Rio Olympics Megathread

[Marydale]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

[Rio Cana]

The tennis player that is representing us in the Olympics, Monica Puig, has won two games. First game against Slovenia. Second game against Russia. She won both games with a score of 6-3 and 6-2. Tomorrow she plays Spain.

Time for the celebration for winning those two games - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEEa4wl_BZM

[Farnhamia]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

Because Bahrain was busy this month?

[Luminesa]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

...Rio is a city.

[Rio Cana]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

One place is has good has another. Our Olympic team, unlike certain so called well known nations, has not officially complained about conditions even though they have commented about a certain lacking in some places.

[Marydale]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

...Rio is a city.

Oh fuck mate I'm sorry. Out of all the potential locations, why did they pick Rio?

Is that better?

[Luminesa]

...Rio is a city.

Oh fuck mate I'm sorry. Out of all the potential locations, why did they pick Rio?

Is that better?

Lol. Yeah. No worries.

[Frenline Delpha]

You go, Lily King. You go!

[Nickel Empire]

Rooting for Canada.

[The first Galactic Republic]

God I hate NBC's coverage.

[Frenline Delpha]

God I hate NBC's coverage.

Is it really Americna centric in other countries? Or are they just shit period. (They are)

[The first Galactic Republic]

God I hate NBC's coverage.

Is it really Americna centric in other countries? Or are they just shit period. (They are)

America centric is only one of its problems.

Like I just watched a medal ceremony and the camera didn't give two seconds to the Chinese athlete who won silver.

[Frenline Delpha]

Is it really Americna centric in other countries? Or are they just shit period. (They are)

America centric is only one of its problems.

Like I just watched a medal ceremony and the camera didn't give two seconds to the Chinese athlete who won silver.

Odd. I would think they'd focus on the home country of whatever country they broadcasted in.

[Luminesa]

God I hate NBC's coverage.

I'm starting to get annoyed with it too. I love basketball, don't get me wrong...but that's literally all I've gotten on here thus far. Basketball and soccer. I would really like to see the other events, guise. XD

[Luminesa]

Rooting for Canada.

Canada's women's basketball team is scary.

[Britonisea]

America centric is only one of its problems.

Like I just watched a medal ceremony and the camera didn't give two seconds to the Chinese athlete who won silver.

Odd. I would think they'd focus on the home country of whatever country they broadcasted in.

Not the BBC! Unless it's important like Tennis or...well...Diving.

God I hate NBC's coverage.

Can you tell me about your coverage? How many channels show the Olympics? If one, how do you live? What about the graphics? HD/SD? Do you have commercial breaks during matches? How often does it show the medal table?

[Shofercia]

God I hate NBC's coverage.

Is it really Americna centric in other countries? Or are they just shit period. (They are)

They really are. If Fox News was as good as Fox Sports, and if NBC News was as bad as NBC Sports, there wouldn't have been a single Democrat elected president after Carter.

Can you tell me about your coverage? How many channels show the Olympics? If one, how do you live? What about the graphics? HD/SD? Do you have commercial breaks during matches? How often does it show the medal table?

NBC has commercial breaks everywhere. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a commercial break in the middle of a Medal Ceremony. Sad thing is, Americans are great at covering sports, just look at how incredibly well the Superbowl is covered. Except for the halftime show, but that's when you just party with your friends; you shouldn't actually watch the halftime show.

It's just idiots being idiots. What I find interesting is that in almost every case of Russians being banned, it's a British Nobleman that's heading the organization. It's like they're butthurt that Russia's still so big, whereas the British Empire is now limited to an island and some change in the Pacific, whose landmass doesn't even amount to French Guyana's. The membership:

President Sir Philip Craven (GBR)
• Vice President Andrew Parsons (BRA)
• Member Mohammed Alhameli (UAE)
• Member Ann Cody (USA)
• Member Rita van Driel (NED)
• Member Patrick Jarvis (CAN)
• Member Duane Kale (NZL)
• Member Jairus Mogalo (KEN)
• Member Kyung-won Na (KOR)
• Member John Petersson (DEN)
• Member Miguel Sagarra (ESP)
• Member Yasushi Yamawaki (JPN)
• Athletes’ Representative* Todd Nicholson (CAN)
• Chief Executive Officer** Xavier Gonzalez(ESP)

I guess that what happens when you don't have connections. Russia should make the British Nobility even more butthurt, by passing a law that refuses to recognize the title of any nobles formerly engaged in colonization of faraway lands, not adjacent to one's country. At least the good news for Russian Paralympians is that there's no way that the Government would dare cut their funding after what happened. And with proper funding, the Russian Paralympians can win in Tokyo in 2020. Provided that a butthurt idiot isn't in charge of the IPC that finds that accessible wheelchair is somehow doping.

The Russian won't forget that the first organization to do a blanket ban was the IAAF, headed by Lord Sebastian Coe. The president of WADA is Sir Craig Reedie. Perhaps Russia should do a blanket ban on doing business with British Nobility. After all, I've just presented more proof than WADA. And since they all love blanket bans so much, perhaps a taste of their very own medicine should be handed out. Of course I'm being sarcastic, merely to illustrate just how truly moronic Craven's action was. This is a new record for stupidity in the Paralympics, one that will be, most likely, impossible to beat for at least a Century.

Just a note, the British 'nobility', as you put it, doesn't really exist any more, and they certainly don't hold any power. 'Sir' Philip Craven is not a member of the aristocracy, he's in fact a 66-year old man in a wheelchair from Bolton (heartland of industrial, working-class England) - he got his knighthood for services to Paralympic Sport, so it kind of makes sense that he'd be made President of the IPC. To me, he's hardly your stereotypical dashing son of the landed gentry trying to prevent Russian railways from extending into Persia.

'Lord' Sebastian Coe is another famous former athlete, winning two Olympic golds and breaking the 800m, 1500m and Mile record numerous times. Like Craven, he is no way part of the British 'nobility', he was made a Lord (a member of Britain's Upper Chamber) after serving as an MP for 5 years, and accepting the peerage from his Party Leader. Again, his athletic credentials make it understandable why he was elected President of the IAAF - He's hardly James Norrington. Similarly, 'Sir' Craig Reedie was knighted for his services to sports administration, after working tirelessly to get Badminton into the Olympics. He's been involved in sports administration at every level for the best part of 30 years. His promotion to the head of WADA, which works closely with the IOC is hardly a surprise. And once again, it's not because he's, as you put it, a 'butthurt' British nobleman. None of them are born with their title, they've all had to work for them, and deserve them (in my eyes).

I don't take issue with you saying Russia's ban is a shitshow, I agree, but I find it quite strange that you're putting it entirely down to 'butthurt' British noblemen that Russia has been, somewhat unfortunately and definitely unfairly, banned from the Paralympics. It might, however, be to do with the state-sponsored doping programme or something.

From the above post: Of course I'm being sarcastic, merely to illustrate just how truly moronic Craven's action was. This is a new record for stupidity in the Paralympics, one that will be, most likely, impossible to beat for at least a Century.

Coe, Craven, Reedie, might have been supa-good at their sports or whatevs, but they're simply discriminatory piggies as far as I'm concerned, the lot of them. The whole part about butthurt British nobility and banning British nobility was to illustrate how moronic the trio truly are; next to them, the three stooges look like Albert Einstein. I wasn't actually calling for the British nobility to be banned; I was merely illustrating how fucked up collective punishment can be.

Now to address the latter part of your post, namely: It might, however, be to do with the state-sponsored doping programme or something.

The evidence came from an alleged extortionist, whom numerous people already caught in a lie. He is the only witness actually cited in WADA's report. Yep, the same idiot who thinks that SpetzNaz use lamps instead of flashlights. Out of Russia's 270+ Paralympians, there were 35 allegations, not a single genuine source cited, and not a single athlete was named. Even by Russia's Judicial Standards this seems absurd. Even by China's. Perhaps even by North Korea's. But not by Coe's, or Craven's, or Reedie's, or McLaren's. If a Judge was to rule like that in California on a major commercial case, his or her ass would be impeached in the very next election. In what can only be summarized as Craven trolling the Russians, that piece of shit stated:

This is not about individuals or individual sports. This is about a state sponsored doping system. This is not about athletes cheating the system but the state run system that is cheating athletes... The facts really do hurt. They are an unprecedented attack on every clean athlete.

The attacker is Craven, not RUSADA. Him pretending otherwise is nothing short of his very own, utterly pathetic, delusion.

[Risottia]

Out of all countries, why did they pick Rio?

Because Bahrain was busy this month?

Because Kiev and Damascus were already hosting other events!

[Novus America]

America centric is only one of its problems.

Like I just watched a medal ceremony and the camera didn't give two seconds to the Chinese athlete who won silver.

Odd. I would think they'd focus on the home country of whatever country they broadcasted in.

They do not create all new content tailored to every country they broadcast in. But yes, the problem is not that NBC is America centric. Being that it is American it logically should be. The problem is that NBC sports sucks at actually reporting on sports.

[Frenline Delpha]

Odd. I would think they'd focus on the home country of whatever country they broadcasted in.

They do not create all new content tailored to every country they broadcast in. But yes, the problem is not that NBC is America centric. Being that it is American it logically should be. The problem is that NBC sports sucks at actually reporting on sports.

Can't disagree there.

[Kalosia]

Odd. I would think they'd focus on the home country of whatever country they broadcasted in.

They do not create all new content tailored to every country they broadcast in. But yes, the problem is not that NBC is America centric. Being that it is American it logically should be. The problem is that NBC sports sucks at actually reporting on sports.

I heard they were so America-centric that they had the nerve to ask Brazil to use the English-language rather than Portuguese-language order when introducing countries in the opening ceremony, just so there would be more buildup to the United States (rather than Estados Unidos) team entering the arena and people who tune in late wouldn't be disappointed to find out they missed it? Because TV viewership is what matters most amirite

In other news, an elderly woman in Thailand got so excited to watch her grandson compete in weightlifting that she collapsed at a viewing party. Sadly, she did not live to see him win his nation their second medal.
Looking back at this to be fair it was probably late at night or in the early hours of the morning, given the 10-hour time difference, so perhaps it was just fatigue.

[Novus America]

They do not create all new content tailored to every country they broadcast in. But yes, the problem is not that NBC is America centric. Being that it is American it logically should be. The problem is that NBC sports sucks at actually reporting on sports.

I heard they were so America-centric that they had the nerve to ask Brazil to use the English-language rather than Portuguese-language order when introducing countries in the opening ceremony, just so there would be more buildup to the United States (rather than Estados Unidos) team entering the arena and people who tune in late wouldn't be disappointed to find out they missed it? Because TV viewership is what matters most amirite

In other news, an elderly woman in Thailand got so excited to watch her grandson compete in weightlifting that she collapsed at a viewing party. Sadly, she did not live to see him win his nation their second medal.
Looking back at this to be fair it was probably late at night or in the early hours of the morning, given the 10-hour time difference, so perhaps it was just fatigue.

Yes. TV viewership (and by extension ad revenue) is all that matters to NBC. And should be. They are not running a charity here. They are a for profit company. They exist solely to benefit their shareholders.

[Wray]

Is it really Americna centric in other countries? Or are they just shit period. (They are)

They really are. If Fox News was as good as Fox Sports, and if NBC News was as bad as NBC Sports, there wouldn't have been a single Democrat elected president after Carter.

Can you tell me about your coverage? How many channels show the Olympics? If one, how do you live? What about the graphics? HD/SD? Do you have commercial breaks during matches? How often does it show the medal table?

NBC has commercial breaks everywhere. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a commercial break in the middle of a Medal Ceremony. Sad thing is, Americans are great at covering sports, just look at how incredibly well the Superbowl is covered. Except for the halftime show, but that's when you just party with your friends; you shouldn't actually watch the halftime show.

Just a note, the British 'nobility', as you put it, doesn't really exist any more, and they certainly don't hold any power. 'Sir' Philip Craven is not a member of the aristocracy, he's in fact a 66-year old man in a wheelchair from Bolton (heartland of industrial, working-class England) - he got his knighthood for services to Paralympic Sport, so it kind of makes sense that he'd be made President of the IPC. To me, he's hardly your stereotypical dashing son of the landed gentry trying to prevent Russian railways from extending into Persia.

'Lord' Sebastian Coe is another famous former athlete, winning two Olympic golds and breaking the 800m, 1500m and Mile record numerous times. Like Craven, he is no way part of the British 'nobility', he was made a Lord (a member of Britain's Upper Chamber) after serving as an MP for 5 years, and accepting the peerage from his Party Leader. Again, his athletic credentials make it understandable why he was elected President of the IAAF - He's hardly James Norrington. Similarly, 'Sir' Craig Reedie was knighted for his services to sports administration, after working tirelessly to get Badminton into the Olympics. He's been involved in sports administration at every level for the best part of 30 years. His promotion to the head of WADA, which works closely with the IOC is hardly a surprise. And once again, it's not because he's, as you put it, a 'butthurt' British nobleman. None of them are born with their title, they've all had to work for them, and deserve them (in my eyes).

I don't take issue with you saying Russia's ban is a shitshow, I agree, but I find it quite strange that you're putting it entirely down to 'butthurt' British noblemen that Russia has been, somewhat unfortunately and definitely unfairly, banned from the Paralympics. It might, however, be to do with the state-sponsored doping programme or something.

From the above post: Of course I'm being sarcastic, merely to illustrate just how truly moronic Craven's action was. This is a new record for stupidity in the Paralympics, one that will be, most likely, impossible to beat for at least a Century.

Coe, Craven, Reedie, might have been supa-good at their sports or whatevs, but they're simply discriminatory piggies as far as I'm concerned, the lot of them. The whole part about butthurt British nobility and banning British nobility was to illustrate how moronic the trio truly are; next to them, the three stooges look like Albert Einstein. I wasn't actually calling for the British nobility to be banned; I was merely illustrating how fucked up collective punishment can be.

Now to address the latter part of your post, namely: It might, however, be to do with the state-sponsored doping programme or something.

The evidence came from an alleged extortionist, whom numerous people already caught in a lie. He is the only witness actually cited in WADA's report. Yep, the same idiot who thinks that SpetzNaz use lamps instead of flashlights. Out of Russia's 270+ Paralympians, there were 35 allegations, not a single genuine source cited, and not a single athlete was named. Even by Russia's Judicial Standards this seems absurd. Even by China's. Perhaps even by North Korea's. But not by Coe's, or Craven's, or Reedie's, or McLaren's. If a Judge was to rule like that in California on a major commercial case, his or her ass would be impeached in the very next election. In what can only be summarized as Craven trolling the Russians, that piece of shit stated:

This is not about individuals or individual sports. This is about a state sponsored doping system. This is not about athletes cheating the system but the state run system that is cheating athletes... The facts really do hurt. They are an unprecedented attack on every clean athlete.

The attacker is Craven, not RUSADA. Him pretending otherwise is nothing short of his very own, utterly pathetic, delusion.

I don't disagree with the fact that Russia's Paralympians being banned is severely unfair, in fact, I commented earlier in that regard. But I find it strange that you're putting it down to the moustache-twirling antics of a set of British administrators (who just happen to be British - they could have been any other nationality, but that doesn't fit your argument) as opposed to any legitimate reason - that reason being the Russian government has been proved to have been running a doping programme, or at least, there's fairly clear evidence of it. Saying otherwise is being blinded by chauvinism.

It would be convenient if Dr. Rodchenkov were just a random man off the street, so his claims would have less substance, but the fact that he's the former head of the Moscow Lab which was complicit in the doping - so he's about the most relevant person there could be. Also, the report names 'other witnesses who came forward on a confidential basis' for the reason that 'individuals who were identified to give interviews were fearful of speaking to the IC' - because he feared for his life, Dr. Rodchenkov has fled to the USA. That doesn't strike me as an environment conducive to transparency. So it's clear that there were other witnesses - the WADA can't get away with lying on a grand scale unlike some bodies - they just didn't want to name themselves for fear of getting an ice-pick in the head. There was also 'unsolicited, an extensive narrative with attachments from one important government representative described in this Report' - if you want to keep something secret in government, it's best not to have government officials giving 'extensive narratives' to investigative bodies.

It was the wrong punishment, but the right reason. The wrong people, the Russian Paralympians, have been blamed and punished. Although perhaps the punishment, however unjust, might be the wake-up call Russia needs to re-examine it's practices in sports.

Whether or not the minuatiae of the evidence is up to scratch, it's pretty clear to everybody (except, unsurprisingly, some elements of Russian political and sporting governance) that doping has been going on in Russia. To what extent (although it appears pretty extensive) and for how long is up for debate, but it's happening - and something, perhaps recklessly and poorly executed, is being done.

Here's the report, although I suspect you've already drawn your own conclusions: https://wada-main-prod.s3.amazonaws.com ... wfinal.pdf

[Val Halla]

In the uk, the BBC is showing all the events live. Obviously not full coverage, but you can watch everything.

[Britonisea]

In the uk, the BBC is showing all the events live. Obviously not full coverage, but you can watch everything.

Yet BBC played less than the NBC...lol


Unfortunately, an American company has taken rights away from BBC for Olympics 2024 onwards (or there's some sort of deal etc)