Monzanator

1 minute ago, heywoodu said:

 

So half of Poland comes to the Netherlands to work and to fill up those positions in Poland half of Ukraine goes to Poland? I wonder who goes to Ukraine

According to this: Russians, Belarussians, Kazakhs & Uzbeks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Ukraine

The Ukrainian immigration to Poland has snowballed in the last decade. War in Donbas only poured fuel into the fire. Hell, even the left-wing pro-Labour 'The Guardian' has noticed this last year:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/18/whole-generation-has-gone-ukrainian-seek-better-life-poland-elect-president

Right, just so everyone thinks Poland is the outdated and conservative country which dislikes immigrants.

The Economist states we've accepted more immigrants in the last two years than any other country in Europe (2m from Ukraine,36k from Nepal, 20k from India and 18k from Bangladesh). So much for us looking like xenophobic pricks.

https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/02/22/poland-is-cocking-up-migration-in-a-very-european-way

Obviously Ukrainians are our version of cheap labour, just like Poles are in Germany, Netherlands or pre-Brexit UK

18 minutes ago, Kirkpatrick said:

Big injury for Reisinger? Haunting screams after she fell...

Torn ACL in left knee. Season over.

https://www.nachrichten.at/sport/wintersport/ski-alpin/reisinger-zog-sich-bei-schwerem-sturz-kreuzbandriss-zu;art73891,3230005

16 minutes ago, RobtheAggie said:

So what about this, if your nation is in the top ten on list, you need to use skiers 5 or 6 in the single mixed relay.  11 and higher, free game for the skiers.  That way the smaller nations actually have a chance.

 

As an aside, I think biathlon prizes are split the same for men and women.  That is pretty impressive.

Don't think IBU will ever enforce which athlete is eligible to enter what event. What sport prevents its biggest stars in competing what events they like? I can only think of tennis where a Top 10 ranked player can only play two International-level tournaments per season.

3 minutes ago, RobtheAggie said:

All of this discussion about the individual has got me thinking about what other races, and locations.  So, first thought, what about a 30 skier handicapped race on the IBU Cup.  Just the pursuit, but in reverse order.

 

Also, with the growing flight shaming movement in Europe, see the recent criticism that UEFA has gotten with the way the Euros are set up, could we see a reduction in the geographic footprint of the venues chosen?  Just a question for discussion.

The UEFA Euro hosted in multiple cities will be a one-off. Several countries dislike that idea. It was Michel Platini's brainchild and he's lost all credibility now. Soccer is popular enough to sustain future Euros in one or two countries instead of 16 cities.

IBU is obviously independent to FIS so they can call their own shots and the ex-USSR market is being explored again. Estonia, Belarus and Latvia have build biathlon venues. Not to mention Poland has invested in Duszniki too. There are actually more venues being build all over Europe now so I see no chance the number goes down. Kontiolathi might fall off the calendar once Makarainen retires but that is all IMO.

5 minutes ago, NearPup said:

I think it’s laudable (and overdue) for the IOC to go on a gender equality kick, but I really fail to see how having a mixed relay accomplishes this better than by having a men’s relay and a women’s relay.

IOC is clearly focused on milking money from the Asian market right now. Back-to-back WOG in Korea & China? That's no coincidence. They're trying to make winter sports work in China - the Secret Garden and that other venue which name escapes me. Let's make no mistake, IOC wants to cash in on all that money available from the Asian economic powerhouses. Hell, if there was snow in Qatar, Doha would be hosting the WOG too

Winter sports have been traditionally successful in selected group of countries. Half of the world is excluded from taking part in WOG by default due to lack of snow. IOC can sell break dance for summer games but winter? They have to appease the traditional winter countries because there is no replacement for them. Africa ain't gonna take the WOG by storm. Hell, IAAF hasn't managed to host the senior World Champs in Africa yet despite this being a natural stronghold for athletics ever since the colonial era ended.

Just now, Olympian1010 said:

Sorry? I guess I can’t talk about sport anymore. I don’t want to offend you further 

You've offended me enough with the "Poles are racist pricks" comment. Stop playing the victim/political card. You've ruined this thread enough already.

20 minutes ago, Werloc said:

 

Can't agree with you on this one. If we only had mixed relays, it would be the same four people running in every single one of them most of the time.

 

I wonder how many years will pass until someone other than the Boe brothers run for Norway.

 

These four people relays at least give a chance to people like Dale, Christiansen to perhaps come away with a medal from the championships. 

 

There are not a lot of opportunities to win medals and when 50% of them go to Fourcade, JTB, Roeiseland and Wierer, then there is not much chance for other athletes to come away with a medal, so at least they have a shot to feel like champions for once even if it is a team setting and not an individual victory.

 

For example, cases like Franziska Hildebrand, has been in biathlon forever, has a fourth place in the World Championships, would end her career without a single medal, but she was competent enough to get two relay golds with Germany so she won't end her career empty handed. 

Stop feeding this troll. He will blow up this thread and leave nothing but ashes

I absolutely can't read this guy anymore. He's ruined this thread like no other. I'm done with him

9 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

What about what I said was political? I get gender equality is a contentious issue, but I felt I stayed away from the politics of it. I simply stated why an event would be suited to replace two others. What I wrote above is completely about sport whether you agree with it or not. 

Gender equality is used in political campaigns all over the world. Who are you kidding here? We're not a bunch of 10 years olds to buy this as a sport-only question.

I see you believe politicians don't have enough power in this world already. George Orwell would be proud of the political control you're trying to enforce in this thread

Speaking of Wolverhampton - again - they just trashed Espanyol 4-0 in the first leg of Last 32!

Talk about a major turnaround, they were stuck in the Championship for years during my childhood and then perenially battled relegation under Mick McCarthy in the EPL. Look at them now! Who says Chinese money is bad for business?

1 minute ago, Olympian1010 said:

I just see zero point for gender relays at this point. Relays are rather “pointless” events to begin with, and the IOC has indicted they want more gender equality and mixed events. Nations will have to be just a deep as they are now, but the emphasis will be placed on being deep in both genders. I think we should do away with the gender relays and embrace the mixed gender relays. 
 

The Individual should absolutely remain in the games, as I have maintained this entire time. I was just pointing out that it might be the most interesting of events, and that’s why it could be targeted for change and removal.

Thankfully politicians won't make these decisions. It's enough power of them if they control law making, finances and trade market all over the world already. Sport should be free of this political bickering.

You should post this in the Politics Thread under science-fiction tag and leave the Biathlon Thread to well... biathlon!

1 minute ago, Olympian1010 said:

However, the IOC and WCF have learned from that error, and given the event more quotas, meaning that smaller nations can have a better chance of qualification. Small still do moderately well at the World Championships, there just needed to be more than 8 quotas available.

You'd need to split the tournament into group stage because when everyone plays everyone it's impossible to have more quotas. 11 matches before the medal round is more than enough, hell there was enough controversy with Asia becoming a force when a world class team like Japan didn't qualify for the Worlds once (when they won silver medal in the previous edition IIRC) so Europe had to lose one spot in order to fit the Asian market.

@dcro  is spot on with his take. Big teams will eventually continue to dominate the smaller nations regardless of the intentions.

7 minutes ago, phelps said:

 

here I am...

 

for 2 good reasons...

 

first, the landscape of today's race was simply amazing...I love those places...

 

second, since the women's race itself was basically senseless, our broadcasters (they also refused to follow the race carefully ) put on a show analyzing the very sad situation of our Nordic Disciplines and made it the most interesting 90 mins of the day (and not only of the day)...

Polish TV broadcasts the endurace races so there are enough snowy landscapes there too. It's obvious Tour de Ski has lost its juice so FIS had to come up with a new Tour located in Norway because it's the only country where people actually follow cc these days. I haven't watched a single World Cup race since the 2019 Nordic WCh and it seems like the next time I'm gonna watch one will be the 2021 Nordic WCh

6 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

At least shooting actually matters in the single mixed though. That is a difference to the traditional relays.

Shooting also matters in the individual - even more so than single mixed relay - and you're not a fan of that format so I don't get your logic at all  

Just now, Federer91 said:

We don't need 3 different relays for biathlon. The single one is useless and frankly shouldn't be even on the regular schedule let alone the Olympics. 

Yeah, the classic relay at least forces nations to have some depth on the team. Single mixed relay means shit. It's male & female alpha where one penalty loop kills your chances. In classic relays teams have won it with multiple penalty loops before.

1 minute ago, Olympian1010 said:

US fans only care about wins. As long as she’s winning, she’s in the headlines. She’s won enough to be a permanent fixture even if she skips the remainder of the season.

She doesn't get the coverage Lindsey Vonn had tbh. I bet Chloe Kim is more popular in the USA than Shiffrin right now.

Then again, XFL games get more viewers than alpine skiing. Nobody's watching alpine skiing in the USA if Shiffrin is not at start IMO.

9 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

Not to US fans.

In a season without World Champs or Olympics? Then she could have skipped the entire season alltogether

4 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

I don’t think they’ll remove anything, I just think they’ll add the single mixed to the games

IOC runs the show though. Biathlon already has 11 events spread across 14 days. They doubled teamed individuals and pursuit on the same day already. Unlike cross country or alpine skiing the best athletes do not skip some events on purpose here. And who's gonna field a B line-up for an Olympic event now to hope for a better shot in the individual races?

Just now, Olympian1010 said:

She’ll still be a star even if she sits the rest of this season out. There’s no world championships, and she’s already won plenty of races.

Winning the overall World Cup is still pretty important?

12 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

I’m certain it will be on the program in 2026.

Only if they remove the individual alltogether. Again, it's down to the leverage by the big nations. If single mixed relay becomes a Germany/Norway/France/Italy/Russia/Sweden playground then it doesn't make any sense other than rich getting richer. Poland once won a WC medal in the defunct team event and it hasn't translated to any success for our relay over the long run either.

11 minutes ago, Olympian1010 said:

Which would honestly be okay. Her father was everything to her, and I don’t want her racing until her mind is back on racing.

As is often the case though, there are these sponsors and other crap to consider. It's not like USA has another global alpine skiing star now that Vonn has retired.

5 minutes ago, Kirkpatrick said:

 

I pretty much hate it. I fear that the many others do not, and it'll feature more and more.

It's not a question how many like it but if the big nations like it. If they do then it's a wrap and the single mixed relay is here to stay. I don't think it happens at the WOG, two relays is too much tbh.

5 Norwegians in Top 6 for women and 8 Norwegians in the Top 12 for men.

I wonder who the hell is watching this crap outside of Norway?

No surprise here, I said Ofterschwang is the place where she could come back. If she misses that then she's given up on the season alltogether IMO.