Fuck the olmpics

Unfortunately, to succeed in anything at the Olympic level, you have to be extremely fanatical about it, and that can lead to all sorts of bad things. Two of the worst sports seem to be gymnastics and figure skating. In both cases, the pressure to be perfect is extreme; in the blink of an eye, one mistake can flush four years of preparation down the toilet.

On the other hand, many Americans have limited exposure to people from other countries. Olympic TV coverage shows foreign cultures in a much more positive light than news coverage of wars and natural disasters. During the Cold War, the Olympic Games were the only places and times that most of us ever saw a Russian smile or laugh. We got reminded that they were human, which was very important at that time.

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in participation by American women in team sports of all kinds. This has led to a similarly drastic increase in women's sports injuries, some of them quite severe. I worry that we may have gone too far in this direction. Getting some exercise and having a little fun with your friends in school is fine, but if we are doing a lot of things that can often lead to a lifetime of knee or back pain, then we should be re-thinking the priorities. Equal opportunity doesn't mean that every girl has to act like a boy.

 

Sports=injuries. Professional and Amateur.

Maybe I see the pressure it a bit different because I come from an area that has cultivated its share of Olympic skaters without resorting to EasternBloc punishment training.

I have seen some scary stuff regarding gymnastics training but not so much with figure skating. Again, probably a local factor.

If a skiier wants to blow out his knees for his sport (and many do just for the love and not competition) then let 'em. If a hockey player wants to risk concussions for his sport, so be it. People who have passion about their sport, know the risks and keep on going.

Plus it's not like life is over at 20 when they aren't quite Olympic anymore. Hell, when Stoiko was still winning medals, he had his post Olympic life in sites and planning. I'm related to a Maple Leaf circa 1980's and he's still doing hockey stuff 30 years later.

It might seem nice to want to protect people from arthritis at 30. And maybe it's because we're older that when we look at these sports we cringe because we know what surprizes the body throws at us later in life, harsh sports or not. But youth and passion automatically makes deaf ears, even if the intention in good. Let the kids have their passion and glory while they can.

Apologies if the post doesn't make sense or is all over the place. I just woke up from a sick nap, and I'm not sure I'm articulating anything properly. I'm not even sure what my point is anymore.

 

the french have been terrible... and an absolute delight to watch.

 

i've enjoyed the olympics.

it gives underrated sports

and all corrosponding sports people

the chance to shine.

anyone who moans about it

they seem controversial for controversials sake.

i'm proud of my little country - the size of britain

compared to the size of the states let us say

really says a lot about the talent we have here.

 

I saw the Welsh in the Synchronized Diving, great technique with the diving, but the officials kept having to dive in and save the sheep cos it couldnt swim

 

Now that the field events are being showcased the united states is beginning to surge ahead of china in the medal count ….big surprise



hotwater

 

Ping-pong? Frisbee golf? Croquet?

It hasn't been that many years ago that the majority of American teenage girls had little interest in playing sports in any kind of a serious way. My high school friends and I could have gone out for basketball, volleyball, tennis, softball, or track. We just didn't see the point. We knew that none of us had enough talent to land an athletic scholarship. I'm not sure what has changed to ramp up the interest level so much.

By the time anyone is old enough to make good decisions, you're too old to be a gymnast. Mostly, parents push those kids for selfish reasons. Or if you live in a communist country, the government chooses whoever it wants. That's another reason why the sport sucks.

I think the growing popularity of beach volleyball is evidence that some people are starting to remember that playing a game is supposed to be fun, above everything else.
:sunny:

 

i can't talk for other countries but our kids just get supported in following their own dreams of choice.its about their dreams not anyone elses.they do what they wanta do.they don't do what they don't want ta do.as it should be!

 

I guess as someone who partakes in competitive poetry, my perspective is a little weird.

 

the only 2 things i take from the games in a negative way is the fact that Mcdonalds is a sponsor. (i mean these are world class athletes and are being sponsored by a place that has a sandwich that has more than a days worth of fat and calories)
the other thing is that the young girl gymnasts that grow up and retire you would think some of them would become coaches in the future, but here i am watching my 9th Olympics and these pre pubescent girls are all almost exclusively being trained by creepy middle aged men.
what man learns that much about young girls walking on a balance beam?

 

Oh snap! I'm in...

thnx 'noodle. :cheers2:

 

i think you should set your sights a little bigger, if these kids werent in a gym they would be working in foxconn and i would say there is a good chance you use one of the products that were made there. which in my opinion would make you a hypocrite. but even in the unlikely situation that you dont use any of the products made there, i still say your time is better left shouting about the conditions of that factory than something that brings pride and accolades to the contestants and even a little to the people watching home hoping the little girl from their hometown does something the whole world can see and appreciate. well the whole world minus the cynics and conspiracy theorists.

EDIT: im not in support for what the chinese do but i am saying that stopping the olympics wont make any of their lives any better.

 

Competitive poetry? You are tougher than me.

 

like the whole of the australian swimming team then.

 

they should have asked raiden to represent china.

 

poetry slams are quite interesting...i wouldnt make them a world sport but i enjoy watching them.

 

spanish poetry

we beat u at eurovision
u aaa howusay nobbb!!
si we bad with our moneyzzz
and now we has no job!!
ollayy!!!

 

yeah thats why, you see it just dosnt translate very well over languages and cultures.

 

Usa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

why do the french fence with baguettes???