Just how good will the Olympics be?

[AndrewT]

Surely the thing to do was fake an injury - slip early on, hold ankle in pain, take the defeat, hobble off and luckily recover in time for the QF.

[AndrewT]

They had concerns this thing would happen before it started - from The Guardian.

My colleague Peter Walker has more insight on this. "I've just had a fascinating chat with a BWF staff member," he discloses. "I can't name him, but he's well informed. He said the issue of potential non-trying was raised at the pre-tournament meeting of national team managers but dismissed. Many people assumed this would happen with a group system, in place for the first time this Olympics. The Chinese badminton team, he added, were known to closely follow instructions from coaches on how to best 'massage' a draw. 'Lots of people knew this would happen,' he said. 'In a way it's probably best for the sport. I imagine the IOC ordered tough action, as I can't imagine the BWF doing this alone.'"

[The Camel]

It was all far too obvious.

They needed to go on the "advanced cheating methods" course run by K Fallon.

Keith!

Guest speakers J Higgins and N Davydenko.

[The Camel]

Obviously talking about Kevin Fallon, Justine Higgins and Nigel Davydenko.

[AndrewT]

@JamesHunt That's why Mario Kart will never be an olympic sport. Staying 2nd with blue shell = easy win. Jacques Rogge would shit himself

[TightEnd]

From the "couldn't make it up" folder

The Mayor arrives at the Olympics today, shouting "yikes" as he comes down the zipwire

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Hampton Court, for the Bicycle Race thing, Rich?

Love Boris!

[TightEnd]

Hampton Court, for the Bicycle Race thing, Rich?

Love Boris!

Apparently

Apparently he's stuck too

Sadly there is no live update of this on one of 25 HD channels

[TightEnd]

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2012-08-01/get-me-a-rope-get-me-a-ladder-boris-stuck-halfway-down-zipwire/

[The Camel]

Attempts to equate deliberately losing a badminton game to slowing down in an athletics heat are so spurious.

Usain Bolt isn't slowing down to avoid Yohann Blake in the semifinal is he?

[AndrewT]

Attempts to equate deliberately losing a badminton game to slowing down in an athletics heat are so spurious.

Usain Bolt isn't slowing down to avoid Yohann Blake in the semifinal is he?

But they weren't banned for trying to avoid another pair, they were banned for not trying their best.

Another example from this very Olympics - the coach of the Japanese women's team admit they didn't try to win their last game against South Africa to avoid playing the US in the next round. By this rationale, they should also be thrown out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/world-champion-japan-held-to-0-0-draw-by-south-africa-at-london-olympic-tournament/2012/07/31/gJQAhxZsMX_story.html

[The Camel]

Attempts to equate deliberately losing a badminton game to slowing down in an athletics heat are so spurious.

Usain Bolt isn't slowing down to avoid Yohann Blake in the semifinal is he?

But they weren't banned for trying to avoid another pair, they were banned for not trying their best.

Another example from this very Olympics - the coach of the Japanese women's team admit they didn't try to win their last game against South Africa to avoid playing the US in the next round. By this rationale, they should also be thrown out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/world-champion-japan-held-to-0-0-draw-by-south-africa-at-london-olympic-tournament/2012/07/31/gJQAhxZsMX_story.html

Semantics.

They were banned for avoiding the other pair, but the IOC didn't want to say that.

Japan should definitely be thrown out for the same reason though.

[mondatoo]

Wiggins abs flying, GOGOGOGO.

1,2 with Froome would be incred.

[Longy]

Bradley Wiggins, what a guy!

Excellent ride by Froome as well, on a course that really didn't suit him.

[Tonji]

Bradley Wiggins, what a guy!

Excellent ride by Froome as well, on a course that really didn't suit him.

Wiggo what a Hero