Olympique De Paris

[The Reverend]

It’s quite remarkable behaviour that we have someone who ran off from this board in a huff who now returns within a few weeks to not only trash what was a decent thread but set up an additional thread on the same topic (whilst still posting on the original thread they detailed). And why? To satisfy their quite frankly odd obsession with a niche topic and their relentless need to be “right” (in their own head).

It’s properly strange and obsessive behaviour. At least we now know the next time they start abusing moderators and issuing ultimatums about meeting their demands or they will leave the board that it’s all just posturing because when they do eventually flounce they are back within weeks to bore us with their toxic presence again.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Really pleased to see TeamGB get a gold for rowing.
Especially as this was a rare morning I could watch.
Very pleased for them all.

Yesterday I was feeling less optimistic about teamGB
Obviously, I was wrong
Unless something goes wrong, it’ll be a good haul.

Makes me want to start rowing again actually
Up and down the canal
Part of me thinks I missed my calling
Part of me still thinks it might not be too late
Every time I watch the Olympics I think this.
That’s what’s great about it - it inspires.

[o-no]

Well, quite. But sport is actually about finding out who is best at something, and being the best at something sporty is usually about a combination of natural aptitude, physical traits, and level of commitment.

You’re discussing different levels of “fairness”; it’s not “fair” in terms of “the hand that life has dealt you” that a person who wishes they were seven inches taller so they could be a better basketball player can not do so.

But it is fair in terms of “a basketball team will pick the best basketball players on merit”.

What needs determining then is what categories do we create in order to ensure the best possible fairness?

What you need to understand when using fairness (or lack thereof) as a means to justify male participation in female sport, is that that’s actually an argument not for the participation of specific males in the female category, but an argument *against* sex segregation in sport at all.


You see, the most obvious way of demonstrating the inherent unfairness of Khelife’s participation, is that without a female category, he would not be able to participate. As a male athlete, he is not anywhere near the required standard for an elite athlete. His only current means of athletic achievement is by competing in a category where he has male advantage.

Yes, I can agree the Olympics are about finding out who is best at something, I think there's more to sport than that though. I don't want to get into the male/female boxing thing again as I agree with you on that - but what I would observe is that, in the race to be 'the best' the equally important other attributes of sport - teamwork, dedication, passion, indeed sportsmanship itself seem to be taking a back seat. We tell our kids, it's not the winning it's the taking part - but the visuals say you may as well not bother taking part unless you are blessed with the right physique

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

100% agree with everything but the last part. Obviously elite sport will involve those athletes at peak physicality. But competitive sport should be open to everyone

[Max B Gold]

Despite being the owner of this thread, can I just say I have watched zero seconds of the Olympics so far.

I used to love this sort of thing. What is wrong with me?

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

BBC coverage is crap, to be fair

[Long slender neck]

Despite being the owner of this thread, can I just say I have watched zero seconds of the Olympics so far.

I used to love this sort of thing. What is wrong with me?

Are Scottishland even in it?

[i8ubutler]

I'm lovin' Rebecca Adlington's frocks.

[StillSpike]

Despite being the owner of this thread, can I just say I have watched zero seconds of the Olympics so far.

I used to love this sort of thing. What is wrong with me?

I seem to be suffering the same thing.

There was a time - not so long ago - when any sporting event - Olympics, World Cup, IPL, etc etc - would see me watching almost constantly. Disco ponies at 2 in the morning - RCB Vs Mumbai Indians followed by KKR Vs Sunrisers etc etc.

Nowadays, I barely watch any of these things. I really seem to have lost my mojo. Dunno what it is, but it's a bit upsetting.

[Long slender neck]

They shouldn't include any sports that already have their own international tournaments and are popular. Just no need to see more football, tennis, golf, rugby

[StillSpike]

They shouldn't include any sports that already have their own international tournaments and are popular. Just no need to see more football, tennis, golf, rugby

Hard agree

[Max B Gold]

Despite being the owner of this thread, can I just say I have watched zero seconds of the Olympics so far.

I used to love this sort of thing. What is wrong with me?

Are Scottishland even in it?

Sadly knocked out in the pre qualifying rounds.

[Give it to Jabo]

The introduction of the mixed athletics relays is such an obviously good idea…

[Dunners]

This is a cracking little clip showing the crowd in St Lucia watching their athlete win the nation's first ever gold medal.

[Max B Gold]

The introduction of the mixed athletics relays is such an obviously good idea…

They'd only be copycating the boxing.

[Dunners]

Oh, I say! [*pulls a Kenneth Williams face]

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Hopefully the women are careful to keep their penises out of the way when their event starts

[Hoover Attack]

Oh, I say! [*pulls a Kenneth Williams face]

Please retract - against rules to give away boarders private details.

[Proposition Joe]

This is a cracking little clip showing the crowd in St Lucia watching their athlete win the nation's first ever gold medal.

Didn't see a single pint thrown, almost as if they didn't really enjoy it.

[Celtient]

Despite being the owner of this thread, can I just say I have watched zero seconds of the Olympics so far.

I used to love this sort of thing. What is wrong with me?

I decided to watch a bit of it last night. Jeez, what a bore. I watched for about an hour and listened to the chat among the experts for 59 mins and saw two 100m sprint heats that both lasted about 11 seconds. Thrilling.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

The sprint heats would be far more of a spectacle if the 100m took the athletes 25 minutes to complete. Perhaps it should be 85 year old women who compete in that discipline

[Celtient]

Agreed. Maybe pulling a shopping trolley as well

[Celtient]

Although, I can foresee problems with the age thing. There have always been these women from remote places who claim to be about 130 but are in actual fact only 70. This could cause another scandal ( quite apart from the fact that some may have testicles)

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Very true. Maybe the playing field could be levelled by having them all also make a nice up of tea during the 100 metres?

[Celtient]

Yeah, in fact an "It's A Knockout" style Olympics would be far more appealing to me. Things like the dressage being done on pantomime horses, having to burst balloons with the javelin, longjump pit being filled with foam. Boxers slugging each other with pillows instead of gloves. The possibilities are endless.