# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/321 "2024-07-30T20:58:44Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Maybe the Cold War made for better Olympics TV coverage! M: Christ, I miss the Cold War! One thing I noticed about men’s gymnastics, is it all happens at the same time. While one competitor is on the vault, another is on the rings, another is on the floor, etc. There’s really no way to cover everyone. I’m not sure one could follow it completely even sitting in the stands. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Olga Korbut was from the Soviet Union I’ve met her. She came to a couple car shows in Mesa, with her gold medals. I don’t know how a former Soviet gymnast came to live in Arizona, or decided to go to car shows, but there you go! And, yes, the medals are impressive in person. ---
**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 30, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/322 "2024-07-30T21:26:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > One thing I noticed about men’s gymnastics, is it all happens at the same time. While one competitor is on the vault, another is on the rings, another is on the floor, etc. There’s really no way to cover everyone. I’m not sure one could follow it completely even sitting in the stands. It’s the same for the women. After the preliminary round, the top eight teams make the finals for the team competition. They are divided into four groups of two. For example, while China and Japan are on one apparatus, Great Britain and Ukraine are on another, United States and Italy are on a third, and Switzerland and Canada are on a fourth. You can even tell sometimes that it’s happening; you can be watching a balance beam routine and hear the music from the floor exercise at the same time. (Only happens with the women, since the men don’t have music.) To complicate things a little more, the men have six apparatus, and the women have four. I have no idea how confusing it is to watch in person. I found [this page](https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gymnastics-101-olympic-competition-format) which lays out the format for the various medal competitions. It’s pretty strictly defined, as these sorts of competitoins tend to be. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/323 "2024-07-30T21:37:17Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I have no idea how confusing it is to watch in person. You’re intently watching the floor routine, and miss the vault because it takes only 5 seconds. meanwhile a guy spectacularly fell off the uneven bars and you missed it! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/324 "2024-07-30T21:42:46Z")
There have been no world records and few personal bests in the swimming competition so far. Why might that be? The answer may not be deep: [Why swimmers at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are calling the pool at La Defense Arena ‘slow’ - Eurosport](https://www.eurosport.com/swimming/olympic-games-paris-2024/2024/swimming-pool-slow-adam-peaty-team-gb-jacob-little-matt-richards_sto20023195/story.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/325 "2024-07-30T21:44:02Z")
I hope it’s not a hijack to say that I think with all the sports clamouring to get in, and the cuts recently made to traditional mainstays like wrestling and weightlifting, it’s absolutely ridiculous that there are 2 separate events for 2 basketball variants that barely differ from each other. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/326 "2024-07-30T21:45:36Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > One of the more recent social media things is the captain of the women’s water polo team sent out a request for help on Instagram, because several members of the team were taking 2nd and 3rd jobs just to make ends meet. Flavor Flav saw that and stepped in to sponsor the team. That makes me less annoyed that he’s been on camera so much and now I totally admire him for his generosity. Perhaps all of the sports should seek individual sponsors, who would get the right to hang out with the team? ---
**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 30, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/327 "2024-07-30T21:53:04Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > There have been no world records and few personal bests in the swimming competition so far. Why might that be? The answer may not be deep: One of the things that troubles me about the Olympics is the seeming need for each Games to be bigger, better, and more extravagant than the one before. If the Paris organizers saved a little money with a shallower pool, good for them; as long as it’s within the rules and fair to all the swimmers. > [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > it’s absolutely ridiculous that there are 2 separate events for 2 basketball variants that barely differ from each other. Do you feel the same about volleyball, with the 6-on-6 indoor, and 2-on-2 beach variants? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/328 "2024-07-30T22:08:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Do you feel the same about volleyball, with the 6-on-6 indoor, and 2-on-2 beach variants? Yes, I think this is a fair comparison, and yes, I have the same opinion. Beach volleyball is fun to watch, but so is normal volleyball, and there can be no doubt that the former was largely introduced to capture a viewing audience who don’t care much for sport, but like to ogle fit young women. I’m of the opinion that there are too many sports in the Olympics, and things like this should be the first to go, along with sports where an Olympic medal isn’t the pinnacle of the sport - so football, golf, and tennis can all go for a start. Probably rugby too, though again it is fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/329 "2024-07-30T22:21:59Z")
Speaking of beach volleyball, I’m wondering if in four years, they’ll literally play beach volleyball on Southern California beaches. As I remember, Santa Monica was where the sport was started or developed and the beach there is impressively large. ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/330 "2024-07-31T02:28:01Z")
Irish Swimmer Daniel Wiffen wins gold medal in 800 meter freestyle. [Ireland Has Its Own Olympics Hero Who Wears Glasses (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ireland-has-its-own-olympics-hero-who-wears-glasses/ar-BB1qUVKS?ocid=BingNewsSerp) [Daniel Wiffen SURGES to men’s 800m free victory, beating out USA’s Bobby Finke | Paris Olympics (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4rVCKVFfhE) ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/331 "2024-07-31T07:57:54Z")
> [@EnolaStraight](#): > > Irish Swimmer Daniel Wiffen wins gold medal in 800 meter freestyle. I watched that last night, he swam a great race. Team GB is starting to pick up some gold too, including winning the men’s 4x400m relay. Adam Peaty missed out on a third consecutive gold in the same event earlier this week by 2/10ths second! ---
**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 31, 2024, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/332 "2024-07-31T08:23:39Z")
I never thought it was. I was just explaining in plain language what was being said online. Not my belief, not my thoughts, never posted anything anywhere but here on this board, about it. Don’t think I’ve even spoken it aloud. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/333 "2024-07-31T08:31:30Z")
Only get to see about 2 hours of coverage a day, and I’m _really_ trying hard to avoid all the Can Get This Anytime Dangit events… basketball, soccer, surfing (my cable provider has a 24 hour surfing channel), tennis, golf… seriously, who the hell thought Olympic tennis or golf was a good idea… so be warned, my viewing is going to be all over the place and I’ll rarely watch anything at the same time you do. I did manage to see most of the men’s gymnastics final; I’ll pick up the rest tomorrow. I didn’t see our squad make any big mistakes but they kept slipping further behind after leading the second rotation, and I wonder if they just weren’t able to go for the really big moves or if China and Japan were just that good. They did a great job with what they had and had a very conspicuous cheerful spirit, which I appreciated. Might I add, it’s pretty freaking awesome for an entire nation to loudly celebrate a bronze medal and be 100% sincere about it. 😁 More tidbits: - Is NBC just _that_ completely obsessed with reality shows? Because that is the only explanation I can think of for putting such _idiotic, unaware, lifeless_ sportscasters behind the mikes. I’ve yet to hear a single intelligent observation or helpful piece of information from any of these hacks. It’s just “Ooh, that hurt.” and “You can really _feel_ the emotion.” and “This is critical.” and occasionally incredibly basic rules they’ve already explained before, on and on and on. I never thought I’d say this, but they should give Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila a crack; at least they show real emotion. - The second most annoying thing about the NBC coverage (I don’t get USA anymore so I can’t compare) is all the _dead air._ Seriously, have you all notice just _how long_ we’re looking at athletes milling around, looking at things, looking for things, talking about stuff, waiting for something to happen, etc.? It’s gotten so bad that I’m frequently seeing these stretches of nothing splitting time with _commercials!_ - I’ve found all the yoo-ess-ay chants unbearable since at least ’96, and now I have to ask…what does this even _mean_ anymore? What nation is there than can equal us in the Olympics now? I mean, China will make a fight of it like always, but they’re not an _adversary_ in any meaningful sense of the word. - Related note…I find it a bit eerie that Russia (along with Belarus) has no presence here at all, and everyone I’ve met so far…doesn’t seem to even notice. Remember last time, when the Russians were allowed to compete as a non-national squad (which I was perfectly fine with)? Debates _raged_ about this. How it was a great injustice to not be allowed to represent their country, how they shouldn’t be here at all and the IOC was gutless, how this compromise was the best solution, how this compromise was a sham, how their medals were tainted, how everyone else’s medals were tainted, and of course the goobers who use “asterisk” like an exclamation point were out in force. Now…no heat. At all. (I mean, if you found something, I guess I’ll take a look, but I’m not getting out of bed or anything.) suranyi - I’ll definitely catch that when I have the time, because…wow. I can understand how certain nations become dominant in certain sports that they have some kind of cultural and/or geographical edge in (Netherlands-speed skating, Norway-skiing, and Kenya-marathon, for example), but how is South Korea the archery juggernaut, and not, say, Great Britain, Japan, or Mongolia? Dunno, but speculation is always fun! 🙂 Fiendish Astronaut - Thanks, I was wondering about how where they were getting that metal from. Well, I mean, it’s symbolic ANYWAY, so why quibble? 🤷‍♂️ Toxyion - If the Olympics wanted a fast-paced, exciting, physically demanding shooting event, the solution is obvious: paintball. I saw a couple events on ESPN, and it was the farthest thing possible from a static snoozefest. Teams running, sliding, and juking to find angles, suppressive fire, coordinating attacks and defenses…it was a blast! Biggest problem might be finding enough teams. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/334 "2024-07-31T08:43:30Z")
> [@Teuton](#): > > Adam Peaty missed out on a third consecutive gold in the same event earlier this week by 2/10ths second! 2/_ **100ths** _ of a second 😉 ---
**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 31, 2024, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/335 "2024-07-31T08:51:24Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > Toxyion - If the Olympics wanted a fast-paced, exciting, physically demanding shooting event, the solution is obvious: paintball. No argument from me. As I’ve mentioned, I’ve competed at very high levels of smallbore rifle shooting. Shooting matches are not exciting things; and I should know, I’ve seen plenty of them. I don’t know who made the decision to air Olympic shooting, but they obviously know nothing about how boring it is from a spectator’s point of view. Your paintball idea should be considered, though. If they can have breakdancing, then why not paintball? ---
**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 31, 2024, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/336 "2024-07-31T09:07:32Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > I did manage to see most of the men’s gymnastics final; I’ll pick up the rest tomorrow. I didn’t see our squad make any big mistakes but they kept slipping further behind after leading the second rotation, and I wonder if they just weren’t able to go for the really big moves or if China and Japan were just that good. I think it had to do with the order in which the teams performed on the different apparatus. For whatever reason, certain apparatus tend to score higher than others. By the end of the event, it doesn’t matter, since every team will have used all six apparati. Halfway through, the scores are comparing some teams that have done rings, vault, and bars, with other teams have may have done high bar, floor, and pommel horse. I think I heard them mention during the coverage that vault tends to score highest, and the U.S. men did the vault early, so their scores looked better than they really were. When China and Japan did their vaults later, they naturally caught up. > [@DKW](#): > > I never thought I’d say this, but they should give Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila a crack; at least they show real emotion. Take a sip of your drink every time Akbar says “are you kidding me?” ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/337 "2024-07-31T10:07:30Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If they can have breakdancing, then why not paintball? Or have the breakdancers be the targets for the paintball shooters. Just think how colorful the scoring would be! ---
**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 31, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/338 "2024-07-31T12:19:01Z")
Canada’s appeal dismissed. Good. > **[Sport court dismisses Canada's appeal in women's soccer case at Paris 2024...](https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/sport-court-dismisses-canada-s-appeal-in-women-s-soccer-case-at-paris-2024-olympics-1.2156253)** > > The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Canada's appeal of a six-point penalty against its Olympic women's soccer team. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/339 "2024-07-31T12:28:33Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > The second most annoying thing about the NBC coverage (I don’t get USA anymore so I can’t compare) is all the _dead air._ Especially inexplicable, as so much of it is tape delayed. > [@DKW](#): > > I’ve found all the yoo-ess-ay chants unbearable since at least ’96, and now I have to ask…what does this even _mean_ anymore? Yeah, seems unseemly. > [@DKW](#): > > Toxyion - If the Olympics wanted a fast-paced, exciting, physically demanding shooting event, the solution is obvious: paintball. Boy, I LOVED paintball with my kids when they were young! Tho we favored woods ball… I agree with those who question hoops, golf, etc as O sports. Thanls for the continued excellent commentary, **DKW**! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/340 "2024-07-31T12:50:06Z")
I watched, or tried to, Canada winning a bronze in fencing, and honestly couldn’t even really tell when they scored a point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=18)