Olympics!

[Scott]

Rogge is actually the first person I've heard say a bad word about Bolt, but then again when did Belgiums know anything about sport? In this games Belgium have achieved zero medals.

They've got one now. We, meanwhile, appear to be developing a baton problem...

[geomorph]

They've got one now. We, meanwhile, appear to be developing a baton problem...

pity - thought we'd got over that one with the 2004 performance.
wonder if its like our (sorry England) penalty shoot out problem.
Still Jamaica ladies have it too

[Becks]

At least the Americans are out of the relays too! I loved Michael Johnson's "Put it in. Put it in now. PUT IT IN! Put it in don't drop it you idiot!"

[Tessa]

I heard it said that the Brits are only good at sitting down sports...sailing, cycling, rowing...

[DIDSCO]

Considering Britain is a nation where the average person is an over-weight drunkard and their only weekly exercise involves running away from the police on a Saturday night, we're actually doing amazingly well.

[awk]

I heard it said that the Brits are only good at sitting down sports...sailing, cycling, rowing...

Only from those who would like to have been as successful in them. (Incidentally, ever tried standing up after cycling or rowing to the limit? Not surprising they sit down!)

one of the headline on BBC sport today reads 'Ainslie as good as Phelps'
...are they joking??!

I hope not. Whilst its invidious to try and compare sports, Ainslie has still managed to be at the top of his sport for 15 years. Just because he can only win one medal at the Olympics, doesn't mean he's not at the same level as Phelps, who is of course a fantastic performer in his own sport. (later edit: sorry geomorph, that's probably pretty much what you had already said, just I didn't follow it first time through!!).

does anyone else think sailing is the most boring 'sport' ever?!!

Not me. It's been gripping stuff to watch. Not easy to follow on TV, but that says more about television than sailing. And why the apostrophes? Physically and technically demanding, with a totally objective way of measuring the result, it's a sport in the full sense of the word.

[Adventure Racer]

- The fact that the olympic games host city is decided on who will give the biggest bungs / perks to the IOC members

I presume you're not suggesting that changed for the 2012 bidding process?

I can only assume that China are also busy bribing the wrestling, boxing, TKD and gymnastics judges from the travesties I've seen.

[DIDSCO]

After public pressure the IOC have finally agreed to make the international gymnastic federation do an official investigation in to the ages of the 2 chinese female gymnasts that took gold in the Team and individual bar event. Thing is the IOC should have taken care of this matter well before the games as they knew full well about the situation, even if the investigation proves the girls are too young and they lose thir medals, the moment of glory for the new gold medallist has been lost for ever, and incidently 4th place Brit Steph Tweedle would move into bronze, without the chance to get the recognition she deserves. Another disgrace by the IOC - talk about lack of olympic spirit and playing lap dog to the Chinese.

Theres a chance Lightning Bolt will run the 4x400m final this afternoon, how amazing would that be - he could jog the first 200m in 25seconds, and then finish the last 200m in under 19 secs with a rolling start

[Mrs H]

gutted for Malvern's local hero Commonwealth champion Liam Killeen in the mountain bike, a fall put him in 48th position early on and he fought back to 7th place by the finish

Good heavens - they've just over turned a dodgy TKD result - in our favour

[ryeland of doom]

They've got one now. We, meanwhile, appear to be developing a baton problem...

Should concentrate on a form of athletic relay where there are no batons

[Adventure Racer]

incidently 4th place Brit Steph Tweedle would move into bronze

Silver, surely. There were 2 Chinese girls ahead of her - one was 13 last year according to official details, the other 14.

[EddieH]

Ruth you may think sailing is boring, but then most things that you don't understand are inevitably boring.
However if you think Ben Ainslie isn't an athlete I suggest you watch him sailing in rough weather. How many Nopesport readers could constantly work their upper torso whilst "sitting" on their lower thighs?
As I understand it he is utterly supreme in these conditions partly because he is so technically good, but also because he is so incredibly fit. It was the very light winds during most of the Olympics which made most of the races rather less physical but extremely tactical.
For me sailing is one of the great sports like orienteering precisely because it is such a great combination of mental and physical and every race is different.
Sadly, like orienteering, it is hard to film.

[RJ]

.......Sadly, like orienteering, it is hard to film.

I think we are finally getting closer and closer to being able to offer ourselves for Olympic inclusion. Trac-Trac and GPS give the on screen positioning of the competitors..... Sprint-O allows TV to cover the progress in the terrain (WC race at O-Ringen)..... and the number of countries taking part is steadily increasing.

Maybe won't be long before we can be a demonstation sport. Would it be possible to make London 2012?

[Adventure Racer]

Ruth you may think sailing is boring, but then most things that you don't understand are inevitably boring.

I challenge anybody to watch the 49er medal race and say that sailing is boring. If you missed it, they have some clips of it on the Olympic highlights show which is currently playing on the interactive channels - or http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f - only foreign commentary, but you should get the gist!

[EddieH]

Thanks for that link - great fun. Those things take some sailing -I've tried in rather less wind than that