# Summer Olympics 2021 ongoing discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 23, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137 "2021-07-23T12:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/202 "2021-07-27T03:23:43Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I worry that “exponentially” is starting to be headed in the same direction as the word “literally.” Well, it doesn’t have to be a positive exponent. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/203 "2021-07-27T03:24:56Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Yes, so why is it back now, gone next time, and then back again? I thought it was gone and not returning and now it is back…it’s coming and going every other? Very strange. I think, but I haven’t gone looking, that it’s one of the “demonstration sports”, much like skateboarding. Japan and America being the two biggest baseball countries, if you’re going to have them as demonstration sports that’s when you’d do them. ---
**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 27, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/204 "2021-07-27T03:29:20Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Kiesenhofer won the women’s cycling road race by so much that Annemiek van Vleuten, the silver medalist, thought she won. When I first heard that, I thought it sounded odd. But the more I think about it, without radios how was van Vleuten (or anyone else) supposed to know how many riders were ahead of them on the road? When there’s a breakaway, someone at the back of the peloton may not see how many riders go up the road. And even if you know how many riders are ahead, how do they know how far ahead they are? A ten-minute lead requires a different response from the peloton than if the breakaway is just around the next bend. So how is that all supposed to work? ---
**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 27, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/205 "2021-07-27T03:36:48Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I think, but I haven’t gone looking, that it’s one of the “demonstration sports”, Looks like demonstration sports haven’t happened since 1992 for the Summer Olympics, but I do remember them. I do see that Tokyo is apparently doing a Sumo tournament as a demonstration, though. Edit: Ah, I just read a new variation on this which has indeed started at this Olympics. They seem to have the ability to add a few “full medal” sports that are not permanent. You are right that baseball is out in 2024, but LA will add it back in. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/206 "2021-07-27T04:52:11Z")
The skateboarding will go exactly the same way that surfing, diving, gymnastics, ice skating and similar sports did. People loved doing them when they were kids because flipping, jumping, spinning etc are cool things and you can experiment, try new things, challenge your friends. But as soon as it becomes a formal competition, applying judgement to _ **how** _ the tricks are performed, it becomes a series of robots doing the same tricks over and over again, losing marks because they didn’t point their toes right, and if they fail completely (ie fall over), well - that’s it. Competition over. When someone does try something with a bit of flair and fun (a good example is the ‘free show session’ the ice skaters put on after the competition has completed), everyone lauds it and cries ‘Why won’t the judges let them do that?’. Well, they can do it - in the playground with their mates. But it’s not the professional or Olympic standard. This is not to denigrate the abilities of the athletes in any way. It’s purely a function of how professional sports are played. Some sports are better for not having ‘winning’ as the ultimate aim - you may think that means they are not sports, and that’s a good argument. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/207 "2021-07-27T05:03:19Z")
I heard that the marathon will be held in Sapporo because it will be too hot to do it safely in Tokyo (and race walking too). ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/208 "2021-07-27T05:15:44Z")
There is no such thing as a down in rugby. The ball remains live in a tackle unless there has been an infringement. Possession of the ball is able to be contested by the defending team. The tackled player must release the ball (which can be done by passing it to another player) when they hit the ground. If the tackled player loses the ball forward or any player knocks the ball forward when trying to pick it up there will be a scrum to be fed by the non infringing team. There’s a whole range if potential penalties as well which I won’t go into. The quarter finals are on in a few hours. The US v Great Britain game looks to be one if the better contests on offer so well worth watching if it’s at a reasonable hour for you ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/209 "2021-07-27T05:54:16Z")
Naomi Osaka, who lit the Olympic flame, is out of the Olympics after a loss > ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/210 "2021-07-27T06:28:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I do see that Tokyo is apparently doing a Sumo tournament as a demonstration, though. Where are they going to hold it? The [Kokugikan Arena](https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/venues/kokugikan-arena), where Tokyo sumo tournaments are held, has been taken over for Olympic boxing. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/211 "2021-07-27T07:50:48Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m the same way. I can follow rugby for a little while, but then something happens that I don’t understand. When someone gets tackled, he puts the ball down. Most of the time, it’s a teammate that picks it up. But I’ve seen the other team pick it up, too. Sometimes, they just decide to kick. When the ball goes out of bounds, I never know which team gets to throw it back in. And when there’s a scrum, one guy rolls the ball into the scrum then runs around and gets the ball back; what’s the point of that? I think an analysis of the rules of rugby probably needs its own thread, it’s VERY complicated. As Lisiate said, if a player is brought to the floor, he must pass the ball backwards to one of his team mates. If the other team gets the ball off him, then they have successfully wrestled the ball out of his hands (a tricky manouvre as many infringements can happen in this). Any player in possession of the ball can kick it forward - indeed, this is the only way to pass the ball forward. The idea is to kick and either chase the ball, or try and get the ball to bounce out of play, causing a line out deep into the other team’s half. If the ball goes straight out of play, then the game restarts from sidelines at the kicker’s original position. In both cases, the opposing team gets the lineout because if you are responsible for kicking or knocking the ball out of play, the opposing team, gets the throw in/lineout. The scrum is a weird part of the game which someone better qualified can explain. ---
**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 27, 2021, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/212 "2021-07-27T11:28:45Z")
I guess North Korea didn’t send a team, since the only Korea team there is “South” Korea - thus I assume there is no “united” Korea team? ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/213 "2021-07-27T11:41:50Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > The skateboarding will go exactly the same way that surfing, diving, gymnastics, ice skating and similar sports did. People loved doing them when they were kids because flipping, jumping, spinning etc are cool things and you can experiment, try new things, challenge your friends. > But as soon as it becomes a formal competition, applying judgement to _ **how** _ the tricks are performed, it becomes a series of robots doing the same tricks over and over again, losing marks because they didn’t point their toes right, and if they fail completely (ie fall over), well - that’s it. Competition over. Yeah and this is my concern for the breakdancing. The amount of skill involved in breakdancing now is astonishing, but it’s matched by creativity / novelty. And I don’t see how the latter can really fit into olympic format. It has to be at least 90% being marked on execution of mandatory moves. Anyway, it seems I misunderstood about this event; it will be in the next olympics, not this one. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/214 "2021-07-27T11:49:19Z")
Simone Biles out of the team competition with an apparent injury. Personally, I tire of her. I think wearing the top with a goat on it (Greatest Of All Time) is an act of hubris. Not happy to see her drop out, but maybe now the commentators will talk about someone else. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/215 "2021-07-27T12:20:22Z")
> [@"Wallaby](#): > +1 Colour me an incorrigible curmudgeon but I am much more in favour de Coubertin’s original hendiatris rather than _Citius, Altius, Fortius, Iudicatus_ ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/216 "2021-07-27T12:21:34Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Yeah and this is my concern for the breakdancing. > The amount of skill involved in breakdancing now is astonishing, but it’s matched by creativity / novelty. > And I don’t see how the latter can really fit into olympic format. It has to be at least 90% being marked on execution of mandatory moves. > > Anyway, it seems I misunderstood about this event; it will be in the next olympics, not this one. I’m not a fan of subjective judgements in sporting competitions. “Faster, higher, stronger” - yes. “nicer”? - no. A good rule for me is that if the name of a move takes longer to say than it does to perform then I lose interest very quickly. No doubt the competitors are skilled but if there ain’t an objective judgement of victory I get no real pleasure from watching. “breakdancing” is a joke. Including it smacks of a fusty old dad trying to desperately to be “down” with the kids by copying something that was fashionable 20 years ago. . ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/217 "2021-07-27T12:36:10Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Simone Biles out of the team competition with an apparent injury. NBC must be losing their shit. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/218 "2021-07-27T12:37:15Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > The swimming has been pretty good, but there is someone (a coach, or someone in the stands) whistling incredibly loudly and irritatingly, and it is being picked-up by the mic. The whistler is cheering on a specific swimmer by timing their chirp for when the swimmer’s head pops out of the water and can hear. It’s pretty common in swim meets for the breast and fly events. But since the stadium is so empty and quiet, the whistling really stands out. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/219 "2021-07-27T12:40:39Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > OK, that irritating whistling must be coming from a coach, providing some info to a swimmer. It must be an American coach, since they are only showing races where there is an American competing. There is ALWAYS someone whistling or chirping at swim meets, and it’s annoying as hell. As a swimmer you can’t really hear it unless it’s during the breast stroke. They have been showing all of the events, there’s just Americans in all of them. ---
**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 27, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/220 "2021-07-27T12:47:20Z")
I haven’t been watching the live network feeds, because they’re on at ungodly hours and go back and forth between the sports _they_ want me to see. I’ve been relying solely on the NBC Sports app on Roku for on-demand programming. Right now I’m watching the Canada/Mexico bronze-medal softball game. ---
**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 27, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137/221 "2021-07-27T13:00:43Z")
A lot of the folks that NBC has been promoting haven’t lived up to the hype. Nyjah Huston didn’t medal in skateboarding, Lily King took bronze and Katie Ledecky got a silver in swimming. Now Simone Biles is out of the team gymnastics competition; I don’t know what the U.S. prospects are without her. Some of those athletes still have more events to come. The thing is, doesn’t this happen at every Olympics? A lot of the pre-event favorites don’t win. The moments people remember are when someone we never heard of has the performance of their life. Does NBC not know this, or maybe they do and build up the hype anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-olympics-2021-ongoing-discussion/947137.md?page=12)