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Bring it on:
Friday 11.30 am BBC. (although I think there is some curling on Thursday evening).
I love the 'preview' that the beeb have made.
Also will be interesting how the snow sports get on with the made made stuff.
Edit ; Curling starts today.
I realise that these events, and this one in particular are murky with political and social issues, but whilst it's on I need to put all that aside because sport is sport and I bloody love it.
Can't wait. WFH so should be able to catch plenty of it.
Excellent little film here about how they made the BBC Winter Olympics ident
https://twitter.com/JamesPLCross/status/1485950687523614720
Have a friend competing, so will be watching his events. Ok, and most of the XC skiing too. And biathlon.
Is the BBC coverage going to be a nightmare again, limited to events GB are involved in?
I realise that these events, and this one in particular are murky with political and social issues, but whilst it’s on I need to put all that aside
I've got to be honest and say that this is the first time I've thought to myself "should I put all that aside?"
No need to wait until tomorrow evening. GB v Sweden curling starts in 5 mins (1205 Weds)
I’ve got to be honest and say that this is the first time I’ve thought to myself “should I put all that aside?”
Same here. Not just for political reasons, the environmental lunacy of the whole endeavour is the sort of thing I think the world will look back on in the not-too-distant future and wonder what the hell we were doing.
Good chance for a bit of practice ahead of the Qatar world cup!
I’ve got to be honest and say that this is the first time I’ve thought to myself “should I put all that aside?”
To what end?
I do want to support international sport because I think it's a fantastic thing to have.
TBH what we need is some sort of representation in how the games are allocated to the hosts. That would be fun but pretty fraught!
the environmental lunacy of the whole endeavour
But then compare that with what goes on every normal day of the year everywhere else?
the environmental lunacy of the whole endeavour is the sort of thing I think the world will look back on in the not-too-distant future and wonder what the hell we were doing.
Yup... The idea of a "winter" Olympics taking place on fake snow seems a little ironic to me.
The other problem is hosting any Olympics or international sporting event and the huge costs (losses?) involved, it means the only ones willing to host are those with dodgy credentials looking to enhance their image on the world stage. As such, you can't really separate sport from politics.
That’s making of was amazing. I can’t believe they made so much stuff for it. I assumed it was all cgi and done on the computer theses days
No need to wait until tomorrow evening. GB v Sweden curling starts in 5 mins (1205 Weds)
No you're alright, I'll wait until tomorrow thanks... 😉
But then compare that with what goes on every normal day of the year everywhere else?
I don't think that should be used as an excuse to normalise what has gone on to make these Games happen.
I do want to support international sport because I think it’s a fantastic thing to have.
Was also what supporters of apartheid said about the various sports boycotts of SA.
😉
To what end?
I know, I know.
I do want to support international sport because I think it’s a fantastic thing to have.
I agree, I do to. But what about international sport where it's hosted, in no small part, in order to legitimise an otherwise morally-ropey regime? Is my support not then (in an infinitesimally small way, admittedly) giving it that legitimacy it does not deserve?
And the questions are aimed as much as me as anyone else...
it means the only ones willing to host are those with dodgy credentials looking to enhance their image on the world stage.
This is the problem - at the moment most big sporting events seem to be located with sports-washing for dictatorships/oligarchies as the main priority.
Europa cup final between two English football teams in Baku makes perfect sense in all sorts of ways right? I mean it's only 59 hours without stopping to drive or complex connecting flights to make it 2500 miles to somewhere east of Baghdad for a European cup final.
Call my a cynic but I found Eileen Gu switching to China for these Olympics a bit sinister also. Someone born and raised and has competed for the USA suddenly decides to switch just before an Olympics in Beijing. How much financial or other pressure has been applied there?
Ah, was wondering when a thread would appear for the Genocide Games....
But what about international sport where it’s hosted, in no small part, in order to legitimise an otherwise morally-ropey regime?
I’m boycotting it, like I try to boycott any of that countries produce, which is nigh on impossible.
If you think China are wronguns then think before you buy.
I know my actions won’t make a blind bit of difference but it makes me feel better. 🥸
Plus, I’m only really interested in the hockey & there’s no NHL players rostered cos the NHL have boycotted the games too, apart from Eric Staal who’s a free agent. Correct me if I’m wrong though.
Pretty much only interested in the ski/boardercross, and DH ski.
The specifics of these games has passed me by. Anyone got a link or brief description for what is so bad over and above general objections to China's actions on the world stage?
Well, there's this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-59595952
Genocide's pretty bad, right?
BBC 'Free spirits' on iPlayer (BBC3 9.10pm tonight) is good.
I too try not to buy items from China, but it's difficult, as so much still comes from there.
The British athletes who are out there will get my support, but it is a minefield regarding the politics.
The other week my son said that he could go to the world student games as he'd met the qualification standard. Where are they? China. How often are they? Every two years. Where's the next one? Russia!
but it is a minefield regarding the politics.
I don't think the politics are a minefield in this case, tbh - the ruling party/regime in China is fairly universally accepted to be pretty horrible, and don't seem to be on any kind of trajectory to be getting any better (the opposite, if anything).
Jamaica have qualified for the bobsleigh for the first time since 1998😁
Clever opening scenes. Is the floor of the stadium a massive TV screen?
Well, there’s this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-59595952
Genocide’s pretty bad, right?
I think so, yes. I listened to some podcasts about this last year and there's a wealth of information and photos of those re-education camps. &*()ing horrendoous.
Jamaica have qualified for the bobsleigh for the first time since 1998
Oh, tonight I need to watch Cool Runnins' again. Best. Film. Eva.
Don't know if its just me(unlikely) but the whole Olympic thing now no longer feels Olympicy.
Don’t know if its just me(unlikely) but the whole Olympic thing now no longer feels Olympicy.
Free Spirits on the iPlayer is worth a watch, especially if like me you grew up on the dry slope! Shows some of what goes into chasing Olympic dreams in sports we aren’t already good at in the UK (e.g. not cycling rowing etc).
Actually got a little dusty thinking about how much I loved skiing as a kid/teen. It lost its gloss as an adult with the cost and eco impacts, and the olympics in China really turns me off it- I don’t think that regime respect any of the values of sport- it’s just a power game for them.
Just can't get past the china part.
Removing history of mowing their own kin down with tanks and washing the blood down the sewers.
I love the winter games but Russia cheating and now china blatantly just not giving a toss regarding human rights.
I wish the teams well
The specifics of these games has passed me by. Anyone got a link or brief description for what is so bad over and above general objections to China’s actions on the world stage?
Chinese officials are shoving foreign reporters around while they’re in the middle of a broadcast, stopping them doing their job of reporting on the Games!
Can’t find the article now, maybe it’s been taken down at the insistence of the Chinese government, because it’s seen as defamatory…
What are the BBC doing? Just watched the day one highlights and Im not sure why I bothered as I didn’t see much sport. Most of it seemed to be taken up with chitty chat with some has been. Im not interested in the views of the has been. I want to watch the sport
Good luck to the teams but I will not be watching. There is little I can do in terms of global politics but boycotting counties where I don’t support the policies is something I can do.
+1 on not watching is time round. I love skiing, but not watching is a small thing I can do to show some tiny flicker of solidarity with people on the receiving end of China’s repugnant behaviour.
can do to show some tiny flicker of solidarity with people on the receiving end of China’s repugnant behaviour.
i think that massively overstates the impact of even a million people not watching.
We are watching, but I absolutely detest buying stuff from China, aside from the dreadful human rights issues (where the hell is that tennis player?), the environmental cost is huge.
Well, I now have a friend that is both a world record holder and an olympic gold medalist in speed skating. Hopefully he'll be able to get the 10,000m gold as well.
He will, of course, be insufferable now. Bastard.
but I absolutely detest buying stuff from China, aside from the dreadful human rights issues (where the hell is that tennis player?), the environmental cost is huge.
Try acquiring face masks/PPE or test kits that don't come from China.
Makes you wonder.
Found an article about the incident with the reporter:
, the environmental cost is huge.
the environmental cost of any international sport his huge. As soon as it involves people travelling to compete or spectate the impact goes off the scale. At least they are reusing some of the venues built for the summer games
Given that all overseas spectators are effectively banned, the environmental costs of these games probably not as bad as a ‘regular’ winter games.
Watching the sport on Eurosport / Discovery+ app - you just get the sport and commentary without the chit-chat.
The mixed relay biathlon had a pretty dramatic finish yesterday.
Ed Leigh , getting super excited " she's as loose as village golfbag "
Looks like the Chinese Olympic committee couldn’t run a piss-up in a brewery!
I shan’t watch these nor the World Cup. 2 of the greatest sporting events in the world being put on by 2 countries with some of the worst records on human rights. It’s a tiny little boycott that won’t make a jot of difference but at least I’ll feel better about it. If I was an athlete I’m not entirely sure I’d be able to go..