Rio Olympics Megathread

[Gauthier]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the IOC’s ban on Russian athletes who have previously been sanctioned for doping offences, on the grounds that it “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

It’s clearly the right decision, but I find it quite concerning that the decision has only come the day before the opening ceremony.

Someone decided Russia shouldn't be spared the joys of pathogens and parasites.

[Britonisea]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the IOC’s ban on Russian athletes who have previously been sanctioned for doping offences, on the grounds that it “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

It’s clearly the right decision, but I find it quite concerning that the decision has only come the day before the opening ceremony.

How is this the right decision?!? Don't they deserve punishment? If they break ORs and WRs - and are found positive, it will crush IAAF (especially) apart.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's quite a shambles. Russia will walk in to the ceremony, we will all dance and sing then it's over.

[Commerce Heights]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the IOC’s ban on Russian athletes who have previously been sanctioned for doping offences, on the grounds that it “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

It’s clearly the right decision, but I find it quite concerning that the decision has only come the day before the opening ceremony.

How is this the right decision?!? Don't they deserve punishment? If they break ORs and WRs - and are found positive, it will crush IAAF (especially) apart.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's quite a shambles. Russia will walk in to the ceremony, we will all dance and sing then it's over.

The IAAF and IWF suspensions of Russia are not affected by this decision. In other sports, Russian competitors are still subject to individual review. The CAS decision only says that competitors who are not implicated in the McLaren report, but previously committed doping offences for which they have already served their bans, may now be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games if the international federation approves them.

For example, Ilnur Zakarin, a Russian cyclist who won a stage at this year’s Tour de France, and presumably passed several doping tests at that event (because cycling is really paranoid about doping these days), was excluded from the Olympic Games under the IOC ruling because he was found guilty of doping in 2009. He served a two-year ban which ended in 2011. There’s no new evidence against him, and no reason why he should be banned again. The CAS ruling would allow his case to be reconsidered. But since the ruling was made so late, I don’t think that could happen before the men’s road race on Saturday morning. (As far as I know, he didn’t file an appeal.)

[Frenline Delpha]

How is this the right decision?!? Don't they deserve punishment? If they break ORs and WRs - and are found positive, it will crush IAAF (especially) apart.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's quite a shambles. Russia will walk in to the ceremony, we will all dance and sing then it's over.

The IAAF and IWF suspensions of Russia are not affected by this decision. In other sports, Russian competitors are still subject to individual review. The CAS decision only says that competitors who are not implicated in the McLaren report, but previously committed doping offences for which they have already served their bans, may now be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games if the international federation approves them.

For example, Ilnur Zakarin, a Russian cyclist who won a stage at this year’s Tour de France, and presumably passed several doping tests at that event (because cycling is really paranoid about doping these days), was excluded from the Olympic Games under the IOC ruling because he was found guilty of doping in 2009. He served a two-year ban which ended in 2011. There’s no new evidence against him, and no reason why he should be banned again. The CAS ruling would allow his case to be reconsidered. But since the ruling was made so late, I don’t think that could happen before the men’s road race on Saturday morning. (As far as I know, he didn’t file an appeal.)

Ahh. That makes sense.

[Mad hatters in jeans]

I have to wonder if the athletes actually want to win gold medals. They'll probably be stolen from them anyways.

Silver and bronze might have a better chance of making it out of the country.

[Outer Sparta]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the IOC’s ban on Russian athletes who have previously been sanctioned for doping offences, on the grounds that it “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

It’s clearly the right decision, but I find it quite concerning that the decision has only come the day before the opening ceremony.

Someone decided Russia shouldn't be spared the joys of pathogens and parasites.

Maybe that's Russia's punishment, then?

[Shofercia]

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the IOC’s ban on Russian athletes who have previously been sanctioned for doping offences, on the grounds that it “does not respect the athletes’ right of natural justice.”

It’s clearly the right decision, but I find it quite concerning that the decision has only come the day before the opening ceremony.

How is this the right decision?!? Don't they deserve punishment? If they break ORs and WRs - and are found positive, it will crush IAAF (especially) apart.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's quite a shambles. Russia will walk in to the ceremony, we will all dance and sing then it's over.

Oh, it is far from over. WADA made their strike. Now it's Russia's turn.

[Zeinbrad]

I wonder the athletes are gonna sue the shit out of the Olympics after this is done with.

[Outer Sparta]

I wonder the athletes are gonna sue the shit out of the Olympics after this is done with.

It should've been Chicago 2016. Or Madrid 2016. Or anywhere else besides Rio 2016.

[Zeinbrad]

I wonder the athletes are gonna sue the shit out of the Olympics after this is done with.

It should've been Chicago 2016. Or Madrid 2016. Or anywhere else besides Rio 2016.

Mosul 2016?

[Outer Sparta]

It should've been Chicago 2016. Or Madrid 2016. Or anywhere else besides Rio 2016.

Mosul 2016?

Or Moon 2016.

[Gauthier]

I wonder the athletes are gonna sue the shit out of the Olympics after this is done with.

After they're done shitting the shit out of themselves.

[The first Galactic Republic]

I wonder the athletes are gonna sue the shit out of the Olympics after this is done with.

After they're done shitting the shit out of themselves.

Does this thread have anything else to talk about?

[Eol Sha]

If there is any single good thing about the Olympics its that they'll be taking place in a decent time zone this year.

[Britonisea]

If there is any single good thing about the Olympics its that they'll be taking place in a decent time zone this year.

I prefer UTC±1 (obviously), to and including +8.

How is this the right decision?!? Don't they deserve punishment? If they break ORs and WRs - and are found positive, it will crush IAAF (especially) apart.
It doesn't matter anyway. It's quite a shambles. Russia will walk in to the ceremony, we will all dance and sing then it's over.

The IAAF and IWF suspensions of Russia are not affected by this decision. In other sports, Russian competitors are still subject to individual review. The CAS decision only says that competitors who are not implicated in the McLaren report, but previously committed doping offences for which they have already served their bans, may now be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games if the international federation approves them.

For example, Ilnur Zakarin, a Russian cyclist who won a stage at this year’s Tour de France, and presumably passed several doping tests at that event (because cycling is really paranoid about doping these days), was excluded from the Olympic Games under the IOC ruling because he was found guilty of doping in 2009. He served a two-year ban which ended in 2011. There’s no new evidence against him, and no reason why he should be banned again. The CAS ruling would allow his case to be reconsidered. But since the ruling was made so late, I don’t think that could happen before the men’s road race on Saturday morning. (As far as I know, he didn’t file an appeal.)

Oh okay.

[Alvecia]

I saw someone make a good point recently, which was that overall people seem more worried about the athletes visiting Brazil than the people living there.

[Vassenor]

I saw someone make a good point recently, which was that overall people seem more worried about the athletes visiting Brazil than the people living there.

Eurocentrism or similar? A general "screw the poor people" mentality?

[Alvecia]

I saw someone make a good point recently, which was that overall people seem more worried about the athletes visiting Brazil than the people living there.

Eurocentrism or similar? A general "screw the poor people" mentality?

Didn't give context so hard to say. I think it's fair to assume that for a lot of people it's just something that hasn't occured to them. That was the case for me.
So focused on the olympics and the athletes that I actually didn't consider that people actually have to live there after the tournament is over, and they lived there before it began, when there was more poluution and the like.
Just something to think about.

[Corrian]

Is there anything I can watch the Opening Ceremony on without TV? I wouldn't mind actually watching an opening ceremony again for a change.

[Britonisea]

Is there anything I can watch the Opening Ceremony on without TV? I wouldn't mind actually watching an opening ceremony again for a change.

It depends what country you are in. I'm sure there would be online coverage somewhere.

[Aboim]

Is there anything I can watch the Opening Ceremony on without TV? I wouldn't mind actually watching an opening ceremony again for a change.

The live stream of NBC, maybe: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/watch-o ... -games-nbc

[Outer Sparta]

If there is any single good thing about the Olympics its that they'll be taking place in a decent time zone this year.

Chicago would've been even more optimal. If the Olympics were staged in Madrid, I wouldn't mind the time difference for a better quality Games.

[Corrian]

I'm not entirely sure Chicago is a great option right now considering all the gun violence.

[Outer Sparta]

I'm not entirely sure Chicago is a great option right now considering all the gun violence.

Rio has Zika, pollution (air, water, you name it), a crime situation worse than Chicago, slums, corruption, and battered-down Olympic villages. But history is history. Let's focus on Rio and Rio only.

[Aboim]

If my mother would be a man, I did have two fathers. Chicago and Madrid will have other opportunities, but not today. Twelve pages of your continous crying cannot change it