Olympics

O dear... Ah well a silver medal is a shiny lovely thing
 
Chipper said:
True, but a silver medal is a silver medal and the Aussies and the Kiwis didn't get anything.
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Yes, a silver is great but what struck me was how dominant Fiji were and we had 'no answer'. In the first half they and indeed most of the second looked like we were in another league to them.........reflected in the score.
 
Running, jumping and swimming are about the only sports which are affordable for ordinary folks nowadays, and if you get to elite level in those then you are going to need serious sponsorship from a shoe/clothing manufacturer.
 
273K said:
Golf...? Sailing...? Horsey ballet...?
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Golf? Elitist? You're having a laugh, aren't you? Yes, some clubs are expensive to join and play at but many are roll up and play for less than a couple of pints. Among the people that I play with regularly there are retired posties, accountants, builders (and other related tradespersons), unemployed, bar staff etc., pretty much a cross section of today's society.
 
Yeh of course all sports can be expensive but those I mention require a far larger initial investment in equipment and leisure time for the beginner compared to the likes of running, swimming, squash. Of course it's somewhat naive to think that the Olympics are primarily about promoting participation in sport.
 
A great Sevens final last night and GB should be congratulated in getting a Silver medal, but they were really up against a team in a different league.

Dave
 
273K said:
Yeh of course all sports can be expensive but those I mention require a far larger initial investment in equipment and leisure time for the beginner compared to the likes of running, swimming, squash. Of course it's somewhat naive to think that the Olympics are primarily about promoting participation in sport.
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again, full or partial loans of horses are very common. no equipment necessary as the owner will already have this. for the absolute beginner then you'd go and have lessons at a riding school anyway, it's not something you can just go and buy a pony for.. :D

a couple of years back my other half was riding a previous national dressage champs winner on loan.
 
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neil_g said:
again, full or partial loans of horses are very common. no equipment necessary as the owner will already have this. for the absolute beginner then you'd go and have lessons at a riding school anyway, it's not something you can just go and buy a pony for.. :D

a couple of years back my other half was riding a previous national dressage champs winner on loan.
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As a long term pursuit I'd imagine the cost of horse loans, lessons and all the gear far outweighs the cost of short, vest and a pair of running shoes. I'm sure cost is not the main driving factor for participation in a given sport, but it must have some effect and, I'm just guessing here, but participation numbers reflect this, something like dressage << golf << squash < swimming < running.
 
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273K said:
As a long term pursuit I'd imagine the cost of horse loans, lessons and all the gear far outweighs the cost of short, vest and a pair of running shoes. I'm sure cost is not the main driving factor for participation in a given sport, but it must have some effect and, I'm just guessing here, but participation numbers reflect this, something like dressage << golf << squash < swimming < running.
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well her current ride is the cost of fuel to get there and a small contribution towards feed. comparable cost to hiring a squash court a few times a week.
 
neil_g said:
cant vouch for the others but dressage can absolutely be done on a budget. horse loans are extremely popular.

but you missed my point, the guy above mentioned deep pockets and the next breath skateboarding and surfing.
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There is a full stop after 'deep pockets' you chose to link 'elitist' to skateboarding and surfing. I'm not sure if anyone would think these two sports are elitist ?
 
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Let me explain myself a little deeper. I think 1st & foremost the Olympics should look to include sports that where possible are available to the ' masses ' not climate dependant, i.e surfing, not the preserve of rich people/countries i.e sailing. Hence my championing squash. Yes you need a utilitarian building with four walls. Squash is extremely popular in many poorer countries , Indian sub-continent and Egypt and the UK of course. By all means include the occasional ' elitist ' sport and just to annoy neil_g I will use equestrianism and sailing as examples but not to the exclusion of such as squash.
 
badlywornroy said:
Let me explain myself a little deeper. I think 1st & foremost the Olympics should look to include sports that where possible are available to the ' masses ' not climate dependant, i.e surfing, not the preserve of rich people/countries i.e sailing. Hence my championing squash. Yes you need a utilitarian building with four walls. Squash is extremely popular in many poorer countries , Indian sub-continent and Egypt and the UK of course. By all means include the occasional ' elitist ' sport and just to annoy neil_g I will use equestrianism and sailing as examples but not to the exclusion of such as squash.
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I mostly agree with the potential ease with which squash is very accesible, particularly in the West, but in India, Pakistan and Egypt I think that it is the sport of the elite - the ordinary person is not going to have any chance to play it, mainly because of the class divide in those countries.
 
andy700 said:
I mostly agree with the potential ease with which squash is very accesible, particularly in the West, but in India, Pakistan and Egypt I think that it is the sport of the elite - the ordinary person is not going to have any chance to play it, mainly because of the class divide in those countries.
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I take your point but I see that as a slightly different problem, as you say caused by the class system of the particular country.
 
Well into just caught the women's trampolining and we got a silver :) very unexpected I think and she was in tears - very happy :)
 
273K said:
Yeh of course all sports can be expensive but those I mention require a far larger initial investment in equipment and leisure time for the beginner compared to the likes of running, swimming, squash. Of course it's somewhat naive to think that the Olympics are primarily about promoting participation in sport.
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A few of the people I golf with have spent less than a tenner on their entire bag, clubs and all! Second hand and even the local tip are very good sources of kit that's a few years old and that's been discarded in favour of a new, shiny set of clubs with this year's stickers on the shaft! Although I have some new balls, they were given to me as a gift and I've used 3 of them. I generally play with ones that I've picked up out of the hedges and stream where others have lost them and not been too worried about finding them. Most of the people I play with are retired so have plenty of free time.
 
Not a 'done deal' the USA team pursuit are very good.
 
he means the womens 4k pursuit tonight, I think Phil...

and I agree, they were a bit ragged in the Qualie's but if they can just tighten up their formation a bit, that'd be worth anything up to a second - which puts them smack on the GB girls time...
 
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TheBigYin said:
he means the womens 4k pursuit tonight, I think Phil...

and I agree, they were a bit ragged in the Qualie's but if they can just tighten up their formation a bit, that'd be worth anything up to a second - which puts them smack on the GB girls time...
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I mean the USA womens Team Pursuit, what else am I gonna call it ?
 
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yes, it's a typo. I hate trying to use the bloody phone when I'm out and about.

the usa didn't have a team at the qualifying stages of the menS team pursuit.

screenshot-www.google.co.uk 2016-08-13 16-03-51.png

pretty straightforward I'd say - apart from the typo, which I again humbly apologise for...

certainly can't see any reason why you've seen your own arse over this Roy - i'm bloody well agreeing with you, and attempting to explain why PHIL had apparently misinterpreted what you'd typed as involving a USA menS team, and not the women's team that you were referring to.
 
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" certainly can't see any reason why you've seen your own arse over this Roy - i'm bloody well agreeing with you, and attempting to explain why PHIL had apparently misinterpreted what you'd typed as involving a USA menS team, and not the women's team that you were referring to. "

Whatever that means it made me smile. :)

Have a nice day.
 
The rowing's gone very well again.

And we're 3rd. in the medals table.

Justin Rose 2 shots up in round 3 of the golf.
 
Mo Farah...Rock star.
Fall over..get up...win.
 
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