Olympics (rant/ pet hate)

[Graham]

The start of the winter Olympics has re-kindled my thoughts on how the Olympics, both summer and winter, are organised.

To me a competition should, to be fair and equitable, have a clear-cut way of determining the winner, with this in mind I wonder why so many Olympic "sports" don't fall into this category.

Any competition that needs a judge or umpire will depend on an individual's, or several individual's subjective opinion to give marks for "style" or "artistic interpretation". This is obviously far from the ideal in the clear-cut result stakes, and is open to abuse.

My wife used to watch a lot of Ice Dance, and it was clear that there was a bias in the making to favour the current champions, regardless of their performance or that of their competitors.

I would, if it were in my power, do away with all subjective marking in competitive sport, especially the Olympics. This would have a major effect on the proceedings, there are many "sports" that would be altered or have to be completely removed.

Gone would be all "sports" that are marked only in subjective terms, synchronised swimming, snow boarding, gymnastics, and major changes to the likes of diving, ski jumping and ice dance. There are of course occasions where arbitration is needed, for example tennis and football (soccer), and these sports would not come "under the cosh".

Perhaps these activities could be part of an "artistic Olympics".

G

I'm with you Graham,

I have a hard time believing that the Greeks figured in "artistic expression" and "style points" when crowning a champion.

Stuff like ski jumping should be based on how far the skiier travels while in the air. I might consider a deduction if he doesn't land on his skis, but then again, he'll probably recieve punishment enough if he touches down "head first"... no need to add insult to injury by also docking his score

[Graham]

Yes there would, in some disciplines, be a requirement to perfom specific "elements", e.g. as you say landing on the skis in the jump, entering the water vertically having done the twists turns and pikes in diving. These would only be on the lines of did he/she do it or not.

G

[phenious]

Fingers, This is true but isnt it possible to jump further if you dont plan to land? And on that note... do you still get the medal if you kill your self in the Medal round?

-: phenious :-

[Knothead]

do you still get the medal if you kill your self in the Medal round?

Phenious, that was AWFUL! *snark* *giggle*

Okay, well, maybe you should (get the medal)...but it won't matter then...

[Graham]

Knot,
Why do you think they invented the word POSTHUMOUS ??




G

[Knothead]

Graham, same reason I just invented the word Posthumorous!

I'd hate to see THAT kind of event catch on...because then we'd get these Kamikaze athletes...and the fad would catch on about having your Olympic medal enshrined in your tombstone...and the events would be preceded by little video bios of the "gone guys", Interspersed with overly sentimental walks thru the "Olympic Cemetary", and who knows what else....

Brrrrrrr....

[phenious]

lol. I can see it now... a mass cremation (SP?) in the Olympic fire... ok..... maybe I should stop before I get modderated or somthing

-: phenious :-

(sorry dont mean to offend anyone )

[Graham]

Joking aside guys, what are your thoughts on the original post?

G

[phenious]

I agree with your original thought however, I see the olympics more of a National Party... Kinda like the Goodwill Games. More of a place to come together and have fun but the point is to find the best of the best. Oh well, who said it was a perfect world?

-: phenious :-