This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
I don't know anyone who thinks race walking is anything but ridiculous as a competitive sport, relying throughout on extremely marginal decisions as to whether lifting is or isn't happening. Not to say it isn't hard - the speed they go is absurd - but is it really one of the finest athletic disciplines worthy of inclusion in major games?
So what would you want it replaced with?
My suggestions:
1. 100m hop
2. Running triathlon : 100m, 1000m, 10,000m
3. Ultramarathon
4. Trail or cross-country
Anyone have any better ideas?
So what would you want it replaced with?
My suggestions:
1. 100m hop
2. Running triathlon : 100m, 1000m, 10,000m
3. Ultramarathon
4. Trail or cross-country
Anyone have any better ideas?
In reply to john arran:
Funny that you should bring this up - I have always considered race walking to be a bit of a joke, but then earlier this week (I can't remember why) I looked up the world records for it. Turns out they do 20km in 1:17! Thats much, much faster than most people (including me) can run over any distance and it works about to be around my full-gas 1km interval pace. Ok, so I'm not very quick at running, but even so I have a new respect for the sport.
They still look a little bit 'mincey' when they do it tho.
Funny that you should bring this up - I have always considered race walking to be a bit of a joke, but then earlier this week (I can't remember why) I looked up the world records for it. Turns out they do 20km in 1:17! Thats much, much faster than most people (including me) can run over any distance and it works about to be around my full-gas 1km interval pace. Ok, so I'm not very quick at running, but even so I have a new respect for the sport.
They still look a little bit 'mincey' when they do it tho.
In reply to john arran:
ridiculous? What the high jump, long jump and pole vault aren't, let along throwing the hammer. You may think its ridiculous in this country, but its a massive sport in rest of Europe.
Have you ever heard of A Centurion? http://www.centurions1911.org.uk/history-of-the-centurions.html
A Centurion is one who, as an amateur, who has walked in competition in Great Britain 100 miles within 24 hours
IF you can do that (not many people can) you can then enter the Paris to Colmar race, 445km (276.51Miles) its done none stop, apart from food & clothing change stops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Colmar
That puts your top 4 suggestions into perspective.
As for the 'mincing', that's the hip rotation, because you have to have one foot on the ground at all times, other wise its classed as running (lifting) Which is better for your joints than running because you're not landing on them, you're placing them.
See the rules to race walking http://www.centurions1911.org.uk/race-walking-rules.html
here's the world record stats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racewalking
ridiculous? What the high jump, long jump and pole vault aren't, let along throwing the hammer. You may think its ridiculous in this country, but its a massive sport in rest of Europe.
Have you ever heard of A Centurion? http://www.centurions1911.org.uk/history-of-the-centurions.html
A Centurion is one who, as an amateur, who has walked in competition in Great Britain 100 miles within 24 hours
IF you can do that (not many people can) you can then enter the Paris to Colmar race, 445km (276.51Miles) its done none stop, apart from food & clothing change stops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Colmar
That puts your top 4 suggestions into perspective.
As for the 'mincing', that's the hip rotation, because you have to have one foot on the ground at all times, other wise its classed as running (lifting) Which is better for your joints than running because you're not landing on them, you're placing them.
See the rules to race walking http://www.centurions1911.org.uk/race-walking-rules.html
here's the world record stats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racewalking
Post edited at 10:30
In reply to zoobizooretta:
Perhaps it seems ridiculous over the short distances, because if you wanted to cover that amount of ground quickly, you'd run, not walk.
High jump, long jump and pole vault all seem perfectly sound to me: how high or far can you jump?
Perhaps it seems ridiculous over the short distances, because if you wanted to cover that amount of ground quickly, you'd run, not walk.
High jump, long jump and pole vault all seem perfectly sound to me: how high or far can you jump?
In reply to john arran:
I think it's ridiculous as well, and I've had this discussion plenty of times with a clubmate who was pretty darn good (European champs). Put a camera on any of them and they all lift, and all the time.
I would have cross country back in and tug-of-war. Both have I believe between in the Olympics before, and I look at London now as an opportunity missed to get them back in.
I think it's ridiculous as well, and I've had this discussion plenty of times with a clubmate who was pretty darn good (European champs). Put a camera on any of them and they all lift, and all the time.
I would have cross country back in and tug-of-war. Both have I believe between in the Olympics before, and I look at London now as an opportunity missed to get them back in.
In reply to mbh:
They don't do short distances. 20km (12miles) is the shortest distance.
why would i want to jump over anything to land on a soft mattress? Most things have bridges, so i don't need to jump over stuff. I don't tend to carry a 6m pole to get over tall things.
They don't do short distances. 20km (12miles) is the shortest distance.
why would i want to jump over anything to land on a soft mattress? Most things have bridges, so i don't need to jump over stuff. I don't tend to carry a 6m pole to get over tall things.
In reply to john arran: Excellent. Agreed, racewalking is ridiculous. They are almost all running anyway and, as wikipedia's quotes tell me, it is like a competition over who can whisper the loudest. There's a great video somewhere of a world-class race walker training and then he gets chased by some mock samurai. He runs.
I'd replace it with a new sort of triathlon: indoor bouldering, road cycle, fell run. Not sure how it would work yet, but at least if they got rid of swimming I would have half a chance of success.
I'd replace it with a new sort of triathlon: indoor bouldering, road cycle, fell run. Not sure how it would work yet, but at least if they got rid of swimming I would have half a chance of success.
In reply to wbo:
there was a lot of lifting in the 2012 Olympics. But its down to the eye of the judges, they don't see the angles we do on TV
there was a lot of lifting in the 2012 Olympics. But its down to the eye of the judges, they don't see the angles we do on TV
In reply to john arran:
oh if you want to try walk at their pace, try do 1km in 6 minutes, comfortably. Then keep doing that speed for the next 49km...
oh if you want to try walk at their pace, try do 1km in 6 minutes, comfortably. Then keep doing that speed for the next 49km...
In reply to zoobizooretta:
You haven't really addressed John's point, I don't think he was saying that what they achieve isn't impressive, just that it is a bit pointless. ok, it's all a bit pointless really but if you are having a competition to see who can cover a certain distance the quickest under their own power, why impose rules on how they can do this.
I have similar thoughts about swimming. Front crawl is clearly the fastest method of getting through the water why do they have backstroke? They don't have running backwards races.
You haven't really addressed John's point, I don't think he was saying that what they achieve isn't impressive, just that it is a bit pointless. ok, it's all a bit pointless really but if you are having a competition to see who can cover a certain distance the quickest under their own power, why impose rules on how they can do this.
I have similar thoughts about swimming. Front crawl is clearly the fastest method of getting through the water why do they have backstroke? They don't have running backwards races.
In reply to zoobizooretta:
The ridiculousness comes from the fact that it's effectively impossible to judge, hence the warning system when it's suspected. It's a bit like having a climbing competition but requiring 3 points of contact at all times - impossible to accurately judge and pointless in that people can climb much harder and more naturally without such a restriction.
If there was a 500km race where the best tactic was to walk it all then of course that would be fine.
The hopping was in jest but actually very much akin to the slower swimming stroke events. The running triathlon I think would be a very valuable event as it would be trying to determine the all-round best runner.
The ridiculousness comes from the fact that it's effectively impossible to judge, hence the warning system when it's suspected. It's a bit like having a climbing competition but requiring 3 points of contact at all times - impossible to accurately judge and pointless in that people can climb much harder and more naturally without such a restriction.
If there was a 500km race where the best tactic was to walk it all then of course that would be fine.
The hopping was in jest but actually very much akin to the slower swimming stroke events. The running triathlon I think would be a very valuable event as it would be trying to determine the all-round best runner.
In reply to zoobizooretta:
And the fastest runner would beat the fastest walker by about 20 minutes over that distance.
> They don't do short distances. 20km (12miles) is the shortest distance.
And the fastest runner would beat the fastest walker by about 20 minutes over that distance.
In reply to mountain.martin:
That's the point I was trying to make - you made it better, and I agree about the swimming.
As long as the challenge is: jump as high as you can, any way you like, or get from here to there as quick as you can, any way you like on foot, then all seems clear. As soon as you impose rules about how they do it, it starts to get silly.
20k is plenty short enough to run it - so why walk it if you want to cover it as quickly as possible? If the distance was 100k, or you had to keep going for 24 hours, then you's probably walk some of it.
That's the point I was trying to make - you made it better, and I agree about the swimming.
As long as the challenge is: jump as high as you can, any way you like, or get from here to there as quick as you can, any way you like on foot, then all seems clear. As soon as you impose rules about how they do it, it starts to get silly.
20k is plenty short enough to run it - so why walk it if you want to cover it as quickly as possible? If the distance was 100k, or you had to keep going for 24 hours, then you's probably walk some of it.
Post edited at 10:46
In reply to john arran:
Swimming butterfly seems the equivilent of trying to cover 100m on the track in a series of standing jumps.
Or when I try it, it seems like an unpleasant way to drown myself.
Swimming butterfly seems the equivilent of trying to cover 100m on the track in a series of standing jumps.
Or when I try it, it seems like an unpleasant way to drown myself.
In reply to mountain.martin:
I specifically pointed out the impressiveness of the physical feat in the OP in order to avoid this kind of "but rhythmic gymnastics is really impressive and therefore every bit a worthy discipline" argument, but apparently I failed.
> You haven't really addressed John's point, I don't think he was saying that what they achieve isn't impressive, just that it is a bit pointless.
I specifically pointed out the impressiveness of the physical feat in the OP in order to avoid this kind of "but rhythmic gymnastics is really impressive and therefore every bit a worthy discipline" argument, but apparently I failed.
In reply to mountain.martin:
well aren't all Olympic sports pointless?
You're telling me the worlds best archer is some guy with a compound bow who can hit a paper target. They've never invited any tribes people from the rain forest or places like papa new guinea who shoot bows on a daily basis to get their food. They would be the worlds best IF they thought a gold medal was worth getting.
Just like the Aborigines won't run unless its an emergency. There was a case in the war when a plane crashed in the outback and an aborigine man ran to get help, when they worked out how far he'd run in the time, he would have broken all records. But they don't see the point in running against the clock, just for the sake of it.
Oh and they do drop ridiculous sports from the olympics, take ski ballet...
youtube.com/watch?v=fvk4PpFORD4&
well aren't all Olympic sports pointless?
You're telling me the worlds best archer is some guy with a compound bow who can hit a paper target. They've never invited any tribes people from the rain forest or places like papa new guinea who shoot bows on a daily basis to get their food. They would be the worlds best IF they thought a gold medal was worth getting.
Just like the Aborigines won't run unless its an emergency. There was a case in the war when a plane crashed in the outback and an aborigine man ran to get help, when they worked out how far he'd run in the time, he would have broken all records. But they don't see the point in running against the clock, just for the sake of it.
Oh and they do drop ridiculous sports from the olympics, take ski ballet...
youtube.com/watch?v=fvk4PpFORD4&
In reply to zoobizooretta:
Yes, I mentioned in my post that it's all a bit pointless, and John mentioned that race walking is really impressive. No one is starting a serious campaign to get it removed from the Olympics.
For the sake of John's hypothetical question I'd replace it with fell running, over a tough mountain course, not cross country over a slightly muddy field.
This is a primal skill that would be a prized and useful.
I'd also replace Butterfly with swimming underwater.
Yes, I mentioned in my post that it's all a bit pointless, and John mentioned that race walking is really impressive. No one is starting a serious campaign to get it removed from the Olympics.
For the sake of John's hypothetical question I'd replace it with fell running, over a tough mountain course, not cross country over a slightly muddy field.
This is a primal skill that would be a prized and useful.
I'd also replace Butterfly with swimming underwater.
In reply to mountain.martin:
its a shame that if they did, the legendary joss naylor would be too old to get the recognition that he dissevers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Naylor - now they're impressive stats!
ran 70 Lakeland fell tops, covering more than 50 miles and ascending more than 25,000 feet, in under 21 hours. That's the same as running from sea level, to the top of everest! oh and when he was 70 years old!
I'd take 'diving' out, most of it is falling into water from a platform that was slightly different from how someone else managed to...
its a shame that if they did, the legendary joss naylor would be too old to get the recognition that he dissevers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joss_Naylor - now they're impressive stats!
ran 70 Lakeland fell tops, covering more than 50 miles and ascending more than 25,000 feet, in under 21 hours. That's the same as running from sea level, to the top of everest! oh and when he was 70 years old!
I'd take 'diving' out, most of it is falling into water from a platform that was slightly different from how someone else managed to...
Post edited at 11:23
In reply to zoobizooretta:
Good point about diving, I'd leave it in but reduce the number of formats.
"yes I'm the best in the world at jumping into the water from 5m" So what Tom Daley is better than you from 10m.
I can't tell the difference between 1st and 10th apart from possibly the size of the splash they make.
I'm not saying that it's not impressive, just a bit impenetrable for the general public.
Good point about diving, I'd leave it in but reduce the number of formats.
"yes I'm the best in the world at jumping into the water from 5m" So what Tom Daley is better than you from 10m.
I can't tell the difference between 1st and 10th apart from possibly the size of the splash they make.
I'm not saying that it's not impressive, just a bit impenetrable for the general public.
In reply to mountain.martin:
yeah agreed. Its nearly as pointless as competitive yoga (if it even exists)
yeah agreed. Its nearly as pointless as competitive yoga (if it even exists)
In reply to zoobizooretta:
If diving was out there would be an opening for Synchonised Rhythmic Butterfly Walking.
If diving was out there would be an opening for Synchonised Rhythmic Butterfly Walking.
In reply to zoobizooretta:
>
> Just like the Aborigines won't run unless its an emergency. There was a case in the war when a plane crashed in the outback and an aborigine man ran to get help, when they worked out how far he'd run in the time, he would have broken all records. But they don't see the point in running against the clock, just for the sake of it.
>
>
Cathy Freeman is Aboriginal she didn't think running against the clock was pointless. Gold medal Sydney Olympics 400m. Silver medal Atlanta Olympic 400m.... > Just like the Aborigines won't run unless its an emergency. There was a case in the war when a plane crashed in the outback and an aborigine man ran to get help, when they worked out how far he'd run in the time, he would have broken all records. But they don't see the point in running against the clock, just for the sake of it.
>
>
In reply to Uluru:
yeah, one of millions...
how about this tribe that sprint with logs? How fast could they do 100m without the log?
youtube.com/watch?v=imCIDsJaCi8&
yeah, one of millions...
how about this tribe that sprint with logs? How fast could they do 100m without the log?
youtube.com/watch?v=imCIDsJaCi8&
In reply to john arran:
Replace it with fell running or some sort of standardised assault course (is there a BS for assault courses?). While we are at it lets do away with synchronised falling into a pool and judo; both physically impressive feats but pretty odd sports. I vote we replace diving with jumping into a pool containing an unknown hazard and then leaving the water as quickly as possible and judo can be replaced with insult sword fighting.
Replace it with fell running or some sort of standardised assault course (is there a BS for assault courses?). While we are at it lets do away with synchronised falling into a pool and judo; both physically impressive feats but pretty odd sports. I vote we replace diving with jumping into a pool containing an unknown hazard and then leaving the water as quickly as possible and judo can be replaced with insult sword fighting.
In reply to zoobizooretta:
Of course it is ridiculous. It is far too contrived, the amount of disqualifications for running proves that. The jumps and throws are modern interpretations of simple human endeavours, getting from A to B as quickly as possible without mechanical assistance is covered by running.
> ridiculous? What the high jump, long jump and pole vault aren't, let along throwing the hammer. You may think its ridiculous in this country, but its a massive sport in rest of Europe.
Of course it is ridiculous. It is far too contrived, the amount of disqualifications for running proves that. The jumps and throws are modern interpretations of simple human endeavours, getting from A to B as quickly as possible without mechanical assistance is covered by running.
In reply to john arran:
The Latvian women's speed walking team were training in Livigno when we were there.
I was enthralled.
The Latvian women's speed walking team were training in Livigno when we were there.
I was enthralled.
In reply to john arran:
In general, I would promote the sports where the aim is obvious even to non-specialists, and where the tactics for winning are not so bizarre as to be impenetrable.
What is that track cycling event all about where they go behind a guy on a moped, and that other one where they often come to a halt? Why do they need to do that when TdF riders can keep going for hours without stopping? I can't work out what's going on, so Room 101 for them, I say.
In general, I would promote the sports where the aim is obvious even to non-specialists, and where the tactics for winning are not so bizarre as to be impenetrable.
What is that track cycling event all about where they go behind a guy on a moped, and that other one where they often come to a halt? Why do they need to do that when TdF riders can keep going for hours without stopping? I can't work out what's going on, so Room 101 for them, I say.
In reply to mbh:
I disagree. Whilst I think it should be straight forward to ascertain who has won, having multifaceted tactics for achieving that is what makes so many sports great.
> In general, I would promote the sports where the aim is obvious even to non-specialists, and where the tactics for winning are not so bizarre as to be impenetrable.
I disagree. Whilst I think it should be straight forward to ascertain who has won, having multifaceted tactics for achieving that is what makes so many sports great.
> What is that track cycling event all about where they go behind a guy on a moped, and that other one where they often come to a halt? Why do they need to do that when TdF riders can keep going for hours without stopping? I can't work out what's going on, so Room 101 for them, I say.
In reply to john arran:
how about some superstars type event?
youtube.com/watch?v=n4OzPrskdqU&
standing high and long jump would be inclusive..
how about some superstars type event?
youtube.com/watch?v=n4OzPrskdqU&
standing high and long jump would be inclusive..
In reply to zoobizooretta:
Of course it is a short distance, less than half the distance of the marathon, they have running races of 100k and 100 miles. The elites do run all the way as well.
> They don't do short distances. 20km (12miles) is the shortest distance.
Of course it is a short distance, less than half the distance of the marathon, they have running races of 100k and 100 miles. The elites do run all the way as well.
In reply to mountain.martin:
Far too many swimming events, I'd advocate just saying swim whatever stroke you like, fastest to swim the distance wins.
It is not as if they have separate high jump competitions for scissors, straddle, western roll and Fosbury flop.
> Swimming butterfly seems the equivilent of trying to cover 100m on the track in a series of standing jumps.
Far too many swimming events, I'd advocate just saying swim whatever stroke you like, fastest to swim the distance wins.
It is not as if they have separate high jump competitions for scissors, straddle, western roll and Fosbury flop.
In reply to mbh:
Or do it at 6 minute mile pace if you are Steve Way.
> 20k is plenty short enough to run it - so why walk it if you want to cover it as quickly as possible? If the distance was 100k, or you had to keep going for 24 hours, then you's probably walk some of it.
Or do it at 6 minute mile pace if you are Steve Way.
In reply to The New NickB:
I didn't know about him. Now I feel more inadequate than ever. I've got a 50 k tomorrow. I bet I don't run all of it, and I won't run any of it at 6 minute mile pace.
I didn't know about him. Now I feel more inadequate than ever. I've got a 50 k tomorrow. I bet I don't run all of it, and I won't run any of it at 6 minute mile pace.
In reply to zoobizooretta:
I'm going to call bull on that one, have you got something to back it up?
> Just like the Aborigines won't run unless its an emergency. There was a case in the war when a plane crashed in the outback and an aborigine man ran to get help, when they worked out how far he'd run in the time, he would have broken all records. But they don't see the point in running against the clock, just for the sake of it.
I'm going to call bull on that one, have you got something to back it up?
In reply to The New NickB:
Freestyle is already swim whatever stroke you like, fastest to swim the distance wins. At lower levels you do see people swimming different strokes in freestyle races. I do find it fairly amazing that somebody just kicking on their back underwater is faster than people swimming backstroke on top of the water though. Underwater swimming is not much of a spectator sport though.
To me having different strokes isn't all that different to having running and hurdles, or all the different throwing events.
Freestyle is already swim whatever stroke you like, fastest to swim the distance wins. At lower levels you do see people swimming different strokes in freestyle races. I do find it fairly amazing that somebody just kicking on their back underwater is faster than people swimming backstroke on top of the water though. Underwater swimming is not much of a spectator sport though.
To me having different strokes isn't all that different to having running and hurdles, or all the different throwing events.
Post edited at 17:01
In reply to malk: Standing jumps used to be in the Olympics, 1900-1912.
Have a look at the world records:
SHJ 1.90m
SLJ 3.71m
Impressive.
Have a look at the world records:
SHJ 1.90m
SLJ 3.71m
Impressive.
In reply to ebygomm:
I understand this, doesn't detract from my point.
There is a logic to having hurdles. I have a degree of sympathy with you view in relation to the throws, but I am not aware of anyone being world class at more than two throw disciplines, it is not like they can win 7/8 medals like Spitz or Phelps.
> Freestyle is already swim whatever stroke you like, fastest to swim the distance wins. At lower levels you do see people swimming different strokes in freestyle races.
I understand this, doesn't detract from my point.
> To me having different strokes isn't all that different to having running and hurdles, or all the different throwing events.
There is a logic to having hurdles. I have a degree of sympathy with you view in relation to the throws, but I am not aware of anyone being world class at more than two throw disciplines, it is not like they can win 7/8 medals like Spitz or Phelps.
Post edited at 17:44
In reply to The New NickB:
The amount of medals he won is as much down to the number of relays and different distances as it is to the different stroke options.
The amount of medals he won is as much down to the number of relays and different distances as it is to the different stroke options.
In reply to mbh:
How about beer drinking? Most downed in a session? That would be entertainment.
> In general, I would promote the sports where the aim is obvious even to non-specialists, and where the tactics for winning are not so bizarre as to be impenetrable.
How about beer drinking? Most downed in a session? That would be entertainment.
In reply to john arran:
Well obviously it have to be the 30 mile hop.
But failing that a fell race would do.
Or more cycling.
Well obviously it have to be the 30 mile hop.
But failing that a fell race would do.
Or more cycling.
In reply to john arran:
Enjoying this thread, but still not seen a genuine reason why competitive walking exists so do agree with the OP.
The speed they achieve makes it more pointless in my opinion, they are faster than a lot of runners so it's hardly more accessible. If they wanted to they could run a bit and go faster because they are clearly fit enough.
It's self limiting for no apparent reason (someone said better for joints?) so really like butterfly swimming (takes more effort to go slower?).
Enjoying this thread, but still not seen a genuine reason why competitive walking exists so do agree with the OP.
The speed they achieve makes it more pointless in my opinion, they are faster than a lot of runners so it's hardly more accessible. If they wanted to they could run a bit and go faster because they are clearly fit enough.
It's self limiting for no apparent reason (someone said better for joints?) so really like butterfly swimming (takes more effort to go slower?).
In reply to barrow_matt:
Happy to give the race walking thread a kick. Agree entirely about the difficulty of judging - they all lift, a lot. Getting called out just means they've slipped up and done it *a bit too obviously*. It pains me to watch the rotten gait they have to adopt to feign compliance.
No clue what to replace it with - you could stick the 4k individual pursuit back in. Pure cycling: really disappointing when they dropped it. Too many events? Pah, the swimmers get all the disciplines at pretty much all the distances. And then get to combine them. And have relays. I see they had underwater and an obstacle race too in 1900 - that'd be good.
Happy to give the race walking thread a kick. Agree entirely about the difficulty of judging - they all lift, a lot. Getting called out just means they've slipped up and done it *a bit too obviously*. It pains me to watch the rotten gait they have to adopt to feign compliance.
No clue what to replace it with - you could stick the 4k individual pursuit back in. Pure cycling: really disappointing when they dropped it. Too many events? Pah, the swimmers get all the disciplines at pretty much all the distances. And then get to combine them. And have relays. I see they had underwater and an obstacle race too in 1900 - that'd be good.
In reply to john arran:
Any sport that relies on judges should be out of the Olympics. 'Higher, Faster, Further' should be replaced with 'Measurable'.
Any sport that relies on judges should be out of the Olympics. 'Higher, Faster, Further' should be replaced with 'Measurable'.
In reply to john arran:
Longer distance fell race with lots of sections off trail would be be good. Cross country would seem sensible but the issue would be that the good cc runners would also be potentials for entering the 5k and 10k so you run the risk of splitting the field if people prioritise one over the other and don't end up with the 10k final being all of the best distance runners in the world. However cc would be more fun to watch, 5k and 10k are generally pretty dull apart from the last 800m.
Longer distance fell race with lots of sections off trail would be be good. Cross country would seem sensible but the issue would be that the good cc runners would also be potentials for entering the 5k and 10k so you run the risk of splitting the field if people prioritise one over the other and don't end up with the 10k final being all of the best distance runners in the world. However cc would be more fun to watch, 5k and 10k are generally pretty dull apart from the last 800m.
In reply to Alex1:
Doesn't pretty much the same principle apply to nearly every distance event?
> (In reply to john arran)
>
> However cc would be more fun to watch, 5k and 10k are generally pretty dull apart from the last 800m.
>
> However cc would be more fun to watch, 5k and 10k are generally pretty dull apart from the last 800m.
Doesn't pretty much the same principle apply to nearly every distance event?
In reply to john arran:
It's no more or less ridiculous than having different strokes in swimming - so pretty ridiculous then.....
It's no more or less ridiculous than having different strokes in swimming - so pretty ridiculous then.....
In reply to 999thAndy:
Don´t agree, or at least only in part.
Yes, synchronous swimming or figure skating should be out, as the judges score style in a very subjective manner. Similarly, all free skiing events should be reduced to straightforward races.
However, IMO wrestling, Judo, boxing or tae kwon do should definitely stay, even though they rely on judges for scoring and have all had their referee scandals.
CB
Don´t agree, or at least only in part.
Yes, synchronous swimming or figure skating should be out, as the judges score style in a very subjective manner. Similarly, all free skiing events should be reduced to straightforward races.
However, IMO wrestling, Judo, boxing or tae kwon do should definitely stay, even though they rely on judges for scoring and have all had their referee scandals.
CB
In reply to Ander:
5k and 10k are nearly 'every distance event' - only the marathon is a long distance, and no-one pretends that's a great spectator event.
On the thing about judged events such as diving and synchro swimming, I would agree with most apart from some of the gymnastics events - some of them are genuinely impressive feats of ability and strength.
> Doesn't pretty much the same principle apply to nearly every distance event?
5k and 10k are nearly 'every distance event' - only the marathon is a long distance, and no-one pretends that's a great spectator event.
On the thing about judged events such as diving and synchro swimming, I would agree with most apart from some of the gymnastics events - some of them are genuinely impressive feats of ability and strength.
In reply to cb294:
I agree. Presumably the problem is with measuring: counting the blows landed or determining if the shoulder is on the floor - these could be resolved with technology* (I would assume).
Whilst they are called judges they aren't awarding points for aesthetics...
*N.B. I never said it would be easy!
I agree. Presumably the problem is with measuring: counting the blows landed or determining if the shoulder is on the floor - these could be resolved with technology* (I would assume).
Whilst they are called judges they aren't awarding points for aesthetics...
*N.B. I never said it would be easy!
In reply to john arran:
One fairly sensible suggestion that I've heard is that any event where the Olympic gold isn't the highest accolade should be out - hence no football or tennis, the cycling road race is out but time trial and track events are still in and so on.
Also, is anyone else reading this thread and reflecting that climbing might actually have reduced the average silliness of the olympics? I mean, regardless of the impact on climbing itself it's at least pretty obvious to the average spectator what a competition climber is trying to do, what's hard about it, and whether or not they've done it better than the others...
One fairly sensible suggestion that I've heard is that any event where the Olympic gold isn't the highest accolade should be out - hence no football or tennis, the cycling road race is out but time trial and track events are still in and so on.
Also, is anyone else reading this thread and reflecting that climbing might actually have reduced the average silliness of the olympics? I mean, regardless of the impact on climbing itself it's at least pretty obvious to the average spectator what a competition climber is trying to do, what's hard about it, and whether or not they've done it better than the others...
In reply to Ramblin dave:
Yes, I don't care how obscure an Olympic sport is as long as it meets this criterion - that's the magic of the Olympics. Football, Tennis etc simply devalue that magic. Climbing is an interesting case; if competition climbing is seen as effectively divorced from proper climbing, then it could meet this criterion, but, if not, I certainly hope it never does so.
> One fairly sensible suggestion that I've heard is that any event where the Olympic gold isn't the highest accolade should be out - hence no football or tennis, the cycling road race is out but time trial and track events are still in and so on.
Yes, I don't care how obscure an Olympic sport is as long as it meets this criterion - that's the magic of the Olympics. Football, Tennis etc simply devalue that magic. Climbing is an interesting case; if competition climbing is seen as effectively divorced from proper climbing, then it could meet this criterion, but, if not, I certainly hope it never does so.
This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings.
Loading Notifications...