uk12points

Great Britain

This years British entry celebrates that our island is in fact a Union of four equal members, each with their own culture, language and traditions that must be protected for future generations. This years entry is from the Valleys of Wales with an all male choir performing a classic Welsh hymn, Calon Lan, originally written in 1890 by Welsh poet Daniel James and put to music by Welsh composer John Hughes. The tradition of all male Welsh choirs is a proud Welsh symbol and it is protected by the Welsh Association of Male Choirs, whose patron is the Prince of Wales.

This years entry is sung by 'Only Boys Aloud' and is taken from their 2012 Christmas Album, with the performance below coming from a welsh language television programme in 2014. This version also features a guest Welsh female singer, Elin Fflur.

Calon Lan - Only Boys Aloud

Lyrics

Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus,
Aur y byd na'i berlau mân:
Gofyn wyf am galon hapus,
Calon onest, calon lân.

Cytgan:
Calon lân yn llawn daioni,
Tecach yw na'r lili dlos:
Dim ond calon lân all ganu- 
Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos.

Pe dymunwn olud bydol,
Hedyn buan ganddo sydd;
Golud calon lân, rinweddol,
Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd.

Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad
Gwyd i'r nef ar edyn cân
Ar i Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad,
Roddi i mi galon lân.

--------

I don't ask for a luxurious life,
the world's gold or its fine pearls:
I ask for a happy heart,
an honest heart, a pure heart.
 

Chorus:
A pure heart is full of goodness,
More lovely than the pretty lily:
Only a pure heart can sing -
Sing day and night.

If I wished worldly wealth,
He has a swift seed;
The riches of a virtuous, pure heart,
Will be a perpetual profit.

Late and early, my wish
Rise to heavan on the wing of song,
To God, for the sake of my Saviour,
Give me a pure heart.

1 hour ago, dcro said:

 

I meant this wild card for Tokyo 2020.

Oops!! Yeah definitely, I feel since FISA and the IOC Soldiarity Program have funded his training they will want to make sure that money is put to good use and gets him to the Olympics in 2020.

10 minutes ago, dcro said:

 

Looks like he might even challenge to qualify directly, judging by today's not that bad performance. Still, even if he fails, I expect that should be a frontrunner for a wild card.

They already have a wildcard, they’ve been allocated like so:

Mens Single Sculls

 Nicaragua

 St Vincent and the Grenadines

Womens Single Sculls

 Lebanon

 Uganda

26 minutes ago, dcro said:

 

There was one Vincentian who tried to qualify for Rio, so I assume that's him.

Found this on the FISA website:

Quote

Ozave Miller (St Vincent and the Grenadines)
Ozave Miller is just 17 years old. He grew up in the seaside village of Layou where he spent most of his time in the sea, swimming and deep spear fish diving. A primary school teacher who lived in the same street as Miller thought that, due to his experience in the sea, he would be the right fit for rowing. His powerful stature also lent itself to his recommendation.

In April 2016, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Rowing Association was offered a development course in rowing through Olympic Solidarity and the World Rowing Federation, FISA. Miller attended and stood out among the 15 other young people at the course. His love for sport, his dedication to train and willingness to take instruction are some of the characteristics that have led to rapid progress which may see him compete at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In Sarasota-Bradenton, Miller will compete in the men’s single.

Looks like this could be their youth Olympian, maybe a hope for 2020?

1 hour ago, dcro said:

Sinković brothers dominated in their heat of men's pairs. This is only their first year in this boat, previously they competed in double sculls (where they are Olympic champions in fact).

 

Btw, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines already look like a very good candidate for Tripartite invitation at the next Olympics.  Would be refreshing to see them outside of athletics/swimming for the first time ever.

I wonder if that is their athlete who got a tripartite invitation to the Youth Olympics next year?

Interesting news here about North Korea:

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/winter-sports/ioc-ready-to-provide-north-korean-athletes-with-gear-for-games_sto6342285/story.shtml

Looks like the IOC will be funding 5-10 North Korean winter sports athletes with the FIS and ISU to participate in qualification events and training camps. They should be able to qualify in Figure Skating, Short Track Speed Skating and Cross Country Skiing, so hopefully the support is going to these athletes.

The judging in the weightlifting men’s 77 final is dreadful, this Turkmen lifter hasn’t had a single clean and jerk under control and his elbows have been moving every time. Some of the jury members are protesting, but these very central Asian looking chief jurors are waving them away! It’s not just me whose seeing this, the Iraqi amd Uzbekistani coaches aren’t happy either!

52 minutes ago, dcro said:

They sure like Lady Gaga in Turkmenistan. Her song in the background all the time.

Must be a trend in former soviet dictatorships!! Do you remember Lady Gaga at the Baku 2015 opening ceremony?

Australia have won a bronze medal in women's taekwondo, making them the first Oceania nation to win a medal at the Asian Games!

Hoping Samoa, Fiji and Marshall Islands will join them over the next few days.

3 hours ago, dcro said:

 

Apparently she is not quite as motivated at the Asian championships.

 

2016 - 163kg

2017 - 165kg

The British commentators were particularly surprised at the 20+kg PB, Turkmenistan seems like a North Korea without the natural talent and helped by a mixture of national sports in the program and drugs!!

Also Hong Kong have a medal in womens high jump!

Love how the flame has travelled the country on horseback! Lots of very thoughtful and traditional touches in this ceremony that will be memorable!

20 minutes ago, dcro said:

 

They at least have big money source in oil, so it's more like Qatar/Azerbaijan than North Korea.

Very strange though that poverty statistics in Turkmenistan don't exist on the internet! You wonder what life outside Ashgabat is like...

Wait the Wikipedia history of Turkmenistan has been saved for the ceremony!

And he can sing!!

I wonder what he's talking about? Reading out the Wikipedia page on the history and economic possibilities of Turkmenistan!

41 minutes ago, Gianlu33 said:

Coffin Ruby  is the frist Oceanian athelte that win a match in the Asian games  Now it's time to wait a medal!

Looking at the weightlifting entry lists, Samoa, Fiji and Marshall Islands all have athletes with really good chances to medal and even take gold.

1 hour ago, Gianlu33 said:

I think that some people was payed for watch the event.. they are a lot and they wear a pass  

That does look odd that the entire audience are wearing matching track suits and caps! Might be a strange dress code for Turkmenistani sports events!

That's every Stan with a medal!!

GB will be there! 

5 minutes ago, intoronto said:

After the disaster behind the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, I think the IOC will want to stay away from India. 

 

India needs to prove itself again before being in the conversation to host.

 

----

My guess for 2032 will be it will be a limited field as both Paris/LA games will not have been held before the bidding process begins. 

 

We will likely see Doha, Budapest and Baku throw their names into the ring.

I still think the IOC would rather go for India than Doha or Baku (India doesn't quite carry the controversy associated with the other 2). Budapest rumoured to be hosting 2023 Youth Olympics so if that goes well they could be in with a shout for 2032. 

5 minutes ago, Dragon said:

Any predictions for 2032?

India... would be a fantastic and exciting Olympics after 2 games in cities that have held the games before.

2 hours ago, ahjfcshfghb said:

Just out of interest what are the 'free' events?

Turns out they're just events you don't need a ticket to watch, road cycling, triathlon, marathon and race walking.

Weightlifting Commonwealth Championships Qualifiers:

Women's 48kg: India

Women's 53kg: India

Women's 58kg: Solomon Islands

Women's 63kg: Seychelles

Women's 69kg: Fiji

Women's 75kg: Wales

Women's 90kg: Fiji

Women's +90kg: New Zealand

Men's 56kg: Malaysia

Men's 62kg: Papua New Guinea

Men's 69kg: Malaysia

Men's 77kg: India

Men's 85kg: India

Men's 94kg: Papua New Guinea

Men's 105kg: India

Men's +105kg: Samoa

The remaining quota will be allocated via the Commonwealth Ranking List and Universality quota.

Great result for GB!! Our first ever women's cross country medal in the Olympic event!