London 2012 results and comments only (no politics)

[Tazio]

Sorry Pino
We needed to beat Italy in women’s water polo to make the medal round. I doubt we will beat them again. You have some real brutes on your squad! :uhoh:

[BDunnell]

I find it quite depressing that British people like to laugh at our footballers when they lose, just because they aren't football fans themselves.

I find the failure of Britain's footballers amusing because, while I am a football fan, I also recognise that there are major problems with the sport and its 'personalities'.

[Mark]

The last time England's football team has reached this far at the Olympics was the year I was born - 1954.

That's a loooooooooooong time ago!

:)


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

UK hasn't fielded and Olympic team since - I don't know but a long time ago.

[Tazio]

UK hasn't fielded and Olympic team since - I don't know but a long time ago. The U.S. or anyone else hasn't fieded a Rugby team since 1928. The US has won the most gold with two, France one 1900 and Austrailia one 1908, have claimed the only other gold medals. ;) :angel:

[ioan]

http://media.rtv.net/image/201208/w620/sandra_izbasa_74156100.jpg

Gold for Romania in gymnastics :D

Well done! Go girl! :)

[Rollo]

Dear Teachers,

I would have liked to have seen Mr Bolt win his running race in Games , but the Games Teacher, Lord Seb plc. (Seb Co.) put it on at 06:50am Sydney time when I had already left to catch a train to work.

I did get to see Mr Murray win his tennis match and collect his gold medal, which was nice. :D

[Tazio]

I would have liked to have seen Bolt win his running race in Games

I did get to see Murray win his tennis match and collect his gold medal. Same here, I would have also like to have seen:

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/olympics/img19731027.jpg

The Predators winning US gold in womens doubles, (as well as Serena winning singles)

The Bryan Bros' winning US gold in mens tennis doubles, and Ms. Richards-Ross win the 400 meter.

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/olympics/img19733155.jpg

But they will show it in the US later this eve, so I'm cool with all of it :laugh: :beer: :angel: snap!

[CaptainRaiden]

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/sport/General/01/32/89/40/1328940_M01.jpg

Olympic record broken against one of the toughest field of competitors ever, in one of the best sprint races I have ever seen. Bolt is EPIC!

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/sport/General/01/32/89/55/1328955_M01.jpg

[Gregor-y]

I was donating blood on Saturday morning when Serena won the gold medal. To mark the vein where the needle is inserted they tie off your arm for a moment and tap around your inner elbow. My arm started turning blue with the time it took them to mark the insertion spot since we were all watching the game.

Other than that, for a new girl, she did an excellent job. No pain, no mess.

[janneppi]

Dear Teachers,

I would have liked to have seen Mr Bolt win his running race in Games , but the Games Teacher, Lord Seb plc. (Seb Co.) put it on at 06:50am Sydney time when I had already left to catch a train to work.

The same run was at 23:50 Vantaa time, when I had been asleep for hour and half.

I wasn't bothered much, the 100m finals is pretty much stupidest of the run events, massive hoopla over 10 seconds.

Usually for example mens 10000m run is far more interesting(well, the last 6 laps :) )

[AndyL]

Apparently the final German competitor in the team dressage has just completed her round on a horse called Damon Hill!

As far as I'm aware the British team doesn't have any horses called Michael Schumacher.

Turns out Damon Hill wasn't quite good enough because GB beat Germany to the team dressage gold medal.

[Tazio]

Apparently the final German competitor in the team dressage has just completed her round on a horse called Damon Hill!

As far as I'm aware the British team doesn't have any horses called Michael Schumacher.

Turns out Damon Hill wasn't quite good enough because GB beat Germany to the team dressage gold medal.Snap :laugh:

and back to real sports....
American pole vaulter Jennifer Suhr upset a tough field to win gold in the event after clearing the 4.75 meter mark.

Russian star Yelena Isinbayeva was going for a third straight gold after winning the pole vault in 2004 and 2008, trying to become the first ever female to win an Olympic track and field event three times in a row, but finished with a bronze. World champion Fabiana Murer failed to clear the required height on Sunday and didn't earn a place in the final. Cuba's Yarisley Silva settled for the silver this year.

Suhr took silver in Beijing in the event and was clearly emotional as she walked around Olympic Stadium following her victory.

[AndyL]

Snap :laugh:

and back to real sports....
American pole vaulter Jennifer Suhr upset a tough field to win gold in the event after clearing the 4.75 meter mark.

Russian star Yelena Isinbayeva was going for a third straight gold after winning the pole vault in 2004 and 2008, trying to become the first ever female to win an Olympic track and field event three times in a row, but finished with a bronze. World champion Fabiana Murer failed to clear the required height on Sunday and didn't earn a place in the final. Cuba's Yarisley Silva settled for the silver this year.

Suhr took silver in Beijing in the event and was clearly emotional as she walked around Olympic Stadium following her victory.

I watched the closing stages of that competition more or less in full on BBC Olympics 15, it was fascinating to see how much time they spend sitting around and trying to keep warm. Isinbayeva spent about 10 minutes huddled on the ground completely covered by a blanket at one point. The German who came 4th was pretty agitated about something after she went out, but my German's not good enough to understand what she was complaining about.

[AndyL]

Another Olympics/motorsport link: the French cycling team's director has accused the British team of F1-style rule-bending using "magic wheels":

London 2012: Are 'magic wheels' the secret to GB cycling dominance? | Sport | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/05/london-2012-wheels-gb-cycling?newsfeed=true)

"We know that they work with McLaren" she is quoted as saying - is that a veiled accusation of cheating :) If they were working with Red Bull I'd be more suspicious ;)

[Tazio]

Another Olympics/motorsport link: the French cycling team's director has accused the British team of F1-style rule-bending using "magic wheels":

London 2012: Are 'magic wheels' the secret to GB cycling dominance? | Sport | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/05/london-2012-wheels-gb-cycling?newsfeed=true) "We know that they work with McLaren" she is quoted as saying - is that a veiled accusation of cheating :) If they were working with Red Bull I'd be more suspicious ;) Yeah, the crybabies are out in force. First their was this:

US accused of 'illegal' tactics - The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2012/08/06/us_accused_of_illegal_tactics/)

Canada basically accusing the US of illeagle marking tactics on set plays. Then after beaten the really classy coach of Canada came out with this:
Soccer: Canadians accuse referee after defeat to U.S - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-canadians-accuse-referee-defeat-u-142106722--sow.html)

LONDON (Reuters) - Canada's beaten soccer players accused Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen of bias towards the United States after their dramatic 4-3 extra-time defeat in their Olympic women's soccer semi-final on Monday.

In a rare move, Pedersen penalized Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod for holding the ball for too long after making a save in the 80th minute, awarding the U.S. an indirect free kick in the penalty area.

The law states the goalkeeper should release the ball after six seconds, but it is hardly ever applied in either men's or women's soccer.

While that decision appeared to Canada's team to be harsh, Pedersen then awarded the U.S. a penalty resulting from Megan Rapinoe's free kick. The ball struck the elbow of Canadian Marie-Eve Nault with the player turning away.

The referee was not available for comment.

A spokesman for world soccer's governing body FIFA said: "As is our practice, FIFA will make no comment on this issue and in any case, the referee's decision is always final."As for the cool weather; The Women’s Beach Volley-ballers for the US used time outs to soak their feet in warm water as the sand at that fantastic Beach Volleyball facility got very cold, and wet in the later evening games, part of the contests is balls out perseverance

[Tazio]

Finally more qymnastic gold for the US as Aly Raisman takes gold in "the floor"

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/719662/thumbs/s-RAISMAN-large.jpg

[Tazio]

Viva Mexico!!! knocks off Japan!!! Brazil 1 Korea nil 1st half,. It wold be classic if the US and Mexico took footballer gold. :)

[Big Ben]

Finally more qymnastic gold for the US as Aly Raisman takes gold in "the floor"

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/719662/thumbs/s-RAISMAN-large.jpg

and bargains for the bronze one in "the beam" :rolleyes:

[cali]

Gerd Kanter won bronze for Estonia in men's discus. Good :)

[Tazio]

:up:

[Garry Walker]

Anyone else looking forward to seeing women's boxing? :D

[Mintexmemory]

Anyone else looking forward to seeing women's boxing? :D
I'm waiting for mud wrestling to be made an Olympic sport - the boxing is too sanitised!

[CaptainRaiden]

I wasn't bothered much, the 100m finals is pretty much stupidest of the run events, massive hoopla over 10 seconds.

I think it's more quality over quantity there. Those were the 10 most entertaining seconds of the Olympics. :D

People wanna see balls out, full power sprint to the finish, and I don't think there's anything more representative of brute force and speed than the 100 meters finals. And as a race fan, that's what appeals to me the most as well.

Besides, most of the hype these days is because of Bolt anyway. People turn up to see whether he's gonna break any new world records or not. :p

[Big Ben]

The 200m is pretty interesting to... even more than the 100m I'd say

[Big Ben]

And 4X100m relay... I would very much like to see that one too. and it lasts for almost 40 seconds.. not popcorn material but nevertheless

[Tazio]

US is getting bitch-slapped by Italy in Volleyball

[CaptainRaiden]

The 200m is pretty interesting to... even more than the 100m I'd say

It very much is. I enjoy watching almost all track and field stuff. Distance running is also very interesting if you have time, and also patience for the several tactics to play out.


And 4X100m relay... I would very much like to see that one too. and it lasts for almost 40 seconds.. not popcorn material but nevertheless

I'm really looking forward to the 4X00m relay. That should be a straight gold for Jamaica barring any disaster or huge mistake.

[Tazio]

Alright Allyson Felix romps in winning 200-meter gold.

[janvanvurpa]

US is getting bitch-slapped by Italy in Volleyball

Catfight!!???

[Tazio]

Catfight!!???No! The Italian mens team is that good. It became obvious to me that they were better skilled than the US by a little.

[Tazio]

Anyone else looking forward to seeing women's boxing? :D

http://www.collegehoopsjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/shieldsap.jpg
Seventeen-year-old American female boxer Claressa Shields is one win away from a gold medal.

The medal would be her first, and it would be groundbreaking on a lot of levels. This is the first Olympics with female boxing as a sport. Shields, the youngest boxer in the field, represents a new kind of power for female athletes. Could she be the next truly inspiring thing about boxing? I can only hope.

On Wednesday Shields decisively defeated Kazakhstan's Marina Volnova, 29-15, to move on to the gold medal match against Russia's Nadezda Torlopova, who got by China's Jinzi Li in a 12-10 decision. The two will fight for the gold Thursday at 12:15 p.m, ET. Against Volnova, Shields won each of the four rounds, none by fewer than two points. She knocked down Volnova twice.

And amid all that? She comes from one of the most crime-ridden cities in America: Flint, Mich. Here's a quick snippet from the linked story.

There are two rings at work here. One outer ring surrounding the physical, actual boxing ring that's built Shields into an emblem. The other is a palpable shield of locals and a community's desire that won't let anyone spoil one of the best things about Flint that the town's seen in years.
I predict she breaks out a can of "whoop-azz" and tears the Ruski a new.......one :arrows:

[gadjo_dilo]

Games are over for us. We got 9 medals ( 2 - 5 - 2 ), pretty good for a country where nobody is practicing any sport.

Now I'm interested only in the Spice Girls performance on the final ceremony.

[pino]

What a great evening yesterday... First 3-0 over USA then we trashed Ol champ Hungary on water polo :D

[Tazio]

I'm listening to a litle of this until the olympic beat/down begins
Albert Collins @ David Letterman, 1986, Cold Snap, "A Good Fool Is Hard To Find - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK3cVoy6amI&feature=list_other&playnext=1&list=AL94UKMTqg-9D88ISp6kO3HbD4CHmIQHGc)

[CaptainRaiden]

Games are over for us. We got 9 medals ( 2 - 5 - 2 ), pretty good for a country where nobody is practicing any sport.

Now I'm interested only in the Spice Girls performance on the final ceremony.

I think it's very good for such a small country, and your strength in gymnastics has always been rather good! Congratulations. :)

ALL the money for sports in my country, India, is funneled ONLY into cricket. While that did get us 2 Cricket world cups in the span of 4 years, we are nowhere on the world map when it comes to Olympics, which is rather disgraceful for the second most populated country on Earth. I mean look at China. :mad:

The people, nor the politicians care about any other sport than Cricket, which is a shame.

The Indian athlete Abhinav Bindra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhinav_Bindra) who won gold for India in air rifle 10 m at the Beijing Olympics got very little or next to no training or funding from the Indian government. He was lucky that he was filthy rich and could afford his own German trainers.

[Tazio]

In my country elite athletes aquire wealth in the order of possibly turning an urban tough into a posative roll model for fat black gurlz around her age and up, up in here. :confused:
Congrat's Gadgji :)

[gadjo_dilo]

I think it's very good for such a small country, and your strength in gymnastics has always been rather good! Congratulations. :)



Thanks for your nice words - although I don't see us as "small" but unimportant. :laugh:

Gymnastics contribution was rather poor ( 1-1-1) but I've heard on TV that the number of gymnasts in Romania is only 200 ( including juniors ). Coach Belu had only 8 girls for the selection in the olympic team and had to convince the veterans Ponor ( 25y.o ) and Izbasa ( 22 y.o.) to come back. The result wasn't spectacular but good enough.

P.S. And thank you Doctor.

[Big Ben]

I think it's very good for such a small country, and your strength in gymnastics has always been rather good! Congratulations. :)


Not bad but not that good either... or maybe we've been spoiled before:
Sydney 26 medals (11-6-9);
Athens 19 medals (8-5-6);
Beijing 8 medals (4-1-3)

We are sinking... but than again who am I to criticize.

What those coaches and the girls are doing in gymastics is pretty amazing. I've heard there are around 200 gymnasts in Romania while China has 2 millions...

[Garry Walker]

Now I'm interested only in the Spice Girls performance on the final ceremony.
You are not kidding, are you? They really are going to perform? FFS, do they have no standards any more? Couldn't they find anyone even worse? What a joke.


I'm waiting for mud wrestling to be made an Olympic sport - the boxing is too sanitised!

Have you ever seen girls trying to fight? I promise, it is very funny.

[Tazio]

Canada knocks off France. Aotually it was scoreless up untiil the 92nd minute of stoppage regulation time Canada scored. BTW how many of 'awl boys want anybody but USA in soccer.We have China by the shorthairs right now but I wouldn't bet against hem

[CaptainRaiden]

Thanks for your nice words - although I don't see us as "small" but unimportant. :laugh:

Small purely in terms of area and population, nothing else. Trust me, when you go to one of the big countries, you will understand. :)

Going by this logic, Hungary did even better for a tiny country. :p

Romania's population is 19 million. India's population is 1.2 billion. We should have been able to at least do better than 4 medals to your 9. :D

Problem is, for a kid growing up in India, no other sport than Cricket makes any monetary sense. If they succeed in Cricket, they make a lot of money and get really famous. Athletes from all other disciplines struggle to make any decent money.

Best example is Mary Kom, the Indian boxer, who also happens to be a five time world champion, and just got a bronze medal 4 days ago. Mary Kom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kom) - Lives in a 2 room tiny house, doing training in her part time at a dingy corner of the stadium and struggling to go from one salary to another. The government doesn't care, and I bet not even half the population has any idea we have a world champion.

[CaptainRaiden]

Not bad but not that good either... or maybe we've been spoiled before:
Sydney 26 medals (11-6-9);
Athens 19 medals (8-5-6);
Beijing 8 medals (4-1-3)

Well, at least you've won gold medals. I can count on my fingers the number of Indian athletes who've won gold at the Olympics. :p

[Tazio]

Edit: wrong thread

[Tazio]

Have you ever seen girls trying to fight? I promise, it is very funny.

LONDON -- U.S. middleweight Claressa Shields won the Olympic gold medal Thursday, capping her swift rise to the top of women's boxing with a 19-12 victory over Russia's Nadezda Torlopova.


http://www.trbimg.com/img-5023e95e/turbine/la-sp-on-claressa-shields-womens-boxing-201208-001/600


The 17-year-old Shields shuffled, danced and slugged her way past her 33-year-old opponent, showing off the free-spirited style and brute strength that made her unbeatable at the London Games.
Claressa Shields, here celebrating here celebrating her semifinal victory, on Thursday won a gold medal in women's boxing. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / August 8, 2012)The 17-year-old Shields shuffled, danced and slugged her way past her 33-year-old opponent, showing off the free-spirited style and brute strength that made her unbeatable at the London Games.

[Tazio]

Hello persons!! :s ailor:
Who was the freckle-faced black Scotsman that was a decathalon olympic gold medalist? I forget his freakin' name.

[Tazio]

prop's to Claressa Shields :)

[Tazio]

Nice 4x400 heat :s mokin:

[Tazio]

US women's roundball leading Aus' late

[Big Ben]

200m final soon... blink and you'll miss it :p :

[Brown, Jon Brow]

My prediction:

1) Bolt
2) Blake
3) Lemaitre

[CaptainRaiden]

My prediction:

1) Bolt
2) Blake
3) Lemaitre

Yep, I predict exactly the same.

[Tazio]

US women's roundball leading Aus' late
just barely won ......in semi's

[Tazio]

Bolt!

[Tazio]

RA you're still mad at Mexico. I understand However I think you should give them some love. IMO they have had the absolute worst luck (really coaching) for any real international side that for many years under acheived. Why not now to get hot right now. JMHFMFO.
David Allen Coe You Never Even Called Me by My Name - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAOVRkSCWmg)

[Tazio]

Us have a quick goall lead 1 nil
Claressa Shields Fights Her Way to......London:- YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UogkFTM_rWk) The Boss (the real "apollo creed" of racing)which I'm on record that as saying the scabby skinned (Grosjean) Parisiasn to say he could actuallly drive around Spa as fast as Kimi except current histotory on fast tracks say he can.

[D-Type]

Bloody Hell: GB 2 - Netherlands 9 (Hockey)

But full marks to Bolt and his compatriots and to David Rudisha

All the relay finals will be worth watching - will we see a couple of world records go?

[Tazio]

Gold match againsts Spain. Both teams were lucky to get here. Spain 1 USA 0

[Tazio]

Bloody Hell: GB 2 - Netherlands 9 (Hockey)

But full marks to Bolt and his compatriots and to David Rudisha

All the relay finals will be worth watching - will we see a couple of world records go?That is one sport that American gurlzs were required to play at 7th grade on up.
Are the US stiil in the fight for a medal? :confused:
Claressa Shields Fights Her Way to London: Road to London - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UogkFTM_rWk)

[Tazio]

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall de la America!

[Tazio]

ya awL boys are goin' t0 get whipped again. :)

[Tazio]

Edit: DP

[Tazio]

World-record holder Eaton wins gold in decathlon
U.S. women collect first-ever water polo gold medals | American ran on broken leg
U.S. women overcome Aussies in hoops semifinal
Americans capture gold and silver in triple jump

USA

[Tazio]

U.S. defeats Japan in women's soccer to capture third straight gold medal snap! (I'm already into the Bushmills)


:burp: snap :s nore:

I'm feeling verklempt

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/olympics/img19763765.jpg

[race aficionado]

Colombia wins gold and bronze on BMX butoif course NBC did not show it live. I heard about it in FaceBook.
Hopefully they will show it in the pre recorded package in prime time.

My home country has done good in various sports and have made their country proud.
:)


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[Tazio]

They did show their heat races live. Most definately will go more in depth tonight. Congrat's my man!

[Tazio]

Alright Burroughs (wrestling) delivers our 40th gold medal.....snap

[Tazio]

:s ailor: US spanks Jamaica in 4x100

[D-Type]

:s ailor: US spanks Jamaica in 4x100
But the Bahamas take the 4x400 ending a run of 16 gold medals.

On a different theme, how many of Britain's medals are in sports where the participants are sitting down? Horsing, rowing, cycling, sailing, ...

[Bagwan]

Alright Burroughs (wrestling) delivers our 40th gold medal.....snap

Don't get a big head with your forty golds !

We Canadians already have one gold and the games have hardly started .
We're coming at ya in a strong twelfth place .

[MartijnS]

http://www.geenstijl.nl/archives/images/endeanderemeisjes.jpg

For the win!

[Alexamateo]

Looking forward to Mexico-Brazil in Men's soccer tomorrow. I am really sorry that Tottenham's Gio dos Santos is out injured. He has sparkled in this tourney (as he always does for the Mexican national team.) I still look for it to be a good match. Mexico's Fabian and Peralta can score in bunches, and Brazil has looked shaky in the back at times. Corona is having a solid tournament in Goal and Enriquez is a beast as a defensive midfielder. Brazil may be favored but Mexico should not be overlooked

[race aficionado]

A question:
I noticed that on the relays they had different runners for each team - they had the soldiers that took care of qualifying and then the top Divas and Divos took over for the final race.
If you medal, do they give medals to all of those that ran to make it there? I would sure hope so, it has to be that way.

[Alexamateo]

As far as I know, they do. They don't get to stand on the podium in the ceremony, but they will get a medal.

edit:

Nathan Adrian: Winning Gold As A Prelim Swimmer - Swimming Video | NBC Olympics (http://www.nbcolympics.com/kiem/video/swimming/nathan-adrian-winning-gold-as-a-prelim-swimmer.html)

I found this. A prelim swimmer talked about winning Gold even though he wasn't on the final. I assume track is the same, but don't know for certain.

[pino]

Go Mexico ! :D :

[ioan]

Games are over for us. We got 9 medals ( 2 - 5 - 2 ), pretty good for a country where nobody is practicing any sport.

Now I'm interested only in the Spice Girls performance on the final ceremony.

Pretty bad compared with past Olympic performance. You lot should start moving your behinds a bit to inspire kids to do better in the future.

[Tazio]

But the Bahamas take the 4x400 ending a run of 16 gold medals.

On a different theme, how many of Britain's medals are in sports where the participants are sitting down? Horsing, rowing, cycling, sailing, ...In all fairness the first leg runner Mario Miller broke his fibula in the prelims, (still ran a 45sec leg) and they did not have a suitable replacement. It was a herculean effort even to medal. As for the Bahamas; how many of their relay team live in the US run NCAA Track, receive the best training in the world while attending U.S. Universities on scholarship providing them a free college education??????????????
All of them!

[Tazio]

Go Mexico ! :D :Viva Mexico ;)

[Tazio]

RA I finally got to see the bmx finals. Congrat's on your gold and bronze :up:

[race aficionado]

BMX-crazy dangerous sport.

Soccer any one?


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[Tazio]

Mexico1 Brazil 0 65th minute

[Tazio]

Offside!!!!!!

[Tazio]

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooal
Mexico!!
Mexico has two fingers up Brazil's............. :D

[race aficionado]

Brazil's defense is having a dreadful day.
Mejico is on its way to Olympic glory.

Órale!!!!


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[race aficionado]

And Brazil is on its way to heavy Brazilian media bashing.


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[Tazio]

Viva Peralta, Viva Mexico :champion:

[pino]

Viva Mexico :up:

[Malbec]

I think it's very good for such a small country, and your strength in gymnastics has always been rather good! Congratulations. :)

ALL the money for sports in my country, India, is funneled ONLY into cricket. While that did get us 2 Cricket world cups in the span of 4 years, we are nowhere on the world map when it comes to Olympics, which is rather disgraceful for the second most populated country on Earth. I mean look at China. :mad:

The people, nor the politicians care about any other sport than Cricket, which is a shame.

The Indian athlete Abhinav Bindra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhinav_Bindra) who won gold for India in air rifle 10 m at the Beijing Olympics got very little or next to no training or funding from the Indian government. He was lucky that he was filthy rich and could afford his own German trainers.

The Indians didn't get off to a good start at the Olympics winning hearts and minds, the Indian sports minister was twittering that the athlete's village at the New Delhi games put the London ones to shame. Didn't realise that collapsing bridges and excrement on the walls was the latest must-have for an Olympics village these days...

Still you're right, Olympics success is pretty much a product of how much money you're willing to spend on any particular sport. Its no coincidence that Britain has improved most in the three sports that have received the most lottery funding, cycling, athletics and swimming.

Went to see the women's football final at Wembley a few days ago. Great match, fantastic atmosphere though we missed the American handball and the rugby tackle that should have resulted in Japanese penalties as the action replays weren't played at the stadium oddly enough. That was probably the only logistical error of the night, organisation and security were utterly faultless right down to the tube running rushhour timetables at 11 at night to cope with the crowd.

Anyway even with those refereeing errors the match was great, the Americans won gold, the Japanese won the fans over but the overall winner was women's football, I'll definitely go to another international match and perhaps more importantly I'd be happy taking my son along with me which I wouldn't with men's football match. Another fan converted.

[janneppi]

Phew, bronze and fifth from mens javelin, with pretty good results, especially from Pitkämäki after his problems. Now I don't have to read about crap about the wrong men chosen for London (javelin for us is probably the most important event :) )
And bronze too from the very odd match race sailing.

Edit:

Mo money, Mo Farah. ;)
I can't believe the rest of the field didn't run fast from the last 1,5-1km against the best 300m sprinter of the bunch.

[Tazio]

Prop's to Jamaica for shattering the wr in the 4x100
US close second with a new American record.

[Tazio]

US Mens Diving Gold
Womens 4x400 Gold,
and a thorough beat-down for gold in womens hoops

[Tazio]

Pino I don't understand the strategy of jettisoning your seat 5KM's from the finish line :confused: ;)

http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/63/f6151a6af161496988895e26ad4c5660/l.jpg

[pino]

Neither do I ;)

[Brown, Jon Brow]

29 Gold medals for Great Britain. That's a gold for every 2.1 million Brits. The US has a gold every 7.1 million and China has a gold for every 35.4 million.

[pino]

That's an amazing and unexpected result for GB...congratulation :up:

[race aficionado]

Colombia's medals won on these wonderful Olympics:
1 gold
3 silver
4 bronze

My home country has celebrated every one of them.

http://img.tapatalk.com/45c9b59f-d5a1-3774.jpg

[Tazio]

29 Gold medals for Great Britain. That's a gold for every 2.1 million Brits. The US has a gold every 7.1 million and China has a gold for every 35.4 million.It's always helpful as the host's in succeeding in the competition. Congratulations on providing the all around best venues I have seen in the Olympics and I've been watching since the 1960's The US clearly the best 2012 Summer Olympic athletes in the world period. :champion:

We can all look forward to The US getting their azzes kicked in the Winter Olympics by
Germany
Russia
Canada
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Italy
France
Switzerland
Liechtenstein (well maybe not Liechtenstein ;) )
And apologies to anyone I left out. :p :

As for now we rule :s mokin:

[donKey jote]

Spain held USA until the last quarter and only lost by 7 points :eek: :crazy:

[race aficionado]

Spain held USA until the last quarter and only lost by 7 points :eek: :crazy:

I was rooting for Spain.

And where the hell have you been? For a moment I thought you were too involved in Spain's synchronized swimming.

[donKey jote]

And where the hell have you been? For a moment I thought you were too involved in Spain's synchronized swimming.
I'm on holiday in Spain :wave:
Currently at a public wifi-spot on the beach promenade in Canet d'en Berenguer, watching some of Spain's womens sychronized buttock wiggling :andrea: and catching up on the daily show and colbert report :bandit:

[Tazio]

Spain held USA until the last quarter and only lost by 7 points Prop's for your boyz donkz, your low post game was very effective, and Pau is a beast. I'm not saying that I thought Espana would win at any time, however had to leave the room three times because I couldn't watch :uhoh:

BTW being that you have six players with NBA experience, the last two times the USA met them I thought we were entirely, nay perfectly beatable.
Cheers :beer:

https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3e1FvH1bdtAGtO85SsUGP-ZxDH0Np_ybJN0-5cyAC0oXEIBk1eg
http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/14/52/42/3319984/3/628x471.jpg
http://media.knoxnews.com/media/img/photos/2012/08/12/media_f450b733b5cc4f0ca4f4f9e9cc9540c6_t607.jpg

[Alexamateo]

Poor Brazil these past two days. Favorites in Men's Soccer,they give up and early (and I mean early) goal and never really get back into it. Then today they are serving for match in Volleyball up 2 sets to zero, and then not only lose the set, but lose two more straight to lose the match.

If I was Brazilian, I'd be really depressed right now. :blackeye:

[Tazio]

Closing ceremonies most cool :up:

[gadjo_dilo]

I felt asleep ( as usual ) and lost the performance of my beloved Take That.

[ShiftingGears]

Brian May/Queen and Eric Idle made that closing ceremony, in my opinion.

[Mintexmemory]

Brian May/Queen and Eric Idle made that closing ceremony, in my opinion.
Actually the part of Eric Idle was played by McCartney with tons of plastic surgery (like he hasn't had tons already). He couldn't let Lennon have the last word!!!
My office is slap bang adjacent to the O2 Dome and seeing the joy on the faces of the many nationalities milling around the piazza for the past fortnight has been heart-warming. I've lost count of the number of photos I've been requested to take of people in front of the cable car and round the Thames bank at London Bridge. Favourite moment has to be the Modfather Wiggo making endurance cycling 'cool' - something I never thought would happen in the UK!!

[Tazio]

U.S. dominates medal count, sets new gold standard at London Olympics - Olympics - CBSSports.com News, Medal Count (http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/story/19784217/new-gold-standard-us-easily-wins-medal-count-sets-new-gold-total-at-london-olympics)




29 Gold medals for Great Britain. That's a gold for every 2.1 million Brits. The US has a gold every 7.1 million and China has a gold for every 35.4 million.It's certainly our Olympics in more ways than oneLONDON -- Most medals. Most gold medals. The U.S. left no doubt at the Olympics.
When the U.S. men's basketball team took the Olympic title Sunday, it won the 46th gold medal for Americans in London, their highest total at a "road" Olympics. The U.S. -- winners of 104 medals overall in London, easily the most of any country -- won 45 golds at Paris in 1924 and Mexico City in 1968.

LeBron James recognized that winning gold means more than, well, winning gold.

"It means more than myself, it means more than my name on my back. It means everything to the name on the front," he said.

The final numbers for the Americans in London won't go down as record-setting for all Olympics.

They won 83 golds (174 overall) at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, boycotted by most of the Soviet bloc countries;

and 78 golds (a whopping 239 overall) at the 1904 St. Louis Games, when U.S. athletes won roughly seven out of every eight medals
Snap for the win :)

[AndyL]

On a different theme, how many of Britain's medals are in sports where the participants are sitting down? Horsing, rowing, cycling, sailing, ...

And don't forget the long jump, which is after all just running to sit down.

[Tazio]

Yep for a small island I am rather proud.You should be!! You kicked asz in competition, and as hosts, as I have previously stated, your venues were the best! :up:
As a big country that has a large percentage of its world class athletes developed through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), I think most members would be amazed at how many athletes that medaled for other countries, were actually provided with their coaching, competition, equipment, physical training, and college education in the US. It would be interesting to get a definitive number. :)

[AndyL]

Yeah true. I know Bolt trained in the US prior to the games. The UK have been spending alot of money through lottery funding/other sources too on our athletes and it was apparent how much work we put into investing in these guys and gals over the past few years. I know people like Mo Farah have been training hard in all weathers to be up to the task and many have said our unpredictable weather has helped athletes in certain sports simply because any conditions needed to be trained for. I was amazed our weather held up so well for the games and its back to normal today with grey, wet weather lol.

Mo is one example of what the Dr was referring to, he trains in Oregon these days, which seems to be a hotbed of US track and field talent especially in the distance events. But if the USA is claiming credit for Mo's golds then we should get a bit of Ashton Eaton's (another Oregon athlete) decathlon gold in return, as the head elite coach of the Oregon Track Club is British! :)

We probably don't want to be going down that road though, or someone will bring up our German rowing coaches or Australian cycling coaches... perhaps we should just say top-level sport is an international effort these days, and wherever you live or train, it all comes down to where you call home in the end :)

Re the weather - I don't want to know who Lord Coe did a deal with to arrange that!

[Norwegian Blue]

Anyone else feel that Team GBs 'don't stop me now' video (see BBC website) has in some way taken the shine off what has been a fantastic few weeks of sport...? ;)

[AndyL]

Mo is one example of what the Dr was referring to, he trains in Oregon these days, which seems to be a hotbed of US track and field talent especially in the distance events. But if the USA is claiming credit for Mo's golds then we should get a bit of Ashton Eaton's (another Oregon athlete) decathlon gold in return, as the head elite coach of the Oregon Track Club is British! :)

We probably don't want to be going down that road though, or someone will bring up our German rowing coaches or Australian cycling coaches... perhaps we should just say top-level sport is an international effort these days, and wherever you live or train, it all comes down to where you call home in the end :)

[Tazio]

Mo is one example of what the Dr was referring to, he trains in Oregon these days, which seems to be a hotbed of US track and field talent especially in the distance events. But if the USA is claiming credit for Mo's golds then we should get a bit of Ashton Eaton's (another Oregon athlete) decathlon gold in return, as the head elite coach of the Oregon Track Club is British! :)

We probably don't want to be going down that road though, or someone will bring up our German rowing coaches or Australian cycling coaches... perhaps we should just say top-level sport is an international effort these days, and wherever you live or train, it all comes down to where you call home in the end :)

Re the weather - I don't want to know who Lord Coe did a deal with to arrange that!Andy Mo is not one I was referring to. He competed internationally for something like 10 years before he went to the Prefontain facility to train. Bolt is also a bad example as he never attended a U.S. University. I was referring to young people that make a commitment to acquire athletic greatness, while spending formative years perusing a University degree in The USA. You need to understand that College sports (specifically American football and basketball) are multi-billion dollar business, and that College Football is the most televised sport in the US, while College Basketball is also hugely popular. That is why our universities welcome non-citizens into this experience. It has to do with out-recruiting the competition. I am certainly not saying the training they receive and the athletic scholarships are selfless acts of kindness. These students must maintain average, or above average (depending on the school) grades and the success of the athletic programs bring in television revenue and donations from Alumni that go into the schools general fund.
Here are a few examples that just happen to be (mostly) from Louisiana State University:

That is also the year in which Hylton saw LSU compete for the first time.

“I start hearing about LSU at Penn Relays, and I actually saw them,” Hylton recalled. “I saw them in their purple suits. They were looking all nice in their uniforms like they were ready to run. They looked like they were into this track thing a lot. I was like, ‘Yeah, LSU is it.’”

Despite the wishes of his coaches for Hylton to remain in Jamaica and continue his training in the wake of his stint at St. Jago, Carmen Hylton had other ideas for her son.

Knowing that her son’s talent might open a door to the American university system, she encouraged Riker to make the move to the mainland to continue his academic and athletic pursuits.

“My mother had different ideas,” Hylton laughed. “She wanted me to go to a new place, be around different people and be in a different environment. She told me to try something different, to branch out and go and do something on my own. I think she just wanted me to mature and become a man. She would say, ‘I want you to get your education.’ Going to the U.S. was a way for me to do that.”

As a way to ease into the U.S. system, Hylton elected to attend a two-year junior college before looking to join a training program at a major four-year university.

“My mother thought that if I do that, I would do better in my school work because I’m not rushing myself into the university thing,” Hylton explained. “I could see how the system works.”

With two years at Essex County College in New Jersey, Hylton would be ready to take on the NCAA.

He received attention from some of the nation’s premier programs, including Tennessee and Texas A&M, and decided to visit those most interested in his talent.

But there was something that stuck when making his visit to LSU.

Perhaps it was the academic support system that outlined the path to graduation. Perhaps it was an athletic training staff with the reputation as one of the nation’s best. Perhaps it was the honesty of a head coach on the importance of personal responsibility needed to chase his dreams.

“Coach (Dennis) Shaver explained to me that, at LSU, you can be the best you want to be,” Hylton stated. “There were people there to push me and keep me on track. I needed to be around people like that. My mother pushed me, my father pushed me. They weren’t going to be around me, so I knew the best place to be was with people like that who cared so much. Choosing LSU was a really big deal to me.”

It’s a decision that has paid big dividends for both Hylton and LSU as he has developed into a world-class 400-meter sprinter in his two seasons at the Baton Rouge-based University.

A four-time NCAA All-American, Hylton was a three-time NCAA semifinalist in the 400-meter dash and anchored LSU’s fearsome 4x400-meter relay team. He even wrapped up his collegiate career with his best relay run as a Tiger at 44.24 on the anchor leg for LSU at the NCAA Championships.

After finishing as the NCAA Outdoor silver medalists in 2011, Hylton helped the Tigers take two national championship bronze medals in the 4x400 relay as a senior in 2012.

There’s no denying Hylton’s impact on his country’s 400-meter resurgence.
LSU?s Hylton Follows in Footsteps of Jamaican Sprint Stars > SEC > NEWS (http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEWS/tabid/473/Article/235898/lsus-hylton-follows-in-footsteps-of-jamaican-sprint-stars.aspx)

This next bit has to do with two LSU grads two current LSU students and one Texas A&M student that all represented and medaled for Trinidad and Tobago:



LONDON - Two Trinidad & Tobago national records fell and three relay teams advanced to Friday's finals at the 2012 Olympic Games as four sprinters with ties to the LSU Track & Field program are ready to take their place on the medal podium following Thursday's qualifying action at the Olympic Stadium.

Based on their participation in qualifying, LSU alums Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Samantha Henry-Robinson and seniors Ade Alleyne-Forte and Semoy Hackett will receive Olympic medals with a top-three finish in Friday's finals whether or not they are given the opportunity to run.

Alleyne-Forte kicked off relay qualifying by running the third leg for Trinidad & Tobago's foursome that advanced to the Olympic final in the men's 4x400-meter relay.

After Olympic 400-meter bronze medalist Lalonde Gordon and Jarrin Solomon put the team in position to win the heat with two strong legs, Alleyne-Forte passed the baton to Texas A&M freshman Deon Lendore on the anchor leg as Trinidad & Tobago joined Cuba and Great Britain in a sprint to the finish line.
Sprinters Advance to Olympics Relay Finals - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics (http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205575616)

I haven't even gotten to the Southern California Colleges that provide the highest number of Olympians, but their percentage of homegrown talent is much higher due to population density, and very mild weather conditions that allow year round training in this region

[ioan]

It's always helpful as the host's in succeeding in the competition. Congratulations on providing the all around best venues I have seen in the Olympics and I've been watching since the 1960's The US clearly the best 2012 Summer Olympic athletes in the world period. :champion:

We can all look forward to The US getting their azzes kicked in the Winter Olympics by
Germany
Russia
Canada
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Italy
France
Switzerland
Liechtenstein (well maybe not Liechtenstein ;) )
And apologies to anyone I left out. :p :

As for now we rule :s mokin:

Yeah you kinda forgot Austria who managed not to get any medal in the 2012 Olympic Games.

[ioan]

A big WELL DONE to all the athletes who participated in the 2012 Olympic Games! :up: :)

[ioan]

Then today they are serving for match in Volleyball up 2 sets to zero, and then not only lose the set, but lose two more straight to lose the match.

A rather strange occurrence.

[D-Type]

Regarding the training issue.

When Kenyan athletes started winning, people put it down to training [and perhaps growing up] at altitude. Several athletes then went and trained in Kenya - and guess what? - the Kenyans still won. So it wasn't just the altitude.

The US college scene has a culture that believes that the standard of education a college offers somehow depends on the performances on the sports field To achieve this end, many colleges import talent from all over the world. The US can expect to see some of these US-trained and US-nurtured athletes beating the home-grown product. And that is not grounds for criticising those athletyes who take advantage of what's on offer.

Whilst in Olympic sour grapes mode, you could consider that possibly, because of the abundance of talent, it is more difficult for an athlete to win, and hold on to, a place in the US team than for athletes from other countries. Does this mean that some have to 'peak' twice - once for the selection trials and again for the Olympics leading to the effective Olympic 'peak' being lower

[Tazio]

Britain will never be on a par with the US simply because the government don't invest as much into it. :mark:

Football alone supports the entire athletic department's activities, and Basketball is pure profit for the vast majority of U.S. Universities that have athletic departments,
not all do. The money (obscene amounts) comes from TV not the government :dozey:

[Tazio]

Regarding the training issue.

When Kenyan athletes started winning, people put it down to training [and perhaps growing up] at altitude. Several athletes then went and trained in Kenya - and guess what? - the Kenyans still won. So it wasn't just the altitude.

The US college scene has a culture that believes that the standard of education a college offers somehow depends on the performances on the sports field To achieve this end, many colleges import talent from all over the world. The US can expect to see some of these US-trained and US-nurtured athletes beating the home-grown product. And that is not grounds for criticising those athletyes who take advantage of what's on offer.

Whilst in Olympic sour grapes mode, you could consider that possibly, because of the abundance of talent, it is more difficult for an athlete to win, and hold on to, a place in the US team than for athletes from other countries. Does this mean that some have to 'peak' twice - once for the selection trials and again for the Olympics leading to the effective Olympic 'peak' being lowerThe part I Italicized is very naive. The Americans I know believe that the standard of education a college offers depends on the reputation of academic excellence in their field of study. They are also supporters of their schools teams. These are not mutually exclusive attitudes.

The part I emboldened is beside any point I was making. I'm proud to see a foreign citizen that attends and competes in NCAA events win a medal, and as for outperforming home-grown talent? The best is, or should win that is how international competitions are supposed to work.
These athletes don't affect the quality of the Olympians the US sends to the games as only US citizens are considered when they are having the US Olympic trials, which coincide with the NCAA track and field championships to assuage any concerns you might have about peaking one time too many :mark:

[Tazio]

Then today they are serving for match in Volleyball up 2 sets to zero, and then not only lose the set, but lose two more straight to lose the match.


A rather strange occurrence.

It's what is sometimes referred to as an epic choke ;)

[D-Type]

The part I Italicized is very naive. The Americans I know believe that the standard of education a college offers depends on the reputation of academic excellence in their field of study. They are also supporters of their schools teams. These are not mutually exclusive attitudes.

The part I emboldened is beside any point I was making. I'm proud to see a foreign citizen that attends and competes in NCAA events win a medal, and as for outperforming home-grown talent? The best is, or should win that is how international competitions are supposed to work.
These athletes don't affect the quality of the Olympians the US sends to the games as only US citizens are considered when they are having the US Olympic trials, which coincide with the NCAA track and field championships to assuage any concerns you might have about peaking one time too many :mark:
Sorry, I should have said "... beating the home-grown product in the Olympics." That was what I meant, as that seemed to be what some Americans were complaining about.
My point about the US trials was intended to be a totally separate one, suggesting a possible part-explanation for the disappointing performances of some US athletes.

[Tazio]

Sorry, I should have said "... beating the home-grown product in the Olympics." That was what I meant, as that seemed to be what some Americans were complaining about.
My point about the US trials was intended to be a totally separate one, suggesting a possible part-explanation for the disappointing performances of some US athletes.Duncan first let me say that our system is flawed, and I used to be one of the biggest proponents of getting rid of "College Football, and Basketball" because they are the primary feeder systems into the NBA, and NFL. In Baseball we have minor leagues that are direct feeders (although more and more Baseball Players are not signing out of High school and suddenly College baseball sends some players directly to the big’s) and just develop minor leagues for these sports away from academia. We have a cultural difference about our approach to sports both professional, and amature. We have replaced most club teams that flourish in Europe with collegiate teams. There are still plenty of club teams for people that don't attend college and are still talented in a sport. These college and club teams play each other in sports where scheduling is liberal, but on balance I now think that striving for athletic excellence and intellectual excellence should not be an either or proposition. I can tell you without fear of recrimination that there are men and women at extremely highly rated institutions of higher learning that are great athletes in sports that don't have any professional future, and their likelihood of making the Olympics are not very good. However they are what support the quality of the overall system. These students (mostly woman but also many men) know this but it doesn't stop them from graduating at the top of their classes at very tough academic/sports schools like Stanford, UCLA, USC, Cal Berkley Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, and Georgia Tech and on and on. Here is an example of what I think is turning into a pretty good college experience. My Nephew was in line to be a 4th generation USC graduate. The problem is that his father married into a family that is very athletic. My nephew starred in San Diego in High School Tennis, and got excellent grades. He was ranked in the top 10 high school tennis players in San Diego of his graduating class. The only problem is in order to play Tennis at a school like USC you need to be ranked in something like the top 100 amatures in the world. So he went to a smaller college with a Tennis Team he could be useful on, he has an extremely hot French girlfriend, his area of study (not a declared major) is "Social Justice" and just returned from a summer semester at Oxford, where one of his professors, I'm sure he is very prominent in the English speaking world but I've forgotten his name, taught a course that encompassed euthanasia.

[Tazio]

The USA in Berlin '36 OL was the only country to spit in The Feurur's face in that meet. And say superior race........ bam!!...........their is Jessie Owens a Black Man from out west takes like 7 medals snap!!!! US beatdown in sports......**** happenes! :vader:

[ioan]

The USA in Berlin '36 OL was the only country to spit in The Feurur's face in that meet.

Never heard about him/her/it! ;)

[race aficionado]

My closing comments: (as if anybody cares) ;)

Even though NBC's coverage sucked, they presented this one hour piece at the beginning of their Saturday evening pre-packaged coverage that documented in a very well done video, the horrible struggle that the Brits suffered when being bombarded incessantly and cowardly by the Nazis with no help coming from countries like the U S of A that hadn't and didn't want to join the war at that moment.

The way they held their chin up and managed to survive until USA joined the war and helped them avoid the final onslaught was inspiring.

Seeing them now all proud of their athletes and proud of what great Olympics they gave us all is another reason to celebrate the British culture and its proud people.

So there!

:)

[Tazio]

bombarded incessantly and cowardly by the Nazis with no help coming from countries like the U S of A

I guess that depends on what you consider "help". My father was a Navigator in "The United States Merchant Marine" Of the Thousands of these "brave men" that perished in the freezing North Atlantic, It's participation to loan GB the material they needed began almost two years before The US's declaration of war. ;)