Just how good will the Olympics be?

[Jon MW]

Still not a massive fan of taekwondo.  Close to the end of the second round and the score is 1-1, both of those points scored as penalties by the other fighter rather than effective strikes.

So that means two blokes waving their feet at each other without scoring a kick for 4 minutes so far...

The martial arts forum made a lot of the olympic scoring turning it into a kicking game - I'd actually completely forgotten that it's 'meant' to involve the hands as well. I don't know whether that would have made it a better spectator sport if there had been more punching though.

FWIW the bloke he lost to has fought Cook this year and last year - and lost both.

Been looking around for some info on this saga and from what I can surmise, Cook was not selected because he left the official training program last year and went to train on his own.

As long as he was told at the time this could affect his selection for the Olympics, it seems fair enough to leave him out.

Yes that's probably the reason, but they weren't 'allowed' to not select him for that reason - or because he said their tactics were all wrong and he had to leave to make sure he won stuff (he won 12 out of 13 after that). So they couldn't have told him that it would affect his selection because that would be admitting that they were going to be breaking their own rules because he was being mean to them

[AndrewT]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

[TightEnd]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

Two days of qualification followed by a complete game of chance.

[Woodsey]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

I thought that too, too much of a crapshoot. Should have point over a few rounds or something maybe,

[The Camel]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

Two days of qualification followed by a complete game of chance.

Hardly a game of chance.

Think there were too many qualifiers though.

Should have been 1 qually round and a repercharge maybe.

[TightEnd]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

Two days of qualification followed by a complete game of chance.

Hardly a game of chance.

Think there were too many qualifiers though.

Should have been 1 qually round and a repercharge maybe.

even the commenator described it as a lottery!

would have thought cumulative scores after three runs, out of different gates, would have been fair

[The Camel]

Seems pretty mental having the medals decided by a one-off race in the BMX - if you don't get to the first bend in the lead you're kinda dead.

Two days of qualification followed by a complete game of chance.

Hardly a game of chance.

Think there were too many qualifiers though.

Should have been 1 qually round and a repercharge maybe.

even the commenator described it as a lottery!

would have thought cumulative scores after three runs, out of different gates, would have been fair

Wasn't listening to the comm. Didn't the best qualifier have choice of lanes?

[TightEnd]

think so

comms says

"run the same race in ten minutes time and the result would be completely different"

so what's the point of all those qualifiers?

mental sport to watch, a big hit, but a bit of a head scratcher to the end to me

[The Camel]

think so

comms says

"run the same race in ten minutes time and the result would be completely different"

so what's the point of all those qualifiers?

mental sport to watch, a big hit, but a bit of a head scratcher to the end to me

A bit similar to short track ice speed skating.

They only have one shot at it.

Makes for an exciting and tense spectacle.

[kinboshi]

Still not a massive fan of taekwondo.  Close to the end of the second round and the score is 1-1, both of those points scored as penalties by the other fighter rather than effective strikes.

So that means two blokes waving their feet at each other without scoring a kick for 4 minutes so far...

The martial arts forum made a lot of the olympic scoring turning it into a kicking game - I'd actually completely forgotten that it's 'meant' to involve the hands as well. I don't know whether that would have made it a better spectator sport if there had been more punching though.

FWIW the bloke he lost to has fought Cook this year and last year - and lost both.

Been looking around for some info on this saga and from what I can surmise, Cook was not selected because he left the official training program last year and went to train on his own.

As long as he was told at the time this could affect his selection for the Olympics, it seems fair enough to leave him out.

He went off to train on his own, and at his own expense, and went from an also ran to the world no. 1.

[kinboshi]

GB women's hockey with a great 3-1 win against NZ to take the bronze medal.

Kate Walsh (who fractured her jaw in the first group game) was immense again, putting her body on the line a few times to stop NZ attacks. Alex Danson is the darling of the team, and those two definitely shone today.

Click to see full-size image.

[Marky147]

They couldn't be seen to admit he was right to sack their trainers off and go his own way by selecting him. Put the 2nd string in, teach him a lesson for daring to try and maximise his potential..........

[The Camel]

Still not a massive fan of taekwondo.  Close to the end of the second round and the score is 1-1, both of those points scored as penalties by the other fighter rather than effective strikes.

So that means two blokes waving their feet at each other without scoring a kick for 4 minutes so far...

The martial arts forum made a lot of the olympic scoring turning it into a kicking game - I'd actually completely forgotten that it's 'meant' to involve the hands as well. I don't know whether that would have made it a better spectator sport if there had been more punching though.

FWIW the bloke he lost to has fought Cook this year and last year - and lost both.

Been looking around for some info on this saga and from what I can surmise, Cook was not selected because he left the official training program last year and went to train on his own.

As long as he was told at the time this could affect his selection for the Olympics, it seems fair enough to leave him out.

He went off to train on his own, and at his own expense, and went from an also ran to the world no. 1.

Thought martial arts were about discipline and respect.

As long as he was told leaving the official training scheme might affect his selection, I have no problem with leaving him out.

Mostly I feel sorry for the guy who took the spot on the team. He was subject to ridic scrutiny and questioning from the media through no fault of his own.

[kinboshi]

Still not a massive fan of taekwondo.  Close to the end of the second round and the score is 1-1, both of those points scored as penalties by the other fighter rather than effective strikes.

So that means two blokes waving their feet at each other without scoring a kick for 4 minutes so far...

The martial arts forum made a lot of the olympic scoring turning it into a kicking game - I'd actually completely forgotten that it's 'meant' to involve the hands as well. I don't know whether that would have made it a better spectator sport if there had been more punching though.

FWIW the bloke he lost to has fought Cook this year and last year - and lost both.

Been looking around for some info on this saga and from what I can surmise, Cook was not selected because he left the official training program last year and went to train on his own.

As long as he was told at the time this could affect his selection for the Olympics, it seems fair enough to leave him out.

He went off to train on his own, and at his own expense, and went from an also ran to the world no. 1.

Thought martial arts were about discipline and respect.

As long as he was told leaving the official training scheme might affect his selection, I have no problem with leaving him out.

Mostly I feel sorry for the guy who took the spot on the team. He was subject to ridic scrutiny and questioning from the media through no fault of his own.

Taekwondo isn't a martial art, it's a sport. 

(opens can of worms)

[jakally]

Synchronised swimming belongs in the same 'it's not a sport' dustbin as dressage.
TV firmly switched off.