dcro

Does the Latvian delegation know that choreography is supposed to match the tune?

San Marino ruined the whole evening. Everything falls flat in comparison.

Ah, that sweet sweet Dutch-English accent.

San Marino will be hard pressed to repeat this amazing performance...

Croatian team for the home championships... There must be about 100 names in there. http://www.hrvatski-streljacki.hr/dokumenti/clanci/2930_2672_ostaliDokumenti_HSS Odluka o sastavu reprezentacije - EP Osijek 2021.pdf As for the Olympic qualification, our best chances are definitely men's trap and women's 25 m pistol. Outside chances in some other events.

Jordan has 7 athletes qualified right now (in 3 sports), and yet they are still waiting for the first non-controversial qualification... Must be some kind of record.

Clarke Johnstone & Balmoral Sensation https://eventingnation.com/top-tokyo-contender-for-team-new-zealand-retires-from-competitive-career/ 6th individually in Rio... They will be greatly missed.

Following the rumor of North Korean withdrawal, the IOC released a statement claiming that they received no word about it from their NOC. So, this whole rumor of PRK boycott could very well turn out to be a hoax...

This would set a wonderful precedent. If you don't like the outcome, just change the rules after the fact, and voila. EDIT: Ah, I see this was merely a case of a federation being hasty.

Dream season so far for the Giants and Mets (minus an odd blip).

Aktas into QFs. If Aktas loses to Slovakia, then Kvesić will lose to Slovakia and all is well? If Aktas wins Slovakia, then it's over? This means Kvesić is qualified at last, right?

Best not yet represented, meaning Slovakia. Don't get your hopes up about Brazil though. Their NOC is just not into declining quotas. At all. On paper, the is always the most likely to withdraw, but I'm pretty sure Vader is safe.

So I double checked. They changed it and now any reallocation will be awarded down the rankings. But with reduced maximum quotas per nation (only 7 nations can have more than one starter), it is more improbable than ever. Tripartite Commission place will be awarded only if everyone ranked declines. That's so dumb. 60 nations would have to decline. I swear some federations are inventing ridiculous Tripartite allocation criteria just to parade behind the universality flag. Yuck.

Neither. Tripartite Commission. Likely Lesotho (again).

This man is cuckoo pants. Apparently he now hopes to catch (i.e. acquire, lease or borrow) a 4*-ready horse and qualify last minute. https://www.geosuper.tv/amp/8613-im-alive-and-so-is-pakistans-olympic-dream-says-injured-usman-khan Luckily, this is all just nonsense talk... First things first. Nationality transfer period for horses ended on January 15th. So, unless there was a Pakistani-owned, 4*-ready horse just lying around this whole time (answer: there is not), it's over... And even if the whole nationality thing was in order... He would basically need to start in Europe next week (Houghton Hall or Baborowko), and then rush to Melbourne for the long format two weeks later... Pretty sure the entries are closed for next week, and quarantine laws would make competing in Melbourne impossible... Quintessential case of a small time athlete from a marginal sport deceiving his country's media.

Also, I kind of vibed with the Lithuanian song back in February... It did not age well.....

Yeah, I'm genuinely surprised that Tick Tock is not through. Perfectly generic ESC song, it should have done well...

Two Grand Finals for TIX this year.

Congrats to Namibia for achieving full representation in two disciplines.

That is certainly possible as well. He seems to be selling a lot of information to Pakistani people anyway. But I don't think blame should be put on the event organizers (unless they failed to inform FEI of the entries, entered Khan on their own discretion, or something of that sort). Just running an event is challenging enough without keeping tabs on the background of each athlete. Especially since FEI took it upon themselves to monitor entries at higher levels and inform all parties concerned (according to that document).

Thanks. What a bizarre article. Khan critically injured? But discharged from the hospital on the same day? Though, judging by some of his statements in this article, he should have been held for further examinations... Even if he finished though, he still would not have qualified as he was in breach of the rules by competing at consecutive weekends. I am sure he was well aware of that, but tried to cheat his way anyway and hope nobody would notice. p.s. Safety pins are still a developing technology. They are widespread at higher level events, but not so much at smaller shows like Naracoorte. They are designed to prevent the rotational falls, which have been the cause of most tragic accidents (like indeed this one). p.p.s. Even still, per rules, Kasheer was not allowed to start cross-country this weekend. Mandatory rest rules are there exactly to prevent desperate qualifying attempts. Someone should be held responsible. It was easily preventable.

Fun fact, starting in Tokyo, canoeing sprint will allow 2 boats for singles and doubles.

Too soon for WRs?

Awful. Kasheer was NOT allowed to be competed this weekend (mandatory rest period of 10 days). Curious how Usman Khan started ignoring this mandatory rest rule only after his qualification became mathematically impossible. I'm sure he knew exactly what he was doing. FEI takes equal blame, as they were supposed to monitor all entries "for the welfare of the horse" (their own words). Hopefully a lengthy ban coming for the Pakistani rider (and this Frederique Reffet person). What a mess.