# 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:** 18
**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 31, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/341 "2024-07-31T12:57:29Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Probably rugby too, though again it is fun to watch. Of course, without rugby, we wouldn’t have seen of the most exciting plays of the Olympics. > ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/342 "2024-07-31T13:09:38Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If they can have breakdancing, then why not paintball? I’m still hoping for… cat dressage. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/343 "2024-07-31T13:22:03Z")
I kind of like team sports where the game lasts under twenty minutes. I have not seen much of the rugby or 3 on 3 but enjoyed it when I did. We will see today at 3pm whether Canada’s deduction has much practical effect. I have rarely seen someone dominate a race like Canadian swimmer Summer M. I rarely watch gymnastics, but mens teams deserve to be funded and perhaps the US bronze will raise its profile. All the events from every country from every day are available for free on CBC Gem. If you get tired of the jingoistic rah-rah. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/344 "2024-07-31T13:28:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I watched, or tried to, Canada winning a bronze in fencing, and honestly couldn’t even really tell when they scored a point. I think they missed a real opportunity not having the fencing final in the main hall of the Louvre. ---
**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, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/345 "2024-07-31T13:46:51Z")
That would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/346 "2024-07-31T14:01:02Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I think they missed a real opportunity not having the fencing final in the main hall of the Louvre. Or at the site of the Carmelite convent where D’Artagnan first dueled the Musketeers. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/347 "2024-07-31T14:20:46Z")
José ‘El Maligno’ Torres wins the first and (possibly only) gold medal for Argentina in these games in BMX freestyle. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/348 "2024-07-31T16:06:50Z")
I’ve watched too much football (and especially too much ESPN) because I immediately heard Chris Berman in my head as soon as she broke that tackle. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/349 "2024-07-31T20:54:18Z")
A great play, and happy the US got the medal - but if ABC was still doing ‘the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat’ clips from this could be used for both. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen people so absolutely in despair (sporting wise) as the Australian team. You’re ahead, the opposing team is trapped in their own end, you’re still playing hard and - someone breaks free and crushes you. ---
**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, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/350 "2024-07-31T21:22:54Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > A great play, and happy the US got the medal - but if ABC was still doing ‘the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat’ clips from this could be used for both. I don’t know that anyone could ever dethrone ski jumper Vinko Bogataj. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/351 "2024-07-31T21:26:56Z")
I was pleased the Canadian women managed to win. But I hope the culture at Soccer Canada changes. Our sportsmanship must be consistent with our values and the actions of the coaches were wrong and have tarnished a much improved program. It is unacceptable, and laughably so given how meagre the benefit. The mens team, having played well at Copa dropped from 48th to 93rd place in the national rankings (which are useless). Surely this reflects allegations this crap has gone on a long time and been normalized. The Colombian team played very well. I thought they received a couple undeserved yellow cards. The Canadian women play a great passing game, running very well. But like the men (but better), they are not quick into turning advantages into goals. Good soccer players can hit anywhere in the net from 18 yards with a clear shot. Getting a clear shot is admittedly hard, but given opportunity you really need to take it instead of one-too-many passes or crosses. Not every goal requires a headball; the easier ones count too. The Canadian women are a good team, but they sometimes lack the scoring instinct, which is easy for me to say. Beating France was difficult. They have performed marvellously under very challenging circumstances, that they must accept responsibility for. Kudos as well to the womens rugby team (beating Australia and France? Getouttahere!) and our champion judoka. Yeah, the beach volleyball by the Tower must be beautiful. You are right that Paris is so historically rich that many other settings could be theoretically improved. Not just épee at Le Louvre. Why not breakdancing at Pére Lachaise? Or boxing at the Bastille? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/352 "2024-07-31T21:48:48Z")
Was also much impressed by Felix making it to the quarters in mens tennis. I don’t watch that much and was unaware just how good he has become. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/353 "2024-07-31T22:09:11Z")
Felix is definitely playing very well, he’s into the mixed doubles semifinal as well. The women’s soccer is quite the story. One thing is that the team is playing very well, probably better than the team that won gold in Tokyo. The other thing is that the details coming about are pretty unbelievable. Apparently an analyst refused to conduct spying on moral grounds, and Priestman sent a complaint email to HR about them. The first rule of conducting your unethical behaviour is not to document it in writing to HR! 😁 ---
**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 31, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/354 "2024-07-31T23:39:28Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Was also much impressed by Felix making it to the quarters in mens tennis. I don’t watch that much and was unaware just how good he has become. Felix also made it to the next round of mixed doubles, although he doesn’t seem to be too comfortable at doubles and his partner (Dabrowski) had to rescue him at times. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/355 "2024-08-01T00:27:53Z")
I can’t really tell the difference between a 6.5 and an 8.5 synchronized dive, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/356 "2024-08-01T00:36:11Z")
I like when they draw the lines, but yeah. Hard to tell. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/357 "2024-08-01T00:49:13Z")
I’ve been showing this video to my students for about 6 years. It’s of an up and coming table tennis star from the USA. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5myLGolqMm0/maxresdefault.jpg "America's Ping Pong Prodigy: The 16 Project") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5myLGolqMm0) He just made the round of 16 in the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/358 "2024-08-01T01:38:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I watched, or tried to, Canada winning a bronze in fencing, and honestly couldn’t even really tell when they scored a point. After too many injuries took me out of full martial arts, I tried out fencing. There were some interesting aspects in terms of footwork and line awareness. But I thought the point scoring - mere touches with no sense of how SIGNIFICANT that touch was in terms of harming your opponent, just never clicked with me after too many years of full contact. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/359 "2024-08-01T02:01:22Z")
I assume that athletes wearing EOR are on the Refugee team? I saw one boxing today. Also - Medvedev (tennis) was labelled as AIN. Is that the secret code for Russians? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019/360 "2024-08-01T02:03:35Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > example), but how is South Korea the archery juggernaut, and not, say, Great Britain, Japan, or Mongolia? Dunno, but speculation is always fun! 🙂 Apparently, archery has been a popular recreation in Korea for hundreds of years. Kids learn at a young age. Archery is a common high school sport. (I would be surprised if there’s a single American high school that offers archery as a sport.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-summer-olympics-thread/1004019.md?page=19)