[News] NHL not sending its players to the Olympics

[Ashasx]

This tournament should probably not happen right now.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

This tournament should probably not happen right now.

"Said the entire rest of the world. A few months ago."

[RyZ]

With how soft and scared the general public is right now, there wont be another opportunity. If it isnt going to be played now, just kill the whole idea going forward. Especially if its not going to be played in a western country.

[Locke]

Olympics? We talkin' 'bout Olympics?? In China?

We can barely keep hockey going in North America right now.

Talkin' Olympics....hah!

[transplant99]

The ultimate in virtue signalling

Last week, Canada officially joined the United States in imposing a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. In an announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the move was necessary due to the “repeated human rights violations by the Chinese government.” The Globe and Mail’s Steven Chase decided to check up on just how many diplomats were likely to be affected by the boycott. The answer? One. The Department of Canadian Heritage told Chase that with rare exceptions, Canada only ever sends one diplomat to the Olympic Games, and it’s usually the Minister of Sport . So, the sum of Canada’s efforts to protest the Uyghur Genocide at the 2022 Winter Olympics is to deny China a visit from the incumbent Minister of Sport, Pascale St-Onge.

That'll show em!

https://nationalpost.com/news/politi...box=1639483872

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Azure

For a team like the Flames who haven't had any COVID issues so far, it absolutely creates a big risk of the players who will be attending running into problems.

Everyone was worried about saying shutout when a goalie has one in progress when the real jinx was saying a team didn't have Covid issues all along.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I love the use of "we" by some of the posters in this thread, saying things like "we do mlre damage globally than China does", as if those posters are actually here and aren't transparent CPC trolls.

I'm impressed to be honest. Would have thought CP would be too small to bother with when you've got the Facebook and twitters of the world to tackle.

[Rtown]

Am I the only one who doesn’t want the NHLers going cuz I don’t want McAvi sitting in a locker stall between Sid and Bergeron for 2 weeks learning how to become a champ? I mean what if these Olympics elevate Conna like 2002 did for Iggy? Crazier things have happened.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

On the other hand, the Olympics happens once every 4 years, it may be the only chance for some of these guys to go, and they risk having 3-5 weeks of rest and recovery during the Feb-March time frame, which they can get over before the playoffs

I bet Kucherov goes

Honestly, players would have to be insane to consider that a positive. I realise that they're not NHL players or pro-athletes, but I know people who have gone through this lockdown process in China and frankly they're not coming out of that all refreshed and ready to compete in a professional sports competition.

I also think that Vlad is right (posted in the other thread about Covid) in that the NHL will use those two weeks to try to make up some of the games that have been missed.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Slava

Honestly, players would have to be insane to consider that a positive. I realise that they're not NHL players or pro-athletes, but I know people who have gone through this lockdown process in China and frankly they're not coming out of that all refreshed and ready to compete in a professional sports competition.

I also think that Vlad is right (posted in the other thread about Covid) in that the NHL will use those two weeks to try to make up some of the games that have been missed.

With this current outbreak, I really hope the NHL and NHLPA cancels
Olympic participation. I would hate so much to have all the leagues stars stuck in China for a month.

And like you said, it would be no picnic being in a Chinese quarantine.

I haven't looked it up.
Does the league and union have to be in agreement to keep the players home? If say the union wants them to go, do they still go?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Slava

Honestly, players would have to be insane to consider that a positive. I realise that they're not NHL players or pro-athletes, but I know people who have gone through this lockdown process in China and frankly they're not coming out of that all refreshed and ready to compete in a professional sports competition.

I also think that Vlad is right (posted in the other thread about Covid) in that the NHL will use those two weeks to try to make up some of the games that have been missed.

Yeah it was a bit tongue in cheek

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Won't it be more embarassing for China when the Spengler Cup team still beats them 15-0?

Totally OT to this thread, but I really enjoy watching the Spengler Cup.

I'd love to head over there one year to see it in person.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Totally OT to this thread, but I really enjoy watching the Spengler Cup.

I'd love to head over there one year to see it in person.

It is #1 on my dream hockey event list and has been as long as I remember. Absolutely love that building, cannot wait to go.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1470814706310995970

[nfotiu]

Why can't they just play the tournament in North America where most of the players are already? They can have commentators and pre/post game out of China and put some Chinese propaganda on the boards? That would seem better for everythone vs canceling the tournament or having some rag tag teams show up if anyone shows up at all?

[FlamesAddiction]

I would actually respect McDavid if he opted out to focus on being healthy for the team that is paying him $12.5 million this year. I imagine if he opted out, other players would too. He has the most pressure of any player to play in China.

Going on a general Olympics rant now. Having one country spending insane amounts of money host every event, for many sports that they don't even care about, is just not a great use of resources. There is much better use for the money. It's just a dick waving competition for the host country and a display of decadence.

They should change it so that the events are spread around and hosted by countries that already have the facilities and actually care about the sports being played. For example, in a winter Olympics, Norway could host the skiing events, Canada could host hockey, Russia could host bobsled, France or Japan could host figure skating, etc..., and you could switch up the countries every Olympics so several countries get turns. In the summer, you could have USA hosting track, England hosting soccer, Germany hosting rowing, China hosting gymnastics, South Africa hosting swimming, etc...

Spread out the costs and limit the need for having to build and maintain new facilities.

[GreenLantern2814]

I’ve never been in favour of not going due to political maneuvering, but the COVID situation and quarantine measures in place are a difference matter.

Now, I think the rest of the world should just ghost China on this matter. Don’t say you’re coming, don’t say you’re not coming.

Don’t tell them anything at all.

And when the games start with only Chinese athletes and we get phone calls like “where are you?” Play it off like we forgot it was happening.

“What? The Olympics? Now? Ohhhhhhhh right, yeah. I’m not feeling well, probably not gonna make it.”

Click.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Why can't they just play the tournament in North America where most of the players are already? They can have commentators and pre/post game out of China and put some Chinese propaganda on the boards? That would seem better for everythone vs canceling the tournament or having some rag tag teams show up if anyone shows up at all?

Obviously it would be technically possible and I'm all for the idea, but China has paid the bribes and Canada/US haven't, and there's no precedent... And there's once again the threat that if you do that for one sport, other sports might start demanding the same.

(The time differences also suck for everyone else when games are played in North America. East Asia to Europe means games are shown in the middle of the day, NA to Europe means games are shown in the middle of the night.)

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by transplant99

The ultimate in virtue signalling




That'll show em!

https://nationalpost.com/news/politi...box=1639483872

I mean, if there one thing I've repeatedly said about the Olympics, it's that it needs more diplomats to really put on a world class show.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Going on a general Olympics rant now. Having one country spending insane amounts of money host every event, for many sports that they don't even care about, is just not a great use of resources.

While what you're saying is generally speaking true, in this the Beijing olympics in 2022 are probably more like an example of how things should be done, as many events are taking place in either existing or renovated arenas. For example ice hockey will be played in two multi-purpose arenas that were built for the 2008 olympics, and both of those have been in active use ever since, and mostly for sports that are actually really popular in China like basketball, volleyball and gymnastics.