# 2024 Summer Olympics Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 10, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019 "2024-07-10T20:21:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/261 "2024-07-29T02:19:24Z")
Launching balloons near the Eiffel Tower doesn’t seam like a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/262 "2024-07-29T02:19:32Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Men’s basketball: Damn it Steve Kerr, your team is up by 20, put Tyrese Haliburton in the game! Yeah, I keep hearing about him. Is he a major NBA player? If so, why didn’t he play? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/263 "2024-07-29T02:20:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Men’s 100M butterfly was the same. 100M breast. Not butterfly. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/264 "2024-07-29T02:22:36Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > 100M breast. Not butterfly. Oh, shit, my bad. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/265 "2024-07-29T03:02:06Z")
Maybe NBC is getting feedback concerning commercials interrupted by the Olympics. I saw a commercial that was split screened with a tiny showing of an event. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/266 "2024-07-29T03:11:24Z")
I saw that too. I was just hoping and then wham!, 10 minutes of a background piece and at least 12 ads. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/267 "2024-07-29T06:47:12Z")
I really hate the two competitors per country rule in gymnastics. It keeps someone who could have earned a medal from competing. Jordan Chiles got completely screwed. She did great but was just edged out for the second US place in the all-around. She would have qualified in fourth place if there wasn’t the 2 person limit. Since there are 24 competitors it’s not like one country will dominate everything. It may be different for the apparatus finals where only the top 8 compete. There I can see a possible limit ( although I still think it should be three). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/268 "2024-07-29T06:55:18Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Maybe NBC is getting feedback concerning commercials interrupted by the Olympics. I saw a commercial that was split screened with a tiny showing of an event. That’s been normal on CBC/TSN’s coverage. A small part of the screen is the event, a larger part is an advertisement. I don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/269 "2024-07-29T13:10:14Z")
I watch MINIMAL sports on TV - mostly golf’s majors, the Chicago marathon, and maybe the Triple Crown and the Superbowl. But I watch plenty of (too much!) TV, and am very willing to slip the Os into my strenuous regimen of sloth. But their chosen manner of presentation has turned off this potential casual viewer. Last night we did a jigsaw puzzle and I read. Did not even attempt to see if they were showing anything watchable. Modestly disappointing. It really is confusing. Every 2-4 years, I hear so many folk talk abut how much the coverage sucks. I can’t really recall hearing anyone enthuse over the coverage. But NBC keeps going in the same direction, so it must be the approach that makes them the most $! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/270 "2024-07-29T13:11:58Z")
One Olympic announcer has been sent home early. > the women swimmers were “finishing up” and “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.” > **[Olympics commentator Bob Ballard dumped after sexist remark during swimming...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/29/bob-ballard-fired-sexist-comment-australian-swimming/74584769007/)** > > Former BBC reporter Bob Ballard loses Olympic broadcasting gig with Eurosport after a sexist on-air remark during the swimming competition in Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/271 "2024-07-29T13:42:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Might have caused scheduling problems to cancel Canada’s games. You’d have a lot of unhappy ticket holders. And the teams Canada was supposed to play would be getting a rest day while other teams were playing. In a tightly scheduled tournament like this, that could give those teams an advantage in later games. Thanks for pointing this out. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/272 "2024-07-29T14:14:27Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m watching the equestrian cross-country, which is being held on the grounds of Versailles. I can’t decide if that’s the most elitist thing ever, or actually pretty cool. As an eventer wanna be (my horse is a bad jumper and I’m old), I’ll vote pretty cool. Cross country needs a lot of land which Versailles has. Versailles also has stables. The palace and grounds are a beautiful background for this sport. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/273 "2024-07-29T14:16:10Z")
I wish they would show more of - even if it’s just the final period or whatever - of the more obscure sports to North Americans (e.g. team handball, field hockey, archery). ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/274 "2024-07-29T16:03:32Z")
Not really unusual, at least in the UK nearly all eventing competitions are held in the ground of stately homes. For example the UKs two 5 star events (highest level) are at Badminton and Burleigh, a 4 star event is held at Gatcombe, home of the Princess Royal (who competed in eventing in Montreal 76) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/275 "2024-07-29T16:35:24Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Not really unusual, at least in the UK nearly all eventing competitions are held in the ground of stately homes. Yeah, but there are stately homes, and then there’s the Palace of Versailles. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/276 "2024-07-29T16:52:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Yeah, I keep hearing about him. Is he a major NBA player? If so, why didn’t he play? Starting point guard for the Pacers. Two-time All-Star. Led the league’s top-rated offense last year, and a lot of that time was with questionable talent like Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield. He’s not great on defense, and has a pass-first mentality, but Jesus, you’re up by 20; let the kid play! ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/277 "2024-07-29T17:12:15Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If a singles player can not play, they allow you to…take one of your doubles guys/girls and they can replace them. You can’t bring a backup player even. It isn’t just tennis, it is the same for any individual sport, you can’t bring a back-up to Paris but can sometimes replace a competitor with someone who is already there. It also raises the question who should the backup be? Most of the places in tennis singles go to those ranked in the top 56 in the world (subject to max 4 per nation) so should the back-up be the person ranked 57 in the world or someone from the same nation. as the person who pulls out even it they are ranked outside the top 200? there is the cost of not just getting the back-ups to Paris and accomodating them while they are there but also all their support staff. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/278 "2024-07-29T17:29:24Z")
It seems to be little noticed how dominant South Korea has become in archery. They just won their 10th consecutive gold medal in the women’s team competition. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/279 "2024-07-29T17:30:43Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > Most of the places in tennis singles go to those ranked in the top 56 in the world… Why 56? 64 is a perfect number for a single-elimination tournament. Do the Olympics use some different tournament format, or are the other 8 spots based on some other elligibility standard? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/280 "2024-07-29T17:35:15Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > or are the other 8 spots based on some other elligibility standard? This. There are some spots for countries that don’t/can’t fill their quota but have won major competitions on their continents, an automatic one for the host nation, a couple for previous Olympic/Grand Slam champions, etc. > **[How to qualify for tennis at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system...](https://olympics.com/en/news/pathway-to-paris-2024-tennis-qualification-system-explained)** > > Find out how megastars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek can qualify for the next Olympic tennis competition, which will be played on the most famous clay courts of the planet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=15)