Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Thread

[Jennasis]

Regarding the gymnastics scoring, what they were saying last night about the inexperience (and perhaps the incompetence) of the gymnastics judges makes sense. You can't have a judge from the country of the competitor. So that cuts out the very experienced judges from Russia, Romania, the US and China....leaves you with judges from gymnastics "powerhouses" like South Africa and Austrailia. So you're judging vault and you're unsure of yourself and afraid of making a mistake....so who do you score higher? The world champion (who happened to land terribly and make three other mistakes acording to Tim Dagget) or Alicia (who everyone knows already messed up earlier in the week.) You go with the reputation, and end up getting it wrong.

As for the tie, it's an Olympic Gymnastics rule, not a FIG rule. I think they should look to start value to break any tie. If the start value is the same, give them both the medal.

Does anyone know if they allow ties in diving?

I think if ties are allowed in other olympic sports, then they should be allowed in gymnastics.

On another note...the US Equestrian team was FAN-freaking-TASTIC! They won their gold fair and square in a heart stopping jump-off (equivalent to a tie-breaker) against Canada, who hasn't won any eq medal in ages.

 

[Bloodhound]

I think if ties are allowed in other olympic sports, then they should be allowed in gymnastics.

On another note...the US Equestrian team was FAN-freaking-TASTIC! They won their gold fair and square in a heart stopping jump-off (equivalent to a tie-breaker) against Canada, who hasn't won any eq medal in ages.

Oh I mised that...what channel was that on?

 

[Paul6725]

Looking at a few sites from around the world (like the official olympic site and the BBC) I have to wonder why only US websites have the medal table with total medals as top rather than most golds. Apart from the fact that one puts the US on top and the other puts China

 

[Jennasis]

Oxygen, I think. Not sure since we DVR'd it and watched it a little after the fact (after one of my riding student's mom blurted the outcome to me...she was so apologetic. It was kina funny!).

 

[Deb in IA]

Ok...back on a positive note...lets talk some woman's indoor volleyball...USA just Upset an beat Italy. 3 sets to 2 sets in a roller coaster of an awesome game...USA is in the finals.
also China beet Russia today 3 to 0


USA vs Cuba AND China vs Brazil in the semifinals Thursday

Yes, the Nastia debacle was very, very sad last night. If is it a tie, I think they should have both gotten the gold. Two golds and a bronze for the uneven bars event final. But, I guess that's not the "rules".

 

[Bloodhound]

And another positive: Iowa's own SHAWN JOHNSON finally got her GOLD, for the balence beam final!!

I hope they show that tonight...if it's already been on I missed it.

 

[MontanaZoo]

I hope they show that tonight...if it's already been on I missed it.

AAAHHH! I don't know what's worse, if it's a spoiler or if I missed seeing it!

Anyone see nbc's coverage telling viewers how to deal with not sleeping to watch the olympics footage? Was funny.

Almost as funny as Meredith Viera not knowing that Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner are married until after she interviewed them.

 

[Bloodhound]

Anyone see nbc's coverage telling viewers how to deal with not sleeping to watch the olympics footage? Was funny.

.

I saw that last night very late...they told people they only need 4 hrs sleep an also said take the day off....lol

I dont remeber the rest I was up way too late.

 

[NowaSki]

Yes, the Nastia debacle was very, very sad last night. If is it a tie, I think they should have both gotten the gold. Two golds and a bronze for the uneven bars event final. But, I guess that's not the "rules".

And another positive: Iowa's own SHAWN JOHNSON finally got her GOLD, for the balence beam final!!

Yeah, I guess they can't have a tie according to the "Rules"... but wait don't the competitors have to be 16 to compete according to the same "Rules".

Bela kinda of annoyed me with his rantings all week long, but last night he had some very valid points about the ridiculous tie break rules. They use multiple judges to try an get the best average score, then they start throwing out scores to break a tie, and now you end up with only a couple scores to work with. The main idea of the multiple judges is to try an limit bias, and in experience in judges. So, in effect to break a tie you corrupt the original judging system.

I don't know if there will ever be a perfect system, but this system is a mess.

 

[phorsenuf]

Yes, the Nastia debacle was very, very sad last night. If is it a tie, I think they should have both gotten the gold. Two golds and a bronze for the uneven bars event final. But, I guess that's not the "rules".

And another positive: Iowa's own SHAWN JOHNSON finally got her GOLD, for the balence beam final!!

UGH! I knew I shouldn't have came in here! I've been avoiding hearing this all day. This isn't being shown until tonight! I thought there were no same day spoilers in here.
I should have known better.

 

[bekkiz]

Another great victory for Team USA womans water polo over the Aussies. USA advances to the finals

I love that there's another water polo fan here on the Dis!! Hopefully we can win against the Dutch--it'll be an awesome game A gold medal would be awesome.

And the men are doing well too, first time to the semi-finals since 1992!

 

[Bloodhound]

I love that there's another water polo fan here on the Dis!! Hopefully we can win against the Dutch--it'll be an awesome game A gold medal would be awesome.

And the men are doing well too, first time to the semi-finals since 1992!

I watched the Netherlands beat Hungery as well... it was so awesome....I loved it.... I wasnt ever fast enough to compete like Phelps or even the ones that didnt make the team....but I sure could rough
house in the water and had 4 guys trying to dunk me at the same time an I got a couple before they took me down with a big ringer they sent in....LOL..... water polo looks to be a great sport. ...and the only time I ever see it is in the Olympics.

 

[Jennasis]

Re: Gymnastics...I miss the perfect "10".

 

[Deb in IA]

UGH! I knew I shouldn't have came in here! I've been avoiding hearing this all day. This isn't being shown until tonight! I thought there were no same day spoilers in here.
I should have known better.

Oh, sorry. I didn't know about the "no spoilers" rule. Since I'd heard about this at 8 am this morning, I thought it was already shown.

I'll go and change my post.

 

[phorsenuf]

Oh, sorry. I didn't know about the "no spoilers" rule. Since I'd heard about this at 8 am this morning, I thought it was already shown.

I'll go and change my post.

I don't know if there is a rule or not, I just assumed. Because of the time difference the event is over but they do the broadcast during prime time viewing. Thats why I try to avoid seeing the results on sites like Yahoo and such. I just assumed this thread was spoiler free until it aired. The title didn't say there would be spoilers.

 

[Deb in IA]

OK. Fair enough.

Mea culpa.

Next time, I'll only post things that I've seen aired already!

 

[phorsenuf]

OK. Fair enough.

Mea culpa.

Next time, I'll only post things that I've seen aired already!

Its all good.


On a side note, what's up with Nastia? She never looks happy. She always looks pissed about something. The only time she smiles is when she knows she's on camera. Shawn however can't seem to stop! I love Shawn!

 

[Deb in IA]

Well, after last night, I think I'd be pissed too!

But yeah, Shawn is just as cute as a button! Did you see last night, when Bob Costas showed an interview with Shawn and Nastia and pointed out that Shawn is so small that her feet didn't even touch the floor when she sat back in the couch?

 

[missypie]

Well, after last night, I think I'd be pissed too!

But yeah, Shawn is just as cute as a button! Did you see last night, when Bob Costas showed an interview with Shawn and Nastia and pointed out that Shawn is so small that her feet didn't even touch the floor when she sat back in the couch?

Yeah, we were laughing at that at the time. Shawn is really truly 16. And she is very short. I don't think gymnastics has stunted her growth to any great extent because it looks like her mom is about 4'10" or 4'11". But look at Shawn's body compared to the bodies of the Chinese 14 year olds....she's about twice as wide as they are and looks like a massive muscle woman compared to them.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Ok...back on a positive note...lets talk some woman's indoor volleyball...USA just Upset an beat Italy. 3 sets to 2 sets in a roller coaster of an awesome game...USA is in the finals.
also China beet Russia today 3 to 0


USA vs Cuba AND China vs Brazil in the semifinals Thursday

Oh, that volleyball match was awesome!! The US was rolling in the 4th and
5th games. I love volleyball so it was cool to see them do so well against the #2 team in the world.