ahjfcshfghb

If the Opening Ceremony was in countryballs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqihV1pms0E

My friend in America is watching the ceremony "live" but is actually delayed. As of now, it's in the middle of the Parade of Nations. NBC really didn't want America going early

Athletics- 3-5 (men's javelin, Spotakova, Hejnova, possibly Maslak or Drahotova, others possible but unlikely) Badminton- not going to happen Canoe Slalom- 2-3 (Kudejova, Prskavec, probably one other) Canoe Sprint- 2-3 (Fuksa, 4-kayak, possibly 2-canoe) Cycling- not going to happen, road or track Mountain Biking- 1 (Kulhavy, would be nice to see Nash but probably not) Fencing- very unlikely Choupentich can pull it off Gymnastics- not going to happen Judo- 1 (Krpalek, others unlikely) Modern pentathlon- 1-2 (Svoboda, Kuf maybe) Rowing- 1-2 (Synek, Knapkova) Sailing- very unlikely (Fenclova is good but I don't think she will medal) Shooting- 0-2 (Kostelecky/Sykorova/Mazurova could pull it off, but I honestly think even one medal would be an achievement) Swimming- very unlikely, synchronized also Table tennis- not going to happen Tennis- 1-2 (Hlavackova/Hradecka, possibly Kvitova or other doubles pair) Triathlon/Volleyball/Wrestling/Weightlifting- not going to happen. It's a pretty optimistic list, I guess.

My two korunas: Baseball/Softball I'm honestly quite happy about, as it's a great sport without a proper world championship with the world's best players. However it would need the support of the MLB and other professional leagues for sure, otherwise it will just be a farce like Olympic football is now. Also it's great news for the Czech Republic as they are competitive on a European level and could possibly qualify, particularly in baseball. Karate can't hurt, I guess, sure it's a redundant fighting sport, we have five already. But it won't do any harm, it has a large following in the world, and Japanese viewership would make the event at least a success. Don't think I would support its inclusion in future Olympics, though. Sports climbing, reminds me kind of when in the old Olympics they had rope climbing as part of an Olympics. Not sure how it's going to look at Olympic level but again Czech medal chances and it's kind of a new horizon, we don't see many speed events that require such strength. Again there is a world tour so it definitely has legitimacy. Surfing I'm not sure about. There are troubles with wave conditions and hosting a fair event. I get it could be another gymnastics/perform-ish kind of event, and fair enough, maybe even some Pacific countries could medal, only concern is the contest being fair. Skateboarding I wondered if it was a joke? Surely. But honestly it's not too different to snowboarding, and that's a great part of the Winter Olympics. So I'd be willing to give it a chance, I guess. I only hope that they don't cut any events from already existing sports

Interesting. By the last year's results they could easily do it. UAE also won the Gulf Cup and finished second in Asia so that's fitting as well. I think Colombia as the winner of the Pan-American Tournament should also be invited. I mean they beat Mexico two years in a row (unless Mexico sends two 'B' teams?) Although they might not meet the IIHF requirements that excluded Mongolia, Greece and Ireland.

Chinese Taipei will apparently host and take part in a qualification for Division III next year. But they are only playing the UAE. Does that mean Div III is to have 7 teams? Also Division II B will be hosted in Auckland, where I live Hopefully I can make it to a North Korean game and share some videos

Does anyone know what the quotas for nations in the WC will be for 2016/17 and if they will follow the same format as last year?

I actually made it But yeah it's footage you can find anywhere. There were also pictures from 1904 and the start of 1896 but I couldn't find any from 1900 or 1906. If you find some do let me know What I am in awe about is that through over one hundred years of history, it just never really changes.

I know right? Side by side it's very interesting to see. It's so odd how so often it happens that the runner in lane 2 pulls up

Every Olympic Final in 100m (1908-2012)

Glad to hear Brazilian biathlon is doing well! Vamos into 2016/7!

Haha that's pretty awesome

I promise you you will be informed of the results of every Micronesian athlete there is. (Probably like 2 of them lol)

Seriously every time Kazakhstan does well I'm quoting Borat.

GO MICRONESIA I've picked them as my 'small exotic nation' though my heart lies with Nauru I will be the biggest fan of Micronesia this world has ever seen!!!!

I keep saying it. But Kazakhstan is just doing so amazingly. And most of the time it's not even the naturalized Canadians. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan you very nice place from plains of Tarashek to northern fence of Jewtown

I would have taken Nauru But I'll take Micronesia, then. What exactly do I do after I've picked?

Kazakhstan, greatest country in the world. All other countries are run by little girls.

I don't see a problem with all the cases where the athlete has at least some connection to the country. What I'm against is countries systematically buying up athletes from others. It's just corruption, plain and simple.

Hanzlickova Our dream is finish...

There is no sweeter victory than against Russia on their home ice.

Stupid, maybe, but I couldn't stop laughing They actually played that song one time to a Kazakhstani shooter who won a tournament in Dubai instead of the national anthem.

Kazakhstan, greatest country in the world All other countries are run by little girls.

[hide] Preliminary Round May 6th-March 17th, 2016 16 Nations, 2 Groups, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Nation from each Group will qualify for Quarterfinals, 8th Nations from each groups will be relegated to IIHF Men´s Division I Group A World Championships 2017. Group A Date and Venue Team 1 T1 T2 Team 2 May 6th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Sweden 3 Latvia May 6th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Czech Republic 2 Russia May 7h 2016, h. 12:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Switzerland 1 Kazakhstan May 7th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Norway 2 Denmark May 7th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Latvia 3 Czech Republic May 8th 2016, h. 12:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Kazakhstan 4 Russia May 8th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Norway 1 Switzerland May 8th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Sweden 2 Denmark May 9th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Latvia 3 Russia May 9th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Sweden 2 Czech Republic May 10th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Switzerland 1 Denmark May 10th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Kazakhstan 2 Norway May 11th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Switzerland 1 Latvia May 11th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Sweden 3 Kazakhstan May 12th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Czech Republic 2 Norway May 12th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Russia 2 Denmark May 13th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Czech Republic 4 Kazakhstan May 13th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Denmark 1 Latvia May 14th 2016, h. 12:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Norway 2 Sweden May 14th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Russia 3 Switzerland May 14th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Kazakhstan 3 Latvia May 15th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Denmark 2 Czech Republic May 15th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Switzerland 1 Sweden May 16th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Russia 3 Norway May 16th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Denmark 1 Kazakhstan May 17th 2016, h. 12:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Czech Republic 2 Switzerland May 17th 2016, h. 16:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Latvia 1 Norway May 17th 2016, h. 20:15, VTB Ice Palace, Moscow Russia 1 Sweden Group B Date and Venue Team 1 T1 T2 Team 2 May 6th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg United States 1 Canada May 6th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Finland 2 Belarus May 7th 2016, h. 12:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Slovakia 3 Hungary May 7th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg France 1 Germany May 7th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Belarus 1 United States May 8th 2016, h. 12:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Hungary 4 Canada May 8th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Finland 3 Germany May 8th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg France 1 Slovakia May 9th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Belarus 2 Canada May 9th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Finland 1 United States May 10th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Slovakia 1 Germany May 10th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Hungary 2 France May 11th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Slovakia 1 Belarus May 11th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Finland 2 Hungary May 12th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg United States 2 France May 12th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Canada 2 Germany May 13th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg United States 3 Hungary May 13th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Germany 1 Belarus May 14th 2016, h. 12:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg France 2 Finland May 14th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Hungary 2 Belarus May 14th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Canada 1 Slovakia May 15th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Germany 3 United States May 15th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Slovakia 3 Finland May 16th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Canada 1 France May 16th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Germany 2 Hungary May 17th 2016, h. 12:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg United States 1 Slovakia May 17th 2016, h. 16:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Belarus 2 France May 17th 2016, h. 20:15, Arena Yubileyni, Saint Petersburg Canada 3 Finland [/hide] End Copying Here

Aaand they've won, so they're probably staying in the division... With imported players scoring practically all goals. Call me a cynic but I hope they go down hard at the Olympics. We don't need another Azerbaijan or Qatar on the sports scene. It's insane that the IIHF and other sports federations have such lax rules on this. International sport's virtue above ckub sport is supposed to be the lack of money and trading players involved... I mean if you have a good reason or at least some connections to the country then it's fine but this is just buying up foreign players like a club would do.