Winter Olympics 2022

[Neilds]

Yeees...

but, surely it jars a little that the Winter Olympics are being held somewhere that's not the slightest bit "wintery"? Surely if it's just about providing the facilities whatever the conditions/location, then just build everything at one go in one place and call it "the Olympics" and do away with the summer & winter designations? I think I'll put in a bid to extended the ski slope at Ruxley Corner and we can have the olympic downhill skiing in south east London.

Maybe we should get in quickly before they dismantle the Marble Arch Mound - would be a great downhill location

 

[Foxholer]

Yeees...

but, surely it jars a little that the Winter Olympics are being held somewhere that's not the slightest bit "wintery"? Surely if it's just about providing the facilities whatever the conditions/location, then just build everything at one go in one place and call it "the Olympics" and do away with the summer & winter designations? I think I'll put in a bid to extended the ski slope at Ruxley Corner and we can have the olympic downhill skiing in south east London.

Except that many of the events are! It's 'only' (as that's actually the majority) the 'stadium style' events that are being held at venues in Beijing itself. Skiing and 'large venue' events, for example, are being held at 'proper' venues. Indoor events, such as curling, skating, ice hockey etc, can be held in the designated city (Beijing in this case). I'm pretty certain that this is how other Winter Games have been 'managed' too, though maybe not as much/so visibly, with the use of artificial snow being openly used. It's only the continuity of broadcasts that provide the illusion of it all happening in a single place.
Check the 'Sports' section of this link for details. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Winter_Olympics

 

[AliMc]

I'll put in another vote for the downhill racers. A mate who is a pretty competent black run skier was once in Kitzbuhel just before a World Cup race and decided to sneak on to the Hahnenkamm to "see what it was like". They side slipped a few yards before deciding it was " ... too effin scary and beyond stupid ..."

I have been to Kitzbuhel 4 or 5 times with my mate and would say that at best I was a competent to decent skier, I had to give up due to suffering badly from shin splints, have skied down the Hahnenkamm many times, it used to take the two of us about 20 to 25 minutes these guys do it in about 2. I was in Schladming one year when the Austrian Olympic team were there practising, think it was for Lake Placid maybe, you used to hear the cow bells ringing in the distance to warn everyone that they were coming and they literally went past in the blink of an eye, the locals said that they were absolutely mental !

 

[YandaB]

One time that we were there we got chatting to a British ski instructor, he told that the night before the race, all the instructors would side slip down the course to clear the loose snow so that just the ice base was available. They expected to get 1-2 broken arms/clavicles from these experienced skiers each year!

 

[Beedee]

So it appears the court of Arbitration in Sport have decided drugs are OK as long as you hand them out when the athletes are young.

Valieva will probably win - her performances have been extraordinary - but if she's allowed to keep the medal, it's got to have the biggest black mark hanging over it.

And this is one of the "clean" russian athletes that's not allowed to skate for Russia itself as they're still banned for systematic drug use. IIRC Russia had their ban reduced from 4 to 2 years. Surely time to go back to 4 years at the very least, AND include the "ROC" in the ban.

 

[Foxholer]

Surely it's time to celebrate the advances in Russian medicine that mean they can detect, therefore treat, angina so early in life!

 

[Foxholer]

So it appears the court of Arbitration in Sport have decided drugs are OK as long as you hand them out when the athletes are young.

Valieva will probably win - her performances have been extraordinary - but if she's allowed to keep the medal, it's got to have the biggest black mark hanging over it.

And this is one of the "clean" russian athletes that's not allowed to skate for Russia itself as they're still banned for systematic drug use. IIRC Russia had their ban reduced from 4 to 2 years. Surely time to go back to 4 years at the very least, AND include the "ROC" in the ban.

Actually, it's 'only' a copout that allows her to continue to compete. The results will still be 'pending' a final decision on whether they should stand.
Certainly suggests some hypocrisy about the ROC 'arrangement'! And the delay in announcing the positive test result should be investigated too imo.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Actually, it's 'only' a copout that allows her to continue to compete. The results will still be 'pending' a final decision on whether they should stand.
Certainly suggests some hypocrisy about the ROC 'arrangement'! And the delay in announcing the positive test result should be investigated too imo.

It takes away 'the moment' for those currently in 2nd, 3rd and 4th if they award the medals though. Giving them the correct medals in 3 months time is not the same as getting them at the games, standing on the podium etc.

Same if she 'wins' in the individual.

Have they said if they will make a decision before the games end?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Disgusted she is allowed to continue, she’s a drug cheat regardless of her age.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

Winter Olympics in London - epic idea. We could combine the biathlon with Z-list celebrities where the athletes try and shoot them running through the woods.
Ski-jumping off the o2 roof - luge down Box Hill in Surrey - everyone in that area did that as a kid - the ambulances used to wait until the bottom until they were full before driving to the hospital.

 

[Foxholer]

Disgusted she is allowed to continue, she’s a drug cheat regardless of her age.

Is SHE? Or has she been manipulted?!
That's the entire reason for the existence of ROC as a team. It's the Russian state that's been found to be the 'drug cheat' in the past.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Is SHE? Or has she been manipulted?!
That's the entire reason for the existence of ROC as a team. It's the Russian state that's been found to be the 'drug cheat' in the past.

I think that is the approach the authorities are taking. Nevertheless, her results should not stand. Knowingly, willingly, or not, the displays are a result, in part, of chemical assistance.

 

[AmandaJR]

The result can't stand surely. I thought the whole point of ROC athletes was that they couldn't compete under the Russian flag due to state sponsored cheating. This episode would suggest it still happens so not sure what punishment they're suffering if she is allowed to win/compete with banned substances in her system.

 

[Neilds]

'Apparently' the drug is the same as one of those that was uncovered in the state sponsored doping so looks doubly suspect in my eyes

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Is SHE? Or has she been manipulted?!
That's the entire reason for the existence of ROC as a team. It's the Russian state that's been found to be the 'drug cheat' in the past.

What does it matter?
If they let her compete, the message they are sending out is anyone under 18 can cheat and compete legally. If she is taking part against adult competitors, she should be treated as an adult competitor.
Perhaps by actually punishing her the state that control her might actually realise they cant get away with it, but I say might.

 

[Foxholer]

What does it matter?
If they let her compete, the message they are sending out is anyone under 18 can cheat and compete legally...

From my limited understanding, that's actually the existing rules! Though any 'wins' are cancelled.

...
Perhaps by actually punishing her the state that control her might actually realise they cant get away with it, but I say might.

Punishing the 'controlling state' is the proper method imo. Though very likely much more difficult.

 

[Old Skier]

What does it matter?
If they let her compete, the message they are sending out is anyone under 18 can cheat and compete legally. If she is taking part against adult competitors, she should be treated as an adult competitor.
Perhaps by actually punishing her the state that control her might actually realise they cant get away with it, but I say might.

Russia has a history of cheating in the Winter Olympics. Allowing them to compete under the “ROC” flag is a cope out. Many of there cross country and biathlon skiers have been banned and then allowed to compete. The IOC is a joke and corrupt.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Russia has a history of cheating in the Winter Olympics. Allowing them to compete under the “ROC” flag is a cope out. Many of there cross country and biathlon skiers have been banned and then allowed to compete. The IOC is a joke and corrupt.

I agree, the Eastern Bloc has always cheated, and again under age girls with the gymnasts given drugs to stop their bodies development and who now nearly all suffer as a result.
Not punishing her and the country is a cop out and just lets them think the West is soft. (which obviously it is)

 

[Old Skier]

If the other skaters really wanted to make a point they should all withdraw from further competition.

 

[Deleted member 18645]

"Contamination with my grandfather's medicine" ...... bwahahahahahaha ........ who thought of that excuse?