dcro

I truly hope Kiani wins this, otherwise the IOC will surely manufacture a fairytale out of this...

We never had any "external help" when it came to developing either baseball/softball or cricket. And while baseball/softball are as marginal as they can be regarding the media attention, they both have players and both have enjoyed some European success (men's baseball team is always able to qualify for the European Championships, men's softball team recently came home with a historic medal, while the women's team is improving as well). Cricket, meanwhile, is just non-existent. I guess this shows which IF is more invested into global development.

And the final part of the Tokyo 1964. Testimony of Marianne Gossweiler, the first Swiss female Olympian and medalist. https://www.eurodressage.com/2021/07/22/1964-tokyo-olympics-marianne-fankhauser-first-swiss-woman-olympics-and-straight-medals

No, but is certainly fitting for a typical Totallympics bashing masked under a pretense of "discussion". Baseball/softball is like the only non-European-centric team sport at the Olympics. And it's here for one cycle. Just let it be.

Is there a more imperialistic sport than cricket though?

I slept through first 6 innings. That's it, my new phone's alarm is useless. Time to charge the old one.

Guinea -5 (withdrawn)

Looks like everyone save Australia has a chance for a medal. Famous last words. Now they will trash Italy.

World Championships Final had 3 extra innings, with one of them going 0-0, so it is possible...

Rangel

The venue is now fully dressed, though these sunsets have been the talk of the town since the athletes started arriving.

I don't see this changeup > fastball girl pitching for very long though. Bold change from Canada.

Banda MVP

I got a headache reading this. Or maybe that's because I slept maybe 4 hours last evening. At any rate, here is how independent journalists had to scrape their way to Tokyo... Totally unsustainable. https://www.eurodressage.com/2021/07/21/tokyo-tales-postcards-edge

Actually, Vanderhasselt was already a reserve, and now Devos replaces him. They still have 4 riders. https://inside.fei.org/system/files/OG Jumping Definite Entries 21Jul21.pdf

Just tuning in for the replays... 3 - 1 after 20 minutes. Zambia somehow has pretty good offense, and non-existent defense. The Dutch players meanwhile look as though they would rather be ANYWHERE but here.

To be fair, the Americans were faultless defensively. They left nothing for the Italians. Even if their offense was not up to the standard, this does not put JPN/CAN in a better position.

Well, only one athlete/horse are back from that team. Double medalist McCarthy is missing completely, while both Ennis and Watson still have to prove the worth of their Tokyo rides.

Okayish draw for our guys (BRA/FRA would have been more favorable), but it could.have been much worse as well. Decent draw for Pucar in the singles, while Gaćina gets Togo! I can't remember our athletes going against Tripartite athletes so this should be fun.

Meanwhile, sadly, Tanya Seymour's Ramoneur suffered laminitis after arriving to Tokyo. They are forced to withdraw. The dressage field is down to 59 names as putting in a replacement is not feasible anymore.

Unlikely. Jumping horses are yet to be flown, so maybe Australia can still field a replacement.

Always exciting to have a single sculler at the Olympics. Great chance of getting an exotic nation or two in your heat.

Yes, I secretly hoped for Sara! It's just the magnitude of her involvement in the Swedish equestrian community that's impressive - bringing home a medal on a family-bred Swedish Warmblood. Can't get much more enthusiastic than that.

Tokyo-bound Jamie Kermond tested positive for cocaine and is out. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/olympics/show-jumper-jamie-kermond-tests-positive-to-cocaine/news-story/17b83d292211c77833c840e6460324d2

Jamie Kermond tested positive for cocaine and is out. Australian jumping reserve, Rowan Willis, pulled out earlier as he was not very eager to go to Japan as a backup. So we are yet to see if Australia will be able (or even allowed) to keep their team.