# Badminton players DQ from Olympics for throwing matches **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 1, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062 "2012-08-01T15:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 1, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/21 "2012-08-01T17:59:45Z")
It would have been hysterical if the audience had really gotten into it; on every botched serve or dropped return just cheer their brains out like they’re watching the first four-minute mile. The players didn’t seem to mind being booed, but I wonder if they could stand being mocked. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/22 "2012-08-01T18:06:04Z")
So is the object to win the tournament or win the games? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/23 "2012-08-01T18:18:25Z")
Now now. Maybe both teams just wanted to enjoy their summer vacation and play video games. Let me ask: was the song “You’re the Best” playing on the loudspeakers? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/24 "2012-08-01T18:18:59Z")
You _PLAY_ to _WIN_ the _GAME_! ---
**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, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/25 "2012-08-01T18:21:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The most surprising thing about the whole story is that there is a Badminton World Federation. Really, it’s a super popular sport in Asia. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/26 "2012-08-01T18:27:52Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The most surprising thing about the whole story is that there is a Badminton World Federation. It’s the governing body for badminton. Every sport has a governing body – it’s a requirement of the IOC in order for a sport to be included in the Olympics. The governing body is the organization that standardizes the rules for the sport and settles disputes. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/27 "2012-08-01T18:35:35Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > If anything, it makes me think that Badminton is a fucked up sport. If the tournament has incentives for losing, then there is something wrong with the rules. Yes, with the tournament structure. It has nothing to do with the sport itself. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > The most surprising thing about the whole story is that there is a Badminton World Federation. No, not at all. Having a world federation is a much lower standard of recognition than being in the Olympics. Pole dancing has a world federation. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/28 "2012-08-01T18:52:58Z")
It’s the system that’s screwed when you increase your chance of getting a gold by actually losing a match (thus attaining a better draw in the next round). The players broke no rules and shouldn’t have been disqualified. Sure, it was boring for the spectators but the athletes aren’t there to entertain, they’re there to compete for medals and in this case it was more advantageous to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/29 "2012-08-01T19:03:13Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > It’s the system that’s screwed when you increase your chance of getting a gold by actually losing a match (thus attaining a better draw in the next round). The players broke no rules and shouldn’t have been disqualified. Sure, it was boring for the spectators but the athletes aren’t there to entertain, they’re there to compete for medals and in this case it was more advantageous to lose. > [@](#): > > At one point in the first set there was the ludicrous sight of three straight fault serves being committed, unthinkable for teams of this caliber. Match referee Thorsten Berg took the step of striding furiously onto the court and issuing a formal warning to both teams. Apparently the officials in charge of the game have a different opinion than you about if rules were broken. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/30 "2012-08-01T19:07:34Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > It’s the system that’s screwed when you increase your chance of getting a gold by actually losing a match (thus attaining a better draw in the next round). It’s a system that can be messed with, but the system itself doesn’t reward teams for losing. These teams were trying to lose so they could avoid playing a team that had lost unexpectedly. If the #2 had won, there probably would not have been any advantage. In any event you’d rather see the teams try to do things right and give a full effort instead of trying to game the system. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/31 "2012-08-01T19:26:56Z")
My modified take on the situation is that this was a problem that had been brewing. Apparently most teams were fine playing all out and just dealing with the seedings as they fell, but then if one team starts losing on purpose a trickle down effect is pretty much guaranteed. If the other teams don’t lose on purpose, then the team that does gains an advantage. So they see one team losing on purpose, find that no one is doing anything about it, so voila. EVERYONE starts doing it and that puts egg on the Olympic Face and “Oh NO!” we can’t have that. Thus sanctions. I still blame the officials. The DQ is purely a finger pointing exercise. They totally failed to circumvent the loophole despite it being a problem in the past. Now on the World state of the Olympics it is biting them in the ass. I find the referee anecdote amusing. He was totally powerless in that situation. What was he going to do? Take away points? That’s what the teams WANTED. ---
**Author:** ![GTPhD1996](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GTPhD1996](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GTPhD1996)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/32 "2012-08-01T19:30:05Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Yes, with the tournament structure. It has nothing to do with the sport itself. > > No, not at all. Having a world federation is a much lower standard of recognition than being in the Olympics. **Pole dancing has a world federation.** I think that pole dancing should be an Olympic event then! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/33 "2012-08-01T19:33:44Z")
> [@GTPhD1996](#): > > I think that pole dancing should be an Olympic event then! Especially in RIO! ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/34 "2012-08-01T19:48:29Z")
They should have thrown candles instead of matches. Or flashlights. Perhaps Bic lighters. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/35 "2012-08-01T19:50:05Z")
Was this against the rules already or was this an after-the-fact attempt to save the dignity of the sport :rolleyes: Yes it is, from the [Laws of Badminton](http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=14915): > [@](#): > > **4.5 Failure to use best efforts** Not using one’s best efforts to win a match. I didn’t find a section that covered the punishment for that offense but I didn’t spend a lot of time on it. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/36 "2012-08-01T19:51:54Z")
> [@GTPhD1996](#): > > I think that pole dancing should be an Olympic event then! Then you should [sign the petition.](http://www.petitiononline.com/polympic/petition.html)😃 ---
**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:** [August 1, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/37 "2012-08-01T20:05:53Z")
> [@GTPhD1996](#): > > I think that pole dancing should be an Olympic event then! > [@Dogzilla](#): > > Then you should [sign the petition.](http://www.petitiononline.com/polympic/petition.html)😃 “Enjoy the Olympics on the networks of NBC/Universal: NBC, MSNBC, Cinemax…” ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/38 "2012-08-01T20:13:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You _PLAY_ to _WIN_ the _GAME_! But are they who we thought they were? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/39 "2012-08-01T20:47:08Z")
I have watched NBC for most of the day. No mention of the Badminton DQs. They did mention about the bus hitting and killing a pedestrian (or bicyclist)? ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062/40 "2012-08-01T21:02:08Z")
I personally don’t think it’s that big a deal. Is there anyone else who thinks that way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/badminton-players-dq-from-olympics-for-throwing-matches/630062.md?page=3)