The random question...
 

[Closed] The random questions regarding Limpic sports about which you know little thread.

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One of the things I love about STW is that no matter what the sport, someone here does it and knows something about it. (hmmm, any synchronised divers here though?)

My first question on sailing (I know there are lots of sailors here): is there a fleet of boats that the sailors use supplied by the limpics? Or do they bring their own? Is there a mega-strict equipment checking process? What differences are allowed from boat to boat in terms of eg weight, sails, etc etc


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 4:31 pm
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Can anyone tell me why there are so many slow motions in the bike racing.

Why should we care how a person feels after a race? I make the assumption that if they do well they're happy and even more so they are pissed off if thy do badly

Who cares about the mum of some no hoper Brit didn't get to run herself cos she was born in a different age

Why is bbc footage, interviews reportage piss poor. Bring back Dickie Davies.

Jonathan Edwards covering white water. Why?

Not sport but certainly sport related


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:06 pm
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Sailing has classes, where each component has to fit certain criteria. It's a bit like the UCI, I suppose.

I use to sail (and race, badly!) in Lasers, and each piece of the boat was "approved".

So, if I wanted to run a bigger sail than the race spec for my class, no chance. Want sheet-locks? Not in a Laser, sunshine, but you have a choice of ratchet pulleys made by different companies. Etc.

So, I suppose that fits your "meag strict " checking process synopsis.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:07 pm
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So O'Flashearty do they bring their own boats?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:10 pm
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Can someone explain this 'offside' thingy in the football please?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:10 pm
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I have a question about that sport where you ride a horse around a small square doing nothing of any interest.

Why?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:10 pm
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Sorry, yes they do, Y Darc.

Each racer will have their preference for the various options within the "approved" list, and so they sail in their own boats.

RM, dressage is about control. Think of it as observed trials. Each step and movement is about the control and relationship between horse and rider. Three day evening uses all the possible forms of horsemanship, control, agility and endurance.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:14 pm
 mrmo
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I have a question about that sport where you ride a horse around a small square doing nothing of any interest.

you mean dressage? horse control, I work with some riders, not interested myself, but that basically sums it up.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:16 pm
 DezB
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In women's beach volleyball, is it in the rules what percentage of bum-cheek is on show? Could a player turn up in board shorts?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:17 pm
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Yeah that's what I thought. So why isn't this in the Olympics too?

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:21 pm
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Can someone explain this 'offside' thingy in the football please?

NO , no one knows what active and first and second phase means.

I have a question about that sport where you ride a horse around a small square doing nothing of any interest.

Why?


the cyclists stole the oval so they had to use a square.

I assume DD meant this to ask questions not to just list what sports you think dont deserve to be here on the grounds you do not like them - there is a thread on that already.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:21 pm
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In women's beach volleyball, is it in the rules what percentage of bum-cheek is on show? Could a player turn up in board shorts?

Not sure about bum cheek but there's something about not featuring any more than 6cm of cloth at the hip so no to the board shorts


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:21 pm
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RM demonstrating there that he indeed, knows little about that sport.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:22 pm
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Another one... does anyone know what stroke the paralympic swimmer with no arms does?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:23 pm
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TSY demonstrating just how clever he can be sometimes. That's really funny. Golf clap for you. 🙂


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:24 pm
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RM demonstrating there that he indeed, knows little about that sport.

😀

Is it cause they don't have to ride the dog?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:26 pm
 DezB
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[i]Yeah that's what I thought. So why isn't this in the Olympics too?
[/i]

Maybe if someone was riding the dogs...


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:28 pm
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Darcy - I think I respect him more than anyone in the world right now... I can't even swim with 2 arms.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:28 pm
 DezB
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[i]
Not sure about bum cheek but there's something about not featuring any more than 6cm of cloth at the hip so no to the board shorts[/i]

Hmm, trying to imagine the Internatioal Beach Volleyball Committee discussing such things...
"Rule 67.5 - 6 cm? Why is this in the rules?"
"er, it wil prevent the ingress of sand"
"Are you sure ...?"


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:32 pm
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Another one... does anyone know what stroke the paralympic swimmer with no arms does?

Underwater backstroke?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:33 pm
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Why are people who just shoot guns called athletes? Surely they're just competitors all said and done...


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:35 pm
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Holy crap, that's ****ing amazing!

I'd give my right etc etc.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:36 pm
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Can someone explain this 'offside' thingy in the football please?

Its the side of football that is furthest from the kerb, thats what makes it so difficult to understand as the 'rule' varies from stadium to stadium and how the direction of play relates to the nearest main road.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 5:37 pm
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Are full body suits (for boyz) not allowed in the swimmin anymore?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 7:52 pm
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No, full body suits were banned a couple of years ago.

I want to know why they have blocks on the lanes nobody uses?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 7:58 pm
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I want to know why they have blocks on the lanes nobody uses?

Keeps the water surface smooth, IIRC.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:02 pm
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Blocks = diving blocks

I'd be intrigued if they kept the water smooth somehow


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:03 pm
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Ah, I see! Thought you meant the lane block thingies. 😳

Well, in that case, it's probably because there's eff all difference in leaving them in or taking them out, so why bother taking them out? 😉


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:05 pm
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Another one... does anyone know what stroke the paralympic swimmer with no arms does?

The bob.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:13 pm
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Back to the OP...

It depends on the class. For example the Laser Ben Ainsle used to win gold in Sydney was provided by the organisers and the he was able to buy it after the event. However he now supplies his own Finn and the class is a lot more open. He cites this as one of the reasons he switched as he wanted to learn about the technical side of the sport in prep for the Americas cup.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:16 pm
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Cheers jfletch.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:28 pm
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Each racer will have their preference for the various options within the "approved" list, and so they sail in their own boats.

In most classes yes, but I thought that in some (Laser) a fleet of hulls, rigs and sails is allocated. You *can* take your own exact cordage/pulleys (but all still within the 'one design' rules).
For things like Finn, yes it will be their own boat and sails, but dependent on class and IOC rules, these may be limited in number. Each boat is measured very accurately for dimensions, weight etc - our old Tempest was signed on stickers all over sails, hull, masts etc following taking part in the ('76?) Olympics - you can only use items that have been scrutineered. Ours had extra weights in the bow, we think as some classes used to have 'swing tests' to check if all the weight was central and low...


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:28 pm
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And thanks to you Matt.

scrutineered

Ah, that's the word I was looking for.


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:32 pm
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I stand corrected! My time in Lasers was all in my own boat, but then I was nowhere near Olympic level! (Waaaaaay away from it!)


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:32 pm
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Wow. A rare moment of modesty from O'Flashearty 🙂


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:35 pm
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Closest thing to dressage for dogs is agility/obedience not showing.

_____________________________
Sandwich
What can possibly go wrong?


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:36 pm
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I stand corrected! My time in Lasers was all in my own boat, but then I was nowhere near Olympic level!

/show off time

Some of us raced against Mr Ainslie in the past.
Man, he was always quick, and had parents with some major mahoney.
I was racing a borrowed Council boat from a sailing school with one (of my own pocket money) sails a year. He had a double trailer with race boat, practice boat and a new sail every few races...
I beat him once, in a practice race...then again, I only ever beat most people once*

/show off time.
.
.
.
.
.
.
*in the same race.. 😉


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:51 pm
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Is there a chart of average BMI against different disciplines?

Some sports seem to have 'less cuddly' folk than others.(yes I had been watching the beach volleyball) 🙂


 
Posted : 29/07/2012 8:56 pm
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Ah, I see! Thought you meant the lane block thingies.
Well, in that case, it's probably because there's eff all difference in leaving them in or taking them out, so why bother taking them out?

An officially sanctioned Olympic pool must have a spare lane either side of the 8 in use, but as the pool's staying and will no doubt be used by local clubs etc they will probably want 10 lanes for training.


 
Posted : 30/07/2012 7:53 am
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What’s the situation regarding amateur and professional status of the competitors? As I understand it (and this may be bollocks), Olympic boxers have to be amateur but other sports (cycling, football, tennis) clearly have pros competing.


 
Posted : 30/07/2012 8:05 am
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Boxing is the only sport left that stiplulates amateur status (although a lot of people don't do the more minor sports for a living).

But that isn't realy due to the money, more that amateur boxing is almost a completely different sport to profesional boxing with different rules etc.


 
Posted : 30/07/2012 8:57 am
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Bit of a thread resurrection.
What is going on with the archery? That's not a longbow, that's a piece of carbon fibre scaffolding! What's with all the extensions and angle measurement things and the cradle that holds the arrow?

I used to really like archery, my Grandfather had a traditional wooden longbow and a very long garden - spent many happy hours as a kid firing down that although my Grandfather used to worry no end about me putting an arrow through one of his greenhouses...


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 5:42 pm
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Why is there one volleyballist wearing a different colour shirt to the rest?


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 5:48 pm
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One does not 'fire' arrows.


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 6:11 pm
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Ooooh, get you mr tetchy archer girlfriend 🙂


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 6:15 pm
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One does not 'fire' arrows.

Beat me to it 😀


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 6:15 pm
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[i]One does not 'fire' arrows. [/i]

Maybe there are groups of 'night archers' stalking our woods once all the odd blokes on bikes have left?

[img] [/img]

and there's forums with 'what kerosene for' threads?


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 6:16 pm
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So why if the swimmers wear all these super-snug, uber-fabric, super-slippy swimsuits do they all wear goggles that stick out?


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 8:47 pm
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[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyball#Libero ]Clicky for Y Darc re the volleyball question - it's to identify the player as a "Libero", a specialist position in the team. Bit like a soccer goalkeeper wearing different kit, I suppose. [/url]


 
Posted : 31/07/2012 8:51 pm
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Shooting next:

In the trap shooting, every do often I see the British guy standing with his arm out, hand up (in the manner of someone stopping traffic). What's he up to? Where are the pigeons coming from? I can't see any machine.

Also, what's in the shotgun cartridges? I take it lead shot isn't used anymore? 🙂


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 3:27 pm
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What is going on with the archery? That's not a longbow, that's a piece of carbon fibre scaffolding!

That's the equivalent of formula 1 in archery, all the technology. There are about as many classes of archery as there are motorsport, including longbow, which is for the diehard traditionalists from 300 years ago, or the wannabe Elronds.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 4:08 pm
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Is there a guide that'll show me which event is being shown on what channel at any given time?
BBC is crap.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 4:09 pm
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molgrips - Member
including longbow, which is for the diehard traditionalists from 300 years ago, or the wannabe Elronds.

Nah, the elves all use recurves too. Although at a pinch it [i]could[/i] be a Welsh longbow.

[img] [/img]

slainte 😀 rob


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 4:11 pm
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Women's team sprint:

In the final (I've not seen the other races) in each pair the lead rider had a front wheel with spokes and a solid rear but the rear rider had 2 solid wheels.

Is this coincidence or is there some rule/performance/aerodynamic reason for this?


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 6:26 pm
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I think it's personal preference. I asked Ed Clancy (clang) the same question and I think that's the explanation I got.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 6:52 pm
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In the trap shooting, every do often I see the British guy standing with his arm out, hand up (in the manner of someone stopping traffic). What's he up to?

He's got marks on his hand, which he uses to work out where to direct the gun for the start of the shot.


 
Posted : 02/08/2012 7:20 pm
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In Boxing do both losing semi finalists get a bronze? No play off for third place?


 
Posted : 06/08/2012 2:47 pm
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In Boxing do both losing semi finalists get a bronze? No play off for third place?

Yes. I think it's because in boxing the loser might be damaged enough by the contest not to be able to compete again. An interesting point to raise with the supporters of boxing...


 
Posted : 06/08/2012 5:01 pm
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What is going on with the archery? That's not a longbow, that's a piece of carbon fibre scaffolding! What's with all the extensions and angle measurement things and the cradle that holds the arrow?

At Olympic and international competition level a conventional longbow is nowhere near accurate enough, plus competition bows have replaceable limbs so the bow can be tuned exactly to the archer's stature and build, so draw length and weight can be perfectly set up.
The riser used to be either laminated and carved wood or cast alloy, but those Win&Win bows are all carbon.
The sticky-out jobbies are just dampers to reduce string vibration and improve accuracy.
Or so I've been led to understand; it's been many, many years since I did any archery.
http://www.win-archery.com/


 
Posted : 06/08/2012 7:38 pm