Olympics

[Lumpy1106]

What the heck is going on with the Women’s Pole Vault? The finals started at 12:15 Eastern and are still not finished 3 hours later.

It seems like they take a vault, then go inside for 20 minutes before returning. Come on. Snap snap snap!!!! Get with it. I want to see one right after another.

Other field events take place when athletes are racing on the track. Why not pole vault?

Pole vault is notoriously the first event to start for the day and the last to end. That goes for every level of competition.

 

[soccerdad72]

Without posting any spoilers, how about the continued emergence of the US distance track team?

 

[BrianL]

Pole vault is notoriously the first event to start for the day and the last to end. That goes for every level of competition.

Yes, Pole Valuters basically go when they want to. They get three attempts. That's what the guy who set the world record did - he took long breaks between his atempts.

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm with you. Softball too - there are plenty of facilities in So Cal for softball. Of note, the entirety of Orange County, except maybe Huntington Beach or San Onofre for the surfing, will NOT be hosting events. Ask anyone outside So Cal and they do not know that Orange County is a separate place from Los Angeles. Going to LA? Surely you are headed to Disneyland...in Orange County. It's a weird disconnect.

As for the rapids events, yes, OKC has the existing facility and they are very committed to having facilities that will continue to be used post Olympics. Yeah, and FOR SURE that would get used in So Cal. Seems like a no-brainer to build it. but no. They are selling it as OKC is a reasonable 2.5 hour flight away - easy peasy. Again the disconnect is pretty mind boggling.

I thought baseball and softball were removed from the Olympics?

 

[soccerdad72]

I thought baseball and softball were removed from the Olympics?

It's back on the schedule for 2028.

 

[cabanafrau]

It's back on the schedule for 2028.

That's gotta make the sting of removing it from this cycle really burn.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Yeah, they were literally taking their paddle and moving the gate however they pleased, which made it seem like, what's the point of it at all?

The roll absolutely kills me. I told my husband I absolutely believe it is a stealth way of including the Hokey Pokey in the games now.

I guess next games we better brush up on our Duck Duck Goose and Ring Around the Rosie. Maybe toss in a little Red Light/Green Light, Red Rover, Musical Chairs or Pin the Tail on the Donkey to make it interesting?

LOL put a Big donkey looking thing in the kayak cross where you have to make your boat lift up and your nose hit it.

Oklahoma City??? Does someone think there are no rivers in California???

Okay, I guess they have to build a dedicated "river" for the kayak events, but still, why not do it near Los Angeles???

Money. Oklahoma city already has the facilities.

You know what I havent seen the whole olympics. A false start. I remember them happening often years ago in both track and field and swimmimg. Has the rules changed? Do they still do restarts?

Olympic Swimming has a no false start rule.
If after coming to the set position.
1. You're moving early, the gun goes off. You get DQ'd at the end, they do not stop; the race. This would stink in a 1500. But nobody false starts in a 1500. HAHA.
2. You're moving early and the gun does not go off. You fall in, you get DQ'd then and there.
3. You're moving early and the starter says stand. If you're able to stand and not go in, it is not a false start. If you go in, it's a false start.
4. You are not moving early and the starter says stand. It is not a false start whether you go in or not.

If before coming to the set position.
1. You are moving but you lose your balance and go in. This is not a false start because you were never set.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm with you. Softball too - there are plenty of facilities in So Cal for softball. Of note, the entirety of Orange County, except maybe Huntington Beach or San Onofre for the surfing, will NOT be hosting events. Ask anyone outside So Cal and they do not know that Orange County is a separate place from Los Angeles. Going to LA? Surely you are headed to Disneyland...in Orange County. It's a weird disconnect.

This has been a hot topic in our household and group of softball friends. We understand why they chose Oklahoma City. There is nothing softball specific in SoCal that is large enough to accommodate the crowds they're anticipating. In Tokyo, they had softball play on the baseball field. That's fine for lower levels competition in the short term, but that's really pretty shameful at the Olympic level and any other higher levels of competition.

For as big as the game is in CA, there just aren't any major facilities. I believe Fresno State, at 3,288 has the largest softball specific facility in California. UCLAs is only a little over 1,300 and they're a major softball school. We were recently in SoCal for travel ball and while we played in some nice/large facilities (OC's Great Park is awesome), it's just not enough for the Olympics. Devon Park in OKC can hold 13,000. They pack it for the WCWS, so it's expected to be sold out for Olympic softball.

So, we're really torn. On one hand, the Olympians miss out on the Olympic village atmosphere by being in OK. On the other, they won't be treated like the red-headed stepchild and having to conform to a baseball field. They'll also be in a facility with a ton of fans vs. settling for what could be fit into a CA collegiate stadium or missing out on the close crowd interaction on a field designed for baseball (baseball has fans much farther back from the field).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On one hand, the Olympians miss out on the Olympic village atmosphere by being in OK.

Surfers are in Tahiti at the moment, the furthest distance to date. I'm sure it sucks but those going for baseball are at least on the same continent

***A plus of course is the surfers are in Tahiti on a cruise ship

 

[jdb in AZ]

This has been a hot topic in our household and group of softball friends. We understand why they chose Oklahoma City. There is nothing softball specific in SoCal that is large enough to accommodate the crowds they're anticipating. In Tokyo, they had softball play on the baseball field. That's fine for lower levels competition in the short term, but that's really pretty shameful at the Olympic level and any other higher levels of competition.

For as big as the game is in CA, there just aren't any major facilities. I believe Fresno State, at 3,288 has the largest softball specific facility in California. UCLAs is only a little over 1,300 and they're a major softball school. We were recently in SoCal for travel ball and while we played in some nice/large facilities (OC's Great Park is awesome), it's just not enough for the Olympics. Devon Park in OKC can hold 13,000. They pack it for the WCWS, so it's expected to be sold out for Olympic softball.

So, we're really torn. On one hand, the Olympians miss out on the Olympic village atmosphere by being in OK. On the other, they won't be treated like the red-headed stepchild and having to conform to a baseball field. They'll also be in a facility with a ton of fans vs. settling for what could be fit into a CA collegiate stadium or missing out on the close crowd interaction on a field designed for baseball (baseball has fans much farther back from the field).

how big are the MLB stadiums in California?

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Surfers are in Tahiti at the moment, the furthest distance to date. I'm sure it sucks but those going for baseball are at least on the same continent

***A plus of course is the surfers are in Tahiti on a cruise ship

We were talking about that the other night. I wouldn’t be complaining if someone wanted to send me to Tahiti to compete!

 

[BrianL]

Man, Men's Water Polo USA vs. Australia - nothing more fun than that!

 

[irlandaise]

This has been a hot topic in our household and group of softball friends. We understand why they chose Oklahoma City. There is nothing softball specific in SoCal that is large enough to accommodate the crowds they're anticipating. In Tokyo, they had softball play on the baseball field. That's fine for lower levels competition in the short term, but that's really pretty shameful at the Olympic level and any other higher levels of competition.

Okay, I'll volunteer to ask the stupid question: the fields aren't the same for softball and baseball??

 

[TiggerTrigger]

how big are the MLB stadiums in California?

While they seat enough people, they present several issues.

For starters, it would be the middle of MLB season. Scheduling seems like it would be impossible. It also comes back to the issue of the lack of a dirt infield. I can’t see any MLB teams being willing to overhaul their highly manicured grass infields to provide a proper dirt softball field. Even a turf overlay would damage the field. The fan aspect is a far lesser issue, but top softball players have noted that playing in traditional baseball facilities means not having the crowds as close, which alters the vibe and energy normally found in a softball specific facility. At the end of the day, it’s the Olympics and it would be embarrassing for us as a country and a slap in the face to the athletes if we couldn’t provide these athletes a proper field and venue.

The IOC has been big on host cities moving away from building new venues. So, if they want to accommodate the crowds they’re expecting while giving the athletes a proper field/environment, OKC becomes the only solution. The reality is that with softball’s considerable growth in popularity and the extreme popularity in California, there could be legitimate justification to build a structure comparable or greater than Devon Park. It would also give the sport a second high capacity facility to allow for the movement of the WCWS so that we no longer have the issue of a national competition being held in a venue that favors the OK teams. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Okay, I'll volunteer to ask the stupid question: the fields aren't the same for softball and baseball??

Nope.

Baseball has a grass infield. Softball has a dirt infield. Softball’s infield and outfield are considerably smaller. Softball has 60’ between bases while baseball is 90’. Pitcher’s mound in baseball is something like 60.6’ to home plate, while it’s about 43’ in softball. Baseball’s outfield is something like 400’ at center and about 300’ at the edges of RF and LF. Softball is often a uniform 200’ at the farthest points of the outfield…sometimes a smidge more.

Beyond that, if you’ve been to an MLB or NCAA baseball game, you’ve probably noticed that you sit back a bit from the field. Most softball fields have spectators hovering right against the field of play (with protective netting).

 

[sam_gordon]

Nope.

Baseball has a grass infield. Softball has a dirt infield. Softball’s infield and outfield are considerably smaller. Softball has 60’ between bases while baseball is 90’. Pitcher’s mound in baseball is something like 60.6’ to home plate, while it’s about 43’ in softball. Baseball’s outfield is something like 400’ at center and about 300’ at the edges of RF and LF. Softball is often a uniform 200’ at the farthest points of the outfield…sometimes a smidge more.

Beyond that, if you’ve been to an MLB or NCAA baseball game, you’ve probably noticed that you sit back a bit from the field. Most softball fields have spectators hovering right against the field of play (with protective netting).

And the pitchers mound, is actually a "mound". A softball field is all flat.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

And the pitchers mound, is actually a "mound". A softball field is all flat.

Yes! I knew there was at least something else I was missing. We have played at a couple of dual purpose turf facilities where they have portable mounds that they can temporarily install for baseball use.

 

[sasywtch]

While they seat enough people, they present several issues.

For starters, it would be the middle of MLB season. Scheduling seems like it would be impossible. It also comes back to the issue of the lack of a dirt infield. I can’t see any MLB teams being willing to overhaul their highly manicured grass infields to provide a proper dirt softball field. Even a turf overlay would damage the field. The fan aspect is a far lesser issue, but top softball players have noted that playing in traditional baseball facilities means not having the crowds as close, which alters the vibe and energy normally found in a softball specific facility. At the end of the day, it’s the Olympics and it would be embarrassing for us as a country and a slap in the face to the athletes if we couldn’t provide these athletes a proper field and venue.

The IOC has been big on host cities moving away from building new venues. So, if they want to accommodate the crowds they’re expecting while giving the athletes a proper field/environment, OKC becomes the only solution. The reality is that with softball’s considerable growth in popularity and the extreme popularity in California, there could be legitimate justification to build a structure comparable or greater than Devon Park. It would also give the sport a second high capacity facility to allow for the movement of the WCWS so that we no longer have the issue of a national competition being held in a venue that favors the OK teams. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen.

I had to look up Devon Park. I've been out of traveling softball for so long, I had no idea of the name change and that ASA changed to USA. I'm sure my daughter knows as she keeps up with that stuff. She played there quite a few times as her team was from OKC (Choctaw to be exact). It was kind of neat to take pictures with your kids' name up to bat on the large score board with Hall of Fame on it. The parents liked it as it was the only venue that served liquor LOL (priorities). I'm guessing building one in CA would not be cost effective with all the regulations and such. The one in OKC is not used as much as one would think so I'm guessing they didn't want that to happen to one in CA. During worlds maybe the seats behind home plate and down some sides were filled but the stadium definitely was not packed. It would not be sustainable cost wise. I always thought it wierd that ASA had their stadium in OKC as most teams east of Arizona played USSSA. I'm sure that has changed now also. The seats there are back somewhat like a baseball field. ps my daughter's team was really good and they do have a lot of excellent ball players in Oklahoma so I wouldn't say they were favored but again, that could have changed. Curious what they did with Candlestick Park. That would have been a good one to convert. I had no idea about the rapids as that is all new since we lived there. Too bad it couldn't be a real river as the American River would be great for that but not controllable.

 

[irlandaise]

Curious what they did with Candlestick Park. That would have been a good one to convert.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GX9A5o7hT6M3ir9n7

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I had to look up Devon Park. I've been out of traveling softball for so long, I had no idea of the name change and that ASA changed to USA. I'm sure my daughter knows as she keeps up with that stuff. She played there quite a few times as her team was from OKC (Choctaw to be exact). It was kind of neat to take pictures with your kids' name up to bat on the large score board with Hall of Fame on it. The parents liked it as it was the only venue that served liquor LOL (priorities). I'm guessing building one in CA would not be cost effective with all the regulations and such. The one in OKC is not used as much as one would think so I'm guessing they didn't want that to happen to one in CA. During worlds maybe the seats behind home plate and down some sides were filled but the stadium definitely was not packed. It would not be sustainable cost wise. I always thought it wierd that ASA had their stadium in OKC as most teams east of Arizona played USSSA. I'm sure that has changed now also. The seats there are back somewhat like a baseball field. ps my daughter's team was really good and they do have a lot of excellent ball players in Oklahoma so I wouldn't say they were favored but again, that could have changed. Curious what they did with Candlestick Park. That would have been a good one to convert. I had no idea about the rapids as that is all new since we lived there. Too bad it couldn't be a real river as the American River would be great for that but not controllable.

Small world! We were in Chotaw back in June for a tournament. We used to play in USSSA events, but I've seen a shift away from that towards Triple Crown, anything that feeds into Alliance, PGF, and some of the well regarded regional ones like this one we attended in OK (and another around that time near Kansas City just to name a handful). As for the stadium, I'm used to calling it Hall of Fame Stadium, so the branding shift to Devon Park has also been an adjustment. Within the last few years, they actually expanded the stadium to allow for additional seating (4,000 seat increase in 2020) as well as some requested amenities upgrades. I recall them saying it was sold out for this year's WCWS games, but I know that's a small portion of the year. We've had friends and teammates play at the complex for the USA Softball All American Games and I know it doesn't fill up like it does for the college softball events. Although, I think the Oklahoma City Spark also use the stadium. They have enough former OU players on the roster that I've heard it's been seeing some crowds during the season. I can't find the info right now, but a few months ago I found something explaining why it's all in Oklahoma. It made sense, but obviously not enough for it to store in my brain!

While it would be nice for them to use a natural river for the canoe events, that park looks pretty neat. DD17 (non-softball) is moving into OU next week and we've been talking about checking out the park (I think it's called Riversport) at some point in our visits.