JoshMartini007

Outdoor venues would be nice. Many venues used for the Olympics can be used for other sports/activities. The issue for host cities is that the IOC wants the seating capacity to be high. The smallest venue for the 2020 Olympics is 5000 seats with many of them reaching over 10,000 seats. Most cities don't need multiple 10,000 seat venues which is why most host cities are left with "white elephant" venues. I bet many cities would be willing to host if the IOC allowed some events to be held at ~2000 seat venues.

Unless someone builds an indoor alpine stadium the changes in weather throughout an event will always play a factor. You play the hand you were dealt and most athletes understand this. If not you'll get people complaining about the sun being in everyone's eyes for a 30 minute block before moving into a better angle.

I don't think a sport or event should be eliminated because it is dominated by one nation. No one is calling for basketball to be removed because the US always win. What matters more is how many nations actively compete and for a winter sport speed skating is fine. Nordic combined may want to watch itself if there ever comes a time to shrink the number of sports.

I hope everyone does better, that men's short program was horrible. At this point Canada just needs to keep an eye on the Olympic Athletes from Russia. We could clinch after the men's free skate if we gain three points on Russia

South Korea is ranked 22nd while Switzerland is ranked 6th. This would be like if the Czech Republic played Ukraine on the men's side, it was always going to be a blowout.

Yeah, it's a shame we didn't win a medal. Our two chances weren't guaranteed, but I thought it would have been enough for one medal. Curling is chugging along, Norway must be glad they got us at our worst. Luge looks promising though a medal in the men's singles is on the outside. Men's slopestyle was good and is shaping up to be a Canada vs. Norway affair

South Korea is ranked 22nd while Switzerland is ranked 6th. This would be like if the Czech Republic played Ukraine on the men's side, it was always going to be a blowout.

Nobody wants to wake up early and go to work on the weekend

Anyway, both bobsled and curling have a large online presence so it isn't too surprising that nations that don't care about winter sports would watch them the most on YouTube

I guess Africa, South and West Asia will be the powerhouses of curling one day...

Funding for the men's sevens team (which indirectly helps the 15s team) was stopped after the team failed to reach the Olympics. 15s receives no funding whatsoever so as other nations continue to develop we'll be left behind.

Those places gained admission before the IOC made stronger rules (because colonization was coming to an end). It's one of the reasons why Curacao couldn't compete after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

I was curious here's a quick "world series ranking" I've made. It uses the last four completed seasons (not the 2017-2018 season) and weighs the most recent season (2016-17) more heavily (in a 100%-75%-50%-25% way).
 
1.   South Africa - 435.25
2.   Fiji - 403.75
3.   New Zealand - 376.50
4.   England - 332.50
5.   Australia - 302.50
6.   United States - 281.00
7.   Argentina - 238.00
8.   Scotland - 234.00
9.   Canada - 184.00
10. Kenya - 180.50
11. France - 177.25
12. Samoa - 169.50
13. Wales - 157.25
14. Russia - 50.00*
15. Portugal - 36.25*
16. Japan - 30.50*
17. Spain - 5.00*
 
* Nation did not participate in all 4 seasons.

Australia is good, but not the best. You are correct that just with the sheer number of World Series events that they should have won more often. Since their last win the following weaker nations have won.
 


x2

 
Samoa has won a couple of times, but they were as good as Australia a few years ago (now not so much)

Honestly I'd cross off any nation which took fewer athletes than they were given and start from there.

Here. FIS has made a nice table for all of its sports.

I like to imagine Scott holding up Tessa who is then holding the flag.

 

I like to imagine Scott holding up Tessa who is then holding the flag.

 

I like to imagine Scott holding up Tessa who is then holding the flag.

 

The original nation can waive the waiting period for an athlete to compete for a different nation.

Gotta catch the North American audiences (11pm-2am eastern) even if there's a good chance neither Canada nor USA reach the final.

I've always been a big supporter of bringing indoor sports to the Winter Olympics. Handball's World Championship is held in January (Men) and December (Women) so it's not like the athletes aren't ready to compete in February.

There's also a rule where a team can only have one team sport (beach handball, futsal, hockey5 and rugby sevens) per gender. Brazil may pick futsal should they qualify. Should they decline it looks like Uruguay would be the next nation to be offered a spot.

Canada dominated the points table among nations with no medals, 30 vs. Botswana's 14. Overall 12 top 8 places (5th-8th) with a potential of three more if De Grasse and Drouin competed. Hopefully Own the Podium realizes the performance and won't cut funding.

Yup
 
For the girls' event, the top eight nations in the UEFA men's futsal rankings will be invented to qualifying. Two four-team mini-tournaments will be held with the two winners qualifying for the Youth Olympics.
 
For the boys' event, the top 16 nations in the rankings will invited and will compete in four mini-tournaments. The group winners will then be ranked by result and the top two nations in that ranking not qualified for the girls' event will qualify for the boys' event.