orangeman

38 minutes ago, Faramir said:

But what's up with this drunk fans thing, is ice hockey like rugby?

Do the Dutch speed skating fans at the Olympics also get drunk usually?

They serve beer, I'm sure. I got a little....lubricated at the women's gold medal game in 2018 in the early afternoon. By the time I was at curling in the evening I was a bit over it, though. Visiting Canada House between might have added to the lubrication. They did not have beer in Beijing 2022. Heck, they barely had food and the gift shop closed before the game started. Anyway, the point is, yes hockey fans drink beer occasionally. 

3 hours ago, phelps said:

given the current IIHF rules, even a 5 p.m. start wouldn't overrun any ceremony (which will start at 9 p.m., pretty sure, even if it's not official yet)

 

in Turin it was 2 p.m. and it was definitely too early, not an "Italian" start time at all (actually, already in 2006 the schedule had nothing to do with any Italian interest/habit, which makes me even more angry this time...errors are human, repeating the same errors is...)

 

frankly, I could make a better schedule than that with closed eyes

It's not just TV audiences, I'm sure there's actual logistics on the ground. Media, fans and players from the game might need to get to the CC. Security might be an issue. When I went to the CC in Beijing 2022, they had the whole Olympic Green secured due all the officials going to the event. I don't think they can have the hockey game pouring out with drunk/excited fans next door as that's setting up. Never mind the traffic around the venues, etc. And that was during a limited audience Games due to Covid. On top of that, I'm sure networks want a pause between the last event of the Games and the Closing Ceremonies. That's a time a lot of them do a recap, video montages, interviews, recognition of staff, etc. It's not even to satisfy the North American market, because a later start would be better for us, too. 

I get that 1pm is not "afternoon" to Italians, but the Olympics aren't just for the host country. A lot of logistics go into them that us laymen don't even know about. 

4 hours ago, phelps said:

in Italy 1 p.m. is NOT afternoon yet...

 

it's lunch time (and here, Sunday's "lunch" is actually a ritual like a wedding reception for most families)

 

afternoon means 3 or 4 p.m. (which would be a reasonable start time), not earlier

 

p.s. personally, I'd rather have the men's Hockey final on Saturday at 9 p.m. (and I'd get rid of the playoff round...I don't like that all 12 teams advance to the knockout stage...top 2 in each group + the best 2 3rd ranked advancing straight to the quarterfinals would be a lot better, but that's another story)

I mean, it has to be at 1pm just in case it goes into OT/SO, to have time to start the Closing Ceremony. It was at 2pm in Turino. You could move it to Saturday night, but other big events are happening at that time that would be overshadowed. Broadcasters wouldn't want to have to choose between the figure skating gala and the gold medal hockey game, for example. In Canada it'd be a national civil war on whether to watch the curling game or the hockey game. The men's gold medal game is sort of like the marathon in the SOG, it's just the highlight before the Olympics close. 

Plus it's a great excuse to day drink. 

12 minutes ago, Topicmaster1010 said:

Probably so that Chinese and Korean viewers can watch at a friendly time, although it's weird that two sessions are in the morning and four at night

It's probably because short track and figure skating are sharing a venue, and on those days figure skating is happening at night. There just aren't enough days were figure skating isn't taking place to accommodate the whole short track programme at night. 

Sorry I'm not posting more about the Paralympics this week. I'm super busy at work and have been battling...something. A cold? Allergies? Covid yet again? I don't know. 

I've been watching highlights and depending on you here to keep up. A slow start, but finishing strong to beat Tokyo. Hopefully I'll be able to watch some this weekend. 

5 hours ago, Josh said:

Oh by the way, Trinity Lowthian’s 5th in women’s category B epee is Canada’s best ever result at the Paralympics in wheelchair fencing!

 

Edit: And she’s only 19 too, she’s got a bright future ahead of her!

The future of fencing looks good across the board for Canada!

4 hours ago, Dragon said:

What's the situation with NFL players taking part in LA2028?

As far as I know, it's still up in the air. I'm sure the USA would love to have NFL stars in LA, though. 

Both men and women's team out in the quarters. 

Just seeing this topic now, and even though I answered a similar topic in the general Olympic thread right at the end of the Games, I think it's good to revisit it with a couple of weeks separation. 

My favourite Canadian Olympic moments, in chronological order:

1. Rugby 7s girls beating France and then Australia to make the gold medal game. I have a few girls and women who play rugby in my family and we were texting back and forth furiously. The pace of the game and having multiple games per day is just so exciting. This sport has proven to be a perfect addition to the programme, and is a great way to start the Games (although having teams eliminated before the OC was a bad idea I hope they revisit). 

2. Eleanor Harvey getting bronze in fencing. I don't watch much fencing, but the timing of the bouts were perfect for me this time around. It was great watching the Canadians do better than they ever have before, with Harvey of course coming through for a medal. Then the team coming soooooo close to another one. The Grand Palais was an amazing venue, the fencers descending that staircase before their matches was beautiful. 

3. Always great watching Summer win, but I think the 200 IM was the best one because she had real competition and many sources didn't believe she would get the gold. 

4. Katzburg destroying the competition on his first throw. 

5. Men's 4x100. Completely unexpected. I was hooting and hollering among Americans at work in the middle of the day. This one has the best re-watch value, I've watched it at least 25 times since. 

6. Waking up very early to see Katie Vincent edge out gold unexpectedly to break Canada's non-boycotted gold and total medal records. 

Other highlights for other reasons: 

-Liendo and Kharun medalling in the same event, having two Canadians on the same podium for Canada since the 1970s I believe (and Kharun becoming the first male to win two swimming medals since the 90s). This one is tempered a bit because I really wanted Liendo to win gold. 

-W8 silver because I set my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night to see it and then went back to sleep. They didn't disappoint.

-Methot getting bronze in trampoline because I turned it on as I was getting ready for work with no expectations but seeing some trampolining. Great way to start the day. 

-Newman's bronze in pole vault because it was unexpected and fun to watch.

-Masse getting a medal in Paris. 

-Bronze in mixed doubles tennis. I don't watch a lot of tennis, but it was really fun to watch in Paris. 

Favourite non-Canadian moments:

1. France winning gold in men's rugby. What a way to start off the Games. The world needed to celebrate, and Paris did not disappoint.

2. Sara Sjostrom winning the 100m free (and later the 50 free). She just seems so nice and hard working. 

3. Marchant lighting La Defense Arena on fire for a week. 

4. The venues in general. Just gorgeous and iconic, including Tahiti. 

Worst moments:

1. 3x3 W basketball losses in the playoff rounds. 

2. Men's basketball loss against France.

3. Damien Warner.

4. Sarah Mitton. 

5. USA coming back to beat Serbia.

6. So many 4ths again, especially all the W relays. 50/50 chance they get converted to bronzes if China runs out of money to bribe WADA with. 

Ellie Black has won the 2024 Olympics Fair Play award. 

https://olympics.com/en/news/canadian-gymnast-ellie-black-wins-fair-play-award

11 hours ago, Topicmaster1010 said:

So at the end of August, here are all the Canadian junior swimmers who rank in the top 10 among junior swimmers in an individual event:

 

Boys:

• Oliver Dawson: #8 200m Breaststroke
• Ethan Ekk: #8 200m Backstroke
• Aiden Norman: #2 100m Backstroke, #2 200m Backstroke

 

Girls:

• Julie Brousseau: #9 200m Freestyle, #9 400m Freestyle
• Delia Lloyd: #8 100m Backstroke
• Summer McIntosh: #1 200m Freestyle, #1 400m Freestyle, #1 800m Freestyle, #1 200m Butterfly, #1 200m Individual Medley, #1 400m Individual Medley, #3 100m Backstroke, #3 100m Butterfly, #4 100m Freestyle, #7 200m Breaststroke

 

Just Missed (Ranked #11 each):

• Ethan Ekk - Boys 200m Freestyle
• Laon Kim - Boys 100m Freestyle
• Madison Kryger - Girls 100m Backstroke

This Summer McIntosh looks like she might have a bright future. 

On 8/18/2024 at 10:35 PM, Josh said:

Whenever I have time in the upcoming year and a half (might not), I’ll try my best to share previews of some of the Olympic qualification events (including Olympic Trials for Canada, mixed doubles is from late November to early December by the way), but if anyone wants to do their own though I’m not stopping anyone 

Ask me how long it took me to realize you weren't talking about tennis (mixed doubles). 

16 hours ago, George_D said:

Aliassime was robbed

 

 

You know the other guy was lying because he looked shocked that he got the point at first, then played dumb, and then after it was definitively called for him he acted all innocent, "I would totally call for a replay...which can't happen....but I would call for it, which again cannot take place now...but it's not up to me and if it was I'd totally go with someone else's ruling, which at this time officially has gone my way and cannot be overturned....but it's not my fault..."

Also, hate when officials act so sure. I get that you have to make a call, and that everyone makes mistakes. But "I saw it!" Well, obviously you didn't because that's not what happened. So you lied. You're a liar. You have no credibility now. 

10 hours ago, intoronto said:

So sad she couldn't do this at the Olympics 

Please stop triggering me. 

I'm going to skip events I don't know much about. I'm concentrating on what brings an audience, global participation (across the board) and infrastructure. (Borrowed @intoronto's template here. 

Athletics*:  cross-country racing

Artistic Swimming: I think this should be removed just because of the judging. Wow, the same teams win the same medals at every event. Inspiring. But, I get that it's a real sport and people like it. Mixed duet instead of female duet, and mandatory 2 men per team. 

Boxing: Gone.

3x3 basketball: Increase to 12 teams per gender, 2 groups of 6, top 4 from each go to quarters. 

Canoeing Sprint: Add 500m to mens and womens C1. 

Canoeing slalom: Cross seemed like it was going to be fun, but I'm not sure. I'll give it another shot. 

Cycling: Add a second event for Mountain biking with no new quotas. In Track, 1km time trial. 

Equestrian: Gone.

Golf: Controversial, but GONE. It's not important to the big names, and the infrastructure is non-sustainable. Also, I find golf boring. 

MP: Kind of like the idea, now that equestrian is gone. Obstacle course will be good TV, probably. 

Rowing: I'm good. 

Rugby sevens: No changes

Skateboarding: Watched more of it in Paris than any time in my life, I get it now. But I don't think 11 year olds should be in the Olympics. There should be a minimum age for every discipline. 

Soccer: Even number of teams for both genders. 

Surfing: Gone. It's just impractical, and I don't like sports that depend so heavily on random mother nature. Also, not great for TV. 

Swimming: Eliminate semis for 200 individuals. 

Table Tennis: Don't care, personal opinion, GONE. 

Taekwondo: Fine.

Tennis: Fine, but extend the calendar so athletes aren't playing 2-3 matches per day. There two weeks, use the two weeks. 

Triathlon: Fine. 

Volleyball: Fine.

Wrestling: Maybe remove Greco-Roman wrestling

Elective sports from Paris/LA

Baseball/Softball: Continue to have it in countries that can support it. I think it's good, but no need for a country like France to build stadiums they'll never use again. 

Breaking: No thanks. But gold for Canada!

Cricket: Yes, it includes otherwise neglected South Asian countries. 

Flag Football: Gone. Interested to see it, somewhat.

Lacrosse: Yes.

Squash: Sure. Includes otherwise neglected countries. Too many racket sports, but I'd take this over Table Tennis. Sorry, lived in East Asia for many years, still think it's not an Olympic sport. Come at me bro! 

Athletics* = New field team event. Countries have competitors in all 8 field events, add up placements like team figure skating. Only three attempts in each event, or something like that. All in a few hours. DO IT. 

1 hour ago, Topicmaster1010 said:

I would add a mixed hammer throw event to the athletics programme. That would be fun!

As a Canadian in 2024, I absolutely support this idea. 

On 8/12/2024 at 11:25 PM, Josh said:

Hope not 

The guy sounds like a scumbag and should be banned. 

2 hours ago, intoronto said:

Yea. I also never understood why they don't allow countries who qualify 2 in the individual event the option to pair up in synchro.

I think there's a big drop off from the top 4-5 teams in the synchro events. There's no benefit, in my mind, to adding more teams. 

What I like about synchro is that it's one and done. I think the individual diving events could drop the semis. I get their purpose, but it's just a lot. Should be like athletics, 18 divers get to the final and after 3 dives it gets cut to the top 8. Or something like that. 

I'll eventually add my thoughts on the whole programme, but generally I like having more sports, less filler within each sport (i.e. semis in diving, 200m swimming). 

On 8/13/2024 at 9:26 AM, NearPup said:

You really thought I’d let that one slip by? :P

I'll never underestimate a New Brunswicker again! 

On 8/11/2024 at 7:55 PM, NearPup said:

As someone from  I deeply resent this Eastern Canada erasure!

Haha, I literally wrote, "Sorry NearPup!" but then deleted it, thinking it could go unnoticed. 

3 hours ago, Jur said:

4 x 200 needs to lose the semifinals. There arent enough strong teams for that. Make a direct final and that's it.

Honestly, I think all 200 individual races should lose the semi-finals. 

42 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Based on the results of these Olympics, I think it's realistic for to aim for a top 10 in LA.

 

In Tokyo it felt like we had better than expected Olympics. This time we did even better and it feels like we under-performed a little bit.

A lot goes into it, but a home-continent Olympics helps. First summer home-continent Olympics since 1996 which was our medal haul record until Tokyo. 

Edit: No, I don't count Rio as home-continent no matter what the IOC says. It's a longer flight than Europe, it's a different season and no time zone most of Canada is used to. 

1. Rate the performance on a scale of 1-10

8/10

Positives: Record number of medals, record golds, record number of sports that medals were won in, 4th on the swimming table, 3rd on the athletics table. 

Negatives: Some big disappointments, as other Canadians have said. Basketball coming up with an air ball (see what I did there?) was horrible. So many 4ths again. I know it's a meme here, but it seriously is a national sporting problem for decades now.

2. What were the surprises and heartbreaks ?

Kind of mentioned it above.

Surprises: 4x100 relay gold, rugby silver, pole vault bronze, canoe gold, fencing bronze (and one point away from another bronze in the team event).

Heartbreaks: This is probably  more personal, but Warner (and Lepage before him) not completing the decathlon, Mitton fouling out in shot put, 3x3 and men's basketball. 

3.Was your country's goal achieved? 

I think so, yes.

4. Which are the sports that will be invested more in future? 

I don't know. Hopefully fencing now. Hopefully they re-invest in rowing because we have a history there that has been neglected. There's so much talent in canoe/kayak that could be developed, as well as track cycling. It just takes political will. 

5. Who could be some the potential star for your country in LA?

Summer McIntosh, obviously. Morales-Williams in the 400. Katzburg in the hammer. Some kid sitting at home we haven't heard of yet. 

17 minutes ago, NearPup said:

Eventually I'll figure out how to spell Ilya xD

Just spell it Phil Wizard to trigger @Josh to the maximum. 

44 minutes ago, Josh said:

Can’t really complain about McIntosh being selected as one of them, given the incredible Olympics she’s had, but I can’t help but feel sad that Black never got her opportunity. No Olympic medals, but an incredible athlete, has all of the values of a person that want to be representing your country, not to mention that this could be her final Olympics. 

I totally called it in Tokyo. When Biles withdrew, I said she'd come back for the beam and knock Ellie off the podium, which is exactly what happened. Not mad at Biles, just sad for Ellie. That was her one great shot.