Olympocalypse 2016

[DaGaffer]

If you inspire a couple of thousands of kids to get on a bike or start rowing a boat or something then I'd say it's also financially worth it in the sense of NHS etc.

Doesn't inspire shit.
Government launches consultation to tackle fall in sport participation

 

[Job]

It hasnt inspired anyone, and I can see why, literally dedicate your life to a sport...miss out on your youth, to come fourth and be ignored.

 

[ECA]

Severed leg in Rio bay

 

[Scouse]

Doesn't inspire shit.
Government launches consultation to tackle fall in sport participation

Actually - that shows it did inspire people to take up sport - but it's a single point in time increase - and most people lose their interest after a certain amount of time.

I have to force myself onto my bike regularly. Always have a great time and feel fantastic afterwards. But beforehand?

It's easy to fall out of habit.

 

[Moriath]

If you inspire a couple of thousands of kids to get on a bike or start rowing a boat or something then I'd say it's also financially worth it in the sense of NHS etc.

Yeah but @DaGaffer has already pointed out that didnt happen after 2012

 

[Gwadien]

Im not referring to clubs and shit, and the next generation of athletes - im on about a kid that gets on a bike and says 'I'm Bradley Wiggins' that isn't measurable but stuff like the new velodrome in Derby being booked up every day is measurable and I'd argue that in a world of people becoming more and more lazy stuff like the Olympics does stop a small amount of people going down that road, but again, its not measurable.

That's like arguing the only kids that are inspired by football are the ones that join a football team.

But at an Olympic argument look at the cycling team coaches for the east. They're mainly westerners, there's an export, you only need to hear what Cavendish said about all the teams involved in winning GB medals.

 

[Gwadien]

Also. The likes of Mo Farah, a Somali Brit, if his tale creates one Somali who sees him as a role model, then I'd consider it a success, far more effective than our Governments indoctrination of the masses into one sense of being British.

I just feel that we've done something to be proud of, we've got a bunch of people from all walks of life and are competing on a global scale, I'm more proud of the fact we get a bunch of people who come from all walks of life and enable them to pursue their dreams outside of them becoming a positive addition to our economy. (ie through education)

This positive approach would be so much sweeter if we beat China in the process due to them dragging young children into camps and forcing them to become athletes to make China look better.

 

[Moriath]

How UK Sport funding works | UK Sport

Those athletes. Supposedly amateurs are paid up to 60k a year for essentially being selfish gits.

I am guessing the ones on the higher amounts are up for sponsorships from corporations that top that up too.

And its not just the lottery money that goes into this its the government contribution that surely we shouldnt be funding as a tax payer when we are running the economy at a deficit

 

[Job]

The coverage pisses me off, UK athletes who have trained themselves to the bone, travelled to Rio, then utterly ignored because they aren't in the top three.
The other British guy in Farrahs next race, just about gets a token nod.

 

[Gwadien]

How UK Sport funding works | UK Sport

Those athletes. Supposedly amateurs are paid up to 60k a year for essentially being selfish gits.

I am guessing the ones on the higher amounts are up for sponsorships from corporations that top that up too.

And its not just the lottery money that goes into this its the government contribution that surely we shouldnt be funding as a tax payer when we are running the economy at a deficit

You're a dope mate.

They get UP to 60k funding ie coaching, resources etc.

Then they get PAID up to £28k which is means tested anyway so if you wanna do loads of advertising you get less. Fair?

Then there's longer term investment - buildings and all the firms involved there who work with them.

Jesus, complaining about £600 million to invest into people's futures and dreams and the nationalistic stuff if you buy into that, and then not complaining when we spend £100 billion on nukes, because we think we're important shows the kind of person that you are.

It's also a massive source of social mobility in many respects, allowing the less fortunate to go down paths which they are good at, its a meritocratical system in effect, what's wrong with that.

 

[Moriath]

Sorry tired been out walking and driving a lot today.

Not said anything about nules you dont know my view on them.

But theres 600m that is not being spent to better the population but to enhance the elite athletes. Theres a lot of mental health support that could be bought for 600m which has been in the news lately as being under funded.

 

[sayward]

The French pole vaulter apologised for his reaction to the crowd.

 

[Anastasia]

Sorry tired been out walking and driving a lot today.

Not said anything about nules you dont know my view on them.

But theres 600m that is not being spent to better the population but to enhance the elite athletes. Theres a lot of mental health support that could be bought for 600m which has been in the news lately as being under funded.

That's about 0.5% of the NHS annual budget vs 100% of the sports funding. I'm not saying that it's money that couldn't be spent better, but we already pour a vast sum of money into the health well every year.

 

[Moriath]

That's about 0.5% of the NHS annual budget vs 100% of the sports funding. I'm not saying that it's money that couldn't be spent better, but we already pour a vast sum of money into the health well every year.

Not much of which goes into me tal health. Its the hidden illness cause its not a bug a break or a physical injury if you get my meaning.

 

[Gwadien]

Not much of which goes into me tal health. Its the hidden illness cause its not a bug a break or a physical injury if you get my meaning.

I think the lack of NHS funding on mental health is purely economical - if someone breaks their leg you can fix it quickly and get them back into work happy days, mental health - the more serious mental health issues you're less likely to get them to be a productive member of society, so therefore why spend so much money on them.

Its not my view, its the brutally realistic view of the NHS outside of it being a British treasure - its formation was to get people into work, not to look after people.

 

[Moriath]

Rio Olympics 2016: Team GB athlete 'robbed' at Games after night out

Dont take taxis dont wear anyting of value sounds like a safe city

 

[Raven]

Its funny how bitter countries are whinging about us dominating in the cycling and asking why we are so good.

Well the simple answer is, we are not facing drug cheats, we are better trained and just plain better at the moment.

 

[ECA]

Rio Olympics 2016: Team GB athlete 'robbed' at Games after night out
Former Sky Sports presenter 'in a coma' after infection in Rio

 

[ECA]

Jesus christ lol:

Did a screwup at the Olympic pool give some swimmers a major advantage?

 

[Shagrat]

Jesus christ lol:

Did a screwup at the Olympic pool give some swimmers a major advantage?

ouch! that's a pretty major fuck up if true

 

[Anastasia]

I see the awesome brothers are at it again in the triathlon.

 

[Gwadien]

Walking the end lel.

 

[Shagrat]

I see the awesome brothers are at it again in the triathlon.

those triathletes are insane, the pace they go at is amazing

 

[caLLous]

That second goal for Belgium in the hockey was class.

 

[Gwadien]

Grandad of the Chinese 15 year old who won gold in diving saying that she hasn't taken a day off since she was 3 and they haven't seen her for 3 years.

China should be banned, that shit is worse than doping in my opinion.

 

[Anastasia]

Where do you stand on boffins designing expensive bits of kit that let cyclists / rowers / swimmers go faster? Not exactly a level playing field if one country uses space-age super-bikes or symbiotic dolphin-skin swimsuits that cost £1million to develop and another gets their gear from Decathlon.

 

[Raven]

Not bothered.

Plenty of leading teams also invest heavily in equipment.

 

[DaGaffer]

Where do you stand on boffins designing expensive bits of kit that let cyclists / rowers / swimmers go faster? Not exactly a level playing field if one country uses space-age super-bikes or symbiotic dolphin-skin swimsuits that cost £1million to develop and another gets their gear from Decathlon.

The real issue is why is the Olympics a country competition in the first place? If there wasn't the willy waving that came from countries being at the top of the medals list you wouldn't get Russian doping scams or Chinese gymnast factories. I'm sure there would be plenty of other corruption, but at least it wouldn't be state-sponsored.

 

[Raven]

Because nobody would watch it if it wasn't.

 

[Gwadien]

I think there's a difference between a country putting money into it and having the capabilities to have some of the elitist engineers, nutritionalists etc and dragging kids away from their parents and forcing them through training at the age of 3 everday.

Sure the Olympics isn't socialist; it picks out the elites of the sporting world and that money could be better invested elsewhere, but a pseudo communist nation is the one who is third on the medal table and that isn't sheer talent.

I don't really understand why people are questioning the Olympics, people here don't seem to question Football, Rugby, cricket etc which are probably a lot less ethical than the Olympics and FIFA is no doubt far more corrupt than the Olympic dudes.

I mean, sure Brazil probably paid off both groups but atleast Brazil is still a far far logical choice over Qatar and the next being in Tokyo is excellent.

Sure some Athletes have an advantage over other Athletes due to our departments involved, but this is like questioning The Great Exhibition - I'd be intrigued to see British exports post Olympics, if we get some money selling our elite bikes to the likes of the Danes for instance then you can justify the investment as an economic argument (Population fitness aside) and perhaps you could go even further and see some tax payers money in there if it comes to it