Forum Sport.co.uk / Athletics / Beijing Olympics

Phelps on SI

charlie — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:42:46 GMT

I find it rather funny that Sports Illustrated has him in a suit pretty much, and a soaked white collar shirt. Is this the fish man we all know and admire? Could they have been any more odd about it? It is not the most flattering of photos either, what were they thinking?
[img]http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/04/phelps.jpg[/img]

Women's Softball

Chris — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:57:16 GMT

I really do hope they decide to bring it back in 8 years. I think it is definitely more interesting to watch and more of a "sport" than the air rifle!

I also hope they redo the format. Going into the final the U.S. Team had not lost a game and Japan had lost one (to the U.S.). I think there should have been another game played. I just don't think it was fair that the U.S. couldn't continue to play after the one loss.

Ara Abrahamian Stripped of Medal

terry19 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:17:18 GMT

Ara Abrahamian, who got Bronze in 84 kg class at the Beijing Olympics, and disputed a penalty by dropping his medal onto the wrestling mat, has been stripped of his medal and banned for 2 years for "scandulous behavior". It makes me angry that there are many more athletes who would have gladly taken the bronze in his place. It is entirely unsportsmanlike.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3685584]ESPN.com Story[/url]

IOC Re-testing

FullDeck — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:54:14 GMT

The International Olympics Committee is going to go back and re-test all the samples from the Beijing games, for drug abuse. I think it's great they are taking it seriously, but since any positive finds will mean redoing the medals I think it's too little too late. It should have been caught on time, before medals went to the wrong people, and the right people lost out on their exposure from a real win.

$$$

max — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:37:27 GMT

Does anyone know how much money China brought in during the Oylympics and even after? I mean do not get me wrong they did a great job being host, but many people went over to visit for the games, and then all the sudden the USD dropped and I just wonder about things like this.

Underage Gymnasts

ZooGal — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:18:11 GMT

Boy do the Chinese girls look young. I know that Chinese people can tend to be on the smaller side but these girls are a full six or eight inches shorter than their peers around the world, who are supposed to be the same age.

Having seen them-what do you think?

Was everyone satisfied overall?

sportybabe — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:54:20 GMT

I found the games to be very exciting this year and I'm quite satisfied with the showing that the US made in China. I think we held our own and took a good number of medals. We showed the world what we're made of.

Protester's Rope Cut

ZooGal — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:09:18 GMT

A protester in Beijing suffered serious injury when the rope that was supporting her during a protest (she was rappelling down a building) was cut. Other demonstrators witnessed someone do it-an act which shocks me. It's one thing to deny rights to a faceless somebody, but to do this knowing and seeing what happens-what a cold hearted person.

Gymnastics Tie Breaker

purple — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:14:31 GMT

The uneven bars tonight included a tie breaker between the US and China where the gold medal went to China based on a .001 difference. To her credit the US gymnast was not too crass when talking about it but you could tell she was upset and who could blame her?

Phelps Being Accused!

Chippie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:10:39 GMT

Well it didn't take long. Phelps is being accused of doping. As far as I am aware there isn't any evidence for it other than suggestions that he may be on a prescribed ADHD med.

Is this just bitterness on the part of the losers?

Did you see my girls...?

Player — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:38:59 GMT

I hope everyone saw my girls in the 100m womens finals on Sunday. They were simply AWESOME. I cannot begin to describe the pandemonium here in Jamaica this past weekend.

What is going on with US athletes?

sportybabe — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:29:08 GMT

We're losing them right and left! Bantamweight boxer Gary Russell Jr. had to withdraw after being found unconscious and dehydrated Friday morning, Morgan Hamm's ongoing ankle injury and Abby Wambach out of the running in soccer with a broken leg. There's like a jinx or something on the US right now.

Man of the Olympics

Player — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:14:56 GMT

The news media is firing on all cylinders and it seems they are tring to outdo each other with their stories. Came across this one today http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24218372-5014104,00.html which seeks to draw a comparison between Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. I think the comments after the article were even more entertaining.

Insane wins

charlie — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:32:24 GMT

Even though there is debate over Mike P for the "by a fingernail" deal and some call him a cheat, can we just replay the past few days with all the crazy wins going on, not just from him but all the others? What about the lady who was like 38 and won that crazy long race? Not even if I were being chased by nut balls could I run that dang quick.

Hard to Watch Events Without Videos Online

purple — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:49:33 GMT

I have really begun to get fed up trying to watch certain sections of the Games without watching video feeds online. I enjoy watching the equestrian and Track and Field events but they rarely get good coverage on basic cable. All this money spent and I can't even watch what I want. :crying:

Record it

charlie — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:28:08 GMT

I have been recording this lately since I have been working very odd hours on the swing shift. Is anyone else doing this? I seem to have issues with my settings as it cuts off too earlier before the games are done for the night.

Who, when and where to protest

Player — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:31:18 GMT

The Chinese government have to be the best in town. They have the nerve to declarestrict guidelines for those who wish to protest during the Olympic Games. If you want to let your voice be heard in protest, you will have to apply to the authorities in writing, 5 days in advance and there will be only 3 designated zones around the parks for you to do so.

Darfur refugee for US flag bearer

Player — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:49:25 GMT

Despite all the negative press about the air pollution, the Chinese government suppressing freedoms and so on, the real spirit of the Olympics is reflected in the choice of of a Darfur refugee being selected as the flag bearer for the US team. Lopez Lomong's story is an impressive and courageous one. His grit and determination is what these Games are all about.

China is sure not helping their image

Redskins_Fan4Life — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:31:06 GMT

China has banned Gold Medalist Joey Cheek because he is an "outspoken Darfur activist." And apparently China supports the stuff going on in Darfur. I wonder when the Olympic committee will decide they made a mistake by choosing China for this year's games. Bet that won't happen again for a long long time. I can't tell if Cheek was supposed to compete, I think he was only going to be spectator, but it still looks bad. Some of the athletes who are competing are also Darfur activists, I wonder if that will affect them at all, I assume they are already over there.

American stabbed in Beijing

sportybabe — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:14:08 GMT

One of the coaches' mother, I believe, was stabbed and then the guy jumped off the building and killed himself. That was about all I caught of the story so far. Not even sure why he stabbed her but the news was saying that they don't think it was aimed at her because she was an American but they aren't sure why.

Caffeine in sport

F1Racing — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:39:27 GMT

While scientists are still debating whether caffeine used by athletes in sport should be banned, it isn't going to stop elite athletes from exploiting it to boost their performance at the Beijing Olympics. Taking into consideration the fact that banning every naturally occurring food is near impossible, that different athletes are affected by caffeine and absorb it at different rates, do you think that it should be banned in the Olympics, as it once had been?

Since the ban was lifted, athletes were returning levels of 30, 40 and 50 mg/mL[sup]-1[/sup] on their urine test, which is well above the 12 mg/mL[sup]-1[/sup] threshold that was enforced four years ago. The problem with this enforcement was that due to the variability in individual responses for caffeine, it made it almost impossible to regulate what would constitute a social consumption of caffeine for the athletes and what went beyond that.

If it was up to me, I would set the threshold to the maximum level of the average tested absorption rates of athletes, which may be something like 20 mg/mL[sup]-1[/sup], rather than 12mg/mL[sup]-1[/sup]. That way, it allows for a greater freedom of caffeine intake by individual athletes, whilst preventing its exploitation.

Beijingticketing.com is a Scam!

katie — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:14:35 GMT

Be warned all who are buying their tickets over the internet! Beijingticketing.com is a huge scam! They have scammed people out of thousands of dollars, all over the world. This has made it to where some parents, US citizens and others across the world, can't even go see their children who participating in the Beijing Olympics. There is a website set up to help these ticket scam victims and it's called Beijingticketscam.com and it's owned by a lawyer, Jim Moriarty, who was scammed out of $12,000 on tickets. This is such a shame.

2000 US Relay team loses gold

mom2afootballer — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:33:47 GMT

The International Olympic Committee stripped gold medals Saturday from the U.S. men's 1,600-meter relay team that competed at the 2000 Olympics in the aftermath of Antonio Pettigrew's admission that he was doping at the time.

Three of the four runners from the relay final have been tainted by drugs.

I'm glad the Olympic committee is cracking down on drug use - this is getting ridiculous.

Merlene Ottey wont make it this year

Player — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:32:18 GMT

At 48 years of age, despite several valiant attempts, Merlene Ottey, the Jamaican and Slovenian sprinter has failed to qualify to participate in her 8th Olympic Game. My heart goes out to her because although it is unlikely that she would have made an impact in the races against her younger counterparts, I wanted her to just qualify to be there. She missed the opportunity by 28 hundredths of a second....

Who will take the gold this year in soccer?

Chris — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:23:52 GMT

Who do you think will take the gold in this years games? Do you think Spain has a chance? What about the United States? How competitive do you think it will be this year?

Who do you think will take the gold for women's soccer?

Paul Hamm out this time

footballfan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:04:45 GMT

Unfortunately, Paul Hamm has made the decision to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics. After breaking his hand in May and then recently straining his left rotator cuff he has decided that he just won't be ready. Too bad, as he is a very talented athlete and the US team will miss him.

Professional in the Olympics

George — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:00:06 GMT

The Olympics used to be the world's showcase to show off their amateur athletes to decide the best of the best. Athletes competed against each other strictly for the love of the sport and to represent their country. These athletes sacrificed a lot to earn this privilege. Somewhere in the late 80s or early 90s this changed.

There have even been cases where medals were stripped because an athlete was found to have been paid to participate in a sport. This is no longer the case.

Censoring the Press

ZooGal — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:45:08 GMT

Another pledge has been broken. Despite promising that the press would have full access online to outside sites, it's been found now that several sites are being blocked.

*sings* another one bites the dust...

http://www.cio.com/article/440068/Some_Web_Sites_Blocked_At_China_Olympic_Press_Center

FIFA orders football clubs to release player under 23 for Olympics.

Redskins_Fan4Life — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:10:43 GMT

This is causing quite an unpleasant stir among the team owners and coaches. They didn't want their players to head to the Olympics because it will mean they aren't at home for some crucial games. I think they should be allowed to go and perhaps the football games should be postponed.

Countdown Begins!

ZooGal — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:27:44 GMT

It's now such a short period of time until the games begin in Beijing. There has been so much controversy that has surrounded these games, people saying they will boycott.

So are you planning on watching?

Human Rights Pledges

Chippie — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:36:33 GMT

I was reading a little more into the reasons that China succeeded in getting the 2008 Olympics, and one of their things was pledging to make human rights improvements. This at least explains some things...

But do you think it's just lip service, will they go back to old ways once the events have ended?

Bible Ban?

Redskins_Fan4Life — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:30:44 GMT

I heard a rumor that Olympic athletes and spectators are not allowed to bring Bibles into China. I always research rumors before republishing them, and it looks like they are allowed to do so, the ban is on distribution and propaganda. Has anybody heard anything more recent than November on this? It would be of great concern to me if it turns out they are actually banning them. Thanks!

Athlete Dies During Training

Chippie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:47:32 GMT

Gyorgy Kolonics died in his canoe during training for his fifth Olympics. The gold medallist is suspected of having had a heart attack, and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.

I find it shocking that someone at the peak of fitness could die in this way.

Olympics

Chris — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:57:12 GMT

I'm really looking forward to the Olympics starting this year. I just hope the politics doesn't get in the way of the games. I always enjoy watching the field and diving events and really hope that it is a competitive games this year.

Chris

US Olympic swimmer gets bad news

sportybabe — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:46:34 GMT

Swimmer Eric Shanteau found out he had testicular cancer a week before qualifying for the Olympic team, but will put off treatment so he can compete in Bejing. The doctors would prefer he have surgery now but it would throw off his preparation and he doesn't want to risk losing his dream. They will be watching closely to make sure the cancer doesn't spread at all.

American Team Line up Announced

Chippie — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:33:01 GMT

The American team has been announced for this year's Olympics. I haven't taken a really close look at the list yet-but is there anyone you particularly fancy in their event?

What are your favorites?

Chris — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:50:38 GMT

I really enjoy watching the Olympics and am always looking for some of my favorites to come on so I can enjoy them. The Olympics is pretty much the only time I get to see them. What are your favorite events?

In the pool? Diving

Track? Steeple Chase

Field? Pole Vault

Other? Archery

The Special Olympics

Annie — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:01:55 GMT

The Special Olympics have always held a dear place in my heart, because I have a brother with disabilities. He's never competed (in anything), but I think it is so wonderful that many people with disabilities are able to compete. I was just reading that the 2009 Winter Games will take place in Boise, Idaho, so I am going to try to go! I've never been to one of the World's Games competitions, so I'm very excited. I am going to try to take my brother, if he wants to go.

Scorchers on the track

Player — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:08:15 GMT

I am just itching for the track events, in particular, the male and female sprint events. Today the defending world champion, Tyson Gay, crashed out of his 200m race at the US Trials, and so he can't compete in that event at the Olympics. Now that he can concentrate on the 100m, I think it's going to be a sizzler.

No so main stream events

SimplyMike — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:23:23 GMT

So there are quite a few games that have slowly had people having less interest for. For instance there is canoeing, handball, and badminton are my idea of a less interesting sport to watch. Are there any for anyone else?