The 2016 Olympic Games

[Mellsblue]

Yorkshire is currently sitting 13th in the medal table. Not sure where they sit in the per capita version; but, I doubt anyone's bothered as that's only really for those with low ambition.

And with the brothers Brownlee to come

Nicola Adams guaranteed a medal.....

[WaspInWales]

Kenny looking imperious!

[canta_brian]

Another stupendous ride from Lauren trott. She is some cyclist

[Mellsblue]

Kenny and Trott are both ridiculous. Regardless of how many medals they garner over their careers, their biggest contribution to British cycling may well be their progeny.

[Mellsblue]

It could be a glorious 90 mins in the velodrome.

[Lizard]

The amazing Lisa Carrington just dominated the K1 200 final. The men's 49er crew are so far ahead they cannot be beaten in the "medal" race. Two more gold for NZ.

[Which Tyler]

Boxing: now I know nothing much about this sport, and would like to object to its existence; though I don't on the principal of consenting adults, and all that.

I know that boxing head guards have been proven worse than ineffectual in combating concussion - the entire point behind them, IIRC they double the risks, rather than halving them, but do protect against cuts and bruises (much like scrum caps then, but with direct research).
Equally, I know that they've been banned for these Olympics, but....
Does anyone know why they're only banned for male boxers, whilst the females have to put up with the increased risk? I'm struggling to find any not-horribly-sexist reason for this; can anyone help?


ETA, I've been informed that the reason might be that research has only been conducted with male boxers, and females might be different, in which case - yep, horribly sexist.

[Mellsblue]

Boxing: now I know nothing much about this sport, and would like to object to its existence; though I don't on the principal of consenting adults, and all that.

I know that boxing head guards have been proven worse than ineffectual in combating concussion - the entire point behind them, IIRC they double the risks, rather than halving them, but do protect against cuts and bruises (much like scrum caps then, but with direct research).
Equally, I know that they've been banned for these Olympics, but....
Does anyone know why they're only banned for male boxers, whilst the females have to put up with the increased risk? I'm struggling to find any not-horribly-sexist reason for this; can anyone help?


ETA, I've been informed that the reason might be that research has only been conducted with male boxers, and females might be different, in which case - yep, horribly sexist.

I'm no expert but I believe the reason head guards were deemed to be more dangerous was they lured the boxers into a false sense of security that getting a blow to the head wasn't doing too much damage. Perhaps the women don't punch with enough venom for it to be definitely deemed that the head guard is a negative.

[Galfon]

Laura at a Trott..emotional stuff.It's great that the cycling crew have just powered on despite losing a few high profile managers/coaches after 2012.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

UK have hit the medal target given to it by the funding body.

[Galfon]

Blimey, Vogel's got some timber 'well rounded athlete' said yon commentaro..
anyhoo..James 1 down after first sprint.

[Mellsblue]

One down, two to go. Just need Mr Trott and James to do the business. James looks she might be up against it, though.

[Mellsblue]

Marchant wins bronze for Yorkshire............oh yeah, and GB.

[Mellsblue]

Ze German likes a bit of psychological gamesmanship on the startline.

[Galfon]

..Vogel's saddle couldn't take the strain..but it was enough for gold.
Good effort by James.

[Galfon]

uh oh..

[Mellsblue]

Squeaky bum time.

[canta_brian]

Blimey, that was a bit of a tight call for Kenny

[rowan]

Imgine if 7s caught on in the Caribbean They'd be awesome. Interestingly, Havana now has an annual event up and running and it has attracted a few teams from the US and other islands. To be honest, I don't imagine XVs will ever really catch on in that part of the world, but 7s could become huge.

Update: Sorry, the video appears to have removed since I posted it, but try to imagine, if you will, Usain Bolt striding to victory in the 100m, 200m and at the end of the 4 X 100m relay and you'll sort of get the idea...

[Mellsblue]

Phew. Now it's squeaky bum time for the German.

[Mellsblue]

Balls of steel. Well done.

[Galfon]

Kenny was ganged up on there..but pace pace pace wins the day..just what is the secret wiith these skinny Brits ?

[canta_brian]

Cracking race from Kenny. and the kiwi won the b race for the lower places, although I reckon that pretty much counts as the real silver.

[Mellsblue]

Another silver, in the diving, via Jack Laugher for Yorkshire, and a North Yorkshire lad to boot.

[Lizard]

Boxing: now I know nothing much about this sport, and would like to object to its existence; though I don't on the principal of consenting adults, and all that.

I know that boxing head guards have been proven worse than ineffectual in combating concussion - the entire point behind them, IIRC they double the risks, rather than halving them, but do protect against cuts and bruises (much like scrum caps then, but with direct research).
Equally, I know that they've been banned for these Olympics, but....
Does anyone know why they're only banned for male boxers, whilst the females have to put up with the increased risk? I'm struggling to find any not-horribly-sexist reason for this; can anyone help?


ETA, I've been informed that the reason might be that research has only been conducted with male boxers, and females might be different, in which case - yep, horribly sexist.

I'm no expert but I believe the reason head guards were deemed to be more dangerous was they lured the boxers into a false sense of security that getting a blow to the head wasn't doing too much damage. Perhaps the women don't punch with enough venom for it to be definitely deemed that the head guard is a negative.

I think I heard somewhere, possibly on the radio, that this was part of a move to align amateur and pro boxing, with the eventual aim to get pro boxers into the Olympics.

That could be completely wrong, of course.