London 2012 Olympic Competition

In other news, Boris Johnson is stuck on a zip wire.

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That man is a lightening rod for clownishness.

:lol:
 
Hewitt just broke Djokovic in the first round, serving for the set.
Got it... COME ON!!!!!!


As much as I hate Leyton, when he pulls on that green and gold he epitomizes everything about Australian sportspeople. Even if in the end he fails, while he's still in contention, you can never write him off.
 
Bloody hell Hewitt just took the first set vs Djokovic. Still think (and hope) Djokovic will win though.
 
Federer wins and will play Isner/Tipsy in the next round. Falla, Benneteau, Istomin and now Inser/Tipsy. I don't think he could have gotten a draw any easier than that.
 
Great fight between Perea Castillo (ECU) and Cammarelle (ITA)
 
I think this badminton situation is quite ridiculous and IMO badminton association are 4 times more at fault. By the way who will replace those 4 teams? 4 third place teams or the teams from respective groups?
 
They're really not. Yes, the could have organised the tournament better... but it does not excuse those 4 teams taking matters into their own hands and basically telling all those people who paid good money to go see them to go feck themselves.
 
They're really not. Yes, the could have organised the tournament better... but it does not excuse those 4 teams taking matters into their own hands and basically telling all those people who paid good money to go see them to go feck themselves.
You won't understand the importance of a medal, they've worked hard for all this and they've got complete right to try for a medal in the best way possible. One medal is worth quite much, so if they think they can avoid the best player in the world by losing its within their rights. Consider a situation in which if you lose, you will get to play some world 30th ranked player and if you win you will play roger (I know in tennis this doesn't happen but just consider it) in the sf's, then why wouldn't you want to lose?

Its quite easy to say, sitting comfortably with your lappy when you yourself have never been under such situation. Stakes are more. If any player wins any medal here in india, he is just like say most famous person for few days. It doesn't matter who he defeated to win that medal.

I know it does make mockery of sport and thats why association should do something about it.
At the end of the day, the objective is to win the medals. I know people will cry about it and will say that its one cowardly act etc..
 
You can argue it's logical, but you certainly can't say it is their right to try and lose.
They've won the right to play here, by qualifying and they've earned the right to have the best shot possible at a medal.
 
You won't understand the importance of a medal, they've worked hard for all this and they've got complete right to try for a medal in the best way possible. One medal is worth quite much, so if they think they can avoid the best player in the world by losing its within their rights. Consider a situation in which if you lose, you will get to play some world 30th ranked player and if you win you will play roger (I know in tennis this doesn't happen but just consider it) in the sf's, then why wouldn't you want to lose?

Its quite easy to say, sitting comfortably with your lappy when you yourself have never been under such situation. Stakes are more. If any player wins any medal here in india, he is just like say most famous person for few days. It doesn't matter who he defeated to win that medal.

I know it does make mockery of sport and thats why association should do something about it.
At the end of the day, the objective is to win the medals. I know people will cry about it and will say that its one cowardly act etc..

Don't patronise me with that bollocks, I would venture I realise how important olympic medals are just as well as you do. Hell, I could even claim to know better then you do, as how the feck would you know any differently? You don't have to be "in their shoes" to understand the situation... and to suggest that you do is, quite frankly, a load of shit.

Consider that, without spectator interest, there wouldn't be badminton taking place at the Olympics in the first place. Then consider the fact that those 8 feckers have had no respect for any of the spectators who gave up their time and money to come see them perform. Is that okay? I wouldn't say so.

Then consider that the Olympics is meant to be the highest level of competition, and it is in the ideology of the competition to perform with integrity and respect for the sport at all times, then what the feck are those 4 teams playing at? Yes, the system is flawed, but for these 4 teams to totally disregard the integrity of the competition is inexcusable

If they're good enough to win medals, then they would win medals without having to attempt any underhanded tactics. In fact, if they were so determined, they wouldn't give two shits about the rest of their opponents, or what they're fellow countrymen are doing. The fact that these teams would try to throw games to increase their chances of success would have me believe that they're not worthy of a medal in the first place.
 
Also, your tennis analogy doesn't competely match up... as the Chinease team that attempted to throw the first game are already the number 1 seeds, so who should they be afraid of?
 
They've won the right to play here, by qualifying and they've earned the right to have the best shot possible at a medal.

Not when it goes against the rules, obviously. Pumping your body full of performance enhancing drugs would also give them the best possible shot at a medal but it's not their right to do so as it's against the rules of the Olympics, as is playing to lose.
 
Anyone been watching some of the minor / lesser publicised sports? I've got into the Volleyball, Sailing, Canoeing and handball recently. Trying to watch as many different things as possible
 
Anyone been watching some of the minor / lesser publicised sports? I've got into the Volleyball, Sailing, Canoeing and handball recently. Trying to watch as many different things as possible

Yep. Loving the handball and vollyball, two sports I'd never taken an interest in before.

Handball is insane! Would love to try it one day.
 
Gotta mention the cycling to. I've never taken any interest in it before, but I was glued to the TV for today's time trials, and the road race the other day.

I think that's one of the best things about the Olympics, it can catch your imagination for sports that you've never before been that interested in.
 
Handball, volleyball, time trial cycling and equestrian were all ones I'd shown little interest in before but have really enjoyed so far.

Enjoyed the rowing and aquatics stuff as well but I've always liked those.
 
Handball has been fantastic... I really want to play it.

Also been watching the indoor volleyball a fair bit.
 
I used to play handball when I was in school, its quite a fun sport actually.
 
hello mate. whats the controversy with badminton...what match fixing??

Not match fixing as such, but trying to throw the game on purpose to get an easier opponent in the next round.

Not fully sure on the details, as badminton I have very little interest in, but I do agree that it's right to disqualify anyone not trying to win as it's against Olympic spirit and the oath they all swore at the beginning to play the game in the right spirit. So I'm glad those pairs have been disqualified now, it's good for the integrity of the sport and the games.
 
You won't understand the importance of a medal, they've worked hard for all this and they've got complete right to try for a medal in the best way possible. One medal is worth quite much, so if they think they can avoid the best player in the world by losing its within their rights. Consider a situation in which if you lose, you will get to play some world 30th ranked player and if you win you will play roger (I know in tennis this doesn't happen but just consider it) in the sf's, then why wouldn't you want to lose?

Its quite easy to say, sitting comfortably with your lappy when you yourself have never been under such situation. Stakes are more. If any player wins any medal here in india, he is just like say most famous person for few days. It doesn't matter who he defeated to win that medal.

I know it does make mockery of sport and thats why association should do something about it.
At the end of the day, the objective is to win the medals. I know people will cry about it and will say that its one cowardly act etc..

According to the founder of the modern games (shameless rip off Wikipedia)

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

So no, that is not the objective.
 
According to the founder of the modern games (shameless rip off Wikipedia)

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

So no, that is not the objective.
Got to say good line that. I can't explain myself when people go the moral road rather than the real road.
 
Go play a sport and talk about real roads. No real sportsman wants to take an easy road to achieve success.

You're missing the point of an international sporting tournament like the Olympics.
 
Go play a sport and talk about real roads. No real sportsman wants to take an easy road to achieve success.

You're missing the point of an international sporting tournament like the Olympics.
Actually few "real sports person" were taking the easy road and this isn't the first time this has happened in badminton.
 
This always happens in badminton. It's been happening throughout the year, which is probably why the athletes and coaches thought they would get away with it again.

I mean the referee clearly told you them "you're going to get disqualified here" and they just ignored him.
 
Either way, it's an embarrassment for them to do it. As number 1 seeds they shouldn't really have to fear anyone. The system may be flawed but delibirately throwing a match to get an easier opponent is unacceptable and disrespectful to the fans, organisers and easier opponents they wanted to come up against.
 
If I am right chinese number 1 seeds threw the match to avoid potential clash against other chinese pair in the semi's. They wanted to meet in the finals so that china can have more medals. It wasn't because of fear in their case, I may be wrong though.

Anyways looks like indian pair is going to the quarters because of this so that is cool.
 
If I am right chinese number 1 seeds threw the match to avoid potential clash against other chinese pair in the semi's. They wanted to meet in the finals so that china can have more medals. It wasn't because of fear in their case, I may be wrong though.

Anyways looks like indian pair is going to the quarters because of this so that is cool.

No, they're not.