Another Olympic thread

[PrincessBandit]

With the games about to end and the closing ceremony only hours away I was thinking about all the kiwi athletes who will be returning soon to our fair land and what kind of welcome they'll come back to. Personally i find it incredible to comprehend how years of dedicated training is put into a sport which culminates in what can be (in the case of swimming for example) an event which is over and done with in a matter of minutes. Your reputation possibly enhanced beyond belief or taking a real battering if you haven't "lived up to expectation". There has been lots of talk about "negative headspace", "poor tactical choices" etc as if these top athletes are never supposed to have a bad day at the office! Surely none of them ever put in the incredible effort for themselves, their families, their sponsors etc. only to deliberately perform below par when the crunch comes. Lets give them the slap on the back they all deserve for representing us so well and enjoy their successes. For those returning without medals (which are the ultimate prize to bring back) they deserve just as much celebration knowing they gave it their all but on the day were beaten by either better (or sometimes luckier) competitors. Three cheers for the kiwi olympic team - hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!!

p.s. any bets on what faux displays there might be at the closing ceremony.....(just had to say it :msn-wink:)

[Headbanger]

I think a public stoning would be a good all round way of dealing with our expensive losers.

[toebug]

A good effort was put in by all and we got some medals to boot!

Go the Kiwi's! And stone those against them!:girlfight:

[Disco Dan]

Still can't believe they stopped showing Coronation street and put foreign sport on. Bah humbug.

[toebug]

Still can't believe they stopped showing Coronation street and put foreign sport on. Bah humbug.


HHmmm Coro st or womens beach volley ball? Give me the skimmy outfits over bloody english dribble any day of the week!:jerry:

[Disco Dan]

HHmmm Coro st or womens beach volley ball? Give me the skimmy outfits over bloody english dribble any day of the week!:jerry:

"if thats our Jack, i'm gunna flamin kill im!"

[Owl]

I'm glad no Kiwi's were banned from the olympics for life. The Cuban is not so lucky, but should take the gold medal for "Bad Sport"!:laugh:

[98tls]

Good on them one and all,they did us proud.

[Number One]

Year and years of training some amazing skills and dedication I wouldn't spare for that one thing in my life.

Olympics bring great contrast in sporting prowess and display. Quite cool to watch actually I thought - found myself watching all kinds of stuff.

Funny to think how Mr Bolt 'performed/wowed' for what I think added up to about 6 minutes in total over the entire period..then you have that amazing kiwi boardsailer who spent hours and hours on the water over 10 days to get his gold. Triumphant cocky cool vs Relieved celebration.

Hats off to all the athletes.

[James Deuce]

The Cuban is not so lucky, but should take the gold medal for "Bad Sport"!:laugh:
Either the Cuban or "Queen Bea". How old is she anyway? 8?

[Headbanger]

I sense a complete lack of support for a public stoning...

[Owl]

Either the Cuban or "Queen Bea". How old is she anyway? 8?

Although bad, it doesn't quite compete with kicking a ref in the head!

[James Deuce]

The indirect kick to the NZ taxpayer's balls was a worse offense in my book.

At least the ref was getting paid to be assaulted.

[avgas]

If they didn't get paid for being atheletes, would every home comming be a pat on the back and celebration of their efforts?

I'm under the thought that it would - people would put them in the highest regard. I mean how would the public have felt if NZGovt had "commisioned" Sir Ed to climb Everest?

However all that being said I'm still proud of our beneficiary atheletes, im sure they tried their hardest. And they got some medals so its all good.
They deserve a pat on the back.

[James Deuce]

Queen Bea has had the adulation of the NZ public for over a decade. She is one of the least gracious losers I've seen in a long time. If she'd squared up and said it's a shame I wasn't in contentiion, but this is the Olympics and I'm proud to be here supporting my country she would still have some public favour. She blew it. Whether she likes it or not the small (around $50k I think) amount of public cash thrown her way means she owes at least a dignified exit.

Not ranting at reporters and then demanding an early flight home. Sour grapes because it's Ms Vili's turn in the spotlight.

I don't care how much money we give Olympic athletes so long as they remember they represent NZ ahead of themselves.

[Headbanger]

http://www.imagef1.net.nz/files/sports.jpg

[PrincessBandit]

If they didn't get paid for being atheletes, would every home comming be a pat on the back and celebration of their efforts?

I'm under the thought that it would - people would put them in the highest regard. I mean how would the public have felt if NZGovt had "commisioned" Sir Ed to climb Everest?
.
Good point. Easy to think in terms of the "old days" when NZ athletes battled to get any financial assistance at all and held down full time jobs to pay their own way. Still, a lot of personal sacrifice goes into making the grade - I know I couldn't be bothered!! (Quite happy to forgo the public adulation which might come with it :laugh:)


Queen Bea has had the adulation of the NZ public for over a decade. She is one of the least gracious losers I've seen in a long time. If she'd squared up and said it's a shame I wasn't in contentiion, but this is the Olympics and I'm proud to be here supporting my country she would still have some public favour. She blew it. Whether she likes it or not the small (around $50k I think) amount of public cash thrown her way means she owes at least a dignified exit.

Not ranting at reporters and then demanding an early flight home. Sour grapes because it's Ms Vili's turn in the spotlight.

I don't care how much money we give Olympic athletes so long as they remember they represent NZ ahead of themselves.
Yes, there is that too. Even in today's age of sport worship and adoring those "go get 'em" idols, I think most of us still prefer the quiet humble hero who still knows how to be gracious when things go pearshaped.

[slowpoke]

a lot of us are as bad as the FIGJAM types parading around the field/track/pool, all this "second is first loser", "we're useless" talk is crap. No wonder our kids don't want to get off the couch, they've been trained from a young age that unless you win it's not worth playing.

[Owl]

Queen Bea has had the adulation of the NZ public for over a decade. She is one of the least gracious losers I've seen in a long time. If she'd squared up and said it's a shame I wasn't in contentiion, but this is the Olympics and I'm proud to be here supporting my country she would still have some public favour. She blew it. Whether she likes it or not the small (around $50k I think) amount of public cash thrown her way means she owes at least a dignified exit.

Not ranting at reporters and then demanding an early flight home. Sour grapes because it's Ms Vili's turn in the spotlight.

I don't care how much money we give Olympic athletes so long as they remember they represent NZ ahead of themselves.

Fair enough!