get a goodun they are seriously good!
btw; I did not hear it, I'm not even sure you can hear it on repeat, but I heard SEN did a freakish live broadcast of the run that should be considered legendary in itself!
Didnt hear the SEN one, watched on 7. Great race, great effort. If you want to see what an athlete looks like who conducts themselves impeccably, look no further than Jessica Fox.
This time, the rear bumper on her car should read "You are NOT passing another Fox" :)
It's done it again ;D
After expressing indifference in the opening post, the Olympics have sucked me in.
As usually happens, I am now an expert in BMX and slalom canoeing. ;D ;D
I'm also pretty sure I know more about swimming than the Australian swimming coaches.
What were they thinking with the order of swimming in the Women's 4x 200 relay ::)
Biles has made a miraculous recovery from her mental health issues and is back in the competition.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/miss-peter-can-run-the-chance-school-carnival-event-that-uncovered-an-olympian-20210802-p58f4o.html
"Miss, Peter can run". Great story and great read.
That kid Alex Porter is unlucky but his bike accident is typical of how carbon fibre or some 3D additive manufactured titanium will fail. This reduced reliability is the price paid for wanting the very lightest parts made from the strongest materials. Weight reduction is always a trade off with strength.
If I had a choice, I'd choose 3D Titanium over Carbon Fibre, as long as the 3D Titanium is made by people who know what they are doing.
I suspect the problem will be a inclusion or void type defect in the build, which has caused a crack to form and the crack then propagates through the body of the part. Titanium tends to not fail so catastrophically you would feel it start to give, bend then snap. Carbon fibre can shatter like glass failing almost explosively.
Down at Deakin near Geelong they have advanced carbon fibre techniques developed for forming car chassis and automotive wheels that are supposed to prevent/reduce sudden catastrophic failures, but I do not know anyone doing this for cycling. Supercars like McLaren, fighter planes and F1 race cars maybe, not even sure it's used for local touring cars the price is too high.
I know CSIRO made a special bike for one of our Olympic Athletes in years gone by, Anna Meares used one in her last campaign, that was titanium 3D printed using a scaffold technique developed by the Victorian Direct Manufacturing Centre, not sure the current Olympic suppliers use or license those techniques, they are also patented.
Oddly, the bike that failed had a rather unusual organic design for a 3D titanium part, some of this comes out of a design method called FEA.
Kookaburras got done by Belgium for Gold, 1-1 after normal time, went to one on ones. Belgium too good.
Done and dusted and far more successful than I thought possible. In fact, I was convinced that the Olympics would be cancelled at the last minute.
It's a tribute to the organisers that they were able to conduct the games in a city that is groaning under the strain of COVID. The athletes also deserve special recognition for their efforts in what must have been difficult and unusual circumstances. The number of PBs and ORs was remarkable.
Two lovely young girls competed in these games, and I had the privilege of being a coach to both back at little athletics in Berwick years ago. I myself feel it must have been such a hollow feeling with limited to almost no crowd for many events. Imagine how strange that would feel for an athlete.
Two lovely young girls competed in these games, and I had the privilege of being a coach to both back at little athletics in Berwick years ago. I myself feel it must have been such a hollow feeling with limited to almost no crowd for many events. Imagine how strange that would feel for an athlete.
Indeed, however is it possible its more like their training settings? I would imagine some of those not used to it can be put off by the large crowd?
Just on the Decathlon....
A bit has been written about how Cedric Dubler 'sacrificed' his own race to help Ash Moloney to the Bronze.
There was no sacrifice.
While it was great to see the encouragement, Dubler's Decathlon 'ended' when he no heighted in the Pole Vault.
Had he recorded a height and ran a 1500 close to his best he would have scored 1000 points more than the 7000 he did.
His motivation for continuing was probably two fold.
Give Ash the encouragement, and be part of the unique celebrations that follow an Olympic Decathlon where everyone takes a 'lap of honour.'
How bloody brilliantly did the Aussies do? Talk about punching above our weight. Bravo to all concerned. To use a beautiful Yiddish word, the efforts of the Aussies (whether athlete or behind the scenes) gave me 'nachas.'
Just as long as we don't attend anything related to that mongrel country hosting the winter Olympics in 2022. Worldwide boycott
Just as long as we don't attend anything related to that mongrel country hosting the winter Olympics in 2022. Worldwide boycott
Agree.... been reading about the Yulin Dog Festival, just barbaric torture of live animals, wouldnt be sending my athletes there especially with the bully boy tactics they are employing with their military and economic policies.
They are a cheating nation and should have been banned from the Olympics...
Chinks >:D
Agree.... been reading about the Yulin Dog Festival, just barbaric torture of live animals, wouldnt be sending my athletes there especially with the bully boy tactics they are employing with their military and economic policies.
They are a cheating nation and should have been banned from the Olympics...
I do not recognise China on any level, sport, politics, nothing. There medal didn't count as far as I'm concerned. They are a deceitful, piss taking, evil disgrace of a nation.