In two months the world will be focused on Rio Brazil and from everything I have read online and watched on the news it looks like a major clusterfuck. Zika Virus, Police Killings, Financial Crisis, Shoddy and undone construction, Presidential Impeachment/Political Crisis, Environmental Crisis and displacing citizens.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rio-olympics-2016-brazil-crises_us_573b53e7e4b0646cbeeb02c8
I hope that everything goes well and we get to see the world's greatest athletes perform but I would not go there with free tickets/transportation/housing. Seven years ago the world rejoiced at the Olympics being held in South America and I hope they can cheer after the closing ceremonies.
Brazil World Cup cost too much
Sochi Winter Olympics was gonna get attacked
South Africa everyone was gonna get shot or AIDs
The media always want to talk about the event but there is nothing to talk about so they talk about shite that is either nothing to do with or vaguely related to the games.
This virus will stop some of the world's best from participating, Mcilroy said to be staying home, he will not be the only one.
Quote from: omaghjoe on May 24, 2016, 06:21:24 AM
Brazil World Cup cost too much
Sochi Winter Olympics was gonna get attacked
South Africa everyone was gonna get shot or AIDs
The media always want to talk about the event but there is nothing to talk about so they talk about shite that is either nothing to do with or vaguely related to the games.
esp SKY they shit on anything they dont have control over, every week they run the same shit from Orla shit-a-wee about shooting, bulidings etc.
Quote from: RealSpiritof98 on May 24, 2016, 10:31:37 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on May 24, 2016, 06:21:24 AM
Brazil World Cup cost too much
Sochi Winter Olympics was gonna get attacked
South Africa everyone was gonna get shot or AIDs
The media always want to talk about the event but there is nothing to talk about so they talk about shite that is either nothing to do with or vaguely related to the games.
esp SKY they shit on anything they dont have control over, every week they run the same shit from Orla shit-a-wee about shooting, bulidings etc.
Easy on there son that's a good Screen lady you're slandering!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36909409 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36909409)
Rule 40 for the olympics. Ludicrous.
Quote from: imtommygunn on July 28, 2016, 09:14:04 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36909409 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36909409)
Rule 40 for the olympics. Ludicrous.
The Olympics are a scam
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/27/biggest-threat-future-olympic-games-rio-2016-ioc-thomas-bach-hosts
Over the course of two months early in 2015, public opinion in Boston completely flipped. In January it had been polling 54% in favour of the bid. By March, the figure fell to 38%. In between, No Boston Olympics picked apart the details of the bid, cut through the "glossy brochures showing how the venues would look" and made it clear "the taxpayers were on the hook".
The Boston bid became untenable. Dempsey says it was "a reaction to the excesses of recent years. Especially Beijing but also London, because when you look at what was actually spent on those Olympics it is something like four times the original budget."
In Hamburg, on the other hand, the anti-Olympic movement was rooted in the left. Florian Kasiske ran the PR for the NOlympia campaign. "There was a spectrum," he says. It combined students, young members of the left-wing parties and a lot of harbour workers who were against the Olympics too, because their jobs were being threatened."
Kasiske says one of the big issues was the gentrification of the city, especially around the harbour. "The Games are a big motor for displacement of poor people from inner city areas." The other was the immigration crisis. "The people kept asking: 'How can we organise the Olympics when we have to find housing for so many of the people who have come to the city? These people are sleeping in tents, and the politicians want to make a new velodrome?'"
20 years since Michelle Smith and her medals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobZMvyT1iM
and Jimmy Magee will never let her down
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/29/the-trouble-with-the-olympic-games
Watching the women's cycling road race there and the leader has taken a savage fall on the final descent. I've had to turn it off I can't watch anymore :(
Some rough ones in the mens too and quite a few falls. Looks like dangerous enough terrain.
Dutch cycling federation seem to be saying she's ok
https://twitter.com/knwu/status/762366862650961924
Quote from: Boycey on August 07, 2016, 08:48:19 PM
Dutch cycling federation seem to be saying she's ok
https://twitter.com/knwu/status/762366862650961924
She's Gona make a quicker recovery than u boyecy by the sounds of it
This is the week I prefer. I wouldn't be big on the big money athletics. I like the Swimming, boxing and the more unusual events like the kayaking, basketball, etc etc. Nice to see Rugby 7s as well.
I was looking forward as always to the Olympics, but in the last few days I discovered I am not really interested at all.
Hard to pin-point why exactly. But a few relatively small things have pissed me off.
*Irish boxer fails doping test - I was particularly looking forward to seeing how the boxers go to on. Not so much now.
* British cycling heroine give a Lance Armstrong statement - defended by British cycling (I had a look at the success of British cycling over the decades and was going to post an analysis, but don't want to get sued - lets just say in the druggiest of sports their success since the year 2000 is 'unnatural'.)
* Russians
* Kenyans
* IOC
* IOC sponsors
* Did I mention drugs?
I'll still probably watch some of the athletics, but at this stage that may be the biggest joke of the lot.
If there is such a thing as a good fail, then I suppose cannabis or cocaine is it. Stupid eejit.
I'm going to be very sexist now. I don't like women's boxing, or women commentating on boxing.
The lad on RTE doing the basketball commentary is from the Willie Hegarty school of commentators!
He's very excitable. I heard his co-commentator yesterday saying the Golden State Warrior s were called the Dubs because the play near Dublin, California. I don't think he was joking.
I hate the Olympics, it's just a vehicle for f**ker who know nothing about sport like politicians and middle class gobshites to shite on about sport as if they know something. Look at the attendances. If ya wouldn't go to watch some of that shite when it's on your doorstep why would you tune in to watch it.
There's no sporting event on the planet I hate more than the Olympics. Even without the level of drugs involved. Take all the drugs out of the Olympics and it would still be mindless dross. The drugs just make the mindless dross end .5 of a second quicker so I'm all for athletes shooting up.
Kimmage wrote a piece today i think saying pretty much the same as you muppet.
I still enjoy it and- really looking forward to athletics and some boxing. I am glad in a strange kind of way it was a class a drug and not a performance enhancing one.
The russian thing is a farce. You're from russia, we have nothing on you but you're not going.justin gatlin- ah go ahead. Really think it's the like of coe point scoring doing this stuff. Don't get me wrong the doping sucks but if they're not caught then the testing isn't up to it and they improve that. What is a clean russian athlete to do - and there are bound to be some.
Is this Hockey on now live?
Quote from: trileacman on August 07, 2016, 09:35:31 PM
I hate the Olympics, it's just a vehicle for f**ker who know nothing about sport like politicians and middle class gobshites to shite on about sport as if they know something. Look at the attendances. If ya wouldn't go to watch some of that shite when it's on your doorstep why would you tune in to watch it.
There's no sporting event on the planet I hate more than the Olympics. Even without the level of drugs involved. Take all the drugs out of the Olympics and it would still be mindless dross. The drugs just make the mindless dross end .5 of a second quicker so I'm all for athletes shooting up.
so what are you trying to say, do you like the Olympics or not?? :)
Quote from: muppet on August 07, 2016, 09:00:15 PM
I was looking forward as always to the Olympics, but in the last few days I discovered I am not really interested at all.
Hard to pin-point why exactly. But a few relatively small things have pissed me off.
*Irish boxer fails doping test - I was particularly looking forward to seeing how the boxers go to on. Not so much now.
* British cycling heroine give a Lance Armstrong statement - defended by British cycling (I had a look at the success of British cycling over the decades and was going to post an analysis, but don't want to get sued - lets just say in the druggiest of sports their success since the year 2000 is 'unnatural'.)
* Russians
* Kenyans
* IOC
* IOC sponsors
* Did I mention drugs?
I'll still probably watch some of the athletics, but at this stage that may be the biggest joke of the lot.
I've read it numerous times that there's a direct correlation between the success of British Cycling and the introduction of National Lottery funding.
I'd be the opposite to Muppet, for the 1st time ever I wasn't particularly interested in the build up to the games. I thought I wasn't interested anymore probably for all the reasons he's saying but now that it's started I love it, I'd watch any auld shite in it. I do prefer the individual events to the team sports however..
Quote from: bennydorano on August 07, 2016, 10:38:55 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 07, 2016, 09:00:15 PM
I was looking forward as always to the Olympics, but in the last few days I discovered I am not really interested at all.
Hard to pin-point why exactly. But a few relatively small things have pissed me off.
*Irish boxer fails doping test - I was particularly looking forward to seeing how the boxers go to on. Not so much now.
* British cycling heroine give a Lance Armstrong statement - defended by British cycling (I had a look at the success of British cycling over the decades and was going to post an analysis, but don't want to get sued - lets just say in the druggiest of sports their success since the year 2000 is 'unnatural'.)
* Russians
* Kenyans
* IOC
* IOC sponsors
* Did I mention drugs?
I'll still probably watch some of the athletics, but at this stage that may be the biggest joke of the lot.
I've read it numerous times that there's a direct correlation between the success of British Cycling and the introduction of National Lottery funding.
Do other countries, ones with decades of tradition in cycling, not also get funding? And how does funding turn a country from somewhere behind Ireland in a sport, to complete world domination?
No idea but I'd love to read your analysis of British Cycling - the one that you'd get sued for, especially if you dont consider funding that big a factor.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 07, 2016, 11:22:35 PM
No idea but I'd love to read your analysis of British Cycling - the one that you'd get sued for, especially if you dont consider funding that big a factor.
I said I had a look at their success.
Look at Olympics and TDF performances over the decades.
The from 2000 Olympics sees a major spike. Then Sky enter in 2008 and TDF performances go through the roof.
I never said funding wasn't a factor. Lance Armstrong was the most tested, best funded cyclist going.
You should read an article or two on how targetted Lottery funding (beginning c1997) improved British cycling.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 07, 2016, 11:58:09 PM
You should read an article or two on how targetted Lottery funding (beginning c1997) improved British cycling.
I don't read fiction.
Armstrong and Hamilton among many other since tainted riders were competing in some of those Olympics. And yet the medals flowed. Were they eating the money?
British cycling funding Armitstead's legal action to have her first test miss overturned is either ill advised from a "looking in" perspective or it is a poor indicator of the tolerance of those who mess with the doping rules
This Adam Peaty kid is the business. Destroyed the field for another WR.
Quote from: muppet on August 08, 2016, 12:03:24 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 07, 2016, 11:58:09 PM
You should read an article or two on how targetted Lottery funding (beginning c1997) improved British cycling.
I don't read fiction.
Armstrong and Hamilton among many other since tainted riders were competing in some of those Olympics. And yet the medals flowed. Were they eating the money?
Perfectly illustrates the 'everyone is doping mentality'. choose to read / believe what they want.
I'm not sure you know what you're writing about there. You know the difference between track & road cycling
Track cycling and rowing could be hugely improved by funding i believe. Rowing especially. Pure power and endurance and you can get science to improve that with the right backing.
The aussies do it too.
I think the Arnitstead thing shows the double standards there are out there.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 07:53:27 AM
Quote from: muppet on August 08, 2016, 12:03:24 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 07, 2016, 11:58:09 PM
You should read an article or two on how targetted Lottery funding (beginning c1997) improved British cycling.
I don't read fiction.
Armstrong and Hamilton among many other since tainted riders were competing in some of those Olympics. And yet the medals flowed. Were they eating the money?
Perfectly illustrates the 'everyone is doping mentality'. choose to read / believe what they want.
I'm not sure you know what you're writing about there. You know the difference between track & road cycling
Do I know the difference between track and road?
If I am so ignorant why do you bother?
Anyway back to this issue.
As for the boats, Britain has a long tradition in rowing. Hugh Laurie's Dad won Gold for example.
But cycling, not so much. Bar the odd TDF stage win, such as Tom Simpson and Sean Yates, both who had their doping issues, it was a fairly barren sport for Britain, unless you go way back when they were one of the few competing teams.
Ironically I think Chris Boardman was one of the few clean riders in his day. He put his performances down to his Lotus bike. That makes far more sense than the usual 'new training methods', or Ma Junren's 'turtle soup' for example.
'Funding' is almost laughable as a standalone reason. Funding could mean finance for Lotus bikes, new state of the art facilities, or it could mean a great bribery system or the most advanced doping programme yet (apparently modern doping leaves no trace after 18-24 after taking it - think about why people who missed a test one day might be happy to do one the day after). Lots of countries with fantastic traditions and very advanced doping programmes have funding. Funding is not an argument that proves there is no doping.
Regarding British Cycling - well we know funding certainly led to a bullying culture and this year 23 year old Sean Yates failed a doping test (asthma of course). We also know they went from very few medals on the track for decades - to complete domination after 2000. We know that they went from nothing in the TDF to total domination after 2008. 2/3 of Britain's 66 stage wins have come in the last 8 years, as have all of their 4 wins.
Some of us old enough to remember East German women will remember what we thought when we saw them dominate.
I think it is 'unnatural'.
Track cycling has seen huge increases in funding due to the influence of the National Lottery, Lottery funding brought in or enhanced:
A dedicated centre of excellence
Track cyclists went from shamateurs to Pros
Top level coaching
Top level equipment
Top level training & support
If you took the time to read about Lottery Funding, you would also find that they only fund sports (in a competitive arena) that are likely to yield World or Olympic success
It also brought in Dave Brailsford who has been the brains behind the Track resurgence and Sky team
Road cycling's success has largely been down to the Sky Pro Cycling team – a totally different kettle of fish, different format, different funding. Sky is a UK based pro team with an international roster of riders – they are as 'British' as Man Utd or Chelsea are with 7/8 foreigners fielding per game are. There have always been excellent British pro-cyclists riding for continental teams, as there currently are in other continental teams, there are also half a dozen pro-conti British teams, so to say there is no or has never been a serious cycling culture in the UK is just plain wrong. Sky with their huge budget have a policy of snapping up the best British talent available – they undoubtedly changed the game when they entered the pro-ranks and are trying to gather British talent together, which is not an unreasonable position to hold. (Simon Yates rides for an Aussie pro-team btw)
If you don't believe or choose not to believe – fair enough, but I have the right to call bullshit and ask anyone to justify their position and I've yet to hear anyone convince me of Sky or UK Track having doping programmes.
You have a right to call bullshit?
Fine.
You are obviously very knowledgable on all things cycling and, IIRC, were adamant that Armstong was clean. Check the thread if you wish.
Now back to Simon Yates. You are being very careful with what you say. 'Simon Yates rides for an Aussie pro-team BTW'. This is true. But it is incredibly thrifty with the facts. He was part of the British Olympic Academy. He rode for the British National Team at the Commonwealth Games and has roomed with Chris Froome. He a gold medal on the track for Britain in 2013. He rode for the British National Team before joining the Australian National Team in 2014.
On to Sky, 'a totally different kettle of fish'.
Maybe.
But there seems to be a lot of the same fish. Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome?
As for the 'there have always been excellent British pro-cyclists' - well why didn't they win even stages in the TDF? Never mind winning 4 out of 5 Yellow jerseys as has just happened. If Sky had existed decades ago and signed the previous 50 years worth of British pro-cycling talent, and throw in Kelly and Roche as well, they still wouldn't touch the last 8 years's level of success.
Only Simpson, Boardman, Yates, Millar, Wiggins & Froome even wore the Yellow Jersey, for even a day. Of those Simpson, Yates and Millar and their doping issues. For example, Millar, who admitted useing EPO was famously arrested by French Police while eating dinner in a restaurant. Any idea who he was eating with?
The above is a very lame justification, in my opinion, just as your Armstong defense was, so we all have a right to call bullshit.
Actually bringing some facts to the table about UK cycling is lame? I despair.
You could save us all some time & spare us the historical rambling narratives & sidetracking and just provide some proof of doping? Being angry and self righteous isn't proof of anything.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 02:27:19 PM
Actually bringing some facts to the table about UK cycling is lame? I despair.
You could save us all some time & spare us the historical rambling narratives & sidetracking and just provide some proof of doping? Being angry and self righteous isn't proof of anything.
Saying that British Cycling has funding, top level coaching etc, etc ,etc is not arguing against anything.
You can take it for granted that the traditional cycling medalists such as France, Italy and the Netherlands all have 'top level' training coaching and equipment etc. We also know they had top level doping on the road. You are not introducing any 'facts', just pointing out the obvious.
Meanwhile you ignore the other 'obvious' issues, such as the truly remarkable improvement in track performance from 2000 onwards and the incredible improvement in the TDF from 2008 onwards. All from the same fish.
As I've said already, save us all some time and post your evidence of doping or your analysis of how it's being done. I'm done here, but have a read at this for a bit of background.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/dec/17/british-cycling-other-sports-learn
Monday 17 December 2012 18.05 GMT Last modified on Monday 8 August 2016 14.10 BST
They used to dig for coal on the site of the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. Now they pan for precious metal and the bigger prize of maintaining the momentum of the sport's golden summer.
After another valedictory night at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, where Bradley Wiggins strutted to the main prize and the performance director Dave Brailsford was named coach of the year, back at HQ eyes are firmly on the next four years.
The sprawling site, encompassing the velodrome where Sir Chris Hoy, Laura Trott and the rest put in endless hours of training as well as the national governing body's HQ and a new indoor BMX track, was built on the site of a former mine.
Now British Cycling executives are hopeful that unparalleled success in winning medals can be translated into further grassroots growth for the sport, that will allow them to continue riding a wave of success fuelled by public money.
On Monday Sport England confirmed that success in increasing the number of people cycling once a week by 200,000 over the past year had been rewarded with a grassroots funding boost from £24.7m to £32m over a four-year period. On Tuesday, UK Sport will confirm that cycling remains among the top tier of funded sports and is expected to reward continued success in London with a modest increase on the £26m it provided between 2009 and 2013.
It is easy to forget that for the first three years of its life the Manchester Velodrome was seen as something of a white elephant, marooned on the edge of the city. Dave Cockram, British Cycling's national facilities manager and father-in-law to one Bradley Wiggins, recalls that taxis wouldn't drop you there in its early days.
But with the advent of lottery funding, then the Commonwealth Games of 2002 and the subsequent arrival of Manchester City a few hundred yards away, it became an engine of the success of the elite Olympic team that excelled in Beijing and London and the catalyst for the creation of Team Sky, the wild scenes on the Champs-Elysées last summer and an attendant growth in the grassroots popularity of the sport.
The governing body is rare in marrying elite success with participation growth. It is helped by the fact cycling is as much a recreational activity or commuting practicality as a sport, but has seized the opportunity through enlightened governance and a dash of good fortune.
Since the lottery funding tap was turned on in 1997, Great Britain has come to dominate elite cycling. A decision by the Labour government in 2008 to funnel £120m of Sport England lottery and exchequer funding a year into the grassroots through governing bodies has attempted to repeat the trick in the more multilayered world of community sport.
As such cycling has become something of a talisman for the government as it searches for evidence that London 2012 can do something no previous Olympics has achieved and inspire more people to take up sport.
The picture remains mixed but recent Sport England figures show the number of people playing sport at least once a week grew by 750,000 in the past year. Cycling has powered that growth.
Ian Drake, British Cycling chief executive since 2009, has spent the four months since Great Britain ruled the velodrome in London not basking in glory but in finalising bids for more than £60m of public money, at a time when the prevailing economic climate is less than healthy.
You do not have to travel very far to see where the cuts that Manchester City Council, which perhaps more than any other has tried to use sport as a lever for redevelopment, is having to make are likely to bite.
Against that backdrop, Drake says that making the case for the money from UK Sport, to fund its elite athletes, and from Sport England, to invest in driving participation figures, has been the hardest job of his time in charge.
"I've got quite a simple view of sport," he says. "Cycling was here for a long time before me and its going to be for hundreds of years after me. So the simplest way of looking at a sport is to say you're only looking after it for a short period. You're just a custodian for a very limited period of time and you've got to leave it in a better state than you found it."
Drake was involved in 1998 in putting together the first "playground to podium" talent pathway that identified the best riders but also catalysed interest in the sport.
"In 2004, we knew that pathway was going to work," he says. "We had Ed Clancey and Lizzie Armitstead in the system but we knew we were doing it in isolation from the rest of the sport. I was increasingly uncomfortable with the fact that membership was static, we had declining events and yet we were on this trajectory to smash the world. I was worried that we'd sit there in 2008 and 2012 with boxfuls of medals but the sport stuck where it was 10 years ago."
That has changed since Beijing, in particular. Membership of British Cycling stands at more than 62,000 – it has trebled in eight years - and it has used the increased profile of Wiggins, Hoy and Victoria Pendelton to drive the growth of the sport. This has been pulled off partly thanks to a partnership with Sky and techniques honed to target specific parts of the population – be they women turned off by the idea of riding with men, schoolchildren without a bike at home, or commuters who want to take the first step into riding competitively.
The Breeze network, for example, has targeted women with intially easy recreational rides in a social atmosphere that are organised online.
"When Sky got involved, we knew it wasn't the cash that made the difference but the reach," says Stewart Kellett, British Cycling's director of recreation and partnerships. "The way we spoke to cyclists in 2006 was that you had to be a bloke, you had to be in lycra, you had to be fit and and you had to win races. That was relevant to 0.1% of the population. We had to change the image and the way we talked about cycling."
It has also meant taking a wider lobbying role on cycling safety issues. "Every time we have a death or accident on the roads it sets us back 20,000 people," he estimates. As cycling becomes "normalised" and more popular with a broader cross section of the population, the hope is that it will foster a greater level of understanding between riders and motorists.
The sport has benefited from engaging with recreational cyclists, in a way that athletics has historically failed to do – leaving an alternative industry to grow up around fun running and marathon running rather than embracing it.
"Just like you need a talent pathway, you need a participation pathway that can hold somebody's hand until the point where they can either ride socially on their own or have found a group or found a club," says Drake.
For all the talk of systems, talent pathways and aggregation of marginal gains Drake, a former PE teacher, acknowledges that it is those on the front line who make the difference. "It's that magic moment, the first 10 minutes," he says. "It's the people who make or break sporting habits for life.
"At the end of the day, we're trying to do two things – win medals and get more people playing the sport. As long as you do those two things, you get momentum and growth. That's been the journey for the last 14 years. Can we crack that international success but also make sure those medals deliver more than the sum of their parts?"
Far from basking in glory, Drake is determined to recalibrate the parameters of success. There is an unspoken acknowledgement that the high water mark of winning the Tour and huge Olympic success in the same year is unlikely to be repeated. "You can't justify this level of funding just on medal success alone," he says. "There's got to be more to it."
Kellett says that British Cycling has "sweated the medals more than any other sport". Overlooking the £23m indoor BMX track that opened in August of last year brings to mind the experience of BMX since the 1980s. In the grip of a fad for the sport in the mid-1980s, local authorities up and down the country built BMX tracks that fell into disrepair because they were not maintained properly and had no resident clubs or enthusiastic volunteers. Cockram says it is determined not to repeat those mistakes. In the bowels of the velodrome, which is shared roughly 60/40 between the public and training for the elite squads and which since the Olympics has seen waiting lists for "try out" sessions lengthen to weeks then months, lies the equivalent of the Quartermaster's Stores.
There, in a cramped space once inhabited by Brailsford and Shane Sutton as they plotted the route to Olympic success, is a reminder of the attention to detail that lies behind the glory. Row upon row of nutritional supplements, kit and – in a locked room at the back – the frames of the bikes that powered their riders to those medals in London. Charging endlessly around the track, the GB academy squad are following a derny ridden by a coach, Jon Norfolk. There are 10 riders in the sprint programme, all hoping to become the next Hoy or Jason Kenny, move to Manchester at 18 to British Cycling-owned apartments in the city and train full-time.
"The aim of the programme is the Olympic podium," Norfolk says. "These guys benefit from those who ploughed the furrow and created the pathway. Athletes like Chris Hoy, Jason Queally, Chris Boardman, they had to create this.
"They have done all the experiments and the making it up as you go along. Although the expectation is a lot higher on these athletes than an 18-year-old Chris Hoy, they get a lot more support."
A 20-minute drive from the National Centre, in the suburb of Tameside, Cockram shows off a mile-long off-road track that he proclaims as the future of cycling in Great Britain. It is not much to look at – a loop of tarmac that winds its way past an athletics track and a Football Foundation-funded project.
But he says investing in similar secure, floodlit closed-road circuits around the country, where local schools and clubs can train in a safe environment, is the key to the future development of the sport. Drake agrees: "Wherever we're building those, they're packed. What we're trying to build in every town and every city is a place to go where there's a secure environment."
There are around 20 such road racing circuits around the country and Cockram estimates that total will double in the next four years. "They are in the areas of big population and whole swathes of the country with no coverage at all. The trick is to make road racing circuits open to a wider percentage of the membership." In an attempt to attract youngsters, British Cycling's 11 regional managers and 30 Go Ride coaches will pitch up at schools with a van full of bikes and evangelise about cycling, with the aim of getting the children involved with a local club.
A British Cycling board member in the early 1990s, Cockram says he has seen the culture of the sport change to become more welcoming and outward facing. There have been growing pains along the way but the relentless self-analysis that has served Hoy et al so well has also sparked a culture change within the sport.
To illustrate the virtuous circle that they are aiming for, Drake reaches for Trott, the irrepressible double London gold medallist – one of the first riders to come all the way through the system since public money for participation matched that for the elite end.
"The point at which somebody sees Laura Trott and says 'I want to do that', you want to know the first time they go down to that club on a Tuesday night that their first 10 minutes is going to be fantastic; that they're going to go home and tell their Dad it's something they want to carry on doing. That's why we spend a lot of time on coach education, a lot of time on volunteers. At the end of the day, they will make or break whether that inspiration turns into participation and turns into future Olympic success."
Unlike other governing bodies at which the elite side of the sport remains disconnected from the grassroots, which are rarely discussed around the boardroom table unless there is a funding round coming up, at British Cycling the two sides appear genuinely integrated.
There is an irony in the fact that at the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union, for example, their councils are made up of venerable figures from the grassroots of the game. And yet the endless concern of them and their board tends to be the upper echelons and the England team. That is partly, of course, because they don't have to rely so heavily on public money. Football, tennis and rugby have their own cash cows in Wembley, Wimbledon and Twickenham to help drive their sport whereas 86% of British Cycling's revenue come from the public purse. Drake says he wants to alter that balance but believes it also makes them work harder to grow the sport as a whole.
Drake says other sports have been beating a path to his door to hear how cycling squared elite success with boosting participation. He says there is no silver bullet but that obsessive attention to detail, combined with hard work and restless curiosity, brings its own reward.
"There's no point one or two sports succeeding and everyone else failing. It's in our interest to make sure the system is delivering. At the end of the day, it's just people riding bikes."In an ante room at the ExCel Centre following a SPOTY show that has all but confirmed cycling as a new national sport Brailsford acclaims the shift in its profile, paying tribute to Wiggins, Hoy, Mark Cavendish and Pendleton for blazing the trail.
"My own personal experience growing up in north Wales was falling into a sport which just seemed like a very odd thing to be doing," he said. "All my friends thought it was an odd thing to be doing. When it came to the point where I wanted to try to do it seriously, the only way you could do it was to go and live abroad.
"To go from that, from what really was a minority sport with 10-mile time trials on a Tuesday night, to where the sport currently stands in British culture now is remarkable."
Mcilroy might have a tweet about that
To be honest doping is so ingrained in cycling culture that it should be up to the cyclists to prove they're not doping. Hard to believe anyone these days thinks a winning cyclist is clean.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 04:33:21 PM
Mcilroy might have a tweet about that
Would appear Paddy's a better tweeter! Joking aside still some achievement for him to win medals at two olympics, nothing to be ashamed of. Seems making the weight was too much for him.
Benny I get that you are a big cycling fan and that some of us are mere lesser mortals. I get that you want 100% proof otherwise you will defend Lance Armstrong or whoever is in the sights of the amateurs, to the bitter end.
However I agree with Dinny and also Duffleking. Cycling has an obligation to prove itself clean after all that has happened.
I read your article and it doesn't contradict me at all. In fact it mentions the 'unparalleled success' which you disagreed with me on, and that everything began in 1998, which you also seem to disagree on.
Back to Armistead, I believe British Cycling could not have handled this worse. Firstly, in their own guidelines was a statement along the lines of: 'make it easy for the tester, include all the details and if you are in a hotel, give them your room number'. Now this is honourable stuff and good advice from British Cycling. Armistead chose to ignore or somehow forget or miss this advice, and somehow claimed that it was all about a mobile phone in sleep mode.(Testers don't ring you on your mobile phone, as you would now have warning of a test).
She also had two other missed tests. All in the last 13 months before the Olympics. She must be the most unprofessional, top professional cyclist I have ever read about. As I said before, making yourself available the next day means nothing because the latest stuff is untraceable after 18-24 hours. That is the point of the unannounced test.
Above I said British Cycling had issued good sensible guidelines, which I agreed they did, if they had suspended her for breaking them and for missing the other two tests I would have to give credit where it is due. However they didn't. They engaged in a strange game of silly burgers. She claimed they supported her, while they claimed they merely got legal advice for themselves - but passed this legal advice on to her. The latter appears to be so close to paying for her legal advice as to make no difference.
It is my opinion that these things have cycles (sorry!).
The initial success is followed by the rivals and cranks complaining.
Then the odd journalist starts asking questions.
Then people with no skin in the game start getting curious. That is when the 'look how often I am tested' and 'I never failed a test' starts.
Then a few cracks start to appear. A TUE here and some missed tests there.
Then more people start asking questions.
People who were comfortable up to now start to get really uncomfortable.
[Armistead refused to say why she missed the 3rd test. If it is all really from National Lottery Funding - public funding - then she should be answering questions publically as to why she can't follow the rules associated with her allocation]
From here, who knows, maybe you are right and that is the last we will here of it with British Cycling.
But in other 'cycles', this is where Michell De Bruin, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, to name a few, probably wished they had just another 'missed test' after their names. But someone, somewhere gets caught properly. Despite the massive funding gradient in favour of the dopers and against the testers. Then people with no previous interest get very interested in anything that looks 'unnatural'.
Came 10th 4 years ago in British and trials and now he's the WR holder????
Muppet, you really don't get what I'm about at all. I'm the outsider in this discussion, the 'Cyclists are all dopers mentality' is so ingrained on this board that I am advocating the non mainstream position.
I'm well aware of doping throughout the pro, semi pro and youth ranks of cycling. However I think most doping accusers are barking up the wrong trees (& most seem only to want to Skybash). I genuinely believe Sky are clean and I'll argue their case. As for UK Track cycling, not as interested but I'd still be very surprised. All the information you could ever want to read about UK cycling is available but sure if one of you first statements is 'I don't read fiction', there's not much point going deeper into any discussion.
You have to change hearts & minds one at a time and I don't see that happening to either of us.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 08:26:10 PM
Muppet, you really don't get what I'm about all. I'm the outsider in this discussion, the 'Cyclists are all dopers mentality' is so ingrained on this board that I am advocating the non mainstream position.
I'm well aware of doping throughout the pro, semi pro and youth ranks of cycling. However I think most doping accusers are barking up the wrong trees (& most seem only to want to Skybash). I genuinely believe Sky are clean and I'll argue their case. As for UK Track cycling, not as interested but I'd still be very surprised. All the information you could ever want to read about UK cycling is available but sure if one of you first statements is 'I don't read fiction', there's not much point going deeper into any discussion.
You have to change hearts & minds one at a time and I don't see that happening to either of us.
Fair enough, but what about Armistead?
As i've stated on another thread, no sympathy whatsoever for her, she may or may not be guilty but has totally brought it all upon herself. Defending one of your own is perfectly understandable but the incorrect choice imo.
Watched ladies volleyball USA v Netherlands.... Great game some effort from the Dutch, just came up short in a decider
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 08:49:27 PM
As i've stated on another thread, no sympathy whatsoever for her, she may or may not be guilty but has totally brought it all upon herself. Defending one of your own is perfectly understandable but the incorrect choice imo.
I can definitely agree with that.
Benny, have a look at the posts you made about Armstrong on this page: http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=11652.60
It was pretty much the same routine back in 2009 with Muppet dissing your suggestion that 500 clean tests meant that he was clean. We know how that one ended.
I'm with Muppet here. Just about every time we have given an athlete the benefit of the doubt for big improvements we tend to find a few years later there there were "extenuating" circumstances.
Quote from: screenexile on August 08, 2016, 07:48:52 PM
Came 10th 4 years ago in British and trials and now he's the WR holder????
Who's this?
Quote from: screenexile on August 08, 2016, 07:48:52 PM
Came 10th 4 years ago in British and trials and now he's the WR holder????
who, Peaty? Sure at 17 he'd hardly be the finished article. Mind you if he was anything other than a Brit the press would be highly skeptical. One thing to break the world record but those were almost Usain Bolt style smashing of the record, not only once, but twice.
Quote from: Smokin Joe on August 08, 2016, 09:51:40 PM
Benny, have a look at the posts you made about Armstrong on this page: http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=11652.60
It was pretty much the same routine back in 2009 with Muppet dissing your suggestion that 500 clean tests meant that he was clean. We know how that one ended.
I'm with Muppet here. Just about every time we have given an athlete the benefit of the doubt for big improvements we tend to find a few years later there there were "extenuating" circumstances.
Yip, not something I've hid from, it's on this or the cycling thread last week. I believed, moved on and won't be fooled again. I've also made it clear above I know there's plenty of doping going on but I think Sky are clean.
Quote from: CiKe on August 08, 2016, 10:25:53 PM
Quote from: screenexile on August 08, 2016, 07:48:52 PM
Came 10th 4 years ago in British and trials and now he's the WR holder????
who, Peaty? Sure at 17 he'd hardly be the finished article. Mind you if he was anything other than a Brit the press would be highly skeptical. One thing to break the world record but those were almost Usain Bolt style smashing of the record, not only once, but twice.
I would disagree regarding the press. Swimming records are broken relatively frequently and not much is heard about it in the press. Peaty broke his own World Record twice at the Olympics. I could be wrong as well but I believe there may have been a change in rules in his particular stroke to allow more kicks, it doesn't have to be synchronized anymore, something like that, again I could be wrong but think I heard it.
It's a fast pool as well
Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on August 08, 2016, 10:46:01 PM
It's a fast pool as well
Legit question from someone without a clue. Are you taking the piss or being serious? I know they talk about fast tracks etc, wasn't aware there was maybe the same in the pool.
Irrespective of whether you're being sarcastic, to smash the record by that much is crazy, unless as per oakleaflad there has been some rule change.
Oakleaflad, you're probably right about the press though reckon would depend on circumstances. Can you imagine it was a Russian beat their golden boy into second place or something? (just think all the coverage Rebecca Adlington got for her golds/ You'd have sworn swimming was biggest sport in the UK at the time.)
Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on August 08, 2016, 10:46:01 PM
It's a fast pool as well
Apparently it is right on the slope limit of 1.5%: http://cs.selu.edu/~rbyrd/math/slope/
Was it wind assisted. As well?
Quote from: muppet on August 08, 2016, 10:56:28 PM
Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on August 08, 2016, 10:46:01 PM
It's a fast pool as well
Apparently it is right on the slope limit of 1.5%
Does that measure the slope on the top of the water or the bottom of the pool?
Quote from: armaghniac on August 08, 2016, 11:01:36 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 08, 2016, 10:56:28 PM
Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on August 08, 2016, 10:46:01 PM
It's a fast pool as well
Apparently it is right on the slope limit of 1.5%
Does that measure the slope on the top of the water or the bottom of the pool?
You know your swimming!
This is why you see swimmers sometimes doing a lot of the first length underwater and switching on the way back. You can get the bottom sloping one way and the top the other.
https://coachrickswimming.com/2014/02/02/what-makes-a-pool-fast/
What makes a pool fast
Quote from: bennydorano on August 08, 2016, 10:31:49 PM
Quote from: Smokin Joe on August 08, 2016, 09:51:40 PM
Benny, have a look at the posts you made about Armstrong on this page: http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=11652.60
It was pretty much the same routine back in 2009 with Muppet dissing your suggestion that 500 clean tests meant that he was clean. We know how that one ended.
I'm with Muppet here. Just about every time we have given an athlete the benefit of the doubt for big improvements we tend to find a few years later there there were "extenuating" circumstances.
Yip, not something I've hid from, it's on this or the cycling thread last week. I believed, moved on and won't be fooled again. I've also made it clear above I know there's plenty of doping going on but I think Sky are clean.
No flies on you then.
The Olympics are one big circus, full of corruption, bribery, hypocrisy and cheating. You just don't know whether you are watching something that is real or whether the winner can be trusted. And that is all BEFORE the track and field begins.
Cant say I've ever been excited about the Olympics. It's light entertainment. Basketball & Cycling would be the 2 things I'd put a bit of effort into watching.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 09, 2016, 09:46:09 AM
Cant say I've ever been excited about the Olympics. It's light entertainment. Basketball & Cycling would be the 2 things I'd put a bit of effort into watching.
Why bother ffs, the cyclists are all doped up to the eyeballs...
I read an article about the sewage pumped into the bay where the sailing is on. I am afraid that is my image of Rio.
Jesus then why get excited about any sport, because potentially there is not a non doped sport.... Even the GAA will have players taking drugs, even at club level.....
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 09, 2016, 10:40:23 AM
Jesus then why get excited about any sport, because potentially there is not a non doped sport.... Even the GAA will have players taking drugs, even at club level.....
Whoosh. (The sound of the joke going over your head)
Quote from: gallsman on August 09, 2016, 10:41:56 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 09, 2016, 10:40:23 AM
Jesus then why get excited about any sport, because potentially there is not a non doped sport.... Even the GAA will have players taking drugs, even at club level.....
Whoosh. (The sound of the joke going over your head)
was meant for this poster
Quote from: yellowcard on August 09, 2016, 09:20:28 AM
The Olympics are one big circus, full of corruption, bribery, hypocrisy and cheating. You just don't know whether you are watching something that is real or whether the winner can be trusted. And that is all BEFORE the track and field begins.
What the hell is wrong with the water in the diving pool?
Women's all around gymnastics final on now. Chance to see the remarkable Simone Biles.
Quote from: gallsman on August 09, 2016, 08:46:12 PM
Women's all around gymnastics final on now. Chance to see the remarkable Simone Biles.
Amazing stuff...
Quote from: gallsman on August 09, 2016, 08:46:12 PM
Women's all around gymnastics final on now. Chance to see the remarkable Simone Biles.
They are all fantastic. Gymnastics is obviously a very technical sport but the men and women who do it well are as string as horses. Their core strength mist be unreal.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 09, 2016, 09:34:58 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 09, 2016, 08:46:12 PM
Women's all around gymnastics final on now. Chance to see the remarkable Simone Biles.
They are all fantastic. Gymnastics is obviously a very technical sport but the men and women who do it well are as string as horses. Their core strength mist be unreal.
The two British sisters look like they're on something, neck/shoulder muscles not a million miles off Justin Gatlin
Some of them women would be handy in the bog for baggin turf
Phelps going for serious record
http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/paul-kimmage-you-cant-be-angry-if-you-dont-care-34944568.html
Good read
Any one know where Siobhan-Marie O'Connor's people are from?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 10, 2016, 12:11:00 AM
Phelps going for serious record
He just did! Bagging two golds in one Olympic event!
Bill Murray came up with a great idea.
Each event should have an ordinary person competing - just for reference.
I suggest the following:
Track & Field - Men's 100m Final - Lane 5 - Tony Fearon.
Any others?
Heavyweight boxing - Joe Brolly
Quote from: muppet on August 10, 2016, 10:34:24 AM
Bill Murray came up with a great idea.
Each event should have an ordinary person competing - just for reference.
I suggest the following:
Track & Field - Men's 100m Final - Lane 5 - Tony Fearon.
Any others?
You'd need to extend the duration of the games. That's Tony with a new PB of 3 days.
Men's 4 X 400m Relay Final
Syferus
Indiana
GMac
Stew
AOXI & Sean Cavanagh - Men's sychronised diving - or would they be too professional? !!!
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 10, 2016, 10:41:58 AM
Quote from: muppet on August 10, 2016, 10:34:24 AM
Bill Murray came up with a great idea.
Each event should have an ordinary person competing - just for reference.
I suggest the following:
Track & Field - Men's 100m Final - Lane 5 - Tony Fearon.
Any others?
You'd need to extend the duration of the games. That's Tony with a new PB of 3 days.
He would run faster with a dodgy priest chasing him
What's that? Cycling?
Might as well give them all Honda 50s and have done with it.
Quote from: muppet on August 10, 2016, 10:34:24 AM
Bill Murray came up with a great idea.
Each event should have an ordinary person competing - just for reference.
I suggest the following:
Track & Field - Men's 100m Final - Lane 5 - Tony Fearon.
Any others?
Women's snatch - Rossfan
Phelps is just something else. Superb
;Chance to see the remarkable Simone Biles;
seen her on last night, literally done a move where she bum bounced back up again from a vertical position, bounce to crouching. I literally say it impossible to do this if i hadn't seen it.
Annalise Murphy going well in race 6.
Quirky little viewer here: http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104
Quote from: muppet on August 10, 2016, 07:57:11 PM
Annalise Murphy going well in race 6.
Quirky little viewer here: http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104
she was very unlucky in 2012
Quote from: seafoid on August 10, 2016, 08:08:15 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 10, 2016, 07:57:11 PM
Annalise Murphy going well in race 6.
Quirky little viewer here: http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104
she was very unlucky in 2012
A 5th and a 2nd in the two races today.
Not certain but I think that puts her in the lead?
1st place after 6 races.
2nd and 3rd are only a point and 2 points behind respectively, but a bit of a gap to 4th (6 points and the Chinese girl had a 38th [DSQ] in race 2). They each get to discard their worst score and Annalise's worst is 13th which puts her in a strong position. Pray for lots of wind at the weekend.
Serious medal chance here but lots of us will remember the agony in London 2012.
Phelps reminds me so so much of lance Armstrong.
Gymnastics was always seen as girlie at school but they are phenomenal athletes.
Quote from: trileacman on August 10, 2016, 10:02:15 PM
Phelps reminds me so so much of lance Armstrong.
Do you think he's on something?
Both convicted dopers
Quote from: tonto1888 on August 10, 2016, 10:35:31 PM
Quote from: trileacman on August 10, 2016, 10:02:15 PM
Phelps reminds me so so much of lance Armstrong.
Do you think he's on something?
Sure how dya tell anymore? Just reading this 5 Olympics/ 2160 year record breaking bullshit reminds me all the hero worship stuff that used to surround lance Armstrong, the cancer surviving hero.
I just can't trust any of these f**kers like. The moment ya might like or believe in one of them there's someone on here to tell ya they work with some dodge doctor or got a ban for melodobium when they were 17 or their Vo2amx is off the charts. There's really only two options. Believe the hype that Nike want to sell ya and marvel at the greatness of today's athletes or know that any of these guys could be dirty and the real good ones will never be caught out. Sure if it wasn't for landis having a f**king breakdown we'd probably still think Armstrong is a top lad.
Im just a born sceptic like most Irish I suppose.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 10, 2016, 10:03:21 PM
Gymnastics was always seen as girlie at school but they are phenomenal athletes.
Unreal athletes! Love watching the men's gymnastics. Complete tanks
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 10, 2016, 10:03:21 PM
Gymnastics was always seen as girlie at school but they are phenomenal athletes.
You think? Anyone who thought or thinks that is an absolute moron. You only have to glance at the build of them to see how strong they are.
What happened in the final rotation of the men's all around? I feel asleep! Uchimora was .9 down going into the high bar and ended up winning by a full point.
Scratch that. Won by .1, not a full point.
Quote from: gallsman on August 10, 2016, 11:22:18 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 10, 2016, 10:36:22 PM
Both convicted dopers
What was Phelps convicted of?
Convicted is a strong word but I remember some contrite apologies about hash or something.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 10, 2016, 11:24:12 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 10, 2016, 11:22:18 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 10, 2016, 10:36:22 PM
Both convicted dopers
What was Phelps convicted of?
Convicted is a strong word but I remember some contrite apologies about hash or something.
And suspended for a DUI (alcohol).
Hardly performance enhancing stuff for a swimmer - drinking and smoking!!
Shame RTE basketball coverage doesn t have Liam McHale on board!! This basketball commentary is disturbingly similar to Willie Hegarty on Shannonside radio!
Quote from: trileacman on August 10, 2016, 10:02:15 PM
Phelps reminds me so so much of lance Armstrong.
What could it be that reminds you of Armstrong? 21 gold medals from one man, that is more than India of one billion people has gained ever and yet nobody questions him.
Then he is back at age 31 to become the oldest ever to win an individual Olympic gold. He might live to regret it a bit like Armstrong did.
Exactly, as a young lad he smoked a bit of pot and has had some issues with booze and driving. I know Benny thinks the sun shines out of every cyclists arse but drawing a parallel between that and Armstrong's doping?!
Play on words on my part. In Kimmage world he's a doper tho, there's no difference. I don't really care tbh.
Phelps isn't a convicted doper.
Phelps was caught with a bong once I think. Hardly performance enhancing.
Kimmage deserves some credit for his digging and persistence on Armstrong etc but I doubt he believes there's anyone clean at the olympics and while there are clearly some dopers they aren't all at it.
Kimmage and his acolytes find themselves in a position where they can't really vouch for or truly endorse a top class competitive athlete in case they let them down on the PED front. Detached scepticism is the new way. It must be exhausting.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 11, 2016, 09:18:15 AM
Kimmage and his acolytes find themselves in a position where they can't really vouch for or truly endorse a top class competitive athlete in case they let them down on the PED front. Detached scepticism is the new way. It must be exhausting.
Can you blame them? I'm naive to a certain extent in that I still believe my eyes when it comes to team sports, unless the body shape seems to have unnaturally changed or looks unrealistic (Rugby, American Football, Baseball). But in these individual sports where either endurance or speed/power play such a huge role, I find myself questioning every one of them. Especially if the achievement seems notable or outstanding. That British Swimmer, Phelps, Bolt. I'd be afraid to be 100% believer in any of them.
The sport *rumoured* to be as bad, and arguably worse, than any other is rugby.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 11, 2016, 09:23:41 AM
The sport *rumoured* to be as bad, and arguably worse, than any other is rugby.
Tennis is up there!
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 11, 2016, 09:22:03 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 11, 2016, 09:18:15 AM
Kimmage and his acolytes find themselves in a position where they can't really vouch for or truly endorse a top class competitive athlete in case they let them down on the PED front. Detached scepticism is the new way. It must be exhausting.
Can you blame them? I'm naive to a certain extent in that I still believe my eyes when it comes to team sports, unless the body shape seems to have unnaturally changed or looks unrealistic (Rugby, American Football, Baseball). But in these individual sports where either endurance or speed/power play such a huge role, I find myself questioning every one of them. Especially if the achievement seems notable or outstanding. That British Swimmer, Phelps, Bolt. I'd be afraid to be 100% believer in any of them.
The British swimmer stands out for me as he came from nowhere to having broken the WR a couple of times now.
Phelps and Bolt I really want to believe in and I cling to the fact that they were such special athletes when they were younger that there is a chance they are just naturally gifted and have put the work in.
Aside from that how can 2 lads allegedly clean be so far ahead of the rest who have not been clean?
Quote from: screenexile on August 11, 2016, 09:51:09 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 11, 2016, 09:22:03 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 11, 2016, 09:18:15 AM
Kimmage and his acolytes find themselves in a position where they can't really vouch for or truly endorse a top class competitive athlete in case they let them down on the PED front. Detached scepticism is the new way. It must be exhausting.
Can you blame them? I'm naive to a certain extent in that I still believe my eyes when it comes to team sports, unless the body shape seems to have unnaturally changed or looks unrealistic (Rugby, American Football, Baseball). But in these individual sports where either endurance or speed/power play such a huge role, I find myself questioning every one of them. Especially if the achievement seems notable or outstanding. That British Swimmer, Phelps, Bolt. I'd be afraid to be 100% believer in any of them.
The British swimmer stands out for me as he came from nowhere to having broken the WR a couple of times now.
Phelps and Bolt I really want to believe in and I cling to the fact that they were such special athletes when they were younger that there is a chance they are just naturally gifted and have put the work in.
Aside from that how can 2 lads allegedly clean be so far ahead of the rest who have not been clean?
I believe both Phelps and Bolt are clean athletes. That said I believed in Armstrong too but I so badly wanted that fairytale to be true
I still believe there's physical freaks. Mark Cavendish is a good example, the training numbers in the youth system always said he was never going to make it, but he continues to excel.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 11, 2016, 09:59:18 AM
I still believe there's physical freaks. Mark Cavendish is a good example, the training numbers in the youth system always said he was never going to make it, but he continues to excel.
Bolt ran 20.58 for the 200m aged 15 years and 11 months and 20.25 (the Irish record is 20.30) for the 200m and 45.35 (44.77 is the Irish record) for the 400m , both before he turned 17. Bolt was seen coming a long way off, even by non-Jamaicans such as Michael Johnson.
This is not proof of anything regarding doping, but I'd be more inclined to buy the Bolt story than the Cavendish one.
Having said that, with events over the last few years in Jamaica sadly I am not as convinced as I once was.
Never heard a suspiscious or derogatory word mentioned about Cavendish from anyone. (Apart from being a dick sometimes.)
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 11, 2016, 09:23:41 AM
The sport *rumoured* to be as bad, and arguably worse, than any other is rugby.
It would be particular bad relatively in the amateur side, just look at the club game in Wales, heard lots of stories of young lads having to clean up before they enter the Academies. Pro side wouldn't be at the same level but again you hear rumours about individuals but there would be no doping programs I hope. Rugby promotes a strong gym culture so where there's a gym there is always someone looking to take shortcuts, the GAA is heading down the same road.
Padraig Harrington is about to puck it out in the golf.
+1 after one. I'm not sure what the scoring is in the Olympics, but I'm betting +1 after 1 is not desireable :)
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 11, 2016, 11:39:09 AM
Padraig Harrington is about to puck it out in the golf.
can he keep it pucked out ?
They should have brought back the old trophy that was won for the golf along with the gold medal that was given out in 1904
(http://media.golfdigest.com/photos/57a9dd9b36fa8c952a1c4c09/master/w_1400,c_limit/olympics-golf-trophy.jpg)
Jeez it must be tiring being you lads where you can't watch a bit of sport without suspecting everyone as a doper. No doubt there are plenty but everyone on here is well of major strides in diet and nutrition, strength and conditioning, recovery and especially funding which underpins all of the above to ensure that lads aren't out laying block when they could be focusing on Olympics etc. Expect world records to be beaten.
For you lads comparing the times of a teenager against their time now as a developed athlete - well you need to take off the foil hat and go outside.
Grant Fox's sun, Ryan, is playing for New Zealand in the golf. Some out half his dad was!
Quote from: screenexile on August 11, 2016, 09:51:09 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 11, 2016, 09:22:03 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 11, 2016, 09:18:15 AM
Kimmage and his acolytes find themselves in a position where they can't really vouch for or truly endorse a top class competitive athlete in case they let them down on the PED front. Detached scepticism is the new way. It must be exhausting.
Can you blame them? I'm naive to a certain extent in that I still believe my eyes when it comes to team sports, unless the body shape seems to have unnaturally changed or looks unrealistic (Rugby, American Football, Baseball). But in these individual sports where either endurance or speed/power play such a huge role, I find myself questioning every one of them. Especially if the achievement seems notable or outstanding. That British Swimmer, Phelps, Bolt. I'd be afraid to be 100% believer in any of them.
The British swimmer stands out for me as he came from nowhere to having broken the WR a couple of times now.
Phelps and Bolt I really want to believe in and I cling to the fact that they were such special athletes when they were younger that there is a chance they are just naturally gifted and have put the work in.
Aside from that how can 2 lads allegedly clean be so far ahead of the rest who have not been clean?
He really hasn't come from nowhere though. I wouldn't be the biggest follower of swimming but I heard of him a few years ago. He already had the World record before the Olympics, it was his own record he was beating and has been improving every year.
Whilst I'm not naïve enough to think all athletes are clean, I think Peaty, Phelps and Bolt are.
People comparing Phelps smoking a bong to performance enhancing drugs would need to catch themselves on.
As previously pointed out Bolt has been a freak of nature running extremely quick times from a young age and has a clear physical advantage over his rivals.
Mo Farah would be the obvious one I would be dubious of.
Peaty is young. There's a difference between coming from nowhere and youth coming through.
Farah I do wonder about sometimes but I think he could be clean.
I wouldn't believe any jamican athlete is clean given their history of doping! I especially don't believe in Bolt. Too good to be true and all that. The Olympics have been shite this time with all the doping scandals floating around.
Padraig is -1 through 17. Not a bad round if he can finish it out.
The man with the most Waterford name ever, Seamus Power, is E through 4.
Is this the Olympic thread or doping thread? Whos on drugs who's not!! Lets just just say they ate competing and whoever wins is clean until otherwise proven not?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 11, 2016, 05:47:28 PM
Is this the Olympic thread or doping thread?
They're the same thing.
Biles marching her way to All Around gold with her eyes closed. She's just brilliant.
god love these lads - https://www.facebook.com/RTEsport/videos/10154038387068579/
Close the eyes and pull like a dog ;D
Quote from: gallsman on August 11, 2016, 08:44:31 PM
Biles marching her way to All Around gold with her eyes closed. She's just brilliant.
Don't believe it, she's clearly on drugs to be that good.....
Kenyan coach sent home for trying to impersonate an 800m runner when giving urine sample :(
Pretty sophisticated !
Quote from: gallsman on August 11, 2016, 08:44:31 PM
Biles marching her way to All Around gold with her eyes closed. She's just brilliant.
I think it's fair to say that is talent. Amazing to watch her.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/11/olympics-evi-van-acker-taken-ill-rio-bay
Fiji are some outfit for the 7's making shit of England here in the final!! A joy to watch how they play it so much better than anyone else.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the 7's final. They're giving the Brits some tanking.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 11, 2016, 03:24:21 PM
Peaty is young. There's a difference between coming from nowhere and youth coming through.
Farah I do wonder about sometimes but I think he could be clean.
His relationship with Salazar and his improvement would put him firmly in the juicing bracket for me.
Quote from: screenexile on August 11, 2016, 11:12:34 PM
Fiji are some outfit for the 7's making shit of England here in the final!! A joy to watch how they play it so much better than anyone else.
Not just England. They're representing Screen too ;D
Fiji got some big heavy boys there that can shift, running all over this Team GB, TALK ABOUT A HAMMERING
Damn it, disappointed, i wanted 50
I reckon they'd give the Dubs a good game.
Those GB players will be nursing a few bruises in the morning after that.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 11, 2016, 11:22:05 PM
Quote from: screenexile on August 11, 2016, 11:12:34 PM
Fiji are some outfit for the 7's making shit of England here in the final!! A joy to watch how they play it so much better than anyone else.
Not just England. They're representing Screen too ;D
Rugby a 32 county sport and, like boxing, probably affiliated with the Olympic Council of Ireland?
Quote from: ONeill on August 11, 2016, 11:33:47 PM
I reckon they'd give the Dubs a good game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU2zYDDRH_4
Very interesting interview with the coach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvBfl2LXfLA
What time is the mens rowing final on?
Mark English in the 800 today at 2:55 or so. He's a good prospect so hopefully he gets through. On form he should make a final but he's been injured half the year.
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 12:25:59 PM
What time is the mens rowing final on?
The women's final is st 2.30pm and is followed by the men's final at 2.45pm
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 12:25:59 PM
What time is the mens rowing final on?
2.44
The women sre on at 2.30
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 12:25:59 PM
What time is the mens rowing final on?
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cpp7j43XgAEeBQQ?format=jpg&name=large)
the two boys are on BBC1 now!
In the reckoning
Doing well at the minute! Go on lads!!
2nd at 1500
Silver! Well done!
Silver for mens rowing
Fantastic row and it brings back a bit of pride to Cork sport after the GAA disaster this year.
Silver...
Get the Guinness and spuds bate into them
Jesus. Thats brilliant. Can't wait for the interview.
Brilliant. Up Skibb!
So close to gold. Just pipped over the last 10 yards. Fantastic effort.
Mark English through too. brilliant.
Great stuff the two hardy bucks. I'd say their attitude off camera is a bit more professional than they're letting on :)
Well done lads.
Some events just suck you in and remind you why you love sport. That was fantastic, loved their disappointment with not winning but very happy happy with silver.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 12, 2016, 02:56:09 PM
So close to gold. Just pipped over the last 10 yards. Fantastic effort.
Brilliant performance and I'm being pedantic but the Norwegians were a lot closer to taking silver(about a foot) than we were to the French(about 2/3 yards). I think the commentator was mistaken in saying that we were ahead/level at one point near the finish.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:11:14 PM
Great stuff the two hardy bucks. I'd say their attitude off camera is a bit more professional than they're letting on :)
Well done lads.
Like Johnny Pilkington, without the chain smoking.
brillant effort by the 2 lads. done great to get a medal.
Class
Well done lads. Superb performance.
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ár Lá'? :) :)
They are very young as well
Fair play to the women for making the final
Quote from: AQMP on August 12, 2016, 03:33:46 PM
Amazing women's 10k. Some athletes lapped well before half way, some have been lapped twice already.
World record is on. All the suspicious guys are shouting on twitter about it.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ár Lá'? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
Ah here 14 seconds off the World Record?
Quote from: Never beat the deeler on August 12, 2016, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ár Lá'? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
Revenge for Skibbereen :)
Lol. Don't think the RTE guy would still have a job for that. Great to see those guys win a medal. Nice to see such down to earth people get success. I would say they worked seriously hard for that.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:43:06 PM
Ah here 14 seconds off the World Record?
Think best to hold onto those blood and urine samples for a few years anyway!
Splits for Ayana.....14.46 and 14.31.....laughable
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:11:14 PM
Great stuff the two hardy bucks. I'd say their attitude off camera is a bit more professional than they're letting on :)
Well done lads.
No flies on those two that's for sure!
Massive achievement, fair play to them.
Quote from: AQMP on August 12, 2016, 03:51:35 PM
Quote from: ballinaman on August 12, 2016, 03:49:03 PM
Splits for Ayana.....14.46 and 14.31.....laughable
Aye, she's taking the feckin piss!
Before today the best non Chinese doped 10k was 29:53...Ayana ran 36sec faster.
Why is the track blue? Looks odd.
Quote from: AQMP on August 12, 2016, 03:46:34 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:43:06 PM
Ah here 14 seconds off the World Record?
14 seconds inside a time set by a Chinese runner in 1993?!?!?!?! Jo Pavey, the European champion, was lapped just after the 5k mark.
Not european champion any more. Not even a medalist possibly.
Quote from: ballinaman on August 12, 2016, 04:01:36 PM
Quote from: AQMP on August 12, 2016, 03:51:35 PM
Quote from: ballinaman on August 12, 2016, 03:49:03 PM
Splits for Ayana.....14.46 and 14.31.....laughable
Aye, she's taking the feckin piss!
Before today the best non Chinese doped 10k was 29:53...Ayana ran 36sec faster.
She never ran the 10k before June of this year !!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
She didn't even look knackered after she finished!!!
Sonia O'Sullivan knows right well.
Sonia having none of it.
The newest most doped race ever!!!
Just can't watch athletics and cycling anymore!!!
Fair play for Sonia for calling it for what that was, bullshit.
5 runners had ever broken 30 minutes. 3 did it in that race alone. But 14 seconds! Sonia looks as if she is sick of it.
I don't think anyone believes this woman is clean...
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/team-ireland/i-couldnt-watch-it-rt-commentator-wells-up-talking-about-irelands-olympic-silver-medal-win-34960494.html
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 12, 2016, 04:16:31 PM
I don't think anyone believes this woman is clean...
Except George Hamilton.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 04:15:13 PM
5 runners had ever broken 30 minutes. 3 did it in that race alone. But 14 seconds! Sonia looks as if she is sick of it.
The first 13 finishers set either a world record, national record or a personal best!!!
Pavey had her 5th best time ever at 40 odd. No way she would be doping though.
If it's a fast race and an olympic final I can see how it would push some but that number seems big.
Didn't even realise this was on or would have turned on. How come the final of one of the marquee events was on so early the first day?
they need to get it out of the way for the 5k. That aside I'm not sure.
Glad Britton / McCormick chose not to be in this now as she *only* runs 32 and a half so wouldn't have counted. Hopefully she'll go sub 2:30 sunday.
Ah I know but normally it would at least be at night.
Ross Tucker pointing out that relative to others, Ayana's performance nowhere near as impressive as Radcliffe's based on time alone. Fair point.
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 04:06:21 PM
Why is the track blue? Looks odd.
Probably turn green any day
Seamus Power in the top 7 of the golf after his 2nd round
Has someone gone round that track to make sure it's 400m?!
Quote from: ballinaman on August 12, 2016, 03:49:03 PM
Splits for Ayana.....14.46 and 14.31.....laughable
The second would be an Olympic record for 5K I believe.
Haven't seen the actual rowing final. RTE one doesn't seem to be working. Anyone any links to watch it
This 20k walk race is a joke. The winner here clearly has both feet off the ground at the same time.
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 07:51:37 PM
This 20k walk race is a joke. The winner here clearly has both feet off the ground at the same time.
They all seemed to be running at one point or another during it.
Why also did they not have a out and back course 10k each way. Made it boring watching them on that looped road course.
Seamus Power up to 4th spot now in the Golf.
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 08:26:37 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 07:51:37 PM
This 20k walk race is a joke. The winner here clearly has both feet off the ground at the same time.
They all seemed to be running at one point or another during it.
Why also did they not have a out and back course 10k each way. Made it boring watching them on that looped road course.
Crazy stuff. One foot shold be in contact with ground at all times and the leading leg should straighten when it strikes as well. the winner wasn t doing either imo.
Agree about the loops. Hope they don t do that with the Marathon!
Quote from: An Watcher on August 12, 2016, 07:49:06 PM
Haven't seen the actual rowing final. RTE one doesn't seem to be working. Anyone any links to watch it
try this link, it worked for me.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2016/0812/808777-rowing-final-odonovans/ (http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2016/0812/808777-rowing-final-odonovans/)
I wish I could have watched it live, though it must have been gut grinding not knowing how it would finish. A 4th place finish would have been absolutely depressing. Man it was a tight as they closed in to the finish line and to add to the drama the false camera angle had the irish lads ahead just before the line.
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 08:59:17 PM
Seamus Power up to 4th spot now in the Golf.
Don't think so
(http://i68.tinypic.com/35isodc.png)
How the f**k do you train a horse to jump about on its tippy toes?
Quote from: Jeepers Creepers on August 12, 2016, 10:36:38 PM
How the f**k do you train a horse to jump about on its tippy toes?
A length of alkathene pipe and a few skelps would do it.
I hate these "sports"
Wiggins is a legend! Some race there.
Ground hurling boys on soon.
Why do they play the anthems before the hockey.
It's the Olympics. Anthems should only be played for gold medal winners surely.
Davy Harte having a stormer. Better than Dublin '08
Quote from: beer baron on August 12, 2016, 11:51:35 PM
Davey Harte's come along way from the Eurovision.
Mickey Joe Harte?
Quote from: seafoid on August 12, 2016, 02:52:45 PM
Fantastic row and it brings back a bit of pride to Cork sport after the GAA disaster this year.
Look everyone else, must be taking drugs, farce this olympics
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 13, 2016, 12:16:42 AM
Quote from: seafoid on August 12, 2016, 02:52:45 PM
Fantastic row and it brings back a bit of pride to Cork sport after the GAA disaster this year.
Luke everyone else, must be taking drugs, farce this olympics
Except for your buddies that don't sing the national anthem. Wish I married into castle politics.
Quote from: PW Nally on August 13, 2016, 12:20:59 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 13, 2016, 12:16:42 AM
Quote from: seafoid on August 12, 2016, 02:52:45 PM
Fantastic row and it brings back a bit of pride to Cork sport after the GAA disaster this year.
Luke everyone else, must be taking drugs, farce this olympics
Except for your buddies that don't sing the national anthem. Wish I married into castle politics.
Everyone that is at the Olympics, according to to all the punters on here that is, bar one, believe they are on the drugs!!
Good race from Ciara Mageean.
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 09:06:12 PM
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 08:26:37 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 07:51:37 PM
This 20k walk race is a joke. The winner here clearly has both feet off the ground at the same time.
They all seemed to be running at one point or another during it.
Why also did they not have a out and back course 10k each way. Made it boring watching them on that looped road course.
Crazy stuff. One foot shold be in contact with ground at all times and the leading leg should straighten when it strikes as well. the winner wasn t doing either imo.
Agree about the loops. Hope they don t do that with the Marathon!
That's done for the walk so the judges can keep an eye on people more easily. Bit of a joke though when they clearly weren't doing their job.
Surely there is technology that you could put in/on shoes to monitor feet being on the ground?
It was a good finish from Mageean in her heat. Hopefully she can make the final.
Her coach Gerry Kiernan said he was incredulous in relation to the performance of the Ethiopian runner in the 10000 metres earlier on.
Quote from: macdanger2 on August 13, 2016, 12:47:59 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 09:06:12 PM
Quote from: laoislad on August 12, 2016, 08:26:37 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 12, 2016, 07:51:37 PM
This 20k walk race is a joke. The winner here clearly has both feet off the ground at the same time.
They all seemed to be running at one point or another during it.
Why also did they not have a out and back course 10k each way. Made it boring watching them on that looped road course.
Crazy stuff. One foot shold be in contact with ground at all times and the leading leg should straighten when it strikes as well. the winner wasn t doing either imo.
Agree about the loops. Hope they don t do that with the Marathon!
That's done for the walk so the judges can keep an eye on people more easily. Bit of a joke though when they clearly weren't doing their job.
I remember back in the day when we all had video recorders. I taped a bit of a walk and there were some walkers that were clearly both feet off the ground on replay slow motion. I can't remember what games it was ( a good while ago) but a few were disqualified.
The problem with the event is that some officials will be bastards and picky while others will turn the blind eye.
But the winner today was 'running' imo.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 13, 2016, 01:57:03 AM
It was a good finish from Mageean in her heat. Hopefully she can make the final.
Her coach Gerry Kiernan said he was incredulous in relation to the performance of the Ethiopian runner in the 10000 metres earlier on.
And he emphasised that word each time he mentioned it!
Anyone see those Chinese women discus throwers and shot putters!!!
Quote from: From the Bunker on August 13, 2016, 02:27:51 AM
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 13, 2016, 01:57:03 AM
It was a good finish from Mageean in her heat. Hopefully she can make the final.
Her coach Gerry Kiernan said he was incredulous in relation to the performance of the Ethiopian runner in the 10000 metres earlier on.
And he emphasised that word each time he mentioned it!
Yeah. BBC did not express any doubts about it from what I saw. Maybe they did not want to put Paula on the spot!?
I dunno? The existing record was a farce. I hope and suspect that girl is ok.
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 13, 2016, 02:44:19 AM
Anyone see those Chinese women discus throwers and shot putters!!!
A population that size you will get shapes and sizes to do anything!!
And if you can't you can breed them like they did with that basketball fella, whose name I've thankfully forgotten.
To make sure you give them turtle soup or some concoction to give them extra pep.
A 35 year old American has just won the the 50 metre freestyle in the pool. Unheard of for someone that old to win a swimming gold medal.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 13, 2016, 03:00:53 AM
A 35 year old American has just won the the 50 metre freestyle in the pool. Unheard of for someone that old to win a swimming gold medal.
Incredulous?
The IOC has really tight control of all TV relating to races and matches at the games. And athletes have a long list of words they aren't allowed to use with non accredited media.
Quote from: moysider on August 13, 2016, 02:54:24 AM
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 13, 2016, 02:44:19 AM
Anyone see those Chinese women discus throwers and shot putters!!!
A population that size you will get shapes and sizes to do anything!!
And if you can't you can breed them like they did with that basketball fella, whose name I've thankfully forgotten.
To make sure you give them turtle soup or some concoction to give them extra pep.
Yao Ming was the basketball player. Muck IMHO but made Houston a lot of money through shirt sales in China!
I've been in China working for the past two weeks and was asking a few about the way sports works here. When kids are very young, 6-10 years old, they are identified in the school system as being talented. Then hauled off to some camps for long periods of time to fine tune their shills. They get little education as all the time is spent focused on practice. Is a mad place.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 13, 2016, 01:57:03 AM
It was a good finish from Mageean in her heat. Hopefully she can make the final.
Her coach Gerry Kiernan said he was incredulous in relation to the performance of the Ethiopian runner in the 10000 metres earlier on.
Gerry's an awful bollocks though.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 13, 2016, 07:44:06 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 13, 2016, 02:54:24 AM
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 13, 2016, 02:44:19 AM
Anyone see those Chinese women discus throwers and shot putters!!!
A population that size you will get shapes and sizes to do anything!!
And if you can't you can breed them like they did with that basketball fella, whose name I've thankfully forgotten.
To make sure you give them turtle soup or some concoction to give them extra pep.
Yao Ming was the basketball player. Muck IMHO but made Houston a lot of money through shirt sales in China!
I've been in China working for the past two weeks and was asking a few about the way sports works here. When kids are very young, 6-10 years old, they are identified in the school system as being talented. Then hauled off to some camps for long periods of time to fine tune their shills. They get little education as all the time is spent focused on practice. Is a mad place.
Yao was anything but muck. He was great in his first few years and if he'd managed to stay injury free, would have been sensational. Plenty of greats like Barkley and Shaq have said Yao proved them wrong.
Gerry is a bollocks but the reaction to that 10000 is probably akin to ben johnshon in 88.
Great to see mageean through.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 13, 2016, 09:05:17 AM
Gerry is a bollocks but the reaction to that 10000 is probably akin to ben johnshon in 88.
Great to see mageean through.
As pointed out before, you can't say definitively on performance alone that she was doped. While the improvement on Wang's record (or even the one before that ) was remarkable, relatively the improvement is less than others, e.g. Radcliffe. Given that 13 of them ran PBs are they all at it?
If track is super fast, should be very interesting for the sprints.
I would agree. If the girl is clean then it is not fair on her. She has form in 5000 and beat the younger dibaba in the worlds so is obviously a class athlete as the younger dibaba is a phenomenal athlete. Races in championships tend to be tactical so it will be hard to see if it is a fast track.
It is actually quite sad that , assuming she doesn't get done for doping and if she has got this far i don't think she will, there will always be immense scepticism of her performance.
Quote from: Never beat the deeler on August 12, 2016, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
It means our day will come. And it did for them. He could have said Thainig ár Lá'...
Most of the people commenting on it don't understand Irish :o
Some one on RTE was trying to translate "ar scath a cheile a mhairimid." It was a joke
Quote from: gallsman on August 13, 2016, 07:57:54 AM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 13, 2016, 07:44:06 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 13, 2016, 02:54:24 AM
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 13, 2016, 02:44:19 AM
Anyone see those Chinese women discus throwers and shot putters!!!
A population that size you will get shapes and sizes to do anything!!
And if you can't you can breed them like they did with that basketball fella, whose name I've thankfully forgotten.
To make sure you give them turtle soup or some concoction to give them extra pep.
Yao Ming was the basketball player. Muck IMHO but made Houston a lot of money through shirt sales in China!
I've been in China working for the past two weeks and was asking a few about the way sports works here. When kids are very young, 6-10 years old, they are identified in the school system as being talented. Then hauled off to some camps for long periods of time to fine tune their shills. They get little education as all the time is spent focused on practice. Is a mad place.
Yao was anything but muck. He was great in his first few years and if he'd managed to stay injury free, would have been sensational. Plenty of greats like Barkley and Shaq have said Yao proved them wrong.
He is only a hall of Famer who went into the Hall with I believe Shaq and AI.
Muck me hole!
Quote from: seafoid on August 13, 2016, 01:11:08 PM
Quote from: Never beat the deeler on August 12, 2016, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
It means our day will come. And it did for them. He could have said Thainig ár Lá'...
Most of the people commenting on it don't understand Irish :o
Some one on RTE was trying to translate "ar scath a cheile a mhairimid." It was a joke
Aye but where they taking drugs??
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 13, 2016, 09:21:31 AM
I would agree. If the girl is clean then it is not fair on her. She has form in 5000 and beat the younger dibaba in the worlds so is obviously a class athlete as the younger dibaba is a phenomenal athlete. Races in championships tend to be tactical so it will be hard to see if it is a fast track.
It is actually quite sad that , assuming she doesn't get done for doping and if she has got this far i don't think she will, there will always be immense scepticism of her performance.
Agree.
Ethiopia has a great tradition in middle distance. The Chinese did not. Could a clean and clearly more classy Ethiopian beat a souped up Chinese slogger's time?
Ethiopia has produced several phenomenal runners at middle distance and marathon.
Most finals are tactical but this girl took advantage of early fast pace and kept going. Maybe there was room for improvement at this distance for a really talented east African?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 13, 2016, 01:47:32 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 13, 2016, 01:11:08 PM
Quote from: Never beat the deeler on August 12, 2016, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
It means our day will come. And it did for them. He could have said Thainig ár Lá'...
Most of the people commenting on it don't understand Irish :o
Some one on RTE was trying to translate "ar scath a cheile a mhairimid." It was a joke
Aye but where they taking drugs??
Who knows?
There is no way to prove that somebody is not taking drugs. Everybody is under suspicion I suppose.
Quote from: moysider on August 13, 2016, 01:59:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 13, 2016, 01:47:32 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 13, 2016, 01:11:08 PM
Quote from: Never beat the deeler on August 12, 2016, 03:42:33 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 12, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Jesus, at the end of that interview, did the RTE guy say 'Tiocfaidh ? :) :)
No, it was the lad on the left
It means our day will come. And it did for them. He could have said Thainig ár Lá'...
Most of the people commenting on it don't understand Irish :o
Some one on RTE was trying to translate "ar scath a cheile a mhairimid." It was a joke
Aye but where they taking drugs??
Who knows?
There is no way to prove that somebody is not taking drugs. Everybody is under suspicion I suppose.
So pointless celebrating it??
George Hamilton makes a hames of commentary on the steeplechase. Missed that Irish girl was brought down in a fall and that one of the top contenders finished the race with just one shoe!
Can RTE not get a proper athletics commentator ffs.
Sara Treacy gets to run in final after fall. Fair play.
Ive been watching this shot putt closely and I think any man could practice in their field for four years and come close to winning a medal. I'm shocked that most people don't do that. If you have a javelin and fired it over and over or cycled around in a circle full pelt for four years you'd be a lot better than the Irish ones out there. Another thing is we used to be brilliant at the shooting/
And the fencing. Nobody can put up sheep wire faster than Roscommon lads!
Donnelly being found out a bit here this lad is quality!
Puerto Rican judge was fairly generous to Donnelly there I thought. Harsh enough point taken away and the knockdown was definitely valid. Needed to do far more in the final minute.
Harrington up to 8th in the Golf. 5 off the lead.
Quote from: moysider on August 13, 2016, 04:27:25 PM
And the fencing. Nobody can put up sheep wire faster than Roscommon lads!
What's Mayo people's preoccupation with both Roscommon and sheep?
Klishina banned. Awfully disappointing.
Quote from: gallsman on August 13, 2016, 10:54:52 PM
Klishina banned. Awfully disappointing.
Ah ffs! She was going to be the highlight of the games.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 13, 2016, 11:26:18 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 13, 2016, 10:54:52 PM
Klishina banned. Awfully disappointing.
Ah ffs! She was going to be the highlight of the games.
The absolute bastards. Doped to the gills or not she should be given a pass.
Badmington fella did well there
That Farah fella is as smooth as they come, I hope he wins this after the fall.
Quote from: stew on August 14, 2016, 01:51:24 AM
That Farah fella is as smooth as they come, I hope he wins this after the fall.
What A win
Unreal stuff from Farah
Klishina hearing sunday
I'm sure he'll be gutted to hear but there's just something about Farah I just can't warm to. Jessica Ennis on the other hand. . . what a woman!
The boxing is one of the few times RTE shows positive urban working class role models.
Would there be many northern nationalists on the GB team or do they tend to represent Ireland ?
Quote from: square_ball on August 14, 2016, 08:31:36 AM
I'm sure he'll be gutted to hear but there's just something about Farah I just can't warm to. Jessica Ennis on the other hand. . . what a woman!
Yes on both points. Jess (amd her pert behind) are worth watching.
Power up to 4th in the Golf atm.
What happens if there's a pile of lads tied for second or third? They'd share the money out on tour, but they hardly award a pile of medals?
Quote from: seafoid on August 14, 2016, 01:54:40 PM
Would there be many northern nationalists on the GB team or do they tend to represent Ireland ?
There are very few northern people at the olympics full stop.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 14, 2016, 02:33:00 PM
What happens if there's a pile of lads tied for second or third? They'd share the money out on tour, but they hardly award a pile of medals?
In the event of a tie for any of the first three positions, a three-hole playoff will determine the medal winners.
20th for fionualla mccormick in a new pb. 75% humidity too. Great running by all the girls in tough conditions.
Mo has come to the front in a time where the greatest 2 long distance runners had retired. He miles of the pace to the records Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele set years ago. There was a good Kenya round that time too, Paul Turgan or sthing like that. Nice guy and maybe up there in the top 5 but he no where near the greatest at this distance unless of course your watching on the bbc lol
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 14, 2016, 04:39:45 PM
Mo has come to the front in a time where the greatest 2 long distance runners had retired. He miles of the pace to the records Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele set years ago. There was a good Kenya round that time too, Paul Turgan or sthing like that. Nice guy and maybe up there in the top 5 but he no where near the greatest at this distance unless of course your watching on the bbc lol
Fair enough on the times but Farrah must be one of the cleverest at managing a race and making sure it's run his way that I have seen. His conservation of energy early, bursts to the front to control the pace then the ability to accelerate when challenged, holding off rivals is a joy to watch. Yes, the BBC are a bit overboard but it's a bit harsh critiquing the achievements of the guy based on who he hasn't ran against. Who knows, they may have spurred him on to faster times.
Fair play to Justin Rose. Its obvious that means a lot to him.
The Golf was very enjoyable today.
Farah is a very different runner from those guys though. He wins championship races rather than breaks records. It's his speed over 800 to 1200 gets him through rather than the whole thing. The problem is that to beat him you need to work as a team to wear him down and that is risky as individuals could burn themselves out doing it and hand impetus to someone else. In saying that he will have more of a race on his hands in the 5000.
Golf was really good and i'm not generally a golf fan. Plus rte had it so didn't have to listen to bbc fawning over team gb. Rose seems like an ok sort too.
Golf seems to have been a success then? Maybe the top stars will fancy it next time.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 14, 2016, 08:47:50 PM
Golf seems to have been a success then? Maybe the top stars will fancy it next time.
I'm in rural Northern Spain so only got dipping in and out of it but I thought it worked really well and was a credit to the boys that played.. Might have a future?
Landed into the gaff this evening as the pair of boys were going up the 17th and thought I was in for a grandstand finish. Incredibly as they were lining up they're 2nd shots on 18 the coverage switched to a windsurfing race, I don't even think the Spanish doll got a medal. They just showed finish of golf now :-)
Quote from: JimStynes on August 14, 2016, 08:47:50 PM
Golf seems to have been a success then? Maybe the top stars will fancy it next time.
the golf was a big success and no one contracted the zika virus. Seamus Power done himself proud as well.
Quote from: SHEEDY on August 14, 2016, 09:09:07 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 14, 2016, 08:47:50 PM
Golf seems to have been a success then? Maybe the top stars will fancy it next time.
the golf was a big success and no one contracted the zika virus. Seamus Power done himself proud as well.
So that's an immediate diagnosis from the players ??? ;D
Brilliant
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 09:11:01 PM
Quote from: SHEEDY on August 14, 2016, 09:09:07 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 14, 2016, 08:47:50 PM
Golf seems to have been a success then? Maybe the top stars will fancy it next time.
the golf was a big success and no one contracted the zika virus. Seamus Power done himself proud as well.
So that's an immediate diagnosis from the players ??? ;D
Brilliant
not a diagnosis but a confident prediction. Forgot you can't say anything about golf incase it's seen as a criticism of the great Rory McIlroy.
Great Britain having some evening, medals galore.
The Brits put big money into core sports like cycling & rowing once they were awarded London 2012. It's still paying good dividends.
Quote from: Aaron Boone on August 14, 2016, 09:58:21 PM
The Brits put big money into core sports like cycling & rowing once they were awarded London 2012. It's still paying good dividends.
they're completely dominating the track cycling, very strong team.
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:32:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Kelly, Roche ...... And any other Irish sports person that done well? If the Brits are doing it so are the Irish ffs!! We can put our heads in the sand all we like but most sports people at the top are always looking an edge that will bring an extra couple % in their performances
Some game of tennis! 100m semis starting soon
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 12:38:11 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:32:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Kelly, Roche ...... And any other Irish sports person that done well? If the Brits are doing it so are the Irish ffs!! We can put our heads in the sand all we like but most sports people at the top are always looking an edge that will bring an extra couple % in their performances
I think we agree, we are no strangers to doping controversies ourself but we do at least have some of the best journalists who will do their job properly and ask the difficult questions. All you hear from British media and commentators is ridiculous chest thumping patriotism.
Quote from: yellowcard on August 15, 2016, 01:02:37 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 12:38:11 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:32:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Kelly, Roche ...... And any other Irish sports person that done well? If the Brits are doing it so are the Irish ffs!! We can put our heads in the sand all we like but most sports people at the top are always looking an edge that will bring an extra couple % in their performances
I think we agree, we are no strangers to doping controversies ourself but we do at least have some of the best journalists who will do their job properly and ask the difficult questions. All you hear from British media and commentators is ridiculous chest thumping patriotism.
To be fair, they hammerd Chambers and continue to do so
Well done Murray, 2 in a row, cant see him winning US Open, but he's git a bitta form behind him
Bolt motoring
staying up to watch 10 seconds in time, nearly as bad the night i stayed up to watch tyson mow spinks on Tv all those years ago
Bolt a frustrating hoor. I wish he'd just leave the hammer down and see what number he gets.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 01:09:29 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 15, 2016, 01:02:37 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 12:38:11 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:32:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Kelly, Roche ...... And any other Irish sports person that done well? If the Brits are doing it so are the Irish ffs!! We can put our heads in the sand all we like but most sports people at the top are always looking an edge that will bring an extra couple % in their performances
I think we agree, we are no strangers to doping controversies ourself but we do at least have some of the best journalists who will do their job properly and ask the difficult questions. All you hear from British media and commentators is ridiculous chest thumping patriotism.
To be fair, they hammerd Chambers and continue to do so
Fairly easy target, the big names are immune to questioning. They give media jobs to the likes of Christie and Millar.
Quote from: yellowcard on August 15, 2016, 01:19:02 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 01:09:29 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 15, 2016, 01:02:37 AM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 15, 2016, 12:38:11 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:32:19 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 14, 2016, 11:26:10 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 14, 2016, 11:23:26 PM
It's amazing how the BBC and British media have lapped up the success of British sportspeople like Wiggins, Froome, Farah and Radcliffe in recent times. Suspicion surrounds all of them but they rarely get asked the questions that need answering. The success of Britain relative to its population at recent Olympics at the very least raises questions about how it was achieved given the propensity for doping athletes that prevails. Those 4 are massive outliers and there are other others too. It's pure hypocrisy from media based on nationality. The only journalist that had the balls to ask Farah a doping question after last nights race was an Irish journalist.
Same then can be said about the rowers and lad was already dumped before heading to Olympics gor Ireland, Smith didn't exactly come across clean when she won the golds be we all cheered!!
Anyone with half a brain could see Smith had doped. Walsh and Kimmage and Howard all questioned her. I don't hear any Brirish journalists questioning their own but are very quick to castigate others. Smith Was an average swimmer (at the very top level) until she turned 26 and then suddenly transformed and became a world beater. Remind you of anyone else?
Kelly, Roche ...... And any other Irish sports person that done well? If the Brits are doing it so are the Irish ffs!! We can put our heads in the sand all we like but most sports people at the top are always looking an edge that will bring an extra couple % in their performances
I think we agree, we are no strangers to doping controversies ourself but we do at least have some of the best journalists who will do their job properly and ask the difficult questions. All you hear from British media and commentators is ridiculous chest thumping patriotism.
To be fair, they hammerd Chambers and continue to do so
Fairly easy target, the big names are immune to questioning. They give media jobs to the likes of Christie and Millar.
Very rarely see Christie to be honest... Names muck for sure
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 01:14:27 AM
staying up to watch 10 seconds in time, nearly as bad the night i stayed up to watch tyson mow spinks on Tv all those years ago
Excitin for yer missus though.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 01:14:27 AM
staying up to watch 10 seconds in time, nearly as bad the night i stayed up to watch tyson mow spinks on Tv all those years ago
There is other good stuff as well to stay up for as well. I don't want to miss a thing.
Mageean faded badly in that race. Was looking well placed.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 01:16:49 AM
Bolt a frustrating hoor. I wish he'd just leave the hammer down and see what number he gets.
It's about getting through semi and winning gold. I suspect he may go eyeballs-out in the final.
Quote from: moysider on August 15, 2016, 01:37:37 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 01:16:49 AM
Bolt a frustrating hoor. I wish he'd just leave the hammer down and see what number he gets.
It's about getting through semi and winning gold. I suspect he may go eyeballs-out in the final.
Aye hope so. I'm struggling here!
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 01:35:03 AM
Mageean faded badly in that race. Was looking well placed.
yeah, she has the quality though but looked like she needs more time and more conditioning. This probably came too soon for her.
400m World Record!
Get the drugs test kit out!!
Hmmm
Wasn't much celebrating out of him.
It's getting ridiculous. Michael Johnson thinks it's real. Ffs
The 2 men he beat would be classed as exceptional at this level and he was eating them up, did hear he was fairly good coming into this but that's a big improvement on previous runs i believe in the most awkward lane
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:05:42 AM
Get the drugs test kit out!!
Van Niekerk has form. Why should a 16 year old record not be broken. This lad has a more efficient and classy style than Johnson had. Johnson had great strength but not as smooth as this kid. This lad is a Ferrari.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 15, 2016, 02:10:01 AM
It's getting ridiculous. Michael Johnson thinks it's real. Ffs
His stuff wasn't as developed.
Quote from: ONeill on August 15, 2016, 02:13:01 AM
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 15, 2016, 02:10:01 AM
It's getting ridiculous. Michael Johnson thinks it's real. Ffs
His stuff wasn't as developed.
BBC. They're still praising female 10000 mts.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:12:02 AM
The 2 men he beat would be classed as exceptional at this level and he was eating them up, did hear he was fairly good coming into this but that's a big improvement on previous runs i believe in the most awkward lane
"Fairly good" ffs. He's the reigning world champion and us the only person in history to break the 10, 20 and 4r second barriers for 100m, 200m and 400m. Yeah, he's "fairly good" alright.
Does RTE smell a rat?
Interesting to hear Johnson being a good sport about it. His record is gone I don't believe it.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 15, 2016, 02:14:32 AM
Quote from: ONeill on August 15, 2016, 02:13:01 AM
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 15, 2016, 02:10:01 AM
It's getting ridiculous. Michael Johnson thinks it's real. Ffs
His stuff wasn't as developed.
BBC. They're still praising female 10000 mts.
I would give the benefit of the doubt to her and that performance by Van Niekerk.
not to much cheer out of him, u think he be bouncing after that one
All u need is Gatlin to win this one and the stewards enquiry will be in!!
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 15, 2016, 02:17:44 AM
Interesting to hear Johnson being a good sport about it. His record is gone I don't believe it.
All records go. Johnson is at least 2 generations ago considering the shelf life of athletes.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 15, 2016, 02:10:01 AM
It's getting ridiculous. Michael Johnson thinks it's real. Ffs
What would he know?!
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:20:50 AM
All u need is Gatlin to win this one and the stewards enquiry will be in!!
Gatlin won t win.
Anyway Gatlin has already dirtied his bib.
Serious questions been asked about the split times in the 400m, first 300m in a crazy time according to RTE
Felt sorry for Gatlin there. I'm getting soft in my old age!
Getting some abuse alright, he got fairly close there too before Bolt pulled him in with 10m to go
Bolt unstoppable. Chicken nuggets are some job
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:24:25 AM
Serious questions been asked about the split times in the 400m, first 300m in a crazy time according to RTE
Forget about RTE. Usually negative shite we get from Sunday Game, rugby when George was about and of course the soccer panellists.
Great to see that from Bolt. However the great performances from Van Niekirk and Almaz Ayana should also be embraced in good faith. Unless there is evidence to the contrary.
RTE not questioning bolt now. Why do they give him a clean bill?
Van Niekerkisnt even black ffs :-[ :-[
Olympics and athletics in general have been ruined a bit. Worst Olympics I can remember and every result is suspect now.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 15, 2016, 02:43:20 AM
Olympics and athletics in general have been ruined a bit. Worst Olympics I can remember and every result is suspect now.
It's every sport. There was doping back in the 70's and probably before as well. Plus ça change. Lasse Viren accused of blood transfusions back in the 70's.
Sport is about getting better and faster. Are we expecting athletes to get slower and weaker while human achievement in technology etc. snowballs. I think that it is normal that improved nutrition and general standard of living in developing countries will see exceptionally talented individuals emerge.
I'm not sure if it's the coverage, the attendances, the atmosphere or what but it just doesn't seem nearly half as exciting as previous Olympics. Even Bolt winning was good but not great and I'm not talking about his performance. Something different and I can't figure out what but it's not great.
Quote from: Line Ball on August 15, 2016, 03:10:58 AM
I'm not sure if it's the coverage, the attendances, the atmosphere or what but it just doesn't seem nearly half as exciting as previous Olympics. Even Bolt winning was good but not great and I'm not talking about his performance. Something different and I can't figure out what but it's not great.
I'm enjoying them. Rio is probably not the best place for Olympics. If games were in Europe or US, the athletics would be sold out.
FIFA and IOC need to stop this nonsense of giving games to places to Rio, Quatar!! and Russia!
Rio has millions of people living in favelas that they can not provide services for. Yet they have spent billions on these games. Sad that during the women's marathon that they needed such security to keep protesters at bay. The people of Rio didn't want these games. It took Montreal 30 years to pay for their Olympics. Montreal is a developed city. How long will it take an impoverished city like Rio to pay for this? The bottom line is they will have to pay and the it will be the poor that will take the brunt. Their lives will still be shit while the city will be paying off depts for decades. The games will finish up in a week and Rio will be quickly forgotten. There will be no long-term benefit for Rio from these games. All they will have is a big bill that they can't afford.
Quote from: moysider on August 15, 2016, 03:43:48 AM
Quote from: Line Ball on August 15, 2016, 03:10:58 AM
I'm not sure if it's the coverage, the attendances, the atmosphere or what but it just doesn't seem nearly half as exciting as previous Olympics. Even Bolt winning was good but not great and I'm not talking about his performance. Something different and I can't figure out what but it's not great.
I'm enjoying them. Rio is probably not the best place for Olympics. If games were in Europe or US, the athletics would be sold out.
FIFA and IOC need to stop this nonsense of giving games to places to Rio, Quatar!! and Russia!
Rio has millions of people living in favelas that they can not provide services for. Yet they have spent billions on these games. Sad that during the women's marathon that they needed such security to keep protesters at bay. The people of Rio didn't want these games. It took Montreal 30 years to pay for their Olympics. Montreal is a developed city. How long will it take an impoverished city like Rio to pay for this? The bottom line is they will have to pay and the it will be the poor that will take the brunt. Their lives will still be shit while the city will be paying off depts for decades. The games will finish up in a week and Rio will be quickly forgotten. There will be no long-term benefit for Rio from these games. All they will have is a big bill that they can't afford.
There was a stat about the Olympics and home demolitions especially is poor countries like Brazil and China. I think the total was 2 million over 30 years.
China is anything but poor. Uneven wealth, but far from poor particularly in cities where the middle class is growing rapidly. Brazil, India are massive but that middle class is nearly non-existent.
Here sure we'll just have it in the US and London every 4 years and invite everyone else.
I know there are serious issues in Brazil and Qatar but everyone deserves their chance. I'm sure if you're from South America you've enjoyed this one better than London
Quote from: moysider on August 15, 2016, 03:01:22 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 15, 2016, 02:43:20 AM
Olympics and athletics in general have been ruined a bit. Worst Olympics I can remember and every result is suspect now.
It's every sport. There was doping back in the 70's and probably before as well. Plus ça change. Lasse Viren accused of blood transfusions back in the 70's.
Sport is about getting better and faster. Are we expecting athletes to get slower and weaker while human achievement in technology etc. snowballs. I think that it is normal that improved nutrition and general standard of living in developing countries will see exceptionally talented individuals emerge.
WADA has a budget of 23 million USD . The IOC doesn't care about doping.
Quote from: moysider on August 15, 2016, 02:38:54 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:24:25 AM
Serious questions been asked about the split times in the 400m, first 300m in a crazy time according to RTE
Forget about RTE. Usually negative shite we get from Sunday Game, rugby when George was about and of course the soccer panellists.
Great to see that from Bolt. However the great performances from Van Niekirk and Almaz Ayana should also be embraced in good faith. Unless there is evidence to the contrary.
RTE not questioning bolt now. Why do they give him a clean bill?
The Olympics was her 2nd ever 10,000m race. Her first was in June.
Then, not only did she smash the word record, but that Chinese drug tainted record itself was 22 seconds faster than anyone else had ever gone. Excluding Wang, she is 36 seconds faster than the best of mediocre runners such as Sonia, despite being a complete novice.
I won't be embracing it.
Interesting debate on 5 live this morning about the upturn of UK sports and funding from the UK National lottery.
Turns out that the more medals you win at the Olympics, the more funds you secure for the next 5 year cycle.
At the start the cycling lads had it down to concentrate on one or two events where they had a high chance of medalling, which they did and secured even more funding and then spread their wings a bit to take in more events to where they are now dominating the velodrome to an unbelievable level.
Rowing and Gymnastics have followed their model to secure their funding, so the pressure is on to ensure medals are won, so why wouldn't coaches and participants look to get that "edge" to ensure gold and further funding.
This is for elite end sport only and recreational sport is allegedly very poorly funded in the UK.
Quote from: johnneycool on August 15, 2016, 01:22:21 PM
Interesting debate on 5 live this morning about the upturn of UK sports and funding from the UK National lottery.
Turns out that the more medals you win at the Olympics, the more funds you secure for the next 5 year cycle.
At the start the cycling lads had it down to concentrate on one or two events where they had a high chance of medalling, which they did and secured even more funding and then spread their wings a bit to take in more events to where they are now dominating the velodrome to an unbelievable level.
Rowing and Gymnastics have followed their model to secure their funding, so the pressure is on to ensure medals are won, so why wouldn't coaches and participants look to get that "edge" to ensure gold and further funding.
This is for elite end sport only and recreational sport is allegedly very poorly funded in the UK.
This, firmly starting to believe that government money should not be spent on elite athletes. What benefit is to the country as a whole to give millions to elite sports?
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 15, 2016, 01:28:46 PM
Quote from: johnneycool on August 15, 2016, 01:22:21 PM
Interesting debate on 5 live this morning about the upturn of UK sports and funding from the UK National lottery.
Turns out that the more medals you win at the Olympics, the more funds you secure for the next 5 year cycle.
At the start the cycling lads had it down to concentrate on one or two events where they had a high chance of medalling, which they did and secured even more funding and then spread their wings a bit to take in more events to where they are now dominating the velodrome to an unbelievable level.
Rowing and Gymnastics have followed their model to secure their funding, so the pressure is on to ensure medals are won, so why wouldn't coaches and participants look to get that "edge" to ensure gold and further funding.
This is for elite end sport only and recreational sport is allegedly very poorly funded in the UK.
This, firmly starting to believe that government money should not be spent on elite athletes. What benefit is to the country as a whole to give millions to elite sports?
Religion was the opium of the people, but that is gone now. Sport is the new opium of the people.
Feel good, national pride, national sense of self worth. Some societies will place a lot of emphasis on the value of those things and the associated economic follow on.
There was some argument that success at international level inspires more people to take part in sport, thus benefitting the nation in terms of health costs etc., however this has been poo-pooed since I think.
Surely rewarding performance with more money at elite level increases the temptation for individuals or (dare I say it) organisations to condone or turn a blind eye to dodgy practice?
Any funding body for elite sport will argue that success breeds success. Not just in the elite sports, but on a national level participation in sport in general is bound to increase leading to increased success in those sports and their own slice of the funding pie. I remember a couple of years ago when UK Sports cut funding to basketball so it would be interesting to see where that money went and if it resulted in any success in Rio.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/05/olympic-legacy-failure-sports-participation-figures (https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/05/olympic-legacy-failure-sports-participation-figures)
Don't forget the Dubs!!!
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 12:59:43 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 15, 2016, 02:38:54 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 15, 2016, 02:24:25 AM
Serious questions been asked about the split times in the 400m, first 300m in a crazy time according to RTE
Forget about RTE. Usually negative shite we get from Sunday Game, rugby when George was about and of course the soccer panellists.
Great to see that from Bolt. However the great performances from Van Niekirk and Almaz Ayana should also be embraced in good faith. Unless there is evidence to the contrary.
RTE not questioning bolt now. Why do they give him a clean bill?
The Olympics was her 2nd ever 10,000m race. Her first was in June.
Then, not only did she smash the word record, but that Chinese drug tainted record itself was 22 seconds faster than anyone else had ever gone. Excluding Wang, she is 36 seconds faster than the best of mediocre runners such as Sonia, despite being a complete novice.
I won't be embracing it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2016/02/25/athletics-world-records-blow-as-wang-junxia-admits-being-part-of/ (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2016/02/25/athletics-world-records-blow-as-wang-junxia-admits-being-part-of/)
Wang Junxia admitted in 1995 that she was part of a State doping programme. This would have been obvious to anyone with half a brain at the time. I was at Féile when they showed the race on the big screen where Wang and the other two Chinese runners took off and obliterated the field, with only a brave Sonia trying to catch them.
The IAAF admitted Wang to it's inaugural Hall of Fame. That is how much credibility they have.
That is what Alma Ayana beat to a pulp. No one else ever came close to those times before that race.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 01:49:25 PM
Any funding body for elite sport will argue that success breeds success. Not just in the elite sports, but on a national level participation in sport in general is bound to increase leading to increased success in those sports and their own slice of the funding pie. I remember a couple of years ago when UK Sports cut funding to basketball so it would be interesting to see where that money went and if it resulted in any success in Rio.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/05/olympic-legacy-failure-sports-participation-figures (https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/jul/05/olympic-legacy-failure-sports-participation-figures)
Funnily enough one of the lads on 5 live was involved in the basketball association and his point was that winning medals at the Olympics was too simplistic and misleading as in terms of participation basketball far and away has more competitors than gymnastics, indoor cycling, rowing and so forth, but is drastically under funded in terms of per head compared to those other sports.
He was wanting general participation levels taken into account when funding was being doled out.
If the basketball team wins a medal, they've to develop 10 or so players to win one medal, cycling only requires you to develop one person, other than those team pursuit thingys!
Van Niekerk was the reigning World Champion and is the only man to ever run under 44 seconds for the 400m, 20 seconds for 200m and 10 seconds for the 100m. People shouldn't really be that shocked at all.
Quote from: oakleaflad on August 15, 2016, 02:57:24 PM
Van Niekerk was the reigning World Champion and is the only man to ever run under 44 seconds for the 400m, 20 seconds for 200m and 10 seconds for the 100m. People shouldn't really be that shocked at all.
Quote from: gallsman on August 15, 2016, 02:15:06 AM
"Fairly good" ffs. He's the reigning world champion and is the only person in history to break the 10, 20 and 44 second barriers for 100m, 200m and 400m. Yeah, he's "fairly good" alright.
Quote from: gallsman on August 15, 2016, 02:59:51 PM
Quote from: oakleaflad on August 15, 2016, 02:57:24 PM
Van Niekerk was the reigning World Champion and is the only man to ever run under 44 seconds for the 400m, 20 seconds for 200m and 10 seconds for the 100m. People shouldn't really be that shocked at all.
Quote from: gallsman on August 15, 2016, 02:15:06 AM
"Fairly good" ffs. He's the reigning world champion and is the only person in history to break the 10, 20 and 44 second barriers for 100m, 200m and 400m. Yeah, he's "fairly good" alright.
Completely missed that. I agree with gallsman then so. It was a matter of when not if he was going to break that 400m World Record in my opinion.
Quote from: oakleaflad on August 15, 2016, 03:03:36 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 15, 2016, 02:59:51 PM
Quote from: oakleaflad on August 15, 2016, 02:57:24 PM
Van Niekerk was the reigning World Champion and is the only man to ever run under 44 seconds for the 400m, 20 seconds for 200m and 10 seconds for the 100m. People shouldn't really be that shocked at all.
Quote from: gallsman on August 15, 2016, 02:15:06 AM
"Fairly good" ffs. He's the reigning world champion and is the only person in history to break the 10, 20 and 44 second barriers for 100m, 200m and 400m. Yeah, he's "fairly good" alright.
Completely missed that. I agree with gallsman then so. It was a matter of when not if he was going to break that 400m World Record in my opinion.
Two years ago he ran his first sub 45 aged 22. Bolt was close to 45 aged 21 and didn't even run it competitively.
Some improvement from 45s to 43.03.
His 100m time is 9.98 and the 200m time is 19.94. Both a long way from world class. Having said that, it is certainly an achievement being the first to break those barriers at all 3 distances.
How are sub 10 and sub 20 second times anything other than "world class"?! Especially for a 400m runner.
You get to the olympics with sub 10 easy. Even the british sprinters have guys who can barely, if at all, go sub 10.
Sub 20 200 likewise for 200.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 03:25:03 PM
You get to the olympics with sub 10 easy. Even the british sprinters have guys who can barely, if at all, go sub 10.
Sub 20 200 likewise for 200.
You don't think that's world class? 9.98 would have had him 7th in the Olympic 100m final. Again, you don't think that's world class?!
I agree with you...
It is quite clearly world class.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 03:25:03 PM
You get to the olympics with sub 10 easy. Even the british sprinters have guys who can barely, if at all, go sub 10.
Sub 20 200 likewise for 200.
Getting to the Olympics is one thing, breaking long-standing world records is another thing entirely.
Yeah but breaking a world record and being world class are 2 different things. Sub 10 and 20 for 100 and 200 respectively are world class.
He clearly has very good speed endurance,
Sorry Tommy, misunderstood you.
I've had this argument before in relation to football. Just because someone (I dunno, let's say Zlatan) isn't as good as Messi, that doesn't stop him being world class.
I agree that the scale of the improvement would certainly lead to raising an eyebrow, but you can't just dismiss it as coming from nowhere. This isn't the same as Flo Jo or Kratochvila.
Yeah it's not that big a stretch. Interesting that he did it from lane 8. First time that has been done since 1924 apparently...
I love the athletics but it is sad that these days any significant record etc will automatically be questioned. I'd like to give Ayala the benefit of the doubt to be honest as well. just because the person who's record she beat was doped doesn't mean that she dopes. It's an easy conclusion to make. Of course I could be completely wrong.
The more I read on Farah the less convinced I am. On Dibaba too which is a pity as she is a fantastic athlete. They are raising questions on themselves though by associating with suspect people. I am not sure Ayala or the dutch guy have. (Be they guilty or not)
Ayana's was so bizarre though. I remember Ben Johnson blowing the field away at the 100m, with his arm raised. It was unheard of, and I remember being in awe of it. And then the truth came out. This sort of performance by Ayana ticked a lot of the same boxes, and the fact that she literally came from nowhere to do it, blowing apart a doped world record by so much, would make you extremely skeptical. Then you find out that Ethiopia has a shite drug testing program, that WADA scored as a zero, and allegedly phoning competitors when drug testers were coming. The whole package with her just seems off.
Mo Farah is another where his stories just don't ring true.
There are other winners who seem fine, and legit, but who knows. I prefer to believe what I see, but sometimes it's hard.
Ewan McKenna put Farah under a good bit of pressure the other day asking about the company he keeps. Testing in Kenya and Ethiopia is appalling.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 03:56:28 PM
Ayana's was so bizarre though. I remember Ben Johnson blowing the field away at the 100m, with his arm raised. It was unheard of, and I remember being in awe of it. And then the truth came out. This sort of performance by Ayana ticked a lot of the same boxes, and the fact that she literally came from nowhere to do it, blowing apart a doped world record by so much, would make you extremely skeptical. Then you find out that Ethiopia has a shite drug testing program, that WADA scored as a zero, and allegedly phoning competitors when drug testers were coming. The whole package with her just seems off.
Mo Farah is another where his stories just don't ring true.
There are other winners who seem fine, and legit, but who knows. I prefer to believe what I see, but sometimes it's hard.
The problem with a lot of these athletes is a one time massive jump in performance level. All along they are doing OK times and then next thing they are world class. These are the ones that need explaining and to the sceptical eye you would be asking how did they make such a leap with training/ nutrition alone?
AFAIK Mo fits into the category.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 03:40:48 PM
Yeah but breaking a world record and being world class are 2 different things. Sub 10 and 20 for 100 and 200 respectively are world class.
He clearly has very good speed endurance,
We'll have to agree to disagree on the definition of world class then. He was the 107th person to break 10 seconds, a good achievement no doubt. But take Trayvon Bromell as an example, last in the 100m last night, he has a PB of 9.84. Jimmy Vicaut, who was 2nd last, has a PB of 9.86. They didn't run well last night, but they are vastly superior 100m runners. To my mind, he isn't near their class at 100m.
As for Jarmila Kratochvílová, she was a joke altogether, along with the East German women of that era. I haven't seen anything like the domination of a single sport (Athletics) by a relatively small country such as East Germany (compared to the US & USSR), other than maybe British cycling in the last few Olympics.
(http://srocespodogona.blox.pl/resource/kratochvilova.jpg)
Some from across the water tend to sneer at Kratochvílová, but how does she compare with Mutolo?
(http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+8+Athletics+_n40y5M5_sFl.jpg)
Or Kelly Holmes?
(https://www.laureus.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_main_new/public/kelly-holmes1-resize.jpg?itok=wMRAc-IT)
I would say Mageean and English are world class but neither got to olympic finals. They're still in the top 20 or 30 of the world.
107 over the years but at any one time what is the most number of athletes capable of sub 10? Not 107 or next to near it i suspect.
107th fastest man ever over 100m is not considered world class? Have I got that right or missed something :o
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:17:29 PM
I would say Mageean and English are world class but neither got to olympic finals. They're still in the top 20 or 30 of the world.
107 over the years but at any one time what is the most number of athletes capable of sub 10? Not 107 or next to near it i suspect.
That's probably where I'd disagree. Eamon Coughlan, Sonia, John Treacy were world class to me. They proved themselves at world level and medalled, multiple times. Even an athlete just making an Olympic or World final, I would probably accept as world class.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/five-factors-team-gb-olympic-success-medal-rush?CMP=share_btn_tw (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/five-factors-team-gb-olympic-success-medal-rush?CMP=share_btn_tw)
Interesting article on funding in the UK - On average, each GB medal at the Rio Olympics has cost £5.5m
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 03:51:33 PM
Yeah it's not that big a stretch. Interesting that he did it from lane 8. First time that has been done since 1924 apparently...
I love the athletics but it is sad that these days any significant record etc will automatically be questioned. I'd like to give Ayala the benefit of the doubt to be honest as well. just because the person who's record she beat was doped doesn't mean that she dopes. It's an easy conclusion to make. Of course I could be completely wrong.
The more I read on Farah the less convinced I am. On Dibaba too which is a pity as she is a fantastic athlete. They are raising questions on themselves though by associating with suspect people. I am not sure Ayala or the dutch guy have. (Be they guilty or not)
Mo is not credible.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
Ah here. There's a difference between being ranked 30 out of 32, and ranked 30 out of 30,000, or 300,000 or 3,000,000
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
There are more than 33 athletes. Leitrim is a non sequitur.
It is all going tits up for the OCI between the tickets and the boxing.
Quote from: Declan on August 15, 2016, 04:28:59 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/five-factors-team-gb-olympic-success-medal-rush?CMP=share_btn_tw (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/aug/15/five-factors-team-gb-olympic-success-medal-rush?CMP=share_btn_tw)
Interesting article on funding in the UK - On average, each GB medal at the Rio Olympics has cost £5.5m
Often ignored information.
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
I see what you are saying but top 30 in the world in any of those distances given how many people compete in them is in my view phenomenal.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 04:47:06 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
Ah here. There's a difference between being ranked 30 out of 32, and ranked 30 out of 30,000, or 300,000 or 3,000,000
There are a hell of a lot more than 32 teams in Gaelic Football.
Not at a representative level.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:52:25 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
I see what you are saying but top 30 in the world in any of those distances given how many people compete in them is in my view phenomenal.
I agree completely, but it isn't my definition of 'world class'. I looked up the dictionary definition of 'world class' and it is quite subjective.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 04:54:20 PM
Not at a representative level.
In that case we are talking top 30 out of less than 200. :D
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 03:56:28 PM
Ayana's was so bizarre though. I remember Ben Johnson blowing the field away at the 100m, with his arm raised. It was unheard of, and I remember being in awe of it. And then the truth came out. This sort of performance by Ayana ticked a lot of the same boxes, and the fact that she literally came from nowhere to do it, blowing apart a doped world record by so much, would make you extremely skeptical. Then you find out that Ethiopia has a shite drug testing program, that WADA scored as a zero, and allegedly phoning competitors when drug testers were coming. The whole package with her just seems off.
Mo Farah is another where his stories just don't ring true.
There are other winners who seem fine, and legit, but who knows. I prefer to believe what I see, but sometimes it's hard.
There have been over 30 races since Johnson's 9.79 which equalled or bettered 9.79s. Are they all dopers?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 04:59:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 03:56:28 PM
Ayana's was so bizarre though. I remember Ben Johnson blowing the field away at the 100m, with his arm raised. It was unheard of, and I remember being in awe of it. And then the truth came out. This sort of performance by Ayana ticked a lot of the same boxes, and the fact that she literally came from nowhere to do it, blowing apart a doped world record by so much, would make you extremely skeptical. Then you find out that Ethiopia has a shite drug testing program, that WADA scored as a zero, and allegedly phoning competitors when drug testers were coming. The whole package with her just seems off.
Mo Farah is another where his stories just don't ring true.
There are other winners who seem fine, and legit, but who knows. I prefer to believe what I see, but sometimes it's hard.
There have been over 30 races since Johnson's 9.79 which equalled or bettered 9.79s. Are they all dopers?
Who knows? And this is exactly the problem.
Doping me up to the rafters won't see me run 9.79. But doping a 9.90 sprinter might push him to the 9.7s or lower.
What's the stat, of the ten fastest 100m times of all time, 9 have been juicing with Bolt the exception......?
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 05:04:31 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 15, 2016, 04:59:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2016, 03:56:28 PM
Ayana's was so bizarre though. I remember Ben Johnson blowing the field away at the 100m, with his arm raised. It was unheard of, and I remember being in awe of it. And then the truth came out. This sort of performance by Ayana ticked a lot of the same boxes, and the fact that she literally came from nowhere to do it, blowing apart a doped world record by so much, would make you extremely skeptical. Then you find out that Ethiopia has a shite drug testing program, that WADA scored as a zero, and allegedly phoning competitors when drug testers were coming. The whole package with her just seems off.
Mo Farah is another where his stories just don't ring true.
There are other winners who seem fine, and legit, but who knows. I prefer to believe what I see, but sometimes it's hard.
There have been over 30 races since Johnson's 9.79 which equalled or bettered 9.79s. Are they all dopers?
Who knows? And this is exactly the problem.
Doping me up to the rafters won't see me run 9.79. But doping a 9.90 sprinter might push him to the 9.7s or lower.
SPIEGEL: Can drugs make anyone into a world record holder?
Heredia: No, that is a misapprehension: You take a couple of tablets today and tomorrow you can really fly. In reality you have to train inconceivably hard, be very talented and have a perfect team of trainers and support staff. And then it is the best drugs that make the difference. It is all a great composition, a symphony. Everything is linked together, do you understand? And drugs have a long-term effect: they ensure that you can recover, that you avoid the catabolic phases. Volleyball on the beach might be healthy, but peak athletics is not healthy. You destroy your body. Marion Jones, for example ...
Read more: http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4820863#ixzz4HQ0XwkH3 (http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=4820863#ixzz4HQ0XwkH3)
What time is that girl sailing at? I thought it was 5pm but nothing on TV at the moment.
Quote from: laoislad on August 15, 2016, 05:25:22 PM
What time is that girl sailing at? I thought it was 5pm but nothing on TV at the moment.
Next info at 6 Irish.
Delayed due light winds.
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:54:52 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:52:25 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 15, 2016, 04:42:47 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 15, 2016, 04:29:38 PM
Well to be fair English was in a world final and has spent most of the year injured. Mageean medalled at european but the thing about her is she has had 2 of the last 4 years injured so if she doesn't succumb to injury again I would expect much bigger things from her. She needs to break 2 for the 800 and get her speed from it.
Any which way personally i think our world class definitions differ. You do sub 10 and in my view you're world class.
Incidentally Catriona McKiernan you have missed there. World XC silver medalist multiple times , 2:21 odd marathoner and european xc winner.
Yes Catriona was world class, and plenty of others (Ronnie Delaney for example). My list wan't meant to be exclusive. As for English, if he made a World Final then fair enough.
But to me world class is not top 30. That would put Leitrim as a 'top class' Gaelic Football team. Are Ireland or Northern Ireland world class soccer teams?
I see what you are saying but top 30 in the world in any of those distances given how many people compete in them is in my view phenomenal.
I agree completely, but it isn't my definition of 'world class'. I looked up the dictionary definition of 'world class' and it is quite subjective.
Exactly. I would view world class differently but each to their own.
You can watch Ireland in the 49er race here (http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104) and then use it to watch Annalise IF it goes ahead.
Seems to be 12 knots of wind now.
Wind has picked up apparently. That suits.
Should be able to watch it here when it starts: http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104 (http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/UnityData/Sailviewer3D/WebPlayer_solg.html?event=135&pm=3d&v=104)
A 5th guarantees bronze. Lots of other permutations, but she can't finish worse than 5th overall and can just about get gold if she wins this race (needs the Dutch girl to finish 5 place behind her though. Looks like 2nd to 4th will be her likely final position, hopefully not 4th again.
Cancelled!
Too windy now.
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
Did anyone see Mark Cavandish take out the guy in the cycling this evening. I know next to nothing about track cycling but it looked careless at best and extremely cynical at worst. Surely there should be some sort of sanction for causing numerous falls like that. Maybe a black card or something?? The guy cycled on like nothing happened and won silver.
Quote from: BennyHarp on August 16, 2016, 12:51:21 AM
Did anyone see Mark Cavandish take out the guy in the cycling this evening. I know next to nothing about track cycling but it looked careless and best and extremely cynical at worst. Surely there should be some sort of sanction for causing numerous falls like that. Maybe a black card or something?? The guy cycled on like nothing happened and won silver.
He did apologise and the Italian he took down got back and won gold. I don t think it was deliberate or anything. You just could not do that without ending up on the deck 9 times out of 10 yourself.
Events delayed now because of heavy rain. Including the 110 meter hurdles. But they allowed the first heat of the hurdles to go ahead in the worst of it and a quick Jamaican had a nightmare - probably because of the conditions. How is that fair either?
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 12:13:39 AM
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
There isn't testosterone or steroids in those eggs?
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 16, 2016, 01:42:18 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 12:13:39 AM
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
There isn't testosterone or steroids in those eggs?
She is just brilliant.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 16, 2016, 01:42:18 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 12:13:39 AM
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
There isn't testosterone or steroids in those eggs?
Chicken nuggets ?
Quote from: Minder on August 16, 2016, 01:50:49 AM
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 16, 2016, 01:42:18 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 12:13:39 AM
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
There isn't testosterone or steroids in those eggs?
Chicken nuggets ?
Good luck with getting that girl into a baby high chair in a restaurant!
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 01:08:07 AM
Quote from: BennyHarp on August 16, 2016, 12:51:21 AM
Did anyone see Mark Cavandish take out the guy in the cycling this evening. I know next to nothing about track cycling but it looked careless and best and extremely cynical at worst. Surely there should be some sort of sanction for causing numerous falls like that. Maybe a black card or something?? The guy cycled on like nothing happened and won silver.
He did apologise and the Italian he took down got back and won gold. I don t think it was deliberate or anything. You just could not do that without ending up on the deck 9 times out of 10 yourself.
In fairness I thought it was deliberate when I saw it, but then the Italian that won it nearly took out a French guy, but for the French lad fending him off with his hand, so it was probably accidental.
Quote from: Minder on August 16, 2016, 01:50:49 AM
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 16, 2016, 01:42:18 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 12:13:39 AM
The Polish girl that won the hammer with a WR eats 9 eggs for breakfast.
Imagine what her full Irish would look like!
There isn't testosterone or steroids in those eggs?
Chicken nuggets ?
the same as bolt's?
Apparently the pole vault was a great event last night. Big shock seeing Alyson Felix get beat in the 400 too. Haven't seen it yet but apparently Samuels dived over the line.
See Rors was delighted and so proud Justin won golfing gold for GB and NI. So much for not going to watch it.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 16, 2016, 09:11:38 AM
Apparently the pole vault was a great event last night. Big shock seeing Alyson Felix get beat in the 400 too. Haven't seen it yet but apparently Samuels dived over the line.
http://www.balls.ie/boxing/the-womens-400m-produced-one-of-the-most-spectacular-race-finishes-in-recent-memory/342971
Should that be allowed?
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 09:18:33 AM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 16, 2016, 09:11:38 AM
Apparently the pole vault was a great event last night. Big shock seeing Alyson Felix get beat in the 400 too. Haven't seen it yet but apparently Samuels dived over the line.
http://www.balls.ie/boxing/the-womens-400m-produced-one-of-the-most-spectacular-race-finishes-in-recent-memory/342971
Should that be allowed?
As long as she stays in her lane before she breaks the line I think it is... she was close!
Very exciting race she tied up badly another 3m in that race and the yank wins it. Actually if she had made any attempt at dropping her head she would have got it.
Here lads why has there been no mention of our Pole Vaulter Tori Pena until now . . .
(http://jge9m26i0ig15ie3p1c2j3lq.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_3427.jpeg)
Best of luck to her!!!
I'll be rooting for her..
Team USA are the favourites to win the Rio Men's Basketball. Do you agree on this? http://goo.gl/PdEolI
Quote from: grantwool on August 16, 2016, 12:56:47 PM
Team USA are the favourites to win the Rio Men's Basketball. Do you agree on this? http://goo.gl/PdEolI
Not you again. f**k away off.
Quote from: gallsman on August 16, 2016, 12:58:58 PM
Quote from: grantwool on August 16, 2016, 12:56:47 PM
Team USA are the favourites to win the Rio Men's Basketball. Do you agree on this? http://goo.gl/PdEolI
Not you again. f**k away off.
If you can annoy that prat stick around newbie, you are welcome.
No Luck for Tori Pena as she fails for the third time at the 4.45m mark. She's 24th overall and only the top 12 qualify
See the Diver made the final
Silver in the sailing.
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 05:34:40 PM
Silver in the sailing.
Well done to her. Wont be a cow milked in Dun Laoighaire this week
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 05:34:40 PM
Silver in the sailing.
Super result. She was 4th in 2012.
Quote from: seafoid on August 16, 2016, 06:11:58 PM
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 05:34:40 PM
Silver in the sailing.
Super result. She was 4th in 2012.
You'd have to question though if she took drugs.... :P
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 16, 2016, 06:16:09 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 16, 2016, 06:11:58 PM
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 05:34:40 PM
Silver in the sailing.
Super result. She was 4th in 2012.
You'd have to question though if she took drugs.... :P
The boat may have ingested some veterinary products
Great finish to Spain v Turkey in women's basketball.
That Dutch burd who beat the Irish girl to the Gold medal in the sailing is a bit of alright.
Amazing stat in The Times. Of the 30 fastest 100 metres, 21 are by runners who've tested positive for drugs. The other 9? All Usain Bolt
It's the chicken nuggets though
It's bit unfair that there are a million variations of sports like cycling, rowing and swimming than other sports.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 09:45:44 PM
It's bit unfair that there are a million variations of sports like cycling, rowing and swimming than other sports.
Like what? What sport is being done down? I suppose you could have a par 3 golf competition 😌
Boxing is an obvious example. Phelps with 23 gold medals or whatever he has is a bit of a joke. Phenomenal athlete though.
Horse dancing ffs. Olympic gold for that :o
Quote from: Declan on August 16, 2016, 09:39:44 PM
Amazing stat in The Times. Of the 30 fastest 100 metres, 21 are by runners who've tested positive for drugs. The other 9? All Usain Bolt
Blake was banned as a precaution for a substance that wasn't even banned at the time ffs.
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 08:43:54 PM
That Dutch burd who beat the Irish girl to the Gold medal in the sailing is a bit of alright.
The British cyclist with the Alopecia looks deadly with that wig. Decadent French Aristocrat vibe
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 09:56:17 PM
Boxing is an obvious example. Phelps with 23 gold medals or whatever he has is a bit of a joke. Phenomenal athlete though.
Horse dancing ffs. Olympic gold for that :o
Sure just have one type of run?? Surely they can do just one race??
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 09:56:17 PM
Boxing is an obvious example. Phelps with 23 gold medals or whatever he has is a bit of a joke. Phenomenal athlete though.
Horse dancing ffs. Olympic gold for that :o
No I meant what sports are hard done by. There are some stupid sports alright, but I like all the different swimming events. I think you said it was unfair or something like that? I was just wondering who it was unfair to?
Maybe unfair was the wrong word to use but my point still stands. The cycling has a right few stupid races that they could get rid of. The one on the motor bike ffs and the one where they start off looking at each other while creeping along and then sprint for the last lap.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 10:13:54 PM
Maybe unfair was the wrong word to use but my point still stands. The cycling has a right few stupid races that they could get rid of. The one on the motor bike ffs and the one where they start off looking at each other while creeping along and then sprint for the last lap.
The, eh, sprint. One of the marquee cycling events.
Yeah. I just don't like the start of it.
So many crap sports could go from the Olympics. As well and no need for the likes of road cycling, football, tennis and now golf. To win a gold in those is nowhere near the pinnacle of those sports.
What is or isn t a crap sport is a matter of opinion surely?
Quote from: moysider on August 16, 2016, 11:52:09 PM
What is or isn t a crap sport is a matter of opinion surely?
Of course.
Why not have indoor and outdoor athletics, like the cycling?
Indoor and outdoor swimming? Phelps could have made the tonne of medals that way.
Outdoor table-tennis? It would be some craic in the wind.
Underwater beach-volleyball anyone?
100m sprint, then do 100m backward sprint, 100m sideward sprints. That would sort Bolt out.
Fashions change in sport too.
Triathlon was only introduced in Sydney 2000. A great event imo.
savage performance there Thomas Barr in 400 hurdles!
Thomas Barr sets a personal record and Irish record to qualify for the 400m hurdle Finals.
Quote from: DrinkingHarp on August 17, 2016, 01:57:36 AM
Thomas Barr sets a personal record and Irish record to qualify for the 400m hurdle Finals.
They'll probably disqualify him and give his place to a Russian named Igor
Great performance alright and Looks like Barr has a decent chance of winning a medal in that final.
Quote from: Cunny Funt on August 17, 2016, 02:03:57 AM
Great performance alright and Looks like Barr has a decent chance of winning a medal in that final.
It would be brilliant if he does. If he does he will be up there with Sonia and John Treacy in 'recent' years. It puts in perspective how difficult it is to medal on the track. Coughlan was class and didn t do it. A country our size does well to get even one world class athlete every generation. Factor in that we cant really compete in sprints and middle distance, there is limited opportunity for Irish athletes to challenge for medals at the highest level on the track.
Is there a video of his race. Of course, I missed it.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 16, 2016, 09:52:07 PM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 09:45:44 PM
It's bit unfair that there are a million variations of sports like cycling, rowing and swimming than other sports.
Like what? What sport is being done down? I suppose you could have a par 3 golf competition 😌
pitch and putt and crazy golf deserve to be Olympic sports.
Quote from: Oraisteach on August 17, 2016, 03:33:46 AM
Is there a video of his race. Of course, I missed it.
http://www.balls.ie/olympics/watch-irelands-thomas-barr-runs-race-of-his-life-to-win-400m-hurdles-in-stunning-fashion/343083
P.S. google his sister Jessie ;)
Quote from: JimStynes on August 16, 2016, 11:28:53 PM
Yeah. I just don't like the start of it.
So many crap sports could go from the Olympics. As well and no need for the likes of road cycling, football, tennis and now golf. To win a gold in those is nowhere near the pinnacle of those sports.
Road cycling has been part of the Olympics for a good while, I see no reason why it shouldn't be included. It has the added advantage of not needing any expensive infrastructure built. I agree with you on the others though.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 16, 2016, 10:00:42 PM
Quote from: laoislad on August 16, 2016, 08:43:54 PM
That Dutch burd who beat the Irish girl to the Gold medal in the sailing is a bit of alright.
The British cyclist with the Alopecia looks deadly with that wig. Decadent French Aristocrat vibe
I saw her on Monday night and didn't know who she was but through perseverence yesterday I found out who she was and didn't realise she was the girl with Alopecia.
hornballs
What about the big Russian supermodel. I take it she didn't get competing then?
Quote from: JimStynes on August 17, 2016, 08:18:49 AM
hornballs
What about the big Russian supermodel. I take it she didn't get competing then?
In the Long Jump final tonight.
Quote from: DrinkingHarp on August 17, 2016, 01:57:36 AM
Thomas Barr sets a personal record and Irish record to qualify for the 400m hurdle Finals.
Defo drugs
Brilliant performance by Thomas Barr last night though I couldn't help wondering would all those wristbands(he had about ten of them) + watch not cost him valuable hundredths of a second in aerodynamics/weight. I'm sure he knows what he's doing anyway, and amazing for him to win his semi and qualify third fastest.
Anyone watch Rio 2016 am? Ailis McSweeney is excellent. Gives a great technical insight and makes it simple enough for dummies like myself.
Being reported on Twitter that Pat Hickey, the OCI chief, has been arrested in Rio!
Quote from: omagh_gael on August 17, 2016, 11:54:45 AM
Being reported on Twitter that Pat Hickey, the OCI chief, has been arrested in Rio!
Fantastic!!! :o :o :o
Couldn't make this stuff up
Hickey arrested alright. That will wipe the smug smile off his face. Irish Times have it.
Quote from: highorlow on August 17, 2016, 12:07:51 PM
Hickey arrested alright. That will wipe the smug smile off his face. Irish Times have it.
Just trying to figure out of it's being a good Olympics for Ireland or a disaster.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 17, 2016, 12:15:30 PM
Quote from: highorlow on August 17, 2016, 12:07:51 PM
Hickey arrested alright. That will wipe the smug smile off his face. Irish Times have it.
Just trying to figure out of it's being a good Olympics for Ireland or a disaster.
Worst in my living memory for Ireland... Hickey is the icing on the cake!! Shambolic
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:21:17 PM
Worst in my living memory for Ireland...
Glad you're enjoying your first Olympics, mate.
Is it really? 2 silver medals for ireland is a bigger haul than we have had quite a few years. No medals in 2004...
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
What's he arrested for?
Quote from: Gold on August 17, 2016, 12:35:27 PM
What's he arrested for?
Presumably something to do with the investigation into the ticket touting. Another Irish lad was arrested last week.
Ticketing scandal.
It's like that McKenna journalist guy. One Irish guy done for drugs so he tweets we should all be ashamed. All our faults really ::)
We can't do drugs properly and now we can't even do corruption. Is there anything we are good at other than whinging?
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 12:38:42 PM
We can't do drugs properly and now we can't even do corruption. Is there anything we are good at other than whinging?
Ara whist up. Everyone has to be a smart arse.
this is fairly undignified for him. Not a bit sorry for him.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqDr3OeWIAA-lkw.jpg:large)
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Quote from: sid waddell on August 17, 2016, 12:25:05 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:21:17 PM
Worst in my living memory for Ireland...
Glad you're enjoying your first Olympics, mate.
Not your mate, and for controversy regarding Irish athletes it's the worst.... People going not going, boxers should win mot winning boxers being banned for taking drugs before going and now Pat Jickey being arrested....
Its the worst I can remember
Quote from: highorlow on August 17, 2016, 12:07:51 PM
Hickey arrested alright. That will wipe the smug smile off his face. Irish Times have it.
Shane Ross will be allowing himself a wry smile at this news!!!
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:39:36 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 12:38:42 PM
We can't do drugs properly and now we can't even do corruption. Is there anything we are good at other than whinging?
Ara whist up. Everyone has to be a smart arse.
this is fairly undignified for him. Not a bit sorry for him.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqDr3OeWIAA-lkw.jpg:large)
Is that real? Love it, you couldn't make it up.
Quote from: Gold on August 17, 2016, 12:35:27 PM
What's he arrested for?
Being a p***k I hope. Irish sport would be well rid of him. He could be an honorary O'Healy-Rae.
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 12:54:42 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:39:36 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 12:38:42 PM
We can't do drugs properly and now we can't even do corruption. Is there anything we are good at other than whinging?
Ara whist up. Everyone has to be a smart arse.
this is fairly undignified for him. Not a bit sorry for him.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqDr3OeWIAA-lkw.jpg:large)
Is that real? Love it, you couldn't make it up.
Apparently so. The BBC report says he tried to escape capture. He slid his pass under the door to the cops, and then scattered into an adjoining room :) Not quite the Scarlet Pimpernel in fairness.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
Absolutely. I'm not sure who is excluding Ireland though. That appears to be a straw man you've built up so that you can relentless knock it down by saying 'drugs?' after every notable Irish performance.
I don't think anybody defended Michael O'Reilly for example.
Is this the same Buck involved with the cycling scandal?
Quote from: omagh_gael on August 17, 2016, 01:03:31 PM
Is this the same Buck involved with the cycling scandal?
No, that's Pat McQuaid, former head of the global cycling federation the UCI.
Hickey is the long time President of the Olympic Council of Ireland and a big cheese in the IOC globally.
He's head of the European Olympic Councils as well as head of OCI.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:39:36 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 12:38:42 PM
We can't do drugs properly and now we can't even do corruption. Is there anything we are good at other than whinging?
Ara whist up. Everyone has to be a smart arse.
this is fairly undignified for him. Not a bit sorry for him.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqDr3OeWIAA-lkw.jpg:large)
Apparently he tried to escape in his bath robe.
And guess who is Hickey's replacement??? - John Delaney!!!
Yep. Bathman.
By the way, when did all ye posh feckers start calling it a 'bath robe'? That's his fecking dressing gown.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Twitter's not official enough apparently.
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:15:55 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Twitter's not official enough apparently.
So if I put on twitter that Franko is a dick its official??
Twitter is great to watch- this one caught my eye re Hickey:
Hickey last month re whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova:"She's one of those doped Russian athletes so she can't attend."
I see now he's gone to hospital after feeling sick after the arrest
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Drugs have been in sports since people realised that it will give the an edge to winning..... But the serial gurning back and forth about it is tiresome, no? Why anybody thinks we have 'clean' sportsmen/women at this level is deluded, most take something that isn't illegal but enhances their ability and will ne banned next year.... No amount of money in stopping it will put a dent in cleaning up the sports
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 01:18:59 PM
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:15:55 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Twitter's not official enough apparently.
So if I put on twitter that Franko is a dick its official??
Nah but it would be your opinion. Probably wouldn't get many retweets though.
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:29:36 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 01:18:59 PM
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:15:55 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Twitter's not official enough apparently.
So if I put on twitter that Franko is a dick its official??
Nah but it would be your opinion. Probably wouldn't get many retweets though.
You reckon?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 01:32:34 PM
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:29:36 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 01:18:59 PM
Quote from: Franko on August 17, 2016, 01:15:55 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 01:08:07 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 12:58:22 PM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 17, 2016, 12:40:36 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 12:31:11 PM
MR2 is acting as the counter balance on the board to make sure we don't view everything through green glasses. Hence every good Irish performance is met with a comment re 'drugs' (because we have cast aspersions on some other performances in the games), and every poor result is a national disaster, for fear we judge our athletes a bit kinder (more realistically) than those from elsewhere.
The ticketing scandal is an unmissable opportunity to show how we (all of us, everyone) are more corrupt than anyone else, and we shouldn't be giving out about boxing judges or anything else.
He is providing a valuable service.
I'm not sure if Rory has instructed this, or if it is off his own bat however :)
It was actually Carl. ;D
Well we are viewing things a lot greener, understandable but crying foul over everyone's pbs or improved performances looks and comes across a bit whiny??
Ireland isn't and shouldn't be excluded when talking about drugs in sport... Smith being the stand out
have you read through twitter / watched bbc etc? whining about drugs is hardly exclusive to irish people. athletics and cycling have been rife with it for years now. Is it because i'm irish i say that - hardly?
did you read jennifer symposia's interview talking about dibaba ? have you seen the likes of andy vernon's spat with farah on twitter? not iriish - it is reflective of the skepticism of athletics in general.
Twitter's not official enough apparently.
So if I put on twitter that Franko is a dick its official??
Nah but it would be your opinion. Probably wouldn't get many retweets though.
You reckon?
Sure try and let me know how you get on.
The Pat Hickey thing is very interesting. McQuaid was another sports administrator who brought glory to the nation,
Don't forget Delaney and his 33rd team.
Pat Hickey arrested in Rio over Olympics tickets controversy
President of the Olympic Council of Ireland questioned by Brazilian police
Tom Hennigan in Rio
Brazilian police have arrested Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) president Pat Hickey over his alleged involvement in the Rio Games ticket controversy.
Mr Hickey was detained at his hotel in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro early Wednesday morning on foot of a warrant from the same court that ordered the detention of Irishman Kevin Mallon on August 5th.
Police say they have evidence Mr Hickey was part of the scheme that saw OCI tickets for the games in the hands of THG, the British company of which Mr Mallon was a director.
Mr Hickey was arrested at the luxury Hotel Windsor Marapendi where most of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates are staying during the games.
Mr Hickey reportedly became unwell after his arrest and was taken by police to the nearby Samaritano hospital in Rio's Barra neighbourhood.
In a statement on its website, the OCI said it was "aware of the media stories regarding Pat Hickey and we are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further".
Police say tickets seized with Mr Mallon were from the quota destined for OCI executives, athletes, families and sponsors and should not have been sold to the general public without advising the Rio organising committee which is in charge of ticketing.
Warrant
Police got the arrest warrant for Mr Hickey after the Rio organising committee confirmed that neither the OCI or Pro10 had advised the committee that tickets for the OCI's use at the games were going to be returned for general sale, said Ricardo Barbosa, of the Rio police unit leading the investigation.
Police said arrest warrents have also been issued for three directors of Pro10.
Pro10, which was which was established by two Irish football agents and a Dublin mortgage broker shortly before being awarded the Olympic ticketing contract, says that Mallon was merely acting as a collection point for its clients who had legally purchased tickets through it.
A spokesperson for the Rio Games' local organising committee declined to comment on Mr Hickey's arrest.
He also refused to confirm or deny the police claim that the OCI did not inform the committee that tickets from its personal quota were being handed over to Pro10 for general sale as was required by Olympic regulations.
Mr Hickey has previously denied any impropriety.
Assistance
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said Wednesday afternoon he had received confirmation that an Irish person had been arrested in Rio.
Mr Donohoe said he did not know the identify of the person but believed consular assistance would be offered to them if requested.
The Minister said it was his position that any body which received State funds would be required to co-operate with requests from the Government.
He said Minister for Transport Shane Ross and Minster of State for Sport Patrick O'Donovan were examining the next steps into the establishment of an independent inquiry.
Well this is turning into a great Olympics for the Irish!!!
Drugs cheating, a corrupt boxing judge and now the head of the OCI arrested.
Quote from: yellowcard on August 17, 2016, 02:11:31 PM
Well this is turning into a great Olympics for the Irish!!!
Drugs cheating, a corrupt boxing judge and now the head of the OCI arrested.
Plus 2 silver medallists, a finalist in the 400m hurdles and the 3m diving.
Hickey must be doped. Or else dopey
When police came to arrest Hickey, wife told them he had gone. Quickly found in adjoining room #OTBRio2016
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 02:15:26 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on August 17, 2016, 02:11:31 PM
Well this is turning into a great Olympics for the Irish!!!
Drugs cheating, a corrupt boxing judge and now the head of the OCI arrested.
Plus 2 silver medallists, a finalist in the 400m hurdles and the 3m diving.
A finalist in the 3000 women steeple chase too. The women rowers getting to the final was also a massive achievement.
I am hoping Pollock might get a half decent placing in the marathon too but the heat etc could be a large factor.
I think there have been a lot of things to be positive about. The boxing is a big disappointment but drugs / corruption you can get anywhere. If it were the model of state sponsored doping or corruption it would be worse. It is a few individuals. That doesn't make it alright but it doesn't make it the country's fault either.
Hopefully Hickey's nominated successor, John Delaney, gets appointed sooner rather than later to the OCI to stamp out this sort of thing.
???
LOL
From what I have read on Hickey he has gone to war with plenty of people over the years and there will be plenty who won't be too sorry to see this happening today.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/was-rory-mcilroys-hastily-deleted-tweet-a-dig-at-arrested-oci-president-pat-hickey-34973524.html
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqEJlUHVIAApXhw.jpg:large)
There have been a few outstanding performance by Irish athletes in the Olympics but aside from that, this has been a complete shambles by IOC and the IABA.
Given that they are both funded by the taxpayer they should both be hauled before a public enquiry into their activities. I would also like to see the Irish judge who gave the result to the Russian boxer asked to explain himself. We might get a view into Conlon's result that way.
From an Irish POV this Olympics has been an embarrassment. Overall, I think it is the most blatantly drugged fuelled and corrupt sporting spectacle I've ever seen.
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:47:44 PM
There have been a few outstanding performance by Irish athletes in the Olympics but aside from that, this has been a complete shambles by IOC and the IABA.
Given that they are both funded by the taxpayer they should both be hauled before a public enquiry into their activities. I would also like to see the Irish judge who gave the result to the Russian boxer asked to explain himself. We might get a view into Conlon's result that way.
From an Irish POV this Olympics has been an embarrassment. Overall, I think it is the most blatantly drugged fuelled and corrupt sporting spectacle I've ever seen.
Agree 100% on the Irish boxing judge. If I was a journalist he would be the first man I'd be looking to interview for his corrupt officiating.
Olympics a and most professional sport is a shit show. IAAF, FIFA, UCI, OCI, IAAF etc etc. People like Coe, Bach, Cookson, Hickey, Blatter are the biggest crooks of the whole lot. They are hoodwinking the public and in the sport for their ego and financial gain. The names change but the culture stays the same.
Agree about the Irish boxing judge even, as you say, if it gave more insight to the shennanigans going on. But has the Olympics really been an embarrassment from an Irish POV?? Is that hyperbole? I'm not embarrassed. I was delighted for the O'Donovan's and for Annalise Murphy. I've been happy for a few others that performed well, and then we've had the notable disappointing performances in the ring, notably Paddy Barnes and Joe Ward.
So I'd say a mixed bag, but an embarrassment? No, not for me.
Michael O'Reilly deserves to be ashamed of himself, and if Pat Hickey is involved in this ticketing thing, then ditto for him.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
So just cause they ain't caught means they haven't been using....at same time, not guilty unless caught... What's the answer??
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:58:09 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Do you think the O'Donovans are a) doping, b) romantic fools or c) not serious performance athletes?
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 02:57:17 PM
Agree about the Irish boxing judge even, as you say, if it gave more insight to the shennanigans going on. But has the Olympics really been an embarrassment from an Irish POV?? Is that hyperbole? I'm not embarrassed. I was delighted for the O'Donovan's and for Annalise Murphy. I've been happy for a few others that performed well, and then we've had the notable disappointing performances in the ring, notably Paddy Barnes and Joe Ward.
So I'd say a mixed bag, but an embarrassment? No, not for me.
Michael O'Reilly deserves to be ashamed of himself, and if Pat Hickey is involved in this ticketing thing, then ditto for him.
I mentioned the good performances.
But look at it this way.
We sent a team to represent Ireland at the greatest sporting event in the World. At that event, our top official is arrested. I was embarrassed by our reaction to Thierry Henry's handball, but that was in the ha'penny place compared to this.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:00:23 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:58:09 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Do you think the O'Donovans are a) doping, b) romantic fools or c) not serious performance athletes?
I doubt they are. But that doesn't mean no one else is doping.
Hickey's arrest is embarrassing for himself and for OCI, and indeed for IOC. Is it a black eye for Ireland? Maybe. Embarrassing for those concerned? Absolutely? Embarrassing for the rest of us? I don't think so. I don't feel embarrassed anyway.
Where's Ewan McKenna in all this? With the doping, the corrupt boxing and the ticket corruption, he may have exploded!
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:06:59 PM
Hickey's arrest is embarrassing for himself and for OCI, and indeed for IOC. Is it a black eye for Ireland? Maybe. Embarrassing for those concerned? Absolutely? Embarrassing for the rest of us? I don't think so. I don't feel embarrassed anyway.
We are being shown to be corrupt in front of the world. I personally am not embarrassed, but it I think it is an embarrassment for our country.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:10:31 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:06:59 PM
Hickey's arrest is embarrassing for himself and for OCI, and indeed for IOC. Is it a black eye for Ireland? Maybe. Embarrassing for those concerned? Absolutely? Embarrassing for the rest of us? I don't think so. I don't feel embarrassed anyway.
We are being shown to be corrupt in front of the world. I personally am not embarrassed, but it I think it is an embarrassment for our country.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
It's a story that will run and run. Marcus Evans the owner of Ipswich caught up in it. Also two swimmers are not allowed home. Not sure why.
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:10:31 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:06:59 PM
Hickey's arrest is embarrassing for himself and for OCI, and indeed for IOC. Is it a black eye for Ireland? Maybe. Embarrassing for those concerned? Absolutely? Embarrassing for the rest of us? I don't think so. I don't feel embarrassed anyway.
We are being shown to be corrupt in front of the world. I personally am not embarrassed, but it I think it is an embarrassment for our country.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Fair enough. Italy must be mortified with Berlusconi. The Swiss should be red faced over Blatter. The French should be crawling over Platini. If the whole country is embarrassed over stupid corrupt people in power, you'd spend your whole life embarrassed.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:16:20 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:10:31 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:06:59 PM
Hickey's arrest is embarrassing for himself and for OCI, and indeed for IOC. Is it a black eye for Ireland? Maybe. Embarrassing for those concerned? Absolutely? Embarrassing for the rest of us? I don't think so. I don't feel embarrassed anyway.
We are being shown to be corrupt in front of the world. I personally am not embarrassed, but it I think it is an embarrassment for our country.
We'll have to agree to disagree.
Fair enough. Italy must be mortified with Berlusconi. The Swiss should be red faced over Blatter. The French should be crawling over Platini. If the whole country is embarrassed over stupid corrupt people in power, you'd spend your whole life embarrassed.
I can definitely speak for an Italian who is very embarrassed by Berlusconi. Can't speak for the rest.
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:04:09 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:00:23 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:58:09 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Do you think the O'Donovans are a) doping, b) romantic fools or c) not serious performance athletes?
I doubt they are. But that doesn't mean no one else is doping.
Drug fueled in your opinion. We all know there are people on it but basically the way it has gone with the view you or quite a few people held any outstanding performance would be met with they're on drugs.
So as it stands athletics is damned if it does or damned if it doesn't.
To be honest that is not just your opinion but many's which is sad.
What would it have taken for you to say the olympics was not drug fueled this time?
Are the crowds very low? Haven't seen much of the athletics, but it looks very sparse. How can you tout tickets for attendences like that?
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:26:39 PM
Are the crowds very low? Haven't seen much of the athletics, but it looks very sparse. How can you tout tickets for attendences like that?
100 sprint would be sell out... Serious money I'd say
Michaela McCollum has offered to reach out to Pat Hickey.
It's time for all of us to pull together.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 03:22:53 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:04:09 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:00:23 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:58:09 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Do you think the O'Donovans are a) doping, b) romantic fools or c) not serious performance athletes?
I doubt they are. But that doesn't mean no one else is doping.
Drug fueled in your opinion. We all know there are people on it but basically the way it has gone with the view you or quite a few people held any outstanding performance would be met with they're on drugs.
So as it stands athletics is damned if it does or damned if it doesn't.
To be honest that is not just your opinion but many's which is sad.
What would it have taken for you to say the olympics was not drug fueled this time?
Good question.
I honestly don't know. When trust is lost it is very hard to win it back. Ask the Catholic Church.
Maybe catching a few of the cheats would be a start. Also I think a 2 or 4 year ban is not a proper deterrent. They should face criminal charges for fraud, although it is difficult to se how that could be organised fairly across so many legal systems.
Imo Olympics like 76, 80 were probably dirtier.
What do you have to do to qualify for the olympics? Is there a guaranteed allocation for each country if they want it, or do you have to meet an international qualifying time? In other words are the times for qualifying set at national or international federation.
The reason I ask is I just saw a womens 800 metre heat, and from the very start one of the athletes was basically dropped off the back by about 20 metres by the time they reached the 200 metre mark. It was nuts. She ended up 18 seconds or something behind the winner, and about 10 seconds behind second last, almost the length of the 100m straight. That's impressive going over 800m!
There an email after being shown where Hickey wants to put Shane Ross "back in his box." What an arrogant corrupt fcuker.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 17, 2016, 03:32:09 PM
There an email after being shown where Hickey wants to put Shane Ross "back in his box." What an arrogant corrupt fcuker.
He said the same thing about Jim McDaid years ago. Something about 'I answer to a different constituency'.
So when the police came for Hickey - he answered his hotel room door in the nip
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/765915635402547200
Quote from: moysider on August 17, 2016, 03:30:58 PM
Imo Olympics like 76, 80 were probably dirtier.
I'd say every Olympics was dirty, imagine Berlin in 36'. Only difference now is you have the internet with social media, forums etc to really educate people. None is so blind as those who refuse to see.
Quote from: Gabriel_Hurl on August 17, 2016, 03:34:15 PM
So when the police came for Hickey - he answered his hotel room door in the nip
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/765915635402547200
Bare-faced cheek!
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:30:44 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 03:22:53 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:04:09 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:00:23 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 02:58:09 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
I don't connect 'being done for drugs' with 'drug fuelled'.
Drug fuelled is what I see, Wada's annual budget is less than Wayne Rooney's salary. They haven't a prayer and it shows. TBH these days any serious performance athlete who isn't doping is probably a romantic fool. That is the reality.
Do you think the O'Donovans are a) doping, b) romantic fools or c) not serious performance athletes?
I doubt they are. But that doesn't mean no one else is doping.
Drug fueled in your opinion. We all know there are people on it but basically the way it has gone with the view you or quite a few people held any outstanding performance would be met with they're on drugs.
So as it stands athletics is damned if it does or damned if it doesn't.
To be honest that is not just your opinion but many's which is sad.
What would it have taken for you to say the olympics was not drug fueled this time?
Good question.
I honestly don't know. When trust is lost it is very hard to win it back. Ask the Catholic Church.
Maybe catching a few of the cheats would be a start. Also I think a 2 or 4 year ban is not a proper deterrent. They should face criminal charges for fraud, although it is difficult to se how that could be organised fairly across so many legal systems.
There have been people caught just not many. There was another russian yesterday I think. Plus obviously O'Reilly.
While people say if farah or bolt were caught the sport would be ruined I would almost flip that round and say that if they caught someone high profile like that it could actually save the sport.
I prefer to believe in some of the athletes. One or two i don't believe in but in the main I do. If i didn't i probably couldn't watch it.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 17, 2016, 02:59:24 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 02:52:15 PM
Not that many have been done for drugs though muppet. How many aside from O'Reilly?
So just cause they ain't caught means they haven't been using....at same time, not guilty unless caught... What's the answer??
fund WADA properly
Y'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
I haven't watched a pile either but to be honest a lot of that is because of the time difference.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:31:51 PM
What do you have to do to qualify for the olympics? Is there a guaranteed allocation for each country if they want it, or do you have to meet an international qualifying time? In other words are the times for qualifying set at national or international federation.
The reason I ask is I just saw a womens 800 metre heat, and from the very start one of the athletes was basically dropped off the back by about 20 metres by the time they reached the 200 metre mark. It was nuts. She ended up 18 seconds or something behind the winner, and about 10 seconds behind second last, almost the length of the 100m straight. That's impressive going over 800m!
There's a number of "universality places" alloted in each event for those who do not meet the qualification standards.
Quote"NOCs with no male or female qualified athlete or relay team will be allowed to enter their best male athlete and their best female athlete in one athletic event each, with the exception of the Combined Events, 10,000m and 3000m Steeplechase.
This applies equally to unqualified female entries from an NOC with qualified males, and vice versa.
Acceptance of unqualified entries in Field Events and Road Events will be at the discretion of the IAAF Technical Delegates, based on the technical standard of the athlete and the numbers of qualified athletes in the respective event. In order to allow the IAAF Technical Delegates to assess the technical level of such athletes, a specific application form indicating the event in which the entry is requested and the proof of the technical level and international participation of the nominated athlete must be submitted to the IAAF. The IAAF shall subsequently confirm, in writing to NOCs, with a copy to the Rio 2016 Sport Entry"
Ingrid Miley has tweeted a photo of Pat Hickey's First Class tickets (him and the wife presumably) home. He won't be needing them now.
I wonder how many athletes are travelling home First Class?
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:41:18 PM
Y'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
I was the only one in my office that watched the O'Donovan's medal race. I work with Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Belgians, Italians, Brazilians, Indians and even one lad from Leitrim, none of them cared about the Olympics. I have a feeling this apathy is probably the norm world wide. The Indians certainly don't give a damn, more interested in Kabbadi and cricket.
QuoteThere an email after being shown where Hickey wants to put Shane Ross "back in his box." What an arrogant corrupt fcuker.
It's actually from the legal eagle
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqEV4qhWcAE3keu.jpg:large)
QuoteY'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
+1
QuotePat Hickey has been formally charged with ticket touting, forming a cartel and illicit marketing, the Brazilian police have said. The maximum prison sentence for this is seven years.
The Indian lack of interest appears to extend to those who run the various sporting bodies. Their medal totals for such a huge country are pathetic. If cricket was in the Olympics they'd medal alright. They're decent at hockey too I think?
I had thought India were ok at the squash and badminton too muppet. I think they beat Ireland in the hockey.
Quote from: Declan on August 17, 2016, 03:49:36 PM
QuoteThere an email after being shown where Hickey wants to put Shane Ross "back in his box." What an arrogant corrupt fcuker.
It's actually from the legal eagle
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqEV4qhWcAE3keu.jpg:large)
QuoteY'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
+1
Shane Ross is well used to grubby ineptitude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbE4ZHIzvTY
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqEcwgKWAAATYdW.jpg:large)
As Paul Howard said earlier :
Paul Howard @AkaPaulHoward · 14m14 minutes ago
If Pat Hickey gets the same judges as Michael Conlan, he'll have nothing to worry about.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:50:12 PM
The Indian lack of interest appears to extend to those who run the various sporting bodies. Their medal totals for such a huge country are pathetic. If cricket was in the Olympics they'd medal alright. They're decent at hockey too I think?
They obviously don't care enough to invest, they only invest (quick google) $100m a year in sport, we invest nearly $50m a year and their population is just the 400 times bigger. The more money you invest the more medals you get, particularly in minority sports, that has been Australia's model for years now being followed by the UK ( $50m in track cycling alone since the last Olympics).
So India obviously have other priorities, education and health being the two most obvious. They just don't care and they are dead right.
Was it someone here who said 55 million per team GB medal was how much it worked out at? That was a few nights ago so it will have went down a bit since.
True, they have bigger problems than trying to earn a medal at the 20m air rifle or whatever it is. India is a very sobering place.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 17, 2016, 04:06:25 PM
Was it someone here who said 55 million per team GB medal was how much it worked out at? That was a few nights ago so it will have went down a bit since.
I think it was 5.5m
Ah stray decimal place...
Seems more plausible. Still a lot more than most countries can afford.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 17, 2016, 04:04:14 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 03:50:12 PM
The Indian lack of interest appears to extend to those who run the various sporting bodies. Their medal totals for such a huge country are pathetic. If cricket was in the Olympics they'd medal alright. They're decent at hockey too I think?
They obviously don't care enough to invest, they only invest (quick google) $100m a year in sport, we invest nearly $50m a year and their population is just the 400 times bigger. The more money you invest the more medals you get, particularly in minority sports, that has been Australia's model for years now being followed by the UK ( $50m in track cycling alone since the last Olympics).
So India obviously have other priorities, education and health being the two most obvious. They just don't care and they are dead right.
India is dirt poor. Cricket gets all the attention.
Most poor countries win very little. The medals go disproportionately to the rich countries.
Quote from: AQMP on August 17, 2016, 03:51:33 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:41:18 PM
Y'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
Likewise. I've virtually no interest in the athletics.
I watched the highlights of Thomas Barr's hurdle race, other than that I have no interest in watching the athletics, sadly it just doesn't mean anything to me.
His coach, Hayley Harrison, has worked as sprint coach for the Tipperary footballers.
I the lack of a single post expressing sympathy or support for Pat Hickey very interesting.
When I was at primary school and impressionable, many decades ago I was glued to the Olympics...no other live sports. As for this Olympics, all I watched live was the Golf and I packed that in when it was apparent Rose was going to win, I only watched to see him get beaten (disappointed!). I caught up on the replays of the fights and the Irish Medal wins. The Olympics have travelled so far from the ideal they aren't really worth the effort. The hurling at the weekend is exactly what the Olympics should be about. Why are we surprised that we have allegedly corrupt officials in Ireland sure it greed and human nature.
Quotethe lack of a single post expressing sympathy or support for Pat Hickey very interesting
Yeah I wonder why that is???
Quote from: Declan on August 17, 2016, 04:59:49 PM
Quotethe lack of a single post expressing sympathy or support for Pat Hickey very interesting
Yeah I wonder why that is???
Reminds me of some comedy western I watched.
"Now hang on y'all. There'll be no lynching here. He'll have a fair trial, and THEN we'll hang him.".
Blazin Saddles
I think Shane Ross is the right man in the right place. The OCI stinks and it is in receipt of public funds.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 17, 2016, 05:24:26 PM
Quote from: Declan on August 17, 2016, 04:59:49 PM
Quotethe lack of a single post expressing sympathy or support for Pat Hickey very interesting
Yeah I wonder why that is???
Reminds me of some comedy western I watched.
"Now hang on y'all. There'll be no lynching here. He'll have a fair trial, and THEN we'll hang him.".
Was that Dubya talking about Saddam?
Hickey temporarily steps aside as Olympics walla
Quote from: yellowcard on August 17, 2016, 04:19:51 PM
Quote from: AQMP on August 17, 2016, 03:51:33 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 17, 2016, 03:41:18 PM
Y'know what, I have never watched as little of an Olympics as this one. I was always glued to the swimming and athletics, for example, but it just doesn't seem real anymore.
I will keep an eye out for Irish athletes of course.
Likewise. I've virtually no interest in the athletics.
I watched the highlights of Thomas Barr's hurdle race, other than that I have no interest in watching the athletics, sadly it just doesn't mean anything to me.
How long did the highlights of this 400m hurdles race take you?
See there's a Kerry connection with the GB Women's Hockey Team.
Schippers beaten by Thompson in 200. Best white girl sprinter since the drugged up East Germans? Shows how difficult it is for Europeans to win track events.
http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto (http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto)
Interesting article about the current cynicism around sport.
Quote from: seafoid on August 17, 2016, 06:16:31 PM
I think Shane Ross is the right man in the right place. The OCI stinks and it is in receipt of public funds.
Shane Ross fleeing Rio as soon as he heard of Hickey's arrest was hilarious!
The time scheduling has played a huge part in the lack of interest in the athletics this year. On live mostly in the middle of the night and highlights on from approx 9am to 11am, means anyone working has no chance.
The track cycling has been on the BBC at prime time, and I've found it hugely entertaining. Hoy and Boardman excellent anaylsts too. Of course they are pro the British, but any time they've been beaten there's been no whinging and they've always praised the victors.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 08:51:22 AM
http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto (http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto)
Interesting article about the current cynicism around sport.
Fantastic link Dinny
I have tried to watch a range of events on the various BBC channels and I must say their coverage is abysmal. Dan Walker on BBC4 is hung out like a complete tit every evening, talking about the binmen and fishermen on Copacabana beach. Cringeworthy.
The team GB bias is laughably bad, and yes, I do know it is the BRITISH BC, but they would cut away from the 100m final to show a Team GB Tiddlywinkist who had a shot to get into the second round.
The amount of chopping and changing and channel hopping required is unreal. Really poor effort from the Beeb.
Quote from: seafoid on August 18, 2016, 09:26:59 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 08:51:22 AM
http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto (http://blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views/2016/08/17/what-do-doping-whispers-say-about-anti-doping-and-the-state-of-sport/?platform=hootsuite#prettyPhoto)
Interesting article about the current cynicism around sport.
Fantastic link Dinny
A good 3 mile out on the hour record I believe
I was slagging a few Castleknock boys last night about their famous jailbird - lack of sympathy there too - apparently 30 years ago he told them to eff off from in front of his house when they were playing squares. Once a wrong 'un, always a wrong 'un.
They also thought it was no coincidence that squares hadn't made it into the Olympics. The truth is out there.
What is squares?
Back in the day, before every road was smooth tarmac, there were tarmac lines going up and down the cul de sacs dividing the road surface into squares. So you'd play a version of football tennis on them, except everyone had their own square. So some nights you could have up to 12 lads out playing - you had a certain number of lives, ball could only bounce in your square once before you kicked it on. Once you were out, you left your square, and it became out of bounds.
Things would get very tactical and devious, carnage was known to break out at times.
Probably more a city thing, I dunno was squares that popular in the Faithful?
That would be an Olympics I'd actually watch, with squares, kerbs, 3 and in, tip the can, and of course, rounders. Extra points for every window you'd smash.
(http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/davidwalsh.jpg)
1996 article on Mr Hickey
There was a journo on newstalk last night. He previously covered about touting and allegations with regard to IOC.
Anyhow he said that Hickey and his colleagues receive non-vouched per diem for duration of their trip to Rio. Bear in mind that accommodation, meals, transport and a lot of social occasions are already covered by IOC. He said the per diem expenses were €800!
Also he said Brazilian police were very pissed about how many touts got off during World Cup so laws have been tightened since then. If Hickey isn't clean he will end up inside. Such pressure could get a ticket tout to turn police tout. This one could turn out to be an awful bawl of twine once they start pulling.
/Jim.
Up to 7 years in prison for the offense(s). i think your man could be in big bother.
Not a fan of OCI but given the uninvestigated murders that go on in Rio, they seem to be going overboard here. Given the empty seats, touting tickets in Rio is akin to trying to sell ice to Eskimos. However, even if he is innocent, and until proven otherwise he is, Hickey suffers from such braggadocio he's likely to incriminate himself with such an overzealous police force.
Rio 2016 Olympics: Anti-doping branded 'worst' in Games history
By Ben Rumsby, Sports News Correspondent, in Rio de Janeiro
17 August 2016 • 10:40pm
Anti-doping at the Rio Olympics was branded the "worst" ever at a Games on Wednesday night after the process of sample collection was compromised by a wave of no-shows and walkouts by volunteers and testers, as well as a series of security lapses.
Telegraph Sport has learnt that efforts to keep the first Olympics since the Russian doping scandal clean are in danger of being wrecked by the organisational chaos to engulf the Games in Brazil.
The integrity of the entire process was under threat due to major staff shortages, with barely half the volunteers recruited to help run the event reporting for duty and several doping control officers drafted in from overseas walking out after being pushed to breaking point trying to fill the void.
Organisers also admitted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process, although they denied failing to ensure that anti-doping at the Games was beyond reproach.
One senior figure in the war on drugs with experience of several major events said of the sample-collection system in Rio: "This is by far the worst I've seen."
Rio 2016 began barely a week after the publication of a damning report in which Russia was found guilty of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
An investigation by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren uncovered a Kremlin-orchestrated sample-swapping plot at Sochi's anti-doping laboratory.
The Rio Games had the opportunity to restore credibility to the drug-testing process at an Olympics but they have done anything but, according to insiders alarmed at how dysfunctional it has become.
One source said that only "very resourceful" doping control officers from countries such as the UK had prevented the integrity of sample collection being compromised.
Another said large numbers of volunteers had picked up their uniforms at the start of the Games never to return, with others reporting for duty each day only to "walk out after being served their free meal".
Some doping control officers were described as having "thrown in the towel" and returned home, amid claims they were being forced to race between venues to collect samples and even pay for taxis out of their own pockets to make it on time.
The director of communications for Rio 2016, Mario Andrada, said he had no knowledge of any problems caused by staffing shortages but did admit volunteers had allowed security lapses to occur during doping control at certain venues.
"In the beginning of the Games, people complained about lack of training of the volunteers," he said. "Not all the corridors leading to the doping areas were cleared. The volunteers were not firm enough and some people were very close to the areas that shouldn't be entered. We corrected this issue."
Rio 2016 admitted that of its 56,000 volunteers – reduced from a planned 70,000 due to budget cuts – only around 70 per cent had reported for duty. Unpaid workers are vital to the successful operation of the sample-collection process at a major event like the Olympics, at which around 5,000 drugs tests will be carried out.
Volunteers are often employed as chaperones to accompany athletes to doping control to ensure tests are not evaded or circumvented in some other fashion.
Michele Verroken, the former head of anti-doping at UK Sport, told Telegraph Sport: "It's hugely disappointing that everything that's happened previously around and Olympic Games is continuing to happen. It's just failing our athletes and regrettably making anti-doping looking like it can be incompetent at times. We almost get to the situation where we're lucky to catch anybody."
The Rio Games have already had one scandal related to the drug-testing process when a Kenyan sprinting coach, John Anzrah, was caught carrying the accreditation of Ferguson Rotich when the 800 metres runner was being sought to provide a sample.
Anzrah was sent home but denied posing as Rotich in order to take a test for him, insisting he borrowed the athlete's pass to get a free meal.
It also emerged before the Olympics that Brazil stopped carrying out drugs tests on its leading athletes in the month before the Games after its anti-doping laboratory had its accreditation suspended.
That suspension was lifted in time for the Olympics and, as of yesterday, the lab had processed 3,743 samples from Rio 2016.
Andrada insisted any "glitches" in the process before athletes' urine and blood reached the lab "do not compromise in any shape or form the procedures of the testing".
"We have zero tolerance with doping," he added. "We feel these Games to be clean Games. The doping operation is working as it should be and there is zero risk of an endemic problem or system problem. No way."
Drugs testing at the Games is being monitored by an independent observer group appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Wada said in a statement: "Wada is not involved in the doping control process [at the Games] except through an Independent Observer mission that will publish its report following the Games.
"The doping control process at the Games is under the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee, which works in collaboration with the organising committee. It is not Wada's role to comment on doping control issues at the Games until the IO Report is published."
The IOC did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.
Mens Triathlon on BBC Olympics 6 now (477).
Surely without Gomez in the field this is just a procession for the Brownlee's?
I see there's now doubts about a 'current' in the Olympic swimming pool. Or maybe it was a sultana.
Is the other spaniard not better than gomez these days?
10 minutes until Tommy Barr goes. Don't know what to expect. He could medal or he could finish last. Really don't know. I wouldn't expect gold - outside chance of a medal though. Might save our olympics...
Quote from: Keyser soze on August 18, 2016, 09:27:30 AM
I have tried to watch a range of events on the various BBC channels and I must say their coverage is abysmal. Dan Walker on BBC4 is hung out like a complete tit every evening, talking about the binmen and fishermen on Copacabana beach. Cringeworthy.
The team GB bias is laughably bad, and yes, I do know it is the BRITISH BC, but they would cut away from the 100m final to show a Team GB Tiddlywinkist who had a shot to get into the second round.
The amount of chopping and changing and channel hopping required is unreal. Really poor effort from the Beeb.
they offer 12 odd sports live daily on the iPlayer, quare job
Unlucky Barr so close to a medal.
Barr 4th. Great effort though. Left himself a bit too much to do down the stretch.
Big PB again you can't really ask much more than that he gave it everything fair play to him!
Jaysus it was close. If it was 410 metres he'd have had bronze at least. If he can sort out the middle 200, he'll be a big player at that event. Great effort.
Quote from: Cunny Funt on August 18, 2016, 04:06:50 PM
Unlucky Barr so close to a medal.
fair play to Thomas Barr, great Olympics for him. New Irish record
4th. Great effort. Really peaked at the right time.
Some performance from him. Unlucky not to medal!
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
there's no way he lavished more praise on him than Colin and co on the bbc iPlayer !
Great effort.
His sister in tears in the studio in RTE. She ran in the 2012 Olympics.
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Think he is right to celebrate such a run. So many Irish athletes do well to achieve the Olympic standard and when one is this competitive in an event we have never in my lifetime come close to medaling on the world stage it is to be heralded. Breaking 2 national records in the process shows a guy getting everything out of himself, a true olympian perhaps!
Quote from: PW Nally on August 18, 2016, 04:16:14 PM
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Think he is right to celebrate such a run. So many Irish athletes do well to achieve the Olympic standard and when one is this competitive in an event we have never in my lifetime come close to medaling on the world stage it is to be heralded. Breaking 2 national records in the process shows a guy getting everything out of himself, a true olympian perhaps!
the antidote to a disaster of an Olympics for ourselves !
Excellent interview by him as well. His head is screwed on.
Great effort, new national record and comes across as a good lad. Fair play to him
Quote from: PW Nally on August 18, 2016, 04:16:14 PM
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Think he is right to celebrate such a run. So many Irish athletes do well to achieve the Olympic standard and when one is this competitive in an event we have never in my lifetime come close to medaling on the world stage it is to be heralded. Breaking 2 national records in the process shows a guy getting everything out of himself, a true olympian perhaps!
Don't get me wrong it's a great run by him and hopefully he can build on that for future championships but just find it a bit hollow that a 4th place is being celebrated by commentators and pundits. The fact that it is in our top 3 moments of the Olympics also speaks volumes.
He'll get a medal yet hopefully. Ewan McKenna reckons at least one on podium is a definite drugs cheat.
Quote from: screenexile on August 18, 2016, 03:49:19 PM
Surely without Gomez in the field this is just a procession for the Brownlee's?
Looks like a Brownlee 1/ 2 barring disaster now.
Ireland's last athletics medal was Sonia in 2000. 4th is very impressive. Up there with Eamonn Coghlan.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 04:26:42 PM
Quote from: screenexile on August 18, 2016, 03:49:19 PM
Surely without Gomez in the field this is just a procession for the Brownlee's?
Looks like a Brownlee 1/ 2 barring disaster now.
The only thing that will stop them now is a crazy Irish priest.
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:22:59 PM
Quote from: PW Nally on August 18, 2016, 04:16:14 PM
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Think he is right to celebrate such a run. So many Irish athletes do well to achieve the Olympic standard and when one is this competitive in an event we have never in my lifetime come close to medaling on the world stage it is to be heralded. Breaking 2 national records in the process shows a guy getting everything out of himself, a true olympian perhaps!
Don't get me wrong it's a great run by him and hopefully he can build on that for future championships but just find it a bit hollow that a 4th place is being celebrated by commentators and pundits. The fact that it is in our top 3 moments of the Olympics also speaks volumes.
I understand what you are saying but think what he has achieved here is immense.
Quote from: seafoid on August 18, 2016, 04:26:57 PM
Ireland's last athletics medal was Sonia in 2000. 4th is very impressive. Up there with Eamonn Coghlan.
Was said on RTE Sonia finished 4th in her first Olympics. Tomas Barr will be 28 for the next Olympics all going well he will win a medal then.
Quote from: PW Nally on August 18, 2016, 04:30:53 PM
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:22:59 PM
Quote from: PW Nally on August 18, 2016, 04:16:14 PM
Quote from: square_ball on August 18, 2016, 04:11:44 PM
Great effort and unlucky but the way George hamilton is going on you'd think he won the gold medal and broke the world record in the one go.
Think he is right to celebrate such a run. So many Irish athletes do well to achieve the Olympic standard and when one is this competitive in an event we have never in my lifetime come close to medaling on the world stage it is to be heralded. Breaking 2 national records in the process shows a guy getting everything out of himself, a true olympian perhaps!
Don't get me wrong it's a great run by him and hopefully he can build on that for future championships but just find it a bit hollow that a 4th place is being celebrated by commentators and pundits. The fact that it is in our top 3 moments of the Olympics also speaks volumes.
I understand what you are saying but think what he has achieved here is immense.
In fairness he has done great and if you don't medal then a PB and NR is all you can ask for. Fingers crossed he can back it up and progress into the medals at the world's next year.
He has been really troubled by injury all year - you could see it in the europeans with his knee lift going over the hurdles so this is a massive achievement.
You look at say him vs Mageean. Which do you take. Successful europeans then disappointing olympics or vice versa. I guess you would prefer the latter. Both still did very well though.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 18, 2016, 04:30:45 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 04:26:42 PM
Quote from: screenexile on August 18, 2016, 03:49:19 PM
Surely without Gomez in the field this is just a procession for the Brownlee's?
Looks like a Brownlee 1/ 2 barring disaster now.
The only thing that will stop them now is a crazy Irish priest.
The younger brother must be pissed off with the older brother being so good. They seem like two genuine fellas.
Quote from: Cunny Funt on August 18, 2016, 04:34:36 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 18, 2016, 04:26:57 PM
Ireland's last athletics medal was Sonia in 2000. 4th is very impressive. Up there with Eamonn Coghlan.
Was said on RTE Sonia finished 4th in her first Olympics. Tomas Barr will be 28 for the next Olympics all going well he will win a medal then.
Going by his time today...he would have won bronze in Athens, Silver in Beijing and Silver in London.
Quote from: ballinaman on August 18, 2016, 04:42:12 PM
Quote from: Cunny Funt on August 18, 2016, 04:34:36 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 18, 2016, 04:26:57 PM
Ireland's last athletics medal was Sonia in 2000. 4th is very impressive. Up there with Eamonn Coghlan.
Was said on RTE Sonia finished 4th in her first Olympics. Tomas Barr will be 28 for the next Olympics all going well he will win a medal then.
Going by his time today...he would have won bronze in Athens, Silver in Beijing and Silver in London.
He would only have been 12 years old in Athens though.... ;)
Unbelievable run from Barr, he can't control how others in the race perform so its slightly bittersweet to finish 4th considering his time was 4/10ths better than his PB.
Quote from: yellowcard on August 18, 2016, 04:50:30 PM
Unbelievable run from Barr, he can't control how others in the race perform so its slightly bittersweet to finish 4th considering his time was 4/10ths better than his PB.
Which, given reference to McKenna tweeting about him being denied a Megan by a cheat, is certainly worthy or a raised eyebrow.
Quote from: Declan on August 18, 2016, 02:25:02 PM
Rio 2016 Olympics: Anti-doping branded 'worst' in Games history
By Ben Rumsby, Sports News Correspondent, in Rio de Janeiro
17 August 2016 • 10:40pm
Anti-doping at the Rio Olympics was branded the "worst" ever at a Games on Wednesday night after the process of sample collection was compromised by a wave of no-shows and walkouts by volunteers and testers, as well as a series of security lapses.
Telegraph Sport has learnt that efforts to keep the first Olympics since the Russian doping scandal clean are in danger of being wrecked by the organisational chaos to engulf the Games in Brazil.
The integrity of the entire process was under threat due to major staff shortages, with barely half the volunteers recruited to help run the event reporting for duty and several doping control officers drafted in from overseas walking out after being pushed to breaking point trying to fill the void.
Organisers also admitted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process, although they denied failing to ensure that anti-doping at the Games was beyond reproach.
One senior figure in the war on drugs with experience of several major events said of the sample-collection system in Rio: "This is by far the worst I've seen."
Rio 2016 began barely a week after the publication of a damning report in which Russia was found guilty of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
An investigation by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren uncovered a Kremlin-orchestrated sample-swapping plot at Sochi's anti-doping laboratory.
The Rio Games had the opportunity to restore credibility to the drug-testing process at an Olympics but they have done anything but, according to insiders alarmed at how dysfunctional it has become.
One source said that only "very resourceful" doping control officers from countries such as the UK had prevented the integrity of sample collection being compromised.
Another said large numbers of volunteers had picked up their uniforms at the start of the Games never to return, with others reporting for duty each day only to "walk out after being served their free meal".
Some doping control officers were described as having "thrown in the towel" and returned home, amid claims they were being forced to race between venues to collect samples and even pay for taxis out of their own pockets to make it on time.
The director of communications for Rio 2016, Mario Andrada, said he had no knowledge of any problems caused by staffing shortages but did admit volunteers had allowed security lapses to occur during doping control at certain venues.
"In the beginning of the Games, people complained about lack of training of the volunteers," he said. "Not all the corridors leading to the doping areas were cleared. The volunteers were not firm enough and some people were very close to the areas that shouldn't be entered. We corrected this issue."
Rio 2016 admitted that of its 56,000 volunteers – reduced from a planned 70,000 due to budget cuts – only around 70 per cent had reported for duty. Unpaid workers are vital to the successful operation of the sample-collection process at a major event like the Olympics, at which around 5,000 drugs tests will be carried out.
Volunteers are often employed as chaperones to accompany athletes to doping control to ensure tests are not evaded or circumvented in some other fashion.
Michele Verroken, the former head of anti-doping at UK Sport, told Telegraph Sport: "It's hugely disappointing that everything that's happened previously around and Olympic Games is continuing to happen. It's just failing our athletes and regrettably making anti-doping looking like it can be incompetent at times. We almost get to the situation where we're lucky to catch anybody."
The Rio Games have already had one scandal related to the drug-testing process when a Kenyan sprinting coach, John Anzrah, was caught carrying the accreditation of Ferguson Rotich when the 800 metres runner was being sought to provide a sample.
Anzrah was sent home but denied posing as Rotich in order to take a test for him, insisting he borrowed the athlete's pass to get a free meal.
It also emerged before the Olympics that Brazil stopped carrying out drugs tests on its leading athletes in the month before the Games after its anti-doping laboratory had its accreditation suspended.
That suspension was lifted in time for the Olympics and, as of yesterday, the lab had processed 3,743 samples from Rio 2016.
Andrada insisted any "glitches" in the process before athletes' urine and blood reached the lab "do not compromise in any shape or form the procedures of the testing".
"We have zero tolerance with doping," he added. "We feel these Games to be clean Games. The doping operation is working as it should be and there is zero risk of an endemic problem or system problem. No way."
Drugs testing at the Games is being monitored by an independent observer group appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Wada said in a statement: "Wada is not involved in the doping control process [at the Games] except through an Independent Observer mission that will publish its report following the Games.
"The doping control process at the Games is under the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee, which works in collaboration with the organising committee. It is not Wada's role to comment on doping control issues at the Games until the IO Report is published."
The IOC did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.
That makes for pathetic reading.
Michael O'Reilly is remarkable for having failed a test to such a regime.
Quote from: muppet on August 18, 2016, 04:58:16 PM
Quote from: Declan on August 18, 2016, 02:25:02 PM
Rio 2016 Olympics: Anti-doping branded 'worst' in Games history
By Ben Rumsby, Sports News Correspondent, in Rio de Janeiro
17 August 2016 • 10:40pm
Anti-doping at the Rio Olympics was branded the "worst" ever at a Games on Wednesday night after the process of sample collection was compromised by a wave of no-shows and walkouts by volunteers and testers, as well as a series of security lapses.
Telegraph Sport has learnt that efforts to keep the first Olympics since the Russian doping scandal clean are in danger of being wrecked by the organisational chaos to engulf the Games in Brazil.
The integrity of the entire process was under threat due to major staff shortages, with barely half the volunteers recruited to help run the event reporting for duty and several doping control officers drafted in from overseas walking out after being pushed to breaking point trying to fill the void.
Organisers also admitted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process, although they denied failing to ensure that anti-doping at the Games was beyond reproach.
One senior figure in the war on drugs with experience of several major events said of the sample-collection system in Rio: "This is by far the worst I've seen."
Rio 2016 began barely a week after the publication of a damning report in which Russia was found guilty of state-sponsored doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
An investigation by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren uncovered a Kremlin-orchestrated sample-swapping plot at Sochi's anti-doping laboratory.
The Rio Games had the opportunity to restore credibility to the drug-testing process at an Olympics but they have done anything but, according to insiders alarmed at how dysfunctional it has become.
One source said that only "very resourceful" doping control officers from countries such as the UK had prevented the integrity of sample collection being compromised.
Another said large numbers of volunteers had picked up their uniforms at the start of the Games never to return, with others reporting for duty each day only to "walk out after being served their free meal".
Some doping control officers were described as having "thrown in the towel" and returned home, amid claims they were being forced to race between venues to collect samples and even pay for taxis out of their own pockets to make it on time.
The director of communications for Rio 2016, Mario Andrada, said he had no knowledge of any problems caused by staffing shortages but did admit volunteers had allowed security lapses to occur during doping control at certain venues.
"In the beginning of the Games, people complained about lack of training of the volunteers," he said. "Not all the corridors leading to the doping areas were cleared. The volunteers were not firm enough and some people were very close to the areas that shouldn't be entered. We corrected this issue."
Rio 2016 admitted that of its 56,000 volunteers – reduced from a planned 70,000 due to budget cuts – only around 70 per cent had reported for duty. Unpaid workers are vital to the successful operation of the sample-collection process at a major event like the Olympics, at which around 5,000 drugs tests will be carried out.
Volunteers are often employed as chaperones to accompany athletes to doping control to ensure tests are not evaded or circumvented in some other fashion.
Michele Verroken, the former head of anti-doping at UK Sport, told Telegraph Sport: "It's hugely disappointing that everything that's happened previously around and Olympic Games is continuing to happen. It's just failing our athletes and regrettably making anti-doping looking like it can be incompetent at times. We almost get to the situation where we're lucky to catch anybody."
The Rio Games have already had one scandal related to the drug-testing process when a Kenyan sprinting coach, John Anzrah, was caught carrying the accreditation of Ferguson Rotich when the 800 metres runner was being sought to provide a sample.
Anzrah was sent home but denied posing as Rotich in order to take a test for him, insisting he borrowed the athlete's pass to get a free meal.
It also emerged before the Olympics that Brazil stopped carrying out drugs tests on its leading athletes in the month before the Games after its anti-doping laboratory had its accreditation suspended.
That suspension was lifted in time for the Olympics and, as of yesterday, the lab had processed 3,743 samples from Rio 2016.
Andrada insisted any "glitches" in the process before athletes' urine and blood reached the lab "do not compromise in any shape or form the procedures of the testing".
"We have zero tolerance with doping," he added. "We feel these Games to be clean Games. The doping operation is working as it should be and there is zero risk of an endemic problem or system problem. No way."
Drugs testing at the Games is being monitored by an independent observer group appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Wada said in a statement: "Wada is not involved in the doping control process [at the Games] except through an Independent Observer mission that will publish its report following the Games.
"The doping control process at the Games is under the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee, which works in collaboration with the organising committee. It is not Wada's role to comment on doping control issues at the Games until the IO Report is published."
The IOC did not respond to requests for comment prior to publication.
That makes for pathetic reading.
Michael O'Reilly is remarkable for having failed a test to such a regime.
He was tested in Ireland. We test our athletes on average 14 times a year. The UK only 3 times, Kenya, Ethiopia zero.
Barr just said he's been tested 11 or 12 times this year. That's good to see/hear.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 18, 2016, 05:06:30 PM
Barr just said he's been tested 11 or 12 times this year. That's good to see/hear.
How does be improve he's season's best by a second in three days? Or his personal best by almost a second in a couple of months?
Quote from: muppet on August 18, 2016, 04:58:16 PM
That makes for pathetic reading.
Michael O'Reilly is remarkable for having failed a test to such a regime.
A patchy regime will operate well in some cases and not in others, he was just "unlucky".
Quote from: gallsman on August 18, 2016, 05:13:34 PM
How does be improve he's season's best by a second in three days? Or his personal best by almost a second in a couple of months?
He runs at the same speed as the rest of the people in the race.
Great run by Barr and it should be celebrated. Promoting and supporting him in the country will generate the next generation of runners in the country. The sporting culture in the country puts 3-4 other sports ahead of Athletics but when it comes to Major championships there is always questions about why we are so weak in each area.
On the race, living in the US the focus is always on US runners but it looked like he struggled over a few of the jumps on the bend and that put his timing off for the straight, last jump looked like he shortened his stride to get over it. Those little errors will have cost him a medal but getting under 48sec is an unreal time.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 05:01:39 PM
Quote from: muppet on August 18, 2016, 04:58:16 PM
That makes for pathetic reading.
Michael O'Reilly is remarkable for having failed a test to such a regime.
He was tested in Ireland. We test our athletes on average 14 times a year. The UK only 3 times, Kenya, Ethiopia zero.
I see. I am glad to see that.
That paints the Lizzie Armistead case (missing 3 tests in 13 months) in a different light also. Not to mention some of the Kenyan and Ethiopian medals.
Love to read the data for that Dinny
Some performance by team GB. . Second in the medals table .
Just listened to the Barr interview on Newstalk. Very unconvincing even under soft questioning. He had no explanation for running the PB coming off injuries.
Sport is fucked. The doping 'debate' is as poisonous as doping itself.
An observation.
Quote from: ashman on August 18, 2016, 07:56:03 PM
Some performance by team GB. . Second in the medals table .
Last team to break up the big countries was East Germany in the 80s. Cough.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 18, 2016, 10:27:42 PM
Quote from: ashman on August 18, 2016, 07:56:03 PM
Some performance by team GB. . Second in the medals table .
Last team to break up the big countries was East Germany in the 80s. Cough.
I think this olympics has been a disaster , mainly due to the controversies, but also now that every PB is questioned . I think the theory of marginal gains to attain success could account for improvement . These gains could be in a number of areas in terms of preparation , recovery etc. Modern legal scientific methods, and availability of the resources needed for success, can provide those marginal gains. Why must we presume that it's something illegal that is providing those marginal gains . I am not suggesting all olympians are completely clean but equally I don't accept that the majority of competitors are corrupt and also prepared to risk the shame of being branded a drug cheat.
Quote from: 6th sam on August 18, 2016, 10:55:50 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 18, 2016, 10:27:42 PM
Quote from: ashman on August 18, 2016, 07:56:03 PM
Some performance by team GB. . Second in the medals table .
Last team to break up the big countries was East Germany in the 80s. Cough.
I think this olympics has been a disaster , mainly due to the controversies, but also now that every PB is questioned . I think the theory of marginal gains to attain success could account for improvement . These gains could be in a number of areas in terms of preparation , recovery etc. Modern legal scientific methods, and availability of the resources needed for success, can provide those marginal gains. Why must we presume that it's something illegal that is providing those marginal gains . I am not suggesting all olympians are completely clean but equally I don't accept that the majority of competitors are corrupt and also prepared to risk the shame of being branded a drug cheat.
Choose what you wish to believe as is your right but don't just dictate that the rest of the world should give an athlete the benefit of the doubt.
Quote from: Ulick on August 18, 2016, 08:24:14 PM
Just listened to the Barr interview on Newstalk. Very unconvincing even under soft questioning. He had no explanation for running the PB coming off injuries.
How is anybody supposed to improve. If somebody cant improve in their mid 20's when will they?
The injury lay-off probably was a help. He had training in the bank and would have come in a bit under cooked but fresh. That would explain his improvement from race to race this week. The adrenaline kick in final would be a factor too.
It wouldn t surprise me if he ran quicker again if he has a race shortly. He probably didn t even peak this week.
Quote from: trileacman on August 18, 2016, 10:59:05 PM
Quote from: 6th sam on August 18, 2016, 10:55:50 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 18, 2016, 10:27:42 PM
Quote from: ashman on August 18, 2016, 07:56:03 PM
Some performance by team GB. . Second in the medals table .
Last team to break up the big countries was East Germany in the 80s. Cough.
I think this olympics has been a disaster , mainly due to the controversies, but also now that every PB is questioned . I think the theory of marginal gains to attain success could account for improvement . These gains could be in a number of areas in terms of preparation , recovery etc. Modern legal scientific methods, and availability of the resources needed for success, can provide those marginal gains. Why must we presume that it's something illegal that is providing those marginal gains . I am not suggesting all olympians are completely clean but equally I don't accept that the majority of competitors are corrupt and also prepared to risk the shame of being branded a drug cheat.
Choose what you wish to believe as is your right but don't just dictate that the rest of the world should give an athlete the benefit of the doubt.
I'm not dictating to anyone!lol
However , my opinion is , that anti-Doping should be resourced heavily to ensure detection and deterrent, but would also feel that like most justice systems , there should be a presumption of innocence until proved guilty. I would enforce strong criteria around missed tests etc.
In short , let's improve detection and deterrent as opposed to the current presumption of guilt on the basis of innuendo or any improvement in PB.
Just catching up here lads...why were the yank women's 4X100m team running on their own there about 20 mins ago??
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 18, 2016, 11:35:37 PM
Just catching up here lads...why were the yank women's 4X100m team running on their own there about 20 mins ago??
In qualifying the Brazilian knocked the baton out of the Yank's hand on the 2nd changeover so they were allowed to go again!
There is always going to be suspicion and there is always going to be cheating in sport.
In the arms race between cheating and detection, detection will probably always play catch-up if people want to cheat badly enough and some will always want to get an edge.
Athletics gets a shoeing every 4 years and cycling is always under suspicion for good reason. But surely other sports need to be looked at closely as well. We have these double-muscled missiles in rugby now e.g.
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 18, 2016, 11:35:37 PM
Just catching up here lads...why were the yank women's 4X100m team running on their own there about 20 mins ago??
Screen beat me to it...
Other runners in other events have been reinstated after falling or being tripped, so it is not an exception.
Quote from: screenexile on August 18, 2016, 11:41:18 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on August 18, 2016, 11:35:37 PM
Just catching up here lads...why were the yank women's 4X100m team running on their own there about 20 mins ago??
In qualifying the Brazilian knocked the baton out of the Yank's hand on the 2nd changeover so they were allowed to go again!
The Brazilians were disqualified for messing up. I think that is fair enough. A Jamaican hurdler got a second chance as well a couple of nights ago.
The Irish diver got a redive as well when he claimed to have been distracted during a dive.
Thanks lads. Now to keep the eyes open for the 200 :o
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
Interesting indeed.
There needs to be a standard and exact procedure in all countries and any nation that does not comply should be excluded from international competition. How to police that is another matter of course. Can Russia, Kenya etc. be trusted to police their own athletes?
Individual sports seem to get most suspicion - apart from maybe tennis?
But how clean are the team sports? Is American Football clean? Rugby? GAA?
Quote from: moysider on August 18, 2016, 11:12:15 PM
Quote from: Ulick on August 18, 2016, 08:24:14 PM
Just listened to the Barr interview on Newstalk. Very unconvincing even under soft questioning. He had no explanation for running the PB coming off injuries.
How is anybody supposed to improve. If somebody cant improve in their mid 20's when will they?
The injury lay-off probably was a help. He had training in the bank and would have come in a bit under cooked but fresh. That would explain his improvement from race to race this week. The adrenaline kick in final would be a factor too.
It wouldn t surprise me if he ran quicker again if he has a race shortly. He probably didn t even peak this week.
Fair enough. I just got the impression he's been injured for most of the year, with little training in the bank.
I see that Argentina won the hockey final tonight beating Belgium by 4 goals to 2. Argentina only beat Ireland by 3-2 in a winner takes all contest at the end of the group stages. It's a case of what might have been for Ireland.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
It is very interesting, poses more questions than provides answers. The Russian data not worth a squirt of piss, the Chinese data would raise an eyebrow too. The 14 tests per Irish elite athlete not as impressive when we're catering for 7 elite athletes.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:37:37 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
It is very interesting, poses more questions than provides answers. The Russian data not worth a squirt of piss, the Chinese data would raise an eyebrow too. The 14 tests per Irish elite athlete not as impressive when we're catering for 7 elite athletes.
And yet we managed 98 tests in total to Britain's 242.
Also interesting the stat regarding an average of 1 top 50 athlete per 1 million population. Any outlier with no proper anti-doing programme shouldn't be allowed to compete. Kenya, Ethiopa and Ukraine should be banned and countries testing at less than an agreed rate (say somewhere between 3 - 5 tests a year MINIMUM) should be suspended.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:37:37 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
It is very interesting, poses more questions than provides answers. The Russian data not worth a squirt of piss, the Chinese data would raise an eyebrow too. The 14 tests per Irish elite athlete not as impressive when we're catering for 7 elite athletes.
But surely every athlete everywhere should get the same testing? Why should the fewer Irish elites get more tests? Or more importantly, why should nations with more athletes get tested less. That does not make sense at all.
Quote from: moysider on August 19, 2016, 01:09:42 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:37:37 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
It is very interesting, poses more questions than provides answers. The Russian data not worth a squirt of piss, the Chinese data would raise an eyebrow too. The 14 tests per Irish elite athlete not as impressive when we're catering for 7 elite athletes.
But surely every athlete everywhere should get the same testing? Why should the fewer Irish elites get more tests? Or more importantly, why should nations with more athletes get tested less. That does not make sense at all.
Especially when, for example, they have mountains of medals all funded by the lottery. Could the lottery not fund some proper anti-doping?
Quote from: muppet on August 19, 2016, 01:05:29 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:37:37 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 18, 2016, 11:49:25 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 18, 2016, 05:57:29 PM
Love to read the data for that Dinny
http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/ (http://cmajblogs.com/anti-doping-testing-in-athletics/)
Here you go - interesting stuff.
It is very interesting, poses more questions than provides answers. The Russian data not worth a squirt of piss, the Chinese data would raise an eyebrow too. The 14 tests per Irish elite athlete not as impressive when we're catering for 7 elite athletes.
And yet we managed 98 tests in total to Britain's 242.
Also interesting the stat regarding an average of 1 top 50 athlete per 1 million population. Any outlier with no proper anti-doing programme shouldn't be allowed to compete. Kenya, Ethiopa and Ukraine should be banned and countries testing at less than an agreed rate (say somewhere between 3 - 5 tests a year MINIMUM) should be suspended.
Agree. The problem is getting funding to have a neutral testing in all these countries. Logistically as well it is a nightmare. Obviously nations like Russia cant be trusted to police themselves - they are more likely to encourage cheating.
Even independent testers would not fill me with confidence. If Russia can nobble boxing referees and judges (I ve no doubt they did), 'getting at' doping officials would be easy meat for them. Not just the Russians either. Anybody fancy testing North Koreans?
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 19, 2016, 12:34:51 AM
I see that Argentina won the hockey final tonight beating Belgium by 4 goals to 2. Argentina only beat Ireland by 3-2 in a winner takes all contest at the end of the group stages. It's a case of what might have been for Ireland.
Hockey a sport we will always be decent at but maybe not the numbers involved to get a really top team.
Triathlon is another sport that suits us. We have people that can swim, cycle and run to an elite level. There is a possibility that we could get somebody that won t be top in any individual discipline but can do the 3 really well. Like the Brownlees do.
It's getting more and more popular here and there is a young fella that has performed well in world juniors and hopefully that should make the team for Toyko.
There are possibilities. Pity some of our muscle-bound gym-monkeys wouldn't put their 'strength' to some athletic use, rather than posing for selfies!
Ashton Eaton...wow!!
And his missus got bronze in the heptathlon.
They could do a nice business with embryo transplants! I m sure there would be lots of interested nations, lol.
Bolt again!
Quote from: heganboy on August 19, 2016, 03:05:23 AM
Bolt again!
Easily the best (in any sport) that I ve ever seen.
I see Russia have 12 gold, 15 silver & 17 bronze. An impressive haul for half-a-team.
Couple of interesting links
http://www.medalspercapita.com/
Ireland 34th on population, and if our boxers hadn't under-performed/cheated out of we probably would been top 20. Very respectable. Would like to see one on money spent on elite athletes, would expect the UK to be near the bottom. By the way as you can see with Dublin, money buys success, just read soccernomics or watch with your own eyes Team GBs success.
http://thefederalist.com/2016/08/17/lift-the-ban-on-athlete-doping/ (http://thefederalist.com/2016/08/17/lift-the-ban-on-athlete-doping/)
An argument to lift the ban on doping, seeing myself swing this way...
Australia aren't happy, delighted for them :D
http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/is-australias-disastrous-olympic-campaign-really-340-million-well-spent/news-story/b6d9d7211136bbc8309939e42ec6e471 (http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/is-australias-disastrous-olympic-campaign-really-340-million-well-spent/news-story/b6d9d7211136bbc8309939e42ec6e471)
However this paragraph struck home for me
Quote
Compared with other nations, the money Australia has thrown at the Games starts to look less crazy. Great Britain, for example, has spent $600 million on this Olympic cycle, in contrast to Australia's $340 million. That's $10.9 million per medal at the time of writing.
High Performance Sport NZ spent $163 million on this cycle — $11.6 million per medal.
The US spent $1.042 billion on the 2012 Games cycle. If they've spent the same (and it's likely to be more) on Rio, their current figure would be $11 million per medal.
Money buying success is a point I've made annually in the TDF thread in regards to Sky, but a lot of people prefer to run with doping - Team with most funding, best resources & most talent (bought in at big expense annually ) win stuff shocker.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:48:15 PM
Money buying success is a point I've made annually in the TDF thread in regards to Sky, but a lot of people prefer to run with doping - Team with most funding, best resources & most talent (bought in at big expense annually ) win stuff shocker.
Where was Froome's talent for the first 25 years of his life. He's a doper, they all are in cycling.
Even basic things like is an athlete full time etc make a massive difference. Most of the gb athletes can be full time with the funding. How many in Ireland can be full time athletes? I know of one on the squad but the likes of Treacy and Pollock are doctors, Barr is a student etc etc. It's a massive battle.
That's before you go into their high performance institutes, access to coaches etc etc
This is only T&F. Obviously boxing etc differ but makes a massive difference etc.
If for example you were a gymnast in Ireland how would you get the funding to go full time? (Assuming you were good enough) I doubt you would. Also the max funding isn't superb either when you are funded.
I heard Cavendish on the radio yesterday claiming that the GB team don't have the same resources for the world championship as they do for the Olympics.
He was on BBC breakfast this morning. Seemed to be a deliberate PR effort to paint a smiley, cheery happier portrait of him.
Quote from: gallsman on August 19, 2016, 01:04:35 PM
He was on BBC breakfast this morning. Seemed to be a deliberate PR effort to paint a smiley, cheery happier portrait of him.
Don't know a lot about him other then he comes across a bit thick anytime I've listened to him.
Is Race Walking the stupidest sport ever? Does Rob Heffernan walk to the shops like that?
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 19, 2016, 01:23:30 PM
Is Race Walking the stupidest sport ever? Does Rob Heffernan walk to the shops like that?
Supposedly one of the toughest.
Quote from: Maroon Manc on August 19, 2016, 01:05:39 PM
Quote from: gallsman on August 19, 2016, 01:04:35 PM
He was on BBC breakfast this morning. Seemed to be a deliberate PR effort to paint a smiley, cheery happier portrait of him.
Don't know a lot about him other then he comes across a bit thick anytime I've listened to him.
Seems to be a bit of a header alright but he is one of the best cyclists ever so it has worked for him so far!
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 19, 2016, 12:52:31 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 19, 2016, 12:48:15 PM
Money buying success is a point I've made annually in the TDF thread in regards to Sky, but a lot of people prefer to run with doping - Team with most funding, best resources & most talent (bought in at big expense annually ) win stuff shocker.
Where was Froome's talent for the first 25 years of his life. He's a doper, they all are in cycling.
As they are in most sports and arguably worse than cycling in many sports. Cycling at leasts tries to do something about it and I would say likely tests more than any other sport.
Quote from: mrdeeds on August 19, 2016, 02:01:01 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 19, 2016, 01:23:30 PM
Is Race Walking the stupidest sport ever? Does Rob Heffernan walk to the shops like that?
Supposedly one of the toughest.
I can imagine. It looks brutal.
looks like he's goosed I'd imagine 25 seconds down in a walking race is a damn sight harder to make up that 25 seconds where you're allowed to sprint!
The French guy is having a horrible day. Looks like a dose of Sonia-itis.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 19, 2016, 01:23:30 PM
Is Race Walking the stupidest sport ever? Does Rob Heffernan walk to the shops like that?
I believe (if I've remembered correctly from a Newstalk interview) he can easily walk a marathon distance in under 2:45 minutes. Some going considering the women's record running is 2:18. They were slagging him on the walking and one of the presenters had just done a marathon and just broke 4 hours; the slagging soon stopped.
Brutal stuff, but it just looks daft. Jaysus they are suffering though.
Big athletics fan, but agree with AZ, don't see the point of the walking event at all
Maguire is playing well in the golf
Jesus the Canadian lad nearly collapsed over the line. That looks horrendous.
It looks absolutely brutal - those lads are as hard as nails - the Canadian & French lads didnt know where they were at the end there.........
Looks like the French walker did a Gary Lineker :o
Brutal event endurance wise. Don't agree with anyone saying there is no point to it. Sure you could say the same about any sport.
I think what makes it look stupid is the contortions you have to put your body through to have a legitimate style. It looks completely unnatural. In all the other sports I can think of, a good gait, or a good, pure running style with clean lines is something you want. In the race walking you have to have this artificial stride to ensure you're in contact with the ground at all times. Very hard sport obviously.
I see that Japanese lad that finished 3rd was disqualified for bumping the canadian as he passed him :
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/canadian-evan-dunfee-gets-race-walking-bronze-1.3035511?hootPostID=8a939ce37f848017c398a360bbcf3e08
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 19, 2016, 01:23:30 PM
Is Race Walking the stupidest sport ever? Does Rob Heffernan walk to the shops like that?
Does Usain Bolt Sprint to the shops?
Does Simone Biles cartwheel?
Do the cyclists follow a silly motorbike to the shops??
;D ;D
Precisely.... and does Diarmuid Connolly knock the heads of people who give him grief at the pub?...oh wait :P :P
Pat Hickey has been denied bail and is in a max security prison. Oh la la.
Some talent in that Dutch hockey team. They are not bad at the hockey either :)
Quote from: seafoid on August 19, 2016, 07:26:26 PM
Pat Hickey has been denied bail and is in a max security prison. Oh la la.
I hope the prison is wheelchair accessible. Poor guy.
Quote from: 93-DY-SAM on August 19, 2016, 09:24:14 PM
Some talent in that Dutch hockey team. They are not bad at the hockey either :)
[/quote
Indeed. All about mass defence too, no traditional long ball game here.
Kitty Van Male is deadly!
Quote from: Dinny Breen on August 19, 2016, 10:00:43 PM
Quote from: 93-DY-SAM on August 19, 2016, 09:24:14 PM
Some talent in that Dutch hockey team. They are not bad at the hockey either :)
[/quote
Indeed. All about mass defence too, no traditional long ball game here.
If all is to believed about hockey players, they wouldn't be too keen on that :o
Amazing : utterly
That penalty shootout is a pile of shite
Quote from: Minder on August 19, 2016, 10:45:02 PM
That penalty shootout is a pile of shite
Disagree , a great test . Holly Webb stood up and delivered .
Fair fucks, that was brilliant... The Dutch team must have had few joints before penalties!!
The hockey ladies serious talent. Decent players too. Is there a team bath in hockey?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 19, 2016, 10:50:01 PM
The hockey ladies serious talent. Decent players too. Is there a team bath in hockey?
Think the Dutch manager will be in the middle!!
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 19, 2016, 10:50:01 PM
The hockey ladies serious talent. Decent players too. Is there a team bath in hockey?
Argentinian women's team had some interesting, eh, moments a few years ago if you'd be inclined to look it up.
Who is the GB doll with the alice band in her hair?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 19, 2016, 11:02:50 PM
Who is the GB doll with the alice band in her hair?
Sam Quek 😍
Saw some highlights of the team synchronised swimming. Incredible stuff altogether what they can do
Some talent in that Dutch hockey team!!
Check out the serbian Volleyball team as well, alright if you happen to the the other side of 6ft 6in
No one obeying Rule 1.... >:(
Quote from: laoislad on August 19, 2016, 11:41:33 PM
No one obeying Rule 1.... >:(
+1000. Get it sorted lads...
(http://oglympics.com/wp-content/gallery/netherlands-field-hockey/kitty-van-male.jpg)
Kitty van Male
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/FORRER.jpg/220px-FORRER.jpg)
This doll blew my mind the other day
Quote from: gallsman on August 19, 2016, 10:53:44 PM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 19, 2016, 10:50:01 PM
The hockey ladies serious talent. Decent players too. Is there a team bath in hockey?
Argentinian women's team had some interesting, eh, moments a few years ago if you'd be inclined to look it up.
What would someone have to search for to find out about this? My mate said he couldn't find anything!😉
I couldn't either. Furious!
British 4x 400 metres team disqualified. Nobody sure why yet.
Zone violation apparently but replays didn t seem to show anything obvious. An overzealous Meath official probably!
Cheriot wins the 5000 metres ladies event. She easily beat that drug cheat.
Ayana smashed in 5000. Still bronze. Cheruoyit blew her away. Hmmmm.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 20, 2016, 01:57:18 AM
Cheriot wins the 5000 metres ladies event. She easily beat that drug cheat.
If anything that maybe shows that Ayana is not cheating! She clearly did not recover from 10,000 effort. If she was cheating she would have recovered better surely. Any way how can you say one is a drug cheat when the other girl has just posted an Olympic record. Kenyans are not exactly beyond reproach either as regards drug testing.
And hes gone in style!!
9 golds for Bolt in 3 Olympics. Legend.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 20, 2016, 02:46:47 AM
And hes gone in style!!
There was doubts him coming back after London. I think he will compete in worlds next year - in London I think it is. If he want's to he can be in Toyko as well. Injury only thing that can stop him. Age not an issue.
Quote from: moysider on August 20, 2016, 02:54:54 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 20, 2016, 02:46:47 AM
And hes gone in style!!
There was doubts him coming back after London. I think he will compete in worlds next year - in London I think it is. If he want's to he can be in Toyko as well. Injury only thing that can stop him. Age not an issue.
This was his last Olympics going by his BBC interview a few minutes ago. It's probably right to quit at the top as the best.
Bolt again 🍺
Quote from: heganboy on August 20, 2016, 04:54:46 AM
Bolt again 🍺
A bit tainted for me that one having won it off the back of 2 dopers!!
Was that Nick Skelton winning gold? Didn't he compete against Eddie Macken and Paul Daragh. Where's Heather Honey when you need her?
Quote from: screenexile on August 20, 2016, 07:41:18 AM
Quote from: heganboy on August 20, 2016, 04:54:46 AM
Bolt again 🍺
A bit tainted for me that one having won it off the back of 2 dopers!!
Blake isn't a doper. Powell was in the relay squads in both London and Beijing.
Quote from: gallsman on August 20, 2016, 09:15:24 AM
Quote from: screenexile on August 20, 2016, 07:41:18 AM
Quote from: heganboy on August 20, 2016, 04:54:46 AM
Bolt again 🍺
A bit tainted for me that one having won it off the back of 2 dopers!!
Blake isn't a doper. Powell was in the relay squads in both London and Beijing.
Was Blake not suspended for taking a banned substance a few years back?
No, the exact opposite. He was farcically banned for taking a substance that wasn't banned.
Brits disqualified from mens 4 X 400m relay, seemed a bit harsh
Quote from: BennyHarp on August 20, 2016, 10:13:16 AM
Brits disqualified from mens 4 X 400m relay, seemed a bit harsh
Did you see the lad losing the Taekwondo final in the last second. He'll never get over that
Quote from: straightred on August 20, 2016, 12:32:58 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on August 20, 2016, 10:13:16 AM
Brits disqualified from mens 4 X 400m relay, seemed a bit harsh
Did you see the lad losing the Taekwondo final in the last second. He'll never get over that
Don't know rules of taekwondo but I thought it especially harsh as I thought he blocked the head kick.
Some racket in the Maracana for the football final
Quote from: bennydorano on August 20, 2016, 09:44:34 PM
Some racket in the Maracana for the football final
Even a few krauts there!
Enjoyable game
Team USAs Matt Centrowitz wins the 1500 metres for men. The Kenyans don't get a medal.
There should be 2 x 800m races. One for those at max testosterone and the rest. Wamabui, Semenya and Niyonsaba :-\
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 21, 2016, 01:20:40 AM
There should be 2 x 800m races. One for those at max testosterone and the rest. Wamabui, Semenya and Niyonsaba :-\
I dunno what to think or say after watching that. Best say nothing at all.
The woMANly Caster Semenya wins the Womens 800 metres. With mo still to come what are the chances we get to see a clean gold medal winner tonight. ???
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 21, 2016, 01:27:05 AM
The woMANly Caster Semenya wins the Womens 800 metres. With mo still to come what are the chances we get to see a clean gold medal winner tonight. ???
Semenya not the only one.
Listening to them dicks on BBC you early want Mo farah beat! still not a inch on the 2 greats of yesteryear of this distance
Some performance from Farah. Controlled the race and ran it on his own terms and the class to finish it out. Just when you think he's in top gear he finds another when more pressure comes on. That's genius.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 21, 2016, 01:51:52 AM
Listening to them dicks on BBC you early want Mo farah beat! still not a inch on the 2 greats of yesteryear of this distance
Like who?
Nobody has done this since the 70's iirc. That was a Fin that did blood transfusions long before Lance Armstrong cottoned on to the trick.
Quote from: moysider on August 21, 2016, 01:30:03 AM
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 21, 2016, 01:27:05 AM
The woMANly Caster Semenya wins the Womens 800 metres. With mo still to come what are the chances we get to see a clean gold medal winner tonight. ???
Semenya not the only one.
Centrowitz is also coached by Salazar just like Farah. I do not trust Salazar or any of his runners.
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 21, 2016, 02:01:49 AM
Quote from: moysider on August 21, 2016, 01:30:03 AM
Quote from: Capt Pat on August 21, 2016, 01:27:05 AM
The woMANly Caster Semenya wins the Womens 800 metres. With mo still to come what are the chances we get to see a clean gold medal winner tonight. ???
Semenya not the only one.
Centrowitz is also coached by Salazar just like Farah.
I know.
The 800m though?
if you haven't followed runners at this level past 20yrs you know that Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie are the stand outs. Bekele is 16 seconds faster than Mo Farah fastest ever run and 29 secs faster at 10000m
More to the point who`s the 4 blondes on the Polish 4 x400m team wow!!
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 21, 2016, 02:05:50 AM
if you haven't followed runners at this level past 20yrs you know that Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie are the stand outs. Bekele is 16 seconds faster than Mo Farah fastest ever run
Great runners. Have followed it. I'm old enough to remember the great Miruts Yifter.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yifter+the+shifter&&view=detail&mid=5B2C96E3F3512F4517B25B2C96E3F3512F4517B2&FORM=VRDGAR
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yifter+the+shifter&&view=detail&mid=23957F03FD50446EF99F23957F03FD50446EF99F&FORM=VRDGAR
Probably the greatest of them all.
The fact that there used to be heats for 10,000 meant that the double was impossible for likes of Haile Gebrselassie.
The times are neither here nor there. World records are usually done in grand prix races with pace makers. Tonights race and most Olympics are tactical and tonight was slow in some laps. Ethiopians and Kenyans have numbers to control these races but Farah had to manage it mostly on his own. The other British runner did give him a good support on the third last lap though.
Theres a mighty fine serbian Volleyball team on now on bbc red button
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on August 21, 2016, 02:30:54 AM
Theres a mighty fine serbian Volleyball team on now on bbc red button
Scthopp! I ve to drive to Dublin in the morning. Wow!
The times those boys did may have been quicker than farah but his tactical brain is better than anyone's- probably ever. Farah also races sparingly - i suspect those guys ran more in paced races too.
Still a bit sceptical of him mind you. Seems to keep dubious company.
Fabian Cancellara won a cycling medal. Lance Armstrong sent him a one word tweet. "Luigi". Code name for an EPO dude who was involved in transfusions linked to Cancellara.
Cheating goes back a long way. In 1904 the marathon winner drove the first 10 miles.
Quote from: seafoid on August 21, 2016, 09:33:22 AM
Fabian Cancellara won a cycling medal. Lance Armstrong sent him a one word tweet. "Luigi". Code name for an EPO dude who was involved in transfusions linked to Cancellara.
Cheating goes back a long way. In 1904 the marathon winner drove the first 10 miles.
That man was disqualified.
The official winner was given two shots of strychnine and whiskey during the race and understandably collapsed afterwards. If they gave him another shot he would have died.
The only highlights for me were the O'Donovans, Fiji and Annalise in the sailing.
A very cynical and corrupt 2 weeks. And the Hickey thing at the end somehow seemed like a good fit.
I probably ended up watching more of this Olympics than I ever have done before. I was off work last week & pretty bored tho.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 21, 2016, 09:02:18 AM
The times those boys did may have been quicker than farah but his tactical brain is better than anyone's- probably ever. Farah also races sparingly - i suspect those guys ran more in paced races too.
Still a bit sceptical of him mind you. Seems to keep dubious company.
And he lies about it too. Heard Ewan McKenna(the journalist who asked him about his links to Jama Aden) interviewed on Second Captains.
Farah said that any suggestion he may have been photographed visiting the house of Aden was simply a result of him agreeing to a photograph by someone asking for one. But McKenna said that there was photographic evidence on Aden's daughter's facebook account of a long running friendship, and Farah having dinner at Aden's house several times. McKenna also mentioned that several British journalists thanked him for asking that question after the press conferenc. They'd all asked him soft questions about where this put him in the pantheon of greats etc. It was quite sickening to watch the British get on their high horses about Efimova, Gatlin, and Sun Yang while eulogising Farah.
Quote from: Asal Mor on August 21, 2016, 08:49:22 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 21, 2016, 09:02:18 AM
The times those boys did may have been quicker than farah but his tactical brain is better than anyone's- probably ever. Farah also races sparingly - i suspect those guys ran more in paced races too.
Still a bit sceptical of him mind you. Seems to keep dubious company.
And he lies about it too. Heard Ewan McKenna(the journalist who asked him about his links to Jama Aden) interviewed on Second Captains.
Farah said that any suggestion he may have been photographed visiting the house of Aden was simply a result of him agreeing to a photograph by someone asking for one.
But McKenna said that there was photographic evidence on Aden's daughter's facebook account of a long running friendship, and Farah having dinner at Aden's house several times. McKenna also mentioned that several British journalists thanked him for asking that question after the press conferenc. They'd all asked him soft questions about where this put him in the pantheon of greats etc. It was quite sickening to watch the British get on their high horses about Efimova, Gatlin, and Sun Yang while eulogising Farah.
Farah gets such an easy ride from British journalists, they have no interest in questioning him and his dodgy coaches, just cheerleading. His transformation at 27 and association with Salazer and Aden is a massive red flag and Farah has no credibility in my eyes.
Yeah the british media and the drugs thing stinks of double standards. Ohorugu (spelling) missed 3 drugs tests and is a media darling. I suspect many others would get crucified for that but not her.
There are definitely questions on farah in my opinion. He still is incredible at reading tactical races.
Speaking of double standards in the BBC's Olypmic coverage, one that really annoyed me was Sharron Davies(no spring chicken but still very tasty)saying, with a tone full of contempt, that Sun Yang had been imprisoned for drink driving, which she followed up by judging him as "not a nice person". Never mind that the absolute darling and hero of their swimming coverage, Michael Phelps, has been done twice for drink driving, which had he been Chinese would mean he would have been imprisoned twice for drink driving(it's an automatic sentence there). And if they'd caught him smoking pot he'd have been banged up for that too. The constant good guy/bad guy narratives were irritating, judgemental and usually false.
http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/paul-kimmage-how-did-pat-hickey-become-the-most-hated-man-in-irish-sport-34981713.html
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 21, 2016, 09:05:39 PM
Yeah the british media and the drugs thing stinks of double standards. Ohorugu (spelling) missed 3 drugs tests and is a media darling. I suspect many others would get crucified for that but not her.
There are definitely questions on farah in my opinion. He still is incredible at reading tactical races.
Did they and still do give Chambers the cold shoulder for a long time?
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 10:45:38 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 21, 2016, 09:05:39 PM
Yeah the british media and the drugs thing stinks of double standards. Ohorugu (spelling) missed 3 drugs tests and is a media darling. I suspect many others would get crucified for that but not her.
There are definitely questions on farah in my opinion. He still is incredible at reading tactical races.
Did they and still do give Chambers the cold shoulder for a long time?
You always have to hang someone out to dry every once in a while
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 10:45:38 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 21, 2016, 09:05:39 PM
Yeah the british media and the drugs thing stinks of double standards. Ohorugu (spelling) missed 3 drugs tests and is a media darling. I suspect many others would get crucified for that but not her.
There are definitely questions on farah in my opinion. He still is incredible at reading tactical races.
Did they and still do give Chambers the cold shoulder for a long time?
He's maybe the exception not the rule
Don't see much of Linford these days either.
I think Chambers fessed up and admitted it, which is probably rare enough not the usual oul "unwittingly took......" bollocks you hear over and over again
Quote from: bennydorano on August 21, 2016, 11:00:06 PM
Don't see much of Linford these days either.
yeah, another one that's been given the cold shoulder... if Mo is caught they will do the same
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:02:37 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 21, 2016, 11:00:06 PM
Don't see much of Linford these days either.
yeah, another one that's been given the cold shoulder... if Mo is caught they will do the same
Did he not have a drink driving charge a few years ago too, which wouldn't have helped him
Quote from: Minder on August 21, 2016, 11:16:39 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:02:37 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 21, 2016, 11:00:06 PM
Don't see much of Linford these days either.
yeah, another one that's been given the cold shoulder... if Mo is caught they will do the same
Did he not have a drink driving charge a few years ago too, which wouldn't have helped him
Does Sharon Davis know about that ::)
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:22:56 PM
Quote from: Minder on August 21, 2016, 11:16:39 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:02:37 PM
Quote from: bennydorano on August 21, 2016, 11:00:06 PM
Don't see much of Linford these days either.
yeah, another one that's been given the cold shoulder... if Mo is caught they will do the same
Did he not have a drink driving charge a few years ago too, which wouldn't have helped him
Does Sharon Davis know about that ::)
No idea
these are the GB lads that have been caught.... Not a lot really.. not as many as I thought, was going through the list and nearly as many Irish athletes on that list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doping_cases_in_athletics
Gary Cadogan, Linford Christie, Mark Edwards, Paul Edwards, Mark Lewis-Francis, Diane Modahl, Carl Myerscough, Callum Priestley, Mark Richardson, Douglas Walker, Solomon Wariso, Gareth Warburton, Rhys Williams,
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:37:56 PM
these are the GB lads that have been caught.... Not a lot really.. not as many as I thought, was going through the list and nearly as many Irish athletes on that list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doping_cases_in_athletics
Gary Cadogan, Linford Christie, Mark Edwards, Paul Edwards, Mark Lewis-Francis, Diane Modahl, Carl Myerscough, Callum Priestley, Mark Richardson, Douglas Walker, Solomon Wariso, Gareth Warburton, Rhys Williams,
The other question is how hard have they been looking? There is a whiff about Farah alright but I have also read people say that with Salazar's reputation Farah would be mad to be on the juice with the spotlight on their relationship.
Quote from: bennydorano on August 21, 2016, 09:53:26 PM
http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/paul-kimmage-how-did-pat-hickey-become-the-most-hated-man-in-irish-sport-34981713.html
Excellent ;D
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 21, 2016, 11:52:24 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on August 21, 2016, 11:37:56 PM
these are the GB lads that have been caught.... Not a lot really.. not as many as I thought, was going through the list and nearly as many Irish athletes on that list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_doping_cases_in_athletics
Gary Cadogan, Linford Christie, Mark Edwards, Paul Edwards, Mark Lewis-Francis, Diane Modahl, Carl Myerscough, Callum Priestley, Mark Richardson, Douglas Walker, Solomon Wariso, Gareth Warburton, Rhys Williams,
The other question is how hard have they been looking? There is a whiff about Farah alright but I have also read people say that with Salazar's reputation Farah would be mad to be on the juice with the spotlight on their relationship.
Michelle Smyth, Lance Armstrong and the Dali Lama would be mad to be on the juice.
Seriously Tony!!!!!
Modahl got cleared eventuallyi think.
Also i think limford is a uka coach somewhere so hasn't been shunned at all.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 22, 2016, 07:32:11 AM
Modahl got cleared eventuallyi think.
Also i think limford is a uka coach somewhere so hasn't been shunned at all.
I think it is probably more due to the fact that he is absolutely rubbish on TV and has no charisma or personality when interviewed.
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 22, 2016, 10:00:58 AM
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
How does that rank against previous Olympics. I can't imagine that those who did win a medal get much in the way of funding.
Quote from: JimStynes on August 22, 2016, 10:00:58 AM
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
You get what you pay for.
Ireland have only 31 medals in the history of the Olympics, 4 of which are tainted so I'd say 2 medals is a par to good total. Our expectations were probably set so high because of our boxing team..
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 22, 2016, 10:11:48 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 22, 2016, 10:00:58 AM
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
How does that rank against previous Olympics. I can't imagine that those who did win a medal get much in the way of funding.
Its the ones who are getting the big funding that didnt perform that we should be asking the questions of TB
Quote from: NAG1 on August 22, 2016, 11:03:25 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 22, 2016, 10:11:48 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 22, 2016, 10:00:58 AM
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
How does that rank against previous Olympics. I can't imagine that those who did win a medal get much in the way of funding.
Its the ones who are getting the big funding that didnt perform that we should be asking the questions of TB
100%. I can't imagine those 2 O'Donovan lads were seeing too much money. Fair to assume boxing was the area seeing the most dough?
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 22, 2016, 11:08:09 AM
Quote from: NAG1 on August 22, 2016, 11:03:25 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on August 22, 2016, 10:11:48 AM
Quote from: JimStynes on August 22, 2016, 10:00:58 AM
So Ireland finished 62 in the medal table then.
How does that rank against previous Olympics. I can't imagine that those who did win a medal get much in the way of funding.
Its the ones who are getting the big funding that didnt perform that we should be asking the questions of TB
100%. I can't imagine those 2 O'Donovan lads were seeing too much money. Fair to assume boxing was the area seeing the most dough?
Yeah Id imagine you are right, it probably goes on chance of medal success.
But even the O'Donovan lads would be seeing decent money because of their previous results at the Europeans I would have thought anyway.
I see today that the Australians reckon they invested (in terms of direct provision to athletes) €8M/medal this time.
Quote from: Billys Boots on August 22, 2016, 12:01:11 PM
I see today that the Australians reckon they invested (in terms of direct provision to athletes) €8M/medal this time.
Oz had a bad games
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2016, 12:06:02 PM
Quote from: Billys Boots on August 22, 2016, 12:01:11 PM
I see today that the Australians reckon they invested (in terms of direct provision to athletes) €8M/medal this time.
Oz had a bad games
Brits took the Oz model and have basically worked it better, gone after medals in multi discipline events invested heavily in the new sports as well.
So turns out that in Farah's autobiography from 2014, he recalled a training camp in Ethiopia with Jama Aden and they "had known each other for years". Why lie to McKenna in the press conference?!
There've been a lot of lies about Aden from Farah it seems.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 25, 2016, 09:11:06 AM
There've been a lot of lies about Aden from Farah it seems.
There's a great Twitter account called Mo's Doorbell that has been tweeting about it a good bit ;D ;D ;D
Haven't heard of the one. Must have a look!
I am not as sceptical as a lot about athletes but there are two particular ones I would be quite skeptical of and that is him and the Dibaba who runs the 1500. (both who have been involved with Aden).
While everyone said the 10000 was easy etc for Ayala look how she blew up in the 5000 so it obviously took a lot out of her. I would prefer to think her innocent for the time being anyway.
Agreed. Dibaba is a really difficult one for me as I'd find it hard to not then extend that to the sister, who is simply a marvellous athlete.
Yeah although the sister seems to have dipped a little of late. Was she involved with Aden too do you know? I haven't seen anywhere that she was but still I think you may have a point.
Definitely Genzebe to me looks suspect which is a pity as she is a great runner. I was glad she didn't win the 1500.
Quote from: imtommygunn on August 25, 2016, 09:29:18 AM
Haven't heard of the one. Must have a look!
I am not as sceptical as a lot about athletes but there are two particular ones I would be quite skeptical of and that is him and the Dibaba who runs the 1500. (both who have been involved with Aden).
While everyone said the 10000 was easy etc for Ayala look how she blew up in the 5000 so it obviously took a lot out of her. I would prefer to think her innocent for the time being anyway.
Did she blow up in the 5000, or did she throw it?
Her performance in the 10,000 was truly staggering, and in the face of what we know about drug testing there, and the fact that she had only just started running that distance competitively in June, I just find it unbelievable. Literally.
Ah she hardly threw it now. People will be less sceptical of her granted and maybe that's good for her but sure she was damned if she did and damned if she didn't. It's not like she'll be tested less for not winning the 5,000.
4 chinese women weightlifters with gold medals from Beijing done in the last day or two.
We know from that excellent blog that was posted earlier that Ethiopia carries out no out of competition drug testing. None.
Being tested after winning. in that scenario, is utterly useless.
Any country that has no out of competition drugs testing, should find themselves out of all competitions. Missed tests should be treated like false starts in the 100m. One screw-up and you are out. British cycling take note.
Paul ODonovan won gold at the World Championships this morning
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/ireland-s-paul-o-donovan-wins-gold-at-world-rowing-championships-1.2770761
Might sound harsh but can we not just let Pat Hickey wait in jail instead of having to get ministers and consulates involved and wasting taxpayers cash trying to get him out. I bet he didn't have any "health problems" prior to his arrest. Living it up more like.
I'd never heard tell of him before the Olympics tbh, but it does seem a tad harsh to me. Karma undoubtedly coming round on the man from what I've read about him since, but a helluva lot of people are enjoying his misfortune - is it being prolonged unnecessarily?
Quote from: bennydorano on August 27, 2016, 06:48:38 PM
I'd never heard tell of him before the Olympics tbh, but it does seem a tad harsh to me. Karma undoubtedly coming round on the man from what I've read about him since, but a helluva lot of people are enjoying his misfortune - is it being prolonged unnecessarily?
Have a read of the Paul Kimmage article, particularly the last piece and you won't have much sympathy for him
Not confined to the Olympics I see
http://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/37253893 (http://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/37253893)
Quote from: Declan on September 02, 2016, 08:39:47 AM
Not confined to the Olympics I see
http://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/37253893 (http://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/37253893)
Wow. Cycling is dirty even in the Paralympics.
Does anyone genuinely buy the world domination in the real thing?
When there is doping going on in the Paralympics the game is really really up.
The whole Olympic thing really should be ended . All the bodies now have their own championships rending the olympics an utter sideshow .
Quote from: AQMP on September 28, 2016, 04:39:20 PM
Michael Conlan and Stephen Donnelly reprimanded for betting on fights at Olympics.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/28/ioc-reprimand-british-irish-boxers-betting-rio-2016-olympics-bouts
That's unreal. Especially Donnelly. What the f**k do they be thinking?
I would say there was great delight in them publicising Conlan one. They hardly matter now given they are both turning pro but betting against yourself is shocking particularly if you stood to make a load of money from it.
The betting seems to be getting caught a bit these days with Barton and lafferty in the football too.
Quote from: ashman on September 02, 2016, 03:49:03 PM
When there is doping going on in the Paralympics the game is really really up.
The whole Olympic thing really should be ended . All the bodies now have their own championships rending the olympics an utter sideshow .
The IOC are venal. The lympics should have a permanent base in Greece .
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 28, 2016, 05:08:27 PM
I would say there was great delight in them publicising Conlan one. They hardly matter now given they are both turning pro but betting against yourself is shocking particularly if you stood to make a load of money from it.
The betting seems to be getting caught a bit these days with Barton and lafferty in the football too.
Win win situation.
Quote from: mrdeeds on September 28, 2016, 07:28:06 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 28, 2016, 05:08:27 PM
I would say there was great delight in them publicising Conlan one. They hardly matter now given they are both turning pro but betting against yourself is shocking particularly if you stood to make a load of money from it.
The betting seems to be getting caught a bit these days with Barton and lafferty in the football too.
Win win situation.
Not if he lost and a judge decided he did so deliberately. Very foolish.
More medals for Skib rowing club
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/watch-i-just-threw-up-the-drop-of-whiskey-we-had-before-the-race-mark-odonovan-and-shane-odriscoll-win-european-gold-35763671.html
Hickey cleared - not guilty - there was never a doubt in it.
I see the sick counties are having there usual nightmare at the Empire games
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/commonwealth-games/medals/countries