Olympics - who is winning (1 Viewer)

And add ribbon dancing (or whatever it's called) to the list.
And add the thing they do with a ball, or maybe it's part of the same ribbon dancing routine, looks like something they did in the Victorian era. However you can be sure there's plenty of people that love those performances, can't please everyone I guess.
 
More a reflection on my feelings about Le Bron which are nothing to do with his basketball skills.
Good news was USA beat China overall but it was close.
Australia came 4th which is good for a small population. However I did note our ANZAC mates in New Zealand did pretty well and came 11th with 10 golds for population just over 5m.
Whilst there were a few negatives I think overall the games went well. A real Hollywood ending which was appropriate.
The break dance lady has got massive publicity in Oz and current Daily Mail Oz has several articles from different angles. I would say it has become almost political with those on the left saying she gave it a go whilst those on the right saying she can't be the best and deprived somebody better of a chance. Either way I think the emphasis on her has taken away from the great achievements of many others.
Next Olympics is LA and then Brisbane. Brisbane planning not going well so far and the politicians can't make up mind which venues to use for the big events. The initial idea was to keep costs low and use mainly existing venues but with upgrades. Now people are talking about new multi billion $ stadiums. A no win whichever way they go.
Brett, thanks mate, yeah for a country of only 5 million we (Kiwis) certainly made some noise and had a very successful Olympics.

I personally think they need to seriously tone down both the opening and ending Olympic ceremonies and save funding.......
 
I didn't see Raygun's Breakdance performance, or any other Olympic Games as I didn't bother getting online access.

Out of curiosity I just checked her out on Wikipedia that included the following:

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Gunn did not receive any points from the judges and was knocked out at the round-robin stage. After her performance was ridiculed on social media, she shared a quote on Instagram: "don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you". She also stated that she could not compete athletically with her younger rivals, explaining in an interview afterwards:


In response to the mockery, Team Australia Chef de Mission Anna Meares issued a statement in support of Gunn, condemning what Meares called "trolls and keyboard warriors". Head Olympic breaking judge Martin Gilian, aka MGbility, said that Raygun had done exactly what breaking is supposed to be about: "originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region", which she had done with her kangaroo hop.


My take is, even at the age 36 years, I guess she had to have the record/talent to be there, and I can see her point of view. Obviously the judges didn't agree with her 'interpretation' on the day, but I don't think she deserved the Zero points or the abuse. IMO Breakdancing shouldn't be in the Olympics and doubt will be at LA or Brisbane Olympic Games, more apt for Opening or closing Ceremony, where 'different' is 'normal'.
I read a couple of headlines claiming that due to the negative feedback Breakdancing in the Olympics received thanks to this goofball, it will not be in the 2028 games in LA.

Hopefully this is really true.
 
I read a couple of headlines claiming that due to the negative feedback Breakdancing in the Olympics received thanks to this goofball, it will not be in the 2028 games in LA.

Hopefully this is really true.
Apparently it’s true. Host cities collaborate on what sports will be included in the Olympics and LA opted to exclude breakdancing. Boxing may be on the chopping block too because of disarray in the sport’s governing body. I find it odd that cities get to have a vote on what’s included. I had assumed this would be the province of the IOC.
 
I read a couple of headlines claiming that due to the negative feedback Breakdancing in the Olympics received thanks to this goofball, it will not be in the 2028 games in LA.

Hopefully this is really true.
Apparently it’s true. Host cities collaborate on what sports will be included in the Olympics and LA opted to exclude breakdancing. Boxing may be on the chopping block too because of disarray in the sport’s governing body. I find it odd that cities get to have a vote on what’s included. I had assumed this would be the province of the IOC.

Good to know Breakdancing is def out, hope they rethink Boxing as it's a modern classic sport, obviously no Guys in the Womens section.
 
That "performance" was beyond embarrassing; guaranteed she'll make a **** ton of money off of this.

Who on the AU Olympic committee actually thought sending her to represent AU as a breakdancer was a good idea?

Leave it to the left to defend her/defend the decision to send her.

Imagine if that happened in any other sport/event and someone as horrible as that represented their country while depriving someone else to go who actually had talent?

Going to the Olympics is a dream for a lot of amateur athletes; a pipe dream for 99.999% of them.
Reminded me of the British Eddie the Eagle in the winter Olympics and he did alright, they even made a film about him, same with the Jamacian Bobsledge team. God loves a trier and we all like to cheer for the underdog. So more power to her for having a go, showed the Olympic spirit, the taking part matters, not always winning.
 
Reminded me of the British Eddie the Eagle in the winter Olympics and he did alright, they even made a film about him, same with the Jamacian Bobsledge team. God loves a trier and we all like to cheer for the underdog. So more power to her for having a go, showed the Olympic spirit, the taking part matters, not always winning.
It's apples to hand grenades; being an underdog and trying is one thing, making the olympic team over another person who has more talent in their ring finger than this woman has in her whole body is another, she went in place of a much more qualified athlete, made a farce out of the competition to the point where the US and AU plan to not have break dancing in their olympics, good for both of those countries.
 
It's apples to hand grenades; being an underdog and trying is one thing, making the olympic team over another person who has more talent in their ring finger than this woman has in her whole body is another, she went in place of a much more qualified athlete, made a farce out of the competition to the point where the US and AU plan to not have break dancing in their olympics, good for both of those countries.
I did not know she went instead of someone else, on various news outlets it said she got her place through a qualifying event against 14 other female contentants in Sidney in October 2023? Did not know it was a political [with a small p] decision. Not really into dancing, only dancing i excel at is Uncle at a Wedding' dancing.
 
I did not know she went instead of someone else, on various news outlets it said she got her place through a qualifying event against 14 other female contentants in Sidney in October 2023? Did not know it was a political [with a small p] decision. Not really into dancing, only dancing i excel at is Uncle at a Wedding' dancing.
You are correct; I saw a story about this and the girl she got in over was super talented, a complete farce that ray gun or whatever her name was was put on the team over her.
 
You are correct; I saw a story about this and the girl she got in over was super talented, a complete farce that ray gun or whatever her name was was put on the team over her.
Oh, not a big follower of the Olympics, become too corporate and professional for me, used to like it in the 80s, when there would be competitors and you would hear they were a postman or an accountant, policeman etc and that was their job and the sport was their hobby/passion. Now the UK just seems good at the sports where you sit down or in sports where only the richer countries can afford the equipment. Plus having sports like football and tennis has watered down the olympics, as i always thought the olympics was meant to be close to the pinnicle of each individual sport and obviouly not in football and tennis. think it would more watchable if say in Tennis it was open to any player who had not competed in a grand slam or in football to people who do not currently or have never been paid to play the sport.
 
Oh, not a big follower of the Olympics, become too corporate and professional for me, used to like it in the 80s, when there would be competitors and you would hear they were a postman or an accountant, policeman etc and that was their job and the sport was their hobby/passion. Now the UK just seems good at the sports where you sit down or in sports where only the richer countries can afford the equipment. Plus having sports like football and tennis has watered down the olympics, as i always thought the olympics was meant to be close to the pinnicle of each individual sport and obviouly not in football and tennis. think it would more watchable if say in Tennis it was open to any player who had not competed in a grand slam or in football to people who do not currently or have never been paid to play the sport.
Agreed, the whole "amateur athlete" angle is long gone, most of these athletes do their chosen sport year round, very few amateurs now involved, it's all a big, giant cash grab for all involved.
 
Agreed, the whole "amateur athlete" angle is long gone, most of these athletes do their chosen sport year round, very few amateurs now involved, it's all a big, giant cash grab for all involved.
It also costs the host country a fortune and they hardly ever get the return back. I would just give it to 4 or 5 places in the world [Greece, city in North American, South America and one in Asia, cities and places that are not doing great economically, they would get a boost every 20 years and have the infrastructure to run other large sporting events] and have it rotate.
 
It also costs the host country a fortune and they hardly ever get the return back. I would just give it to 4 or 5 places in the world [Greece, city in North American, South America and one in Asia, cities and places that are not doing great economically, they would get a boost every 20 years and have the infrastructure to run other large sporting events] and have it rotate.
Totally agree; they were thinking about putting in a bid to host the olympics here in Boston; we don't have the facilities for it, specifically the huge outdoor stadium that's needed for track and field which would have had to be built, and then what happens to them once the event is over............I agree with your premise, have 4 or so locations that host it on a rotating basis, great idea actually.

Which means it will never happen.
 
Totally agree; they were thinking about putting in a bid to host the olympics here in Boston; we don't have the facilities for it, specifically the huge outdoor stadium that's needed for track and field which would have had to be built, and then what happens to them once the event is over............I agree with your premise, have 4 or so locations that host it on a rotating basis, great idea actually.

Which means it will never happen.
And add the thing they do with a ball, or maybe it's part of the same ribbon dancing routine, looks like something they did in the Victorian era. However you can be sure there's plenty of people that love those performances, can't please everyone I guess.
As a rule any 'sport' in the Olympics must be able to be calculated/scored/measured, such as fastest, furthest, closest [shooting], highest, longest, for me that is what sport is about, not artistic impression. Plus introduce a Platinum medal, which replaces the gold and is given if the person breaks the Olympic record when coming first.
 
Some interesting comments from George and Graham.

The Olympic Charter of the Olympic Games allows a wide variety of Sports that can be measured in addition to Cultural and Artistic events such as Rythmic Gymnastics, Figure Skating and occassional events like Breakdancing etc. The Olympic Committee can't even get it's Continents correct so we shouldn't be surprised they include some 'controversial events' with limited appeal and diversive results.

Personally I thought her Breakdancing Routine was dumb, but it was in terms of the Olympic Games guidelines and IMO it was bit disappointing she received a Zero score from the judges. That said it's the same with any other controversial subject, be it Politics, Covid19, etc etc. There's going to diverse opinions on any subject be they based on BS, Comedic entertainment etc rather than the actual Facts, much depends your own Beliefs and Who you choose to Believe.
 

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