Olympic sports I just dont "get"

[katerkat]

Originally posted by Chicago526
I just saw that one of the NBC cable channels was going to show coverage of "flat water canoeing".

I saw that last night!! What, are they kidding??

 

[missypie]

It's hard to draw the line. I guess I'd cut out the sports where you need a horse or a boat or a gun.

Trampoline was cool to watch, mostly for the height they can get (and because my kids spend a lot of time on ours out in the back yard) but the whole event- from prelims to finals to medals - was over in about 2 1/2 hours!

Of course, as is the case during every Olympics, a SI writer has written the obligatory article about how judged sports shouldn't be a part of the Olympics.

When I watch table tennis, I think "that sure looks different from what we used to play in the basement." But I watched badminton and it didn't look any different from what we played in the back yard.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by missypie
Of course, as is the case during every Olympics, a SI writer has written the obligatory article about how judged sports shouldn't be a part of the Olympics.

I think they should eliminate any sport where the Olympics isn't the sport's most important meet. For example, tennis. Do you think tennis players are more fired up about the upcoming US Open or going for the gold medal? Since the answer is the US Open, get rid of tennis as an Olympic sport.

Same goes for soccer, basketball, baseball and cycling. ESPN had a show about the US Olympic Training Center, and several of the athletes had the Olympic rings tatooed on their bodies somewhere. None of the athletes in biking, soccer, basketball, etc., would do that because the meet isn't important enough to their sport. So get rid of them.

Unless Allan Iverson has an Olympic tattoo somewhere. Anybody know?

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Originally posted by missypie
It's hard to draw the line. I guess I'd cut out the sports where you need a horse or a boat or a gun.

These types of sports aren't likely to be taken out. Ancient Olympic sports were taken from things one might do when in battle (it's in the article I posted on the previous page). Since the ancient Greek battles included riding horses, sailing boats, and using weapons, the sporting events designed to reenact these things are steeped in tradition and are probably here to stay.

...and that concludes today's history lesson.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

curling is just funny along with table tennis(should really be called ping pong)

 

[stevenpensacola]

How can you complain about a sport that features pretty women in skimpy outfits?

 

[Lewski709]

another one who doesn't "get" trampoline

 

[binny]

ok while were on the subject of the Olympics... Dana and I were talking about this earlier, why is it that in womens beach volleyball the "uniform" is a barely there bikini but in mens its board shorts and a tank top???
What happened to EQUAL RIGHTS!!!???!!!!








Im kidding BTW, but do you see my point?

 

[chrissyk]

Originally posted by binny
Im sorry, Im sure they have their following but I just dont get Synchronised Swimming , table tennis, or Badmitton.

Just dont get it.


Any sports you dont get?

My mother was OBSESSED with synchronized swimming in the '80's - so much so that she made me and my sister take lessons I'd explain the "sport" to you, but I don't understand it myself to this day. I seriously hated synchronized swimming lessons, and I hated "practicing" even more. As you might guess, sis and I never did make it to the Olympics

 

[ztbz]

I always wonder why "NFL type" Football is not in the Olympics, its a Major Sport in the US and Canada, and is coming along in Japan and Europe.

 

[minniecarousel]

no -no -no rythmic gymnastics aren't performed by "women" - those are "girls" (have you seen how tiny they are?)

Beach volleyball is def a sport (do you have to live in California to appreciate that?)

Any sport that shoots a gun/rifle is not a sport - it's shooting!

 

[Kitty 34]

The Triple Jump and Sychronized diving.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Flat water Canoing evolved from War Canoe racing. Teams of 8 or 12 in a canoe would race each other on flat water. Canoes were at one time used as vehicles of war, especially in the South Pacific. It does take a lot of upper body strength to paddle a flat water boat, canoe or kayak, and to paddle a canoe on one knee at that speed with out tipping over also requires a lot of concentration and balance. I haven't watched very much of the games and I will admit that many of the sports bore me, but I do get them all. Syncronised swimmers have more lung capacity than runners. Water Polo players are either swimming or treading water for the entire game, they have endurance. Every sport in the games requires a unique set of skills and talents. The horse that takes the jumps without hitting the bar and doing it in the allotted time would not do so with out the rider.

"Any sport that shoots a gun/rifle is not a sport - it's shooting!" Yes, it's shooting, but it takes skill to hit the target, like archery.

I think the addition of different sports into the Olympics is good. Just because it is obscure to you or me, doesn't mean that someone else isn't taking many hours out of thier life to train for it.

 

[goofygirl]

I think the shotput is dumb. Yeah I know, it was done in the ancient Olympics, etc, etc. But when else in your life are you ever going to use this skill?

Events I'd like to see


Tetherball

Jump Rope

Hopscotch

Wall ball

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I had been laughing about table tennis being a sport until I watched that tiny Japanese girl competing. Can't remember her name. But I watched it with DS and told him perhaps in time, with enough practice in the DVC resorts community halls, he too can be a world champion table tennis player.
That little girl was amazing.

I really don't get the beach volleyball. And I was wondering how they keep their teeny, tiny tops covering their cha-chas, and the bottoms from becoming wedgie central. Double stick tape?
Who decided on that outfit??

So many of the sports I have never heard of and wondered, how do people find this and get involved??

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Speedboating would be kinda cool to have in the games

 

[Aimeedyan]

Originally posted by goofygirl
I think the shotput is dumb. Yeah I know, it was done in the ancient Olympics, etc, etc. But when else in your life are you ever going to use this skill?

Events I'd like to see


Tetherball

Jump Rope

Hopscotch

Wall ball

I'm all about hopscotch. It's the only sport I'd have a fighting chance in

 

[Joyciemc]

Only a couple mentioned Equestrian, that's not too bad. I expected a bunch! I know a lot of people think you just sit on a horse (and that is what some people do), but the competition in the Olympics (Dressage, Stadium and Cross Country jumping) is VERY grueling for the athletes (horse and rider). I competed in Dressage (where you ride a pattern that looks completely random and boring if you're not a rider) during college, and it is hard! I'm not at a level any where near the Olympic riders, and I'm in awe watching them.

I was going to mention the Olympic events that I am surprised by, but after writing about Equestrian competition, I realized that there might be a Curler reading this that has the same reaction that I do. So to each his own!

 

[ppony]

Originally posted by Joyciemc
Only a couple mentioned Equestrian, that's not too bad. I expected a bunch! I know a lot of people think you just sit on a horse (and that is what some people do), but the competition in the Olympics (Dressage, Stadium and Cross Country jumping) is VERY grueling for the athletes (horse and rider). I competed in Dressage (where you ride a pattern that looks completely random and boring if you're not a rider) during college, and it is hard! I'm not at a level any where near the Olympic riders, and I'm in awe watching them.

Ah THANK YOU!!!! Did you happen to catch that commentary that that hilarious reporter read in the "bible" of the games about Knitting and dressage!??!?! Im one that really understands the equestrian as well. It takes an immense amount of training and skill to do whtathey do. Not one of those horses could do any of it on their own. Probably wouldn't want to though! And it is one of thee most ancient of the competitions in the games. Those ain't no backyard ponies! : )
Nuff said!

I also was one that had to laugh about "table tennis!" Dress it up all ya want..it's PING PONG! Everytime it came on TV my husband said "what do you have against that anyway" since I had been lauhing every time I saw it. it just looks funny wit the people casing after a tiny little ball on a tiny little table! It just strikes me as funny.

Trampolining was hilarious but I can understand how hard it must have been being as so many didn't even finish. Was that new this time?

And yeah! What up with that flat canoing thing!??! Never heard of that! Is half of the competition just staying a float?!??!

Fun thread! It jus fun to laugh at some stuff. I must admit too, I expected more poo pooing on the horses too. To each his or her own!

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by Chim Chiminy

I really don't get the beach volleyball. And I was wondering how they keep their teeny, tiny tops covering their cha-chas, and the bottoms from becoming wedgie central. Double stick tape?
Who decided on that outfit??

<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_132.gif' border=0></a> They also have covered every single game in the women's beach volleyball...wonder why? <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_3_121.gif' border=0></a> I did not see anything on the women's softball and they shut out everyone! I would have loved to see at least the final for that game! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/18/18_7_12.gif' border=0></a>