Athletics at the Summer Olympic Games 2020

[Monzanator 5,123]

3 minutes ago, dcro said:

I remember this one. The never arriving sensors.

 

If World Athletics cared about this event (they don't), the sensors (if they even exist) would have been introduced long ago.

 

Yeah, it's been 20 years since the sensors idea came around. Obviously nothing happened because IAAF didn't want it to happen. Classic bullshit.

[NearPup 4,183]

48 minutes ago, Monzanator said:

 

Yeah, it's been 20 years since the sensors idea came around. Obviously nothing happened because IAAF didn't want it to happen. Classic bullshit.

Even taekwondo now has electronic scoring (which massively improved the sport), and that's a much harder technical problem.

[intoronto 6,904]

Wow just saw the press conference with Evan Dunfee and he did not hold back on calling out the IOC on dropping the 50km walk, with the other two medalists clapping at the end lol

 

"No one can tell me this is not exciting" For the IOC to come out and say they are looking for more youthful events its "bulls*it". Its absolute bollocks the excuse the IOC is giving in removing the event. They don't like it because its a free event and they can't make money off it. 

 

 

[Adriano 836]

2 hours ago, Monzanator said:

 

Well, there is no men's rhytmic gymnastics or synchro swimming either? As for lack of technological innovation that is an obvious bullshit. There is nothing fair about dropping the 50k, just the usual politics. They tried 50k women's walk at World Champs not so long ago and while it wasn't pretty at least they tried it. But obviously politics had to step in.

True. Mixed synchro swimming should be in program :D

[prso1000 737]

1 hour ago, intoronto said:

Wow just saw the press conference with Evan Dunfee and he did not hold back on calling out the IOC on dropping the 50km walk, with the other two medalists clapping at the end lol

 

"No one can tell me this is not exciting" For the IOC to come out and say they are looking for more youthful events its "bulls*it". Its absolute bollocks the excuse the IOC is giving in removing the event. They don't like it because its a free event and they can't make money off it. 

 

 

Honestly I would kick out walking completely not only 50km. Stupid sport and without sensors a joke. 

[Dunadan 1,103]

3 hours ago, Monzanator said:

 

Yeah, it's been 20 years since the sensors idea came around. Obviously nothing happened because IAAF didn't want it to happen. Classic bullshit.

It's mainly the top walkers and former walkers who have other roles in the federations themselves who always lobbied against any technological innovations. There were many letters of protest with ridiculous excuses by walkers' associations - I remember Dunfee suggesting that "selling beer to spectators to get them involved in the show" was more important than introducing technology to help the judging. Now it's too late, and they should be happy they get to keep some event at the Olympics 

[LDOG 2,477]

Brings absolutely nothing different to the other event and 4 hours is just unwatchable. It's not even about being "youthful".

[NearPup 4,183]

The other thing is that race walking is just, well, niche. It's not like long distance running, which is a mass participation sport that has a very well developed pro circuit. Race walking having three events is already somewhat generous given the number of people who practice the sport, whether competitively or recreationally.

[Grassmarket 4,300]

7 minutes ago, NearPup said:

The other thing is that race walking is just, well, niche. It's not like long distance running, which is a mass participation sport that has a very well developed pro circuit. Race walking having three events is already somewhat generous given the number of people who practice the sport, whether competitively or recreationally.

The history of athletics was that race walking actually preceded running as an organised sport. But as everyone says, the failure to produce a set of rules that can be regularly applied is killing the sport in an era of HDTV.

[heywoodu 16,461]

50 minutes ago, NearPup said:

The other thing is that race walking is just, well, niche.

That goes for so many events in the Olympics though. Most of them don't often make for a four hour piece of twists and turns (although this was basically the first 50k I've seen in a long time where not that much was happening, and still plenty happened). Rarely had 3:50 hours go by as fast as this morning..