2012 Olympics

[AcademicPistol]

at least when he gets tickets GB win medals. When Dave Moron gets tickets, GB fucks up.

[The Nal]

Go on Katie Taylor!

[Paul ™]

Could be a good night for the track cycling with Kenny and Pendleton on track for medals and Trott doing well after 1st round of the omnium

[eFestivals]

Toffs deliver Gold! Only took 60 years...

yup. Yet another medal for sitting down, and where it helps massively if you're filthy rich and part of the hunting shooting set.

It's not just GB that has royalty participating.

[AcademicPistol]

Yeah we are good at the toff 'sports' but we did get them 3 excellent track and field medals the other night.

[eFestivals]

I think the day Neil has the ability to sit down and go as fast as Chris Hoy will be the day his fob offs are valid

I don't need a bike to be world champion at sitting down.

[philipsteak]

Few weeks ago I went 10 times faster than Chris Hoy while sitting down.

I was in a 747 at the time, but still

[eFestivals]

I always love how brits can't be happy with success We have to pick it apart and try to rubbish it...

If I'm not interested in it - and in the main I'm not - then why would I care enough to be happy?

I'm sure it's all very nice for those who've trained hard at running fast in a straight line and around a corner, and the like, and that those who've won golds feel suitably pleased with themselves, but at the end of the day it's no more meaningful than it would be to sit on a bridge over the m25 watching the traffic go round.

Meanwhile a large part of the success that 'Team GB' - a 'team' cos we're all in this together - has had has been the result of privileged schooling &/or lives.

And the govt keeps approving - wanting, even - the selling-off and closure of leisure facilities for the average folk and so denying others in the future the chance to partake, and widening the wage divide to ensure that privilege remains the preserve of the chosen few. . The average folk shouldn't have time for such things anyway when they should be working, earning the wealth of the idle.

[The Nal]

I don't understand why I'm 'supposed' to be happier for one person winning as opposed to another, just because he or she might have been born within the same set of (man made) boundaries...

Edited August 7, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Seriously though, how can someone from the UK watch Jess Ennis the other night and not feel immensely proud?!

why would I (if everything is equal about the sports involved) feel anything more for her success than I would for another person's success?

[The Nal]

why would I (if everything is equal about the sports involved) feel anything more for her success than I would for another person's success?

[eFestivals]

From another country or team GB?

what difference does it make for where a person is from?

If I wish to glory in someone else's doings (a strange concept in itself), why does it matter where they're from?

[The Nal]

what difference does it make for where a person is from?

If I wish to glory in someone else's doings (a strange concept in itself), why does it matter where they're from?

[eFestivals]

Because they're from the same place you are.

how close to they have to be? Here's betting that some of the French and Irish athletes are closer to the place where I live than some of 'team GB'.

They are motivated by the people of their country,

are they? Really? Or are they motivated for the personal achievement &/or glory?

From a football fan thats a strange post. "someone elses doing"? Glory is a poor choice of word. Celebrate is better.

Like it or not, cheering a footie team on has become and integral part of the game, that I've been cultured within.

There's nothing similar with what's within the Olympics. 99.99% of the time no one gives a shit about it, it's only because it's the Olympics, and particularly because it's sited in London that there's all the fuss.

Edited August 7, 2012 by eFestivals

[AcademicPistol]

what difference does it make for where a person is from?

If I wish to glory in someone else's doings (a strange concept in itself), why does it matter where they're from?

Edited August 7, 2012 by AcademicPistol

[The Nal]

Because they are doing it "for their country" it just tribalistic pride which I am not ashamed to be a part of. Most things humans do is weird.

And also personally I do just support people from the same country as myself I support and respect great athletes in general.

[The Nal]

Theres nothing at all wrong (cant believe I've to post this) with supporting athletes from your country and feeling proud when they do well. Or sad when they don't. Regardless of how much or little you have followed them to date. Thats sort of the point of the Olympic Games!!

Really looking forward to the 200m. I'll be emotional during it. And I'm not particularly "up" for anyone. Its just...... sport.

But if by some miracle there was ever an Irish runner in it, I would be going even more apeshit.

One thing I've come to realise since the games started is that football as an institution, (including players, fans etc), are really an embarrassment in comparison to the athletes and fans in the Olympics. Pure sport. I couldn't give a single fuck about the football in the Olympics. Not one. this Olympics has been my favourite. And I've watched a lot of all of them since 88.

Maybe its money? Haven't heard anything about sport/money. All I see are exceptionally motivated athletes competing to win. And doing it very gracefully Most of them competing for themselves, their families AND their country by the way.

The footie season has a lot to live up to.

how close to they have to be? Here's betting that some of the French and Irish athletes are closer to the place where I live than some of 'team GB'.

Edited August 7, 2012 by The Nal

[lost]

Theres nothing at all wrong (cant believe I've to post this) with supporting athletes from your country and feeling proud when they do well. Or sad when they don't. Regardless of how much or little you have followed them to date. Thats sort of the point of the Olympic Games!!

Really looking forward to the 200m. I'll be emotional during it. And I'm not particularly "up" for anyone. Its just...... sport.

But if by some miracle there was ever an Irish runner in it, I would be going even more apeshit.

One thing I've come to realise since the games started is that football as an institution, (including players, fans etc), are really an embarrassment in comparison to the athletes and fans in the Olympics. Pure sport. I couldn't give a single fuck about the football in the Olympics. Not one. this Olympics has been my favourite. And I've watched a lot of all of them since 88.

Maybe its money? Haven't heard anything about sport/money. All I see are exceptionally motivated athletes competing to win. And doing it very gracefully Most of them competing for themselves, their families AND their country by the way.

The footie season has a lot to live up to.

P.S. Tone - Agree about the interplanetary event but I'm hoping theres an interplanetary war towards the end of my life. Would be a nice way to go.

Edited August 7, 2012 by lost

[eFestivals]

Theres nothing at all wrong (cant believe I've to post this) with supporting athletes from your country and feeling proud when they do well. Or sad when they don't. Regardless of how much or little you have followed them to date. Thats sort of the point of the Olympic Games!!

oh, i know it's the point.

but some of us don't subscribe to petty and pointless and meaningless nationalism.

[AcademicPistol]

This. Although I presume you mean you don't just support people from the same country?

I was delighted for Jess Ennis the other night. Absolutely delighted. Same for Michael Phelps. And Katie Taylor yesterday. the only Irish person whos done anything in the Olympics.

[The Nal]

oh, i know it's the point.

but some of us don't subscribe to petty and pointless and meaningless nationalism.

Edited August 7, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Most the funding comes from the Lottery doesn't it ?

which is of course a particularly good way of taxing the poor.

[AcademicPistol]

but some of us don't subscribe to petty and pointless and meaningless nationalism.

[eFestivals]

Fair enough. "Nationalism" is a little strong though?

not really. After all, its a compertition of nations.

I dont think that supporting or feeling happy for a 26 year old girl from Sheffield who has worked her entire life to become one of the best all round athletes in the world could be considered as "petty and pointless and meaningless nationalism"?

As you're in Ireland, for you perhaps not.

Than again, do you feel the same emotions for a 26 year old from (say) Timbuktu who has worked her entire life to become the best in her particular sport - and probably had a more difficult path to achieving that? Or is the athlete's location that makes you particularly happy?

Fair enough, I'm not suggesting you should be bawling crying and wiping away the tears with the Union Jack when some spotty kid limps in 3rd in the BMX riding.

The one thing I am pleased to see from all the flag waving is how it's claiming back that flag from the BNP. I'd rather see a more liberal version of nationalism than I would a fascist one.

[eFestivals]

Well done. Do you support a football team?

Yup, tho it's something I do actually have a full-time interest in and it's also something I've been doing since before I understood concepts such as tribalism and nationalism.

And it's also something I do for the enjoyment of watching and following, and not for waving in anyone's face "look at me, look at me, I just by chance happen to support someone who is successful".

There's no part of enjoyment that says you have to also wave a flag and feel proud about something which is nothing to do with your (zero) contribution.