It would be fair to say that throughout the tournament, they have not been shy of risking a trip to the naughty seat.Eugene Wrayburn wrote:Your girls seem to think it's decided on a survival basis. Jesus they're physical.Lizard wrote:So this hockey match is decided on goals per capita, right?
There's an Aussie in the office next to me. I've actually stopped winding him up because it's too easy. I'm going to have to say something about their 3rd cricket test v Sri Lanka though.Mellsblue wrote:This is almost as good as looking at the medal table. A good friend of my wife is currently working in Oz. She sent us a photo of the back page of an Oz newspaper claiming that the British are still crap at sport and that this Olymlics is a blip.WaspInWales wrote:The bitterness of Oz:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics/ri ... qtlbh.html
You think that you not being obnoxious is going to stop him from being obnoxious? Doesn't seem likely to me.Lizard wrote:There's an Aussie in the office next to me. I've actually stopped winding him up because it's too easy. I'm going to have to say something about their 3rd cricket test v Sri Lanka though.Mellsblue wrote:This is almost as good as looking at the medal table. A good friend of my wife is currently working in Oz. She sent us a photo of the back page of an Oz newspaper claiming that the British are still crap at sport and that this Olymlics is a blip.WaspInWales wrote:The bitterness of Oz:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/olympics/ri ... qtlbh.html
The worst thing is that if things go wrong in Sydney on Saturday, he's going to have a lot to say I'm sure!
He's a former British Junior gymnastics champion.kk67 wrote:I like Matt,.....he has that amateur knowledge which is sympathetic.Mellsblue wrote:All of this. I think coverage has mostly been of a high standard, both quality and quantity.kk67 wrote:
Yup,...agreed. Also really enjoyed Joanna Rowsell-Shand last night and Paula Radcliffe is always quality.
Personally I feel Jameson and Moorhouse have been the best, they were very funny while they padded during the 1.5 hrs of both of the open water swims (something neither of them know much about).
The expert diving guy I am finding very annoying.
But like a colossus,.....Michael Johnson stands above them all. What a Guy.
I hope the Beeb are paying him a fortune....he deserves it.
Swimming, athletics and cycling stand out.
As an aside, I can't stand Matt Baker. I'm looking forward to his Tiger Woods-esque fall from grace.
I'm amazed you have a problem with him.
Alastair has just done his thing. In some ways it's like watching Paula Radcliffe again, looks to be in immense pain but just keeps going. I do feel sorry for Johnny though. Must be tough to be the best in the world apart from your brother. Just a shame that Gomez wasn't here this time.Which Tyler wrote:Wonder if the Brownlees intend to mimic the German marathon twins, and cross the line hand in hand, and requiring a photo finish?
Will they hell!
They're both out for gold, and supportive of their brother only in being first loser.
Well you would expect her to win if she is in fact two people.Lizard wrote:Lisa Carrington gets a bronze in the K1 500 to become the first NZ women to win 2 medals in 1 Olympics.
We've also qualified 2 men into the shot put final, which must be a first.
Nicked this from another forum but found it interestingSandydragon wrote:Interestingly in the papers today, some of the other nations are suggesting there is something amiss because Britain does well at the Olympics but isn't consistent elsewhere. Smells like sour grapes.Big D wrote:Pretty much that their sole main goal is the Olympics. That is what dictates funding so that is where they aim to peak. They still do well at Worlds etc but their real goal is always the Olympics. Kenny for example has twice as many Olympic golds as world golds.Galfon wrote:Kenny was ganged up on there..but pace pace pace wins the day..just what is the secret wiith these skinny Brits ?
Which Tyler wrote:Listen to the interview with the hockey captain ahead of the SF. Comparing her Olympic debut in Sydney, to now. It is literally the difference between being a full time professional, versus being an amateur getting in some practice after work and no further support.
Surely we rugby fans should appreciate this difference.
Lottery funding means that our athletes are now full-time professionals, on £15k-£28k per year (+ private sponsorship, and depending on success), with professional support structures, coaches, nutritionists, phyio.s, analysts etc. Having hosted 2 commonwealths and an Olympics recently, they have access to elite facilities, Olympic sized swimming pools, velodromes etc.
For cycling, its also caught some media attention (off the back of Olympic succeeds) and Team Sky is now a thing, garnering external investment.
Which Tyler wrote:it was in the BBC article I linked a couple of days ago [1], £15k for an up and comer, they mentioned Peaty with world record and an Olympic gild could get up to £28k. Of course, there's private sponsorship and places like Team Sky that can increase that, but lottery/central funding seems to top out at £28k.OutsideBath wrote:I didn't realise the athletes only received between £15k-£28k, they should be getting much more than this to increase our success even further.
Obviously, the extra cash is going to be limited by appeal, so Jess Ennis will get quite a bit beyond, whilst Laugher, whom we've never heard of before probably gets no extra. IIRC women's hockey is amateur, or semi-pro at best here, whilst Team Sky's riders probably draw a decent wage beyond the £28k
The amount is enough that you don't HAVE to hold down a full-time job, which I guess is the point, especially when funding however many hundreds, presumably thousands of individuals.
I can't find anything on funding for the coaches, support staff etc beyond the gross figures per sport. eg. [2] Athletics (track and field), got £6.7M p.a. since 01/01/13 and last year they funded 64 at "podium" level, and another 66 at "podium potential" level [3], with who-knows how many for future potential. That £6.7M will also take into account all the support staff, facilities etc.
So in rugby, our Salary cap is £6.5M + 2 marquees, for 40-odd players, Athletics gets £6.7M for 130 players, AND all their support.
Then, of course, you've got cycling, swimming, gymnastics, shooting, rowing, diving, hockey etc etc
And people complain that we invest far too much into elite sport; others complain that this level of funding is cheating, equating it to doping.
Links (can't hyperlink on the phone):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37085873
http://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/inve ... ng-figures
http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/worl ... -athletes/
I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.OptimisticJock wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Jonathan Edwards is a twat?
What were his splits this year? (I missed that sort of information) IIRC 4 years ago he'd have qualified for the swimming and running finals if he'd entered them solo.switchskier wrote:I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.OptimisticJock wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Jonathan Edwards is a twat?
Alastair against Mo for the 10k in Tokyo if he's not going to keep going with triathlon?
If he'd called me over like he did to the Slovakian lad I'd have slapped him. He wasn't interested in what the guys had to say unless it was about the brownlees. Twat!switchskier wrote:I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.OptimisticJock wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Jonathan Edwards is a twat?
Alastair against Mo for the 10k in Tokyo if he's not going to keep going with triathlon?
Yeah Edwards is sh1te, the BBC as whole have their favourite athletes which is quite irritating.OptimisticJock wrote:If he'd called me over like he did to the Slovakian lad I'd have slapped him. He wasn't interested in what the guys had to say unless it was about the brownlees. Twat!switchskier wrote:I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.OptimisticJock wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Jonathan Edwards is a twat?
Alastair against Mo for the 10k in Tokyo if he's not going to keep going with triathlon?
Varga is their training partner and effectively acts as a domestique to set such a high pace on the swim that they've got a chance to get away on the bike. The questions seemed reasonable to me and it was Varga that brought the brothers up, not Edwards, noting that working with them was to his benefit too.OptimisticJock wrote:If he'd called me over like he did to the Slovakian lad I'd have slapped him. He wasn't interested in what the guys had to say unless it was about the brownlees. Twat!switchskier wrote:I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.OptimisticJock wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Jonathan Edwards is a twat?
Alastair against Mo for the 10k in Tokyo if he's not going to keep going with triathlon?
You're right it was, however that doesn't give Edwards the right to call him over like an arrogant diner in a restaurant. And the other (2?) athlete he interviewed he didn't give a fuck about until he asked about the brothers.switchskier wrote:Varga is their training partner and effectively acts as a domestique to set such a high pace on the swim that they've got a chance to get away on the bike. The questions seemed reasonable to me and it was Varga that brought the brothers up, not Edwards, noting that working with them was to his benefit too.OptimisticJock wrote:If he'd called me over like he did to the Slovakian lad I'd have slapped him. He wasn't interested in what the guys had to say unless it was about the brownlees. Twat!switchskier wrote:
I was just thinking he was doing a nice job today. Managed to get the athletes for interviews, asked Varga about his race before focusing on the Bownlees and has evidently done his research. Mario Mola gives a great interview again.
Alastair against Mo for the 10k in Tokyo if he's not going to keep going with triathlon?
Haven't seen the splits but no way that they'll be comparable for the 10k this time. Open water swim, hilly cycle course, hot day and some waving to the crowd at the end mean that it will be (relatively) slow.
It all sounds a bit pathetic. I think a few of th competitors need to grow a pair and accept they didn't perform.switchskier wrote:Nicked this from another forum but found it interestingSandydragon wrote:Interestingly in the papers today, some of the other nations are suggesting there is something amiss because Britain does well at the Olympics but isn't consistent elsewhere. Smells like sour grapes.Big D wrote:
Pretty much that their sole main goal is the Olympics. That is what dictates funding so that is where they aim to peak. They still do well at Worlds etc but their real goal is always the Olympics. Kenny for example has twice as many Olympic golds as world golds.
GB were not as poor at WC's during this cycle as people think.
In the 4 world champs between Olympic GB won 26 medals 12 of them gold. They also led the medal table at 2 World Champs and were 4th in another. Yes Paris last year was awful with only 3 silvers but the rest hasn't been that bad!
In the same time frame
Australia won 32 medals 11 of them gold.
Germany won 31 medals 13 of them gold.
France won 19 medals 11 of them gold.
You must be cheating and/or you're still crap and this is just a fluke.Lizard wrote:Aussie are languishing at 13th, not even able to double our tally of golds or total medals despite having over 5 times our population.
Andrea Hewitt is soldiering on.Lizard wrote:NZ now has 14 medals which is our best haul for a single Olympic Games.
There was a good return from the sailing overnight. I didn't realise we were now shit at triathlon though; it used to be our thing.