Tokyo 2021

[raven19]

*if* the games go ahead, it'll be interesting to see how the athletes go without a massive crowd and the electric atmosphere and noise spectators bring.

I'd anticipate performances to be at or below previous record olympic record levels given the scheduling delays and lack of crowd support to egg the athletes on that little bit more...

[capcom]

And if (say) two major countries pulled out tomorrow citing safety concerns?  The IOC are legal nobodies with zero comeback.

[Lods]

The Japanese have stopped a Tokyo Olympics before, and I don't mean last years.

[LP]

Sweden really laying on the big bad bully Aussie angle against the girls, 2-2 at 55min

[LP]

Sweden up 3-2, 63mins

[Gointocarlton]

Worst opening ceremony I have ever seen.

[Gointocarlton]

Sweden up 3-2, 63mins

Unlucky to be awarded the first penalty to Kerr. Kerr's effort with the penalty she did get was very ordinary. Could have easily been 4-4, if my nonna had balls she'd be nonno to. Sweden will probably win gold.

[LP]

I'm torn about these athletes pulling the pin, I can appreciate why but not having experienced headspace issues myself I can't rationalise this with my own experience, at least none I'm aware of! ;D

But I also appreciate the other side of this coin, in some cases they have taken millions of dollars of public funding, along with taking a spot from a fellow competitor who was probably a Nats away from making the cut.

It's not as black and white as I think, but I appreciate they have to do what's right for them. The question probably then becomes do they get another change?

I recall that poor girl from the rowing, but then I recall her poor team-mates as well!

I've been on the end of a loss due to a Greg Norman like crumbling team-mate in a state final, that same person had already failed before in other teams and had been ejected by them, what to do? Luckily we stuck fat, the next year we got them through in the right frame of mind and we won, we knew from in season performances they were good enough having made and failed in multiple finals, but the Olympics is a different issue due to the long interval you might only get one shot!

[Thryleon]

In the context of a global pandemic causing a lot of people a lot of angst, I think its a miracle that people are able to go on living life as normally as possible, and kudos to everyone who is able to continue playing life each and every day with a straight bat.

Life is pretty ordinary at the moment for a lot of people, and getting yourself in peak competitive condition is likely difficult given its very easy to lose focus in the scheme of things.  For us, life is not terrible, and it could be much worse, but most of the people we are talking about have very little in the way of these sorts of issues and uncertainty hanging over their head.  I have to say on a personal level, seeing the uncertain future is quite shocking but I am a bit more level headed than most, and can appreciate that it is what it is.  Being an Olympic athlete, having had the games canned once, having no certainty about them going ahead until the 11th hour, and then getting there and not necessarily having a very good time might be something that would cause enough problems for most competitors.

Add the "#me too" factor to someone like Simone Biles and its completely understandable.

[Gointocarlton]

In the context of a global pandemic causing a lot of people a lot of angst, I think its a miracle that people are able to go on living life as normally as possible, and kudos to everyone who is able to continue playing life each and every day with a straight bat.

Life is pretty ordinary at the moment for a lot of people, and getting yourself in peak competitive condition is likely difficult given its very easy to lose focus in the scheme of things.  For us, life is not terrible, and it could be much worse, but most of the people we are talking about have very little in the way of these sorts of issues and uncertainty hanging over their head.  I have to say on a personal level, seeing the uncertain future is quite shocking but I am a bit more level headed than most, and can appreciate that it is what it is.  Being an Olympic athlete, having had the games canned once, having no certainty about them going ahead until the 11th hour, and then getting there and not necessarily having a very good time might be something that would cause enough problems for most competitors.

Add the "#me too" factor to someone like Simone Biles and its completely understandable.

I hope Biles isn't playing the mental health card because she she fluffed a few landings. Disgrace if she did.