2021 Summer Olympics (Tokyo)

Maybe awful was over the top yeah, but this has to be your most underwhelming hockey side (or at least performance wise) in quite some time, isn't it?

Yes that’s true. But against Australia they played pretty well so I wouldn’t hold that against Australia that much. Great chance for Belgium in the hockey. Why is Belgium always so bad at the Olympics?
 
Yes that’s true. But against Australia they played pretty well so I wouldn’t hold that against Australia that much. Great chance for Belgium in the hockey. Why is Belgium always so bad at the Olympics?
Mostly mismanagement at local (regional) levels. It's under the power of the communities over here so it's not coordinated on national level, and our federations fail to put competent people in the right places for our youth to grow (and not enough money available to attract foreign coaching talent either). Swimming is the prime example of all that, we had a shitload of swimmers at London and Rio, culminating with a silver medal on the men's 100m free. The guy stops, isn't even asked to join or exercise any function whatsoever even though he indicated he kinda wanted to, and now we had a grand total of 2 swimmers at Tokyo and might not even have a single one in Paris in three years. Quite scandalous because the talent is definitely there, it's jus the rules which are made too complex and the younger generation isn't properly helped in order to develop all their skills (or even find out what they're actually good at).

The few programs we are actually able to put in place have been steadily developed over the last decade, hockey being a good example of that. Other than that we simply rely on some individual brilliance to get us some medals (Van Aert, Derwael, Meesseman for the women's basketball team, ...) and hope for the best.
 
Mostly mismanagement at local (regional) levels. It's under the power of the communities over here so it's not coordinated on national level, and our federations fail to put competent people in the right places for our youth to grow (and not enough money available to attract foreign coaching talent either). Swimming is the prime example of all that, we had a shitload of swimmers at London and Rio, culminating with a silver medal on the men's 100m free. The guy stops, isn't even asked to join or exercise any function whatsoever even though he indicated he kinda wanted to, and now we had a grand total of 2 swimmers at Tokyo and might not even have a single one in Paris in three years. Quite scandalous because the talent is definitely there, it's jus the rules which are made too complex and the younger generation isn't properly helped in order to develop all their skills (or even find out what they're actually good at).

The few programs we are actually able to put in place have been steadily developed over the last decade, hockey being a good example of that. Other than that we simply rely on some individual brilliance to get us some medals (Van Aert, Derwael, Meesseman for the women's basketball team, ...) and hope for the best.

Interesting, hopefully it will get better. We like watching Belgium win. The other way around it's much different mostly for some reason.
 
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Feck these gymnastics judges :mad: :mad: :mad:

That should have been an 8.5 execution for Vanessa :devil:
 
All the women in the gymnastics floor looking great today. So far, all of them look at or near their best.
 


Talk about bad luck. Years of preparation and the bike handle snaps! In a way, it was quite lucky he was the last rider - it could have been so much worse.

They did get a restart, but failed to qualify for the semi-final.
 
Good to see the Japanese girl get a medal she’s been very good all through the competitions just coming up short a lot..
 
I haven't read the earlier posts about this, so sorry if this has been addressed: I get why the athletes opted to share gold - why wouldn't they? Be a guaranteed winner instead of risking being a runner up. It's a no brainer if they're allowed to do it.

But what I don't understand is why that's even an option? It goes against the whole concept of elite sport and there being a winner and a runner up. It's heartbreaking for the loser but that's what happens in sporting competitions. What happened today is like two teams reaching a World Cup final (or Euro's!), it going to penalties, and them just being allowed to decide 'you know what, neither of us want to lose, let's just say we both won the World Cup!' Or both players saying the same if the Snooker World Championship goes to 17-17, and a respotted black.

It's crazy that the final two competitors in a competition can just choose for both to be declared winners because neither wants to lose. Nobody ever wants to lose in a situation like that, but it's a weird sport / rule that allows it.
I understand your point and it is a very interesting thing to discuss. First off I think its only possible in a small minority of cases, the long jump was also tied I believe but they have a different system where they then judge your second best jump. I am completely fine with the dual golds because it's such a feel good moment and meant a lot to the athletes but one does wonder the reaction if a different sporting competition was decided that way. United Liverpool CL final is tied 5-5 after extra time and they decide lets share the trophy :lol:
 
Interesting, hopefully it will get better. We like watching Belgium win. The other way around it's much different mostly for some reason.
Probably the little brother inferiority complex that's still in play here for a lot of people. To be honest I used to be really happy when you lost at the World Cups 2010 and 2014, but it's mellowed since we got better and you guys got a bit worse. No love but no hate either right now.

I love Van der Poel and Verstappen though, same goes for Dumoulin, the female Dutch riders, and a lot of others.
 
I understand your point and it is a very interesting thing to discuss. First off I think its only possible in a small minority of cases, the long jump was also tied I believe but they have a different system where they then judge your second best jump. I am completely fine with the dual golds because it's such a feel good moment and meant a lot to the athletes but one does wonder the reaction if a different sporting competition was decided that way. United Liverpool CL final is tied 5-5 after extra time and they decide lets share the trophy :lol:

It's much easier to determine victory in a football match though as you just send them to a penalty shootout.

What do you do in high jump? Both have proven they can jump over the bar at a height, but both are unable to jump over the bar when it's a bit higher. You can't just say "keep going" because they're less likely to manage the jump with each attempt, and it doesn't seem right that you'd make them have a go at lower jumps until one of them is too tired to make it.

It's like in the running, on the rare occasion that two runners cross the line at the same, exact moment, you can't expect them to run the race again.
 
Glad they’re showing the team eventing. The jumping is actually quite tense and normally makes for a good finale.
 
It's much easier to determine victory in a football match though as you just send them to a penalty shootout.

What do you do in high jump? Both have proven they can jump over the bar at a height, but both are unable to jump over the bar when it's a bit higher. You can't just say "keep going" because they're less likely to manage the jump with each attempt, and it doesn't seem right that you'd make them have a go at lower jumps until one of them is too tired to make it.

It's like in the running, on the rare occasion that two runners cross the line at the same, exact moment, you can't expect them to run the race again.
Even in football though you have cases where two teams finish on the same points, same goal difference, same goals scored, same fair play and you end up using a coin toss to decide. You'd have to create some steps like football where luck is the last case scenario that is super unlikely to happen. What that means for each individual sport I'm not sure but seems like was a bit too easy to get a tie in the high jump case.
 
Maybe if they weren't friends and respected each other they'd of done it until the end, but clearly they both ended up happy with being joint champion. If the 3rd guy managed to jump the same height then I guess they would have no choice.

Joint medals have been given out before in races like swimming and running when they had identical times, but they don't ask them to do the race again.
I believe the bronze medal guy did jump the same height, but the two winners had better performances leading up to that height (they both jumped all the heights at first attempt/had identical performances).
 
Probably the little brother inferiority complex that's still in play here for a lot of people. To be honest I used to be really happy when you lost at the World Cups 2010 and 2014, but it's mellowed since we got better and you guys got a bit worse. No love but no hate either right now.

I love Van der Poel and Verstappen though, same goes for Dumoulin, the female Dutch riders, and a lot of others.

You are always welcome to love us!
 
The US got knocked out by Canada in the women's football semis. Right-wingers in the US are going to have a field day now :rolleyes:
 
Even in football though you have cases where two teams finish on the same points, same goal difference, same goals scored, same fair play and you end up using a coin toss to decide. You'd have to create some steps like football where luck is the last case scenario that is super unlikely to happen. What that means for each individual sport I'm not sure but seems like was a bit too easy to get a tie in the high jump case.

A league or group system isn't the same as a one off event though. I'm also not sure one has ever been decided via coin toss. I'm fairly sure PL protocol is to have a champions play off match, and in competitions like the CL they just revert to ranking (which is obviously determined by past performance).

The two were already separated from bronze by virtue of not having failed a single jump up to that point.

They could have perhaps done a jump off, but given that the point of the sport is "who can jump highest" and both were only ever going to manage lower heights in a jump off, it doesn't seem in the spirit of the games.

I'm not sure why people are so hung up on it. It was a great moment.
 
I am not underestimating Belgium. Indian team used to have a inferiority complex for past few years when they face Australia, Netherlands and Germany in major tournaments. I don't think India would be terrified facing Belgium when compared to Germans or Australia. The team will be confident about getting a result in semis.
We're still facing arguably the best team in the world tomorrow. Whle they aren't traditional powerhouses, I'd still keep my expectations in check
 
Slight chance for a Team GB medal in the Womens 87+kg weightlifting starting at 11:50. Emily Campbell, reigning European gold medallist. Off the top of my head her competition will be China, NZ and USA (NZ being the 'controversial' transgender athlete).
 
I’m surprised by that. I’m a complete gymnastics noob, but beams seems like it would be the worst event to do if you were feeling nervous about your ability.
It's the hardest but arguably i'd say the least dangerous, unless you fall on the beam
 
Australia vs Sweden is about to start. Winner will play Canada in the gold medal match. C'mon Australia!
 
I’m surprised by that. I’m a complete gymnastics noob, but beams seems like it would be the worst event to do if you were feeling nervous about your ability.
That's what I thought as well but apparently it's the exercise with the best chance not to get the "twisties". Happy to be able to see her this Olympics after all.
 
It's the hardest but arguably i'd say the least dangerous, unless you fall on the beam

Definitely dangerous and the most demanding mentally.
I did artistic gymnastics from 3-15 and have always trained with girls in the gym as well. They went absolutely crazy when they had to train beam. Saw many crashes, all those jumps mean high risk as the beam is just 10 cm wide (not sure about the exact number).
I am very surprised by Biles‘ decision, to say the least. Weird message to send after all that drama. Don‘t get me wrong, I understand her decision to pull out of the competition, but this twist is kind of strange imo. Not what you would expect from her in this situation and after her statements.
 
Definitely dangerous and the most demanding mentally.
I did artistic gymnastics from 3-15 and have always trained with girls in the gym as well. They went absolutely crazy when they had to train beam. Saw many crashes, all those jumps mean high risk as the beam is just 10 cm wide (not sure about the exact number).
I am very surprised by Biles‘ decision, to say the least. Weird message to send after all that drama. Don‘t get me wrong, I understand her decision to pull out of the competition, but this twist is kind of strange imo. Not what you would expect from her in this situation and after her statements.
If she's participating that means she feels well enough to do it. I mean, that she wasn't in the right state to compete 3 days ago doesn't mean she can't be now
 
Gold in the horseys for GB. Hard to get excited about those sports.
Lets face facts, it’s all about the horses. A top winning horse will normally win with a competent rider.

Always considered Equestrian sport as too elitist to be an Olympic event.
 
If she's participating that means she feels well enough to do it. I mean, that she wasn't in the right state to compete 3 days ago doesn't mean she can't be now
That‘s a fast recovery from the issues she has. It‘s pretty inconsequent and as her coach I would have advised against it if her issues really are that serious as they seemed.

All power to her, though, she‘s the one deciding and doesn‘t owe the general public anything. Even if it is a strange decision, it‘s hers to make. Pretty sure she will be good in the end and it would be surprising if she doesn‘t get a medal. She‘s just so incredibly good. She could have destroyed everyone in all competitions even in her current state. Undisputable GOAT.
 
Gold in the horseys for GB. Hard to get excited about those sports.

I see why people don’t find the dressage exciting, though I respect that it’s a lot tougher than it looks, but the cross country and jumping bits of the eventing are quite a good watch and have easy to understand scoring systems.
 
To give some insight into Tamberi and why he and Barshim opted to share gold instead of going for the jump off

In 2016 Tamberi won every event he took part in, he was ranked N1 in the world going into the olympics and was the heavy favourite to win gold...then he broke his leg a month before the olympics

Barshim became the favourite in Rio after Tamberi's injury, but was pipped to gold by Drouin, who hadn't jumped well going into the olympics. Since then he took over the sport and dominated pretty much every event, but still needed that validation of olympic gold, which would be the first ever for his country

They've been competing against each other for several years, they're friends, and the choice here was...lose the chance at a historic(for barshim)/emotional(Tamberi) gold medal for the chance to...win a gold medal, but not share it with a friend....

It's quite simple for me.

At that moment they both had a Gold. Why risk giving it up?

I did find it a bit strange that the rules aren't set up so that there isn't a winner until after
the jump-off. Now I've read the other posts and learned the jump-off is some weird endurance test then it makes perfect sense. Feck that we'll both keep the Gold thanks.
 
I see why people don’t find the dressage exciting, though I respect that it’s a lot tougher than it looks, but the cross country and jumping bits of the eventing are quite a good watch and have easy to understand scoring systems.

What's this about them 'deciding individual medals at 12.45pm'? Is this a further competition or some judging of individual performances in the group event?
 
It's the hardest but arguably i'd say the least dangerous, unless you fall on the beam

Yeah I was thinking more of it going wrong and hitting the beam, but I guess the floor events have much more force going through your ankles etc.

Either way I hope she does well. I can’t imagine the pressure she will be under. I hate doing meetings with more than 10 people involved :lol:
 
Discuss throw finale is amusing right now, has become ice dancing. Something like 4 or 5 failed attempts in a row.