orangeman

Watching the female hammer throwers celebrate is nice.

That's great! That's my point. All these events are for entertainment. Mixed relays, in swimming anyway (first time seeing it here in athletics) add a layer of strategy to the event that I find interesting.

Out of the answers so far, I understand this the most. It does seem like just another opportunity to give medals to the same countries. I don't really follow the "no history" answer, because that can be applied to everything new in order to prevent progress and innovation. I mean, steeplechase has history but is it a natural event? Are hurdles necessary? It's just for entertainment, it's not like any of these events have some sort of intrinsic value outside of athleticism.

Why is mixed relay any less valid than normal relay?

Apparently you can hand over the baton and then hang out on the track to trip up the competition and it's all cool. (Might be my greater experience in short track speed skating that confuses me on this).

De Grasse! Maybe Gatlin won't make the final now...

One last gold for Canada!

The gold Canada won in archery certainly helps. Cuba is in 3 finals in Judo, and they're 3 golds behind Canada. I don't think they have any other real chances, so even if they win all of those Canada would still finish ahead of them I think.

Will Argentina pass Canada on the medal table?

That relay was one of the most boring. 3/4 seconds between each, 1-2 2-3 and 3-4. But yay! Another silver!

It depends on how you count "the world", countries or population. It also depends on what you think the Olympics should be about. Baseball/Softball: It includes a good portion of regions (North and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and East Asia). It also includes an okay population when considering East Asia. I lived in South Korea and they watched every pitched during 2008, and went wild when they won gold. However, the infrastructure costs a lot, and it doesn't get the best players in the world. Cricket: I don't understand it, personally. But enough countries that are under-represented at the SOG would participate that would make it worthwhile. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc. There are African countries that could compete, as well. This could use the same sites as baseball. But since both would take multiple days, I'm not sure how that would work out. Personally, I like the idea of host countries getting to choose about 3 sports to include. Japan likes baseball, so fine. France doesn't have the infrastructure or the fan base, so they'd have...idk,...cheese making or something. ps. I grew up in Quebec, speak French. The only thing I love more than the French is making fun of the French.

Anyway, I don't want to sound like a negative Nelly. I'm proud of all our athletes. I really am. I've had a rough couple of days, and just want a win here and there. And I got it, so can't complain. Now I've had a drink or two, so I have opinions. You know what they say about opinions? They're like assholes. They stink.

Going into the 200IM final in swimming, 2 Americans and 2 Canadians had about the same entry times (2:11's). The difference is the Americans actually performed at that level here, getting gold and silver, while the Canadians were 3/4 seconds behind that, getting 3rd and 4th. I think this is what's most frustrating as a Canadian sports fan. It's not that we don't have great athletes, because we do. It's not that they don't win, because they do. But, generally speaking across all disciplines, Canadian athletes under perform in big competitions. For years, Canada led the way in 4th and 5th place finishes at the SOG and WOG. Canada had the lowest World Championship to Olympic medal conversion rate for decades. It's not about the winning. And lord knows, I'm not criticizing athletes who do things I can't dream of. I'm just saying, as a Canadian, it's tough watching my peers just shrink under pressure time and time again. It's a national pysche thing. We just don't have the killer instinct, as a nation. Hence, 223435 silver medals here, and top 10 medals in the Olympics but only 20th in gold. Edit: I just want to say that I said the part about Olympic medal ranking randomly. But I just looked it up, and in Rio, Canada was really 10th in total but 20th overall. That worked out! Edit 2: At the last 2 SOG, 62% of Canada's medals have been bronze, while only 14% have been gold.

Are any other Canadians having trouble with the CBC swimming feed?

Actually, I meant is as both, a homophone. I think there's a shortened version of cricket that could be considered for the SOG, to include South Asia more. There's more pressing issues, but that's one that I think could be discussed more.

I wanted to say Boxing has to go, but it's an Olympic sport so I left it.

That's fine then. I'm not saying one of them definitely has to go, but I'd rather one of them go instead of something completely unique and interesting.

Re: Squash Out of interest I looked into the world rankings. In the top 10 of men, there is Egypt, Peru, Colombia, NZ and Germany (in fact, the top 4 are from Egypt). For women it's much the same, throw in a Frenchie, American, Hong Konger and a couple of Brits. If the IOC wanted to expand countries with interest in their sports, this seems like a no brainer. It's not a lot of infrastructure and includes many non-traditional countries from regions that are often left out of the SOG. North Africa/Middle East, and non-Brazilian South America. It makes more sense to me than table tennis, and yes I know I know. I lived in East Asia for 15 years.

I would actually support the expansion of trampoline into team. I think the best way to expand the sport into Latin America would be to have it here, so competitors can work up to the Olympics. I think squash and racquetball are redundant. Squash often comes up for Olympic consideration, so it seems like the more established and legitimate of the two. I know nothing about Basque Pelota, but if it's popular in Latin America then I support it staying. I think there are too many combat sports, but if they're in the Olympics then they have to stay here. Maybe I'm uneducated, but Wrestling, Boxing and one martial art would be fine. But they don't cost a lot to host, and they include some smaller nations, so fine. Water ski is cool to have here because it's different. Idk think any other continental competition has it. Body building should go. Surfing is in the Olympics for some reason, but shouldn't be. Lacrosse should be in. Equestrian shouldn't be in Pan Ams or Olympics. Unpopular opinion. But don't get me started on what should and shouldn't be in the Olympics. (Let's just say I hear CRICKETs). And that's how I would fix everything. You're welcome.

Ok, well good effort anyway. Another silver. We're sort of good at so many things...

I know literally nothing about fencing, and am just looking at the score right now. But Gordon for Canada is doing great in the team competition! Canada might pull of a gold medal.

GOLD in 800! Totally unexpected!

There are some chances in athletics and even in swimming. Softball is possible. Archery tomorrow is possible.

And the sound is terrible, keeps going in and out. No sound during the medal ceremonies, too.

Yay, a gold for Canada in the pool.