The 2012 Summer Olympics in London

[trackercowe]

I really hope MMA becomes an Olympic sport eventually. I know it's a longshot, but it would instantly become one of the top 3 sports I'd watch.

I am actually surprised if the IOC doesn't consider it at some point, as it would bring in HUGE money. With the Olympic's being so taxing on a governments economy, they really need to consider allowing the more popular sports to complete. There are a bunch of Olympic events that no one under the age of 40 would even watch, they should just get rid of those altogether.

But I guess MMA wouldn't really go well with what the Olympics are setting out to achieve.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I really hope MMA becomes an Olympic sport eventually. I know it's a longshot, but it would instantly become one of the top 3 sports I'd watch.

I am actually surprised if the IOC doesn't consider it at some point, as it would bring in HUGE money. With the Olympic's being so taxing on a governments economy, they really need to consider allowing the more popular sports to complete. There are a bunch of Olympic events that no one under the age of 40 would even watch, they should just get rid of those altogether.

But I guess MMA wouldn't really go well with what the Olympics are setting out to achieve.

How is an MMA athlete going to pass the IOC drug testing?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I really hope MMA becomes an Olympic sport eventually. I know it's a longshot, but it would instantly become one of the top 3 sports I'd watch. .

It really should. Pankration was one of the first Olympic events and that era's version of Mixed Martial Arts. It's a Greek Olympic event... the history is all there. Mixed in with the fact that plenty of future MMA's are already competing in Wrestling and Judo it makes sense for MMA to "return".

You'd have to modify it because of the tournament style of the Olympics. You'd probably have to wear the helmet, and probably have short 3 minute rounds. But it would be great to see it return.

enter: troutman.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by troutman

How is an MMA athlete going to pass the IOC drug testing?

hahaha, I was too late, you f'n troll.

[GirlySports]

I've like how Canada's done. There was the swimmer yesterday (Morgan?) who shaved 2 seconds off her personal best to get 7th in the 400m.

And the Canadian women's gymnast was an amazing story. Sjure they will finish 8th probably tomorrow but I never thought I'd see Canada make a team final (men or women) in my lifetime.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I've always felt Canada should dominate in rowing.

I don't know why I've felt that way.. but they should dammit.

[trackercowe]

It's too bad they don't hold skill competitions in hockey for medals.

It sucks we can only get one gold out of the only sport we actually dominate at.

Yet other, inferior sports have 50 medals a country can win.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

It's too bad they don't hold skill competitions in hockey for medals.

It sucks we can only get one gold out of the only sport we actually dominate at.

Yet other, inferior sports have 50 medals a country can win.

It's insane that for every length in swimming, you can do it four different ways.

Usain Bolt can only win the 100m one way. He can't go out and do a jog, a breast run, a silly walk and then a normal run..

[SebC]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I've always felt Canada should dominate in rowing.

I don't know why I've felt that way.. but they should dammit.

Because we have Great Lakes?

[SebC]

Originally Posted by troutman

Australia managed to do all that, with a smaller population.

Most of Australia's population is coastal and they're much warmer than us... they should be producing more top-class swimmers than we do.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by SebC

Because we have Great Lakes?

Let's just call them the Personal Best Lakes.

[Dorkmaster]

I played against Grace Gao in badminton when I was younger. She was a beast when she was 14 or so.

[evman150]

Top headlines of the past two days: bronze medal! gold medal winner has canadian parents!

Oh my god we suuuuuck.

[Joborule]

Winter sports is something we should dominate at since we have the climate, resources, and culture (plenty of popular winter activities competitions) to pull it off.

Summer I don't place any expectations on. But we should make it a goal to become much better at it. Hope funding increases so we can have better performances at these games and let our athletes go to those games with the mindset of great confidence in getting a medal.

[Slava]

I figured I would post this here as opposed to the daily thread, but synchro diving (well synchro anything to be honest) should be removed from the games. The normal diving was fine and to me there were/are enough medals awarded there. Do we really need to see whether the divers can mirror each other though? Seems so pointless.

Anyway, glad that Canada picked up a couple of medals I suppose...even if it is a pretty lame and unnecessary event.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

To everyone who is complaining about our performance so far I have to ask, what exactly are you doing to help our athletes do better? If you aren't supporting them, stop complaining. If you're complainging because you think there should be more funding, then go ahead and do something to help with the funding. Make a donation, go to a fundraiser, or maybe pick up a new sport and join that sport's local/provincial/national association so your membership can go to helping olympic hopefuls get the training/support they need.

If all you do is watch swimming once every 4 years and complain that we should be doing better, that's not support.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Slava

I figured I would post this here as opposed to the daily thread, but synchro diving (well synchro anything to be honest) should be removed from the games. The normal diving was fine and to me there were/are enough medals awarded there. Do we really need to see whether the divers can mirror each other though? Seems so pointless.

Anyway, glad that Canada picked up a couple of medals I suppose...even if it is a pretty lame and unnecessary event.

Something I can agree with you about. What's next, synchronize parallel bars? The Summer Olympics have too many events already without the need to create synchronized events.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

And now for something to crush that Olympic spirit!

The Olympics Corrupts Twitter

The Olympics at this point seem to require a suspension of civil liberties in the service of corporate partners, which would make them nearly impossible to hold in any country with a written Bill of Rights. One prime example is the "brand exclusion zone," where McDonald's managed to get small businesses banned from selling French fries (without fish) throughout a swathe of London.

Later in the charter, of course, the IOC goes on to claim exclusive commercial rights over the Olympic symbols. That's why it can prevent overenthusiastic florists from building five-ringed daisy arrangements. But the French fry exclusion zone doesn't place sport at the service of humanity; it places sport at the service of McDonald's.

Just like NBC restricting most of its Olympics coverage to people who have signed up for third-party cable providers, actions to slap down chip shops and Guy Adams are within the Olympics' rights, but they don't fit with the image of a group "at the service of humanity" rather than at the service of a few powerful friends.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407879,00.asp

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Because of an exclusive sponsorship deal with McDonald's, none of the other 800 food retailers on the grounds of 40 Olympic sites will be allowed to sell "chips or french fries" during the fortnight of the Games. It's part of a contract with the American fast-food giant that gives it exclusivity in the market.

Want Burger King? Take the tube far, far away from an Olympic site. Prefer the thicker, sea-salt shaken fries from Wendy's? You'll have to wait until Aug. 13. The only exception is for vendors selling fish and chips, because it wouldn't be a British Olympics without fried cod and potatoes wrapped in a newspaper. Because that dish is the United Kingdom's lone delicacy, fish and chips are exempt from the ban, provided you order both the fish and the chips. No solo chips for the anti-pescetarians out there.

Only McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Heineken will be allowed to sell branded food at the Olympics. The rest will come from local vendors and restaurants.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympi...8031--oly.html

[dubc80]

I always thought that Canada should be better at field hockey based on the skill set required. Looks like both men and womens teams failed to qualify for London.

Probably due to the lack of developmental minor leagues or pro leagues. Kind of the same problem we have with soccer. If you're good, you need to move away as there is nothing past the University ranks unlike ice hockey where you have many more options.

Anyone play field hockey and can provide insight?