Pre-Olympics Thread (and Day -2, -1 and 0 spoilers)

[Velar Fricative]

There is no incentive for the IOC to care about what happens to the infrastructure after the Games. They got their billions by then. They may pay lip service to sustainability beforehand but sustainability plans ultimately need to be planned, approved and enforced at the local level.

[mouse]

Jul 20, 2021 13:57:18 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

There is no incentive for the IOC to care about what happens to the infrastructure after the Games. They got their billions by then. They may pay lip service to sustainability beforehand but sustainability plans ultimately need to be planned, approved and enforced at the local level.

I feel they’ve done a really good marketing job promoting lofty ideas like world peace and brotherhood and what not, and people tend to forget that the IOC is essentially a sports promoter, and has been since the beginning. It’s corrupt af, but was very useful to powerful governments during the Cold War and was not just allowed to grow unchecked but actively promoted.

It’d be like if Ticketmaster was suddenly a paragon of the common human language of music and all the richest countries were competing to host their global battle of the bands.

I absolutely respect the athletes and generally enjoy the games, but they’re a commercial venture. They’re not there to solve anybody’s problems.

[just]

This is heartbreaking for them

www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/swimming-six-polish-swimmers-sent-home-japan-after-admin-blunder-2021-07-20/

"The president of Poland's swimming federation (PZP) has apologised after six athletes were sent home from the Tokyo Games due to an administrative error. Poland had sent 23 swimmers to Japan but the PZP was forced to cut the squad down to 17 based on world governing body FINA's qualifying rules."

[gretchenindisguise]

Jul 20, 2021 16:55:19 GMT -5 just said:

This is heartbreaking for them

www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/swimming-six-polish-swimmers-sent-home-japan-after-admin-blunder-2021-07-20/

"The president of Poland's swimming federation (PZP) has apologised after six athletes were sent home from the Tokyo Games due to an administrative error. Poland had sent 23 swimmers to Japan but the PZP was forced to cut the squad down to 17 based on world governing body FINA's qualifying rules."

I keep trying to find more details and I just can't figure out how this happens. During the swim trials here there was so much commentary about the number of athletes allowed in the delegation and how we needed a certain number of dual race swimmers to make sure the 2nd place finishers all got to go.

How does this happen at such a high level?

[Velar Fricative]

I can’t believe the USWNT lost. I know Sweden is a good team, but they were routed.

[erbear]

Are we posting spoilers in here? (FTR, I don’t care either way; I just want to know if I can read the thread or not!)

[Velar Fricative]

Jul 21, 2021 8:41:09 GMT -5 erbear said:

Are we posting spoilers in here? (FTR, I don’t care either way; I just want to know if I can read the thread or not!)

Oh, I just assumed we were! It's pre-Olympics so I consider it less of a big deal...

And I just amended the thread title.

[keyslover]

Jul 21, 2021 5:59:55 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I can’t believe the USWNT lost. I know Sweden is a good team, but they were routed.

I didn't watch the game, didn't want to wake up at 3:30 😴
I am a bit disappointed I missed it to see what happened, but also happy I missed it because it sounds like they were totally off.

[basilosaurus]

Somehow I've been to a few Olympic sites despite not seeking them out. Squaw valley, Barcelona, and I guess you could count Torino since I was there just a few days after the paralympics ended and everything was still set up. They were sad even when repurposed. I don't know what the solution is.

[isabel]

Jul 20, 2021 6:58:09 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

A Paralympian swimmer who is deaf and blind has quit Team USA after she was told she cannot bring her mother as a Personal Care Attendent (PCA) with her to Tokyo. PCAs were not deemed "essential" (a designation granted to golfer's caddies and horse groomers).

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/19/becca-meyers-tokyo-paralympics/

Of all the egregious things, this is blowing my mind. It’s unreal.

[lilac05]

Jul 21, 2021 12:23:29 GMT -5 isabel said:

Jul 20, 2021 6:58:09 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

A Paralympian swimmer who is deaf and blind has quit Team USA after she was told she cannot bring her mother as a Personal Care Attendent (PCA) with her to Tokyo. PCAs were not deemed "essential" (a designation granted to golfer's caddies and horse groomers).

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/19/becca-meyers-tokyo-paralympics/

Of all the egregious things, this is blowing my mind. It’s unreal.

I agree. I get that it’s kind of a slippery slope where if you allow one, you have to allow all. But…if athletes have a demonstrated need to have a 1:1 support, then that’s what they should have. I realize that comparing to caddies isn’t a perfect comparison (as some might argue that they’re a part of the golfer’s team), but they’re not sending one caddy per 7 golfers. (And the people they list as additional support people aside from the one PCA all have many other obligations there…often at the same time the athletes would need assistance.)

[pumpkin]

Jul 21, 2021 5:59:55 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

I can’t believe the USWNT lost. I know Sweden is a good team, but they were routed.

I was shocked and the USWNT just didn’t look like themselves. I hope they are able to move past this loss quickly.

[pumpkin]

Does anyone have a link to a good schedule of events? And where best to watch them? I feel like things are all over and it’s making me nuts and frustrated.

[foundmylazybum]

Jul 21, 2021 13:37:59 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Jul 21, 2021 12:23:29 GMT -5 isabel said:

Of all the egregious things, this is blowing my mind. It’s unreal.

I agree. I get that it’s kind of a slippery slope where if you allow one, you have to allow all. But…if athletes have a demonstrated need to have a 1:1 support, then that’s what they should have. I realize that comparing to caddies isn’t a perfect comparison (as some might argue that they’re a part of the golfer’s team), but they’re not sending one caddy per 7 golfers. (And the people they list as additional support people aside from the one PCA all have many other obligations there…often at the same time the athletes would need assistance.)

I think that Japan is very, very strict on their rules about COVID and people really didn't realize just how many support people and "things" they need and bring with them to perform at the highest levels.

Like, the athletes never really sat down and attributed their success to all these moving parts beyond themselves and then when Japan narrowed it down to the bare bones and the athletes actually had to account for all their support it became obvious it was..a lot.

@@@@

Which is totally fine. I know that a bunch of US women athletes who are breast feeding mothers were told they couldn't bring their babies OR support/spouses and too damn bad. Deal with it.

Many said they would forfeit the games bc of this rule. Japan finally granted them exceptions, but it was pretty harsh and not explained well.

www.si.com/olympics/2021/06/30/tokyo-olympics-allow-babies-breastfeeding-athletes


My apologies I'm sorry about posting without the @ thank you for fixing it.

[lilac05]

Jul 21, 2021 17:08:01 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Jul 21, 2021 13:37:59 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

I agree. I get that it’s kind of a slippery slope where if you allow one, you have to allow all. But…if athletes have a demonstrated need to have a 1:1 support, then that’s what they should have. I realize that comparing to caddies isn’t a perfect comparison (as some might argue that they’re a part of the golfer’s team), but they’re not sending one caddy per 7 golfers. (And the people they list as additional support people aside from the one PCA all have many other obligations there…often at the same time the athletes would need assistance.)

I think that Japan is very, very strict on their rules about COVID and people really didn't realize just how many support people and "things" they need and bring with them to perform at the highest levels.

Like, the athletes never really sat down and attributed their success to all these moving parts beyond themselves and then when Japan narrowed it down to the bare bones and the athletes actually had to account for all their support it became obvious it was..a lot.



I totally get that.

But there will still be countless reporters and crews and all kinds of other people there, too. Money talks.

It seems like they’re making some exceptions for the Olympics, but not as much for the Paralympics. Figures. Again, money talks.

Add this to the issues with only female athletes’ clothing being too long/short/revealing/not revealing enough, and I’ve lost a lot of interest in watching anything this year.

[foundmylazybum]

This isn't meant to be harsh, but personally I think that anyone who is just now saying or realizing that the Olympics aren't *living* the spirit in which they were founded has probably not been paying a lot of attention. 🤷‍♀️

As for the Paralympics vs the Olympics..

There are a LOT of issues of parity between the Olympics and Paralympics and in particular the US Olympics and the Paralympics. Everything from how the organizations are run (separately), logo usage (they don't both use the rings) to issues of access and pay.

[Velar Fricative]

If anyone wants a podcast recommendation related to the Olympics, listen to Blind Landing. A handful of short episodes covering the vault shitshow at the Sydney Olympics.

[pumpkin]

Jul 21, 2021 19:00:26 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

If anyone wants a podcast recommendation related to the Olympics, listen to Blind Landing. A handful of short episodes covering the vault shitshow at the Sydney Olympics.

Thanks! Adding this to my list.

[af1212]

Jul 21, 2021 15:33:41 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Does anyone have a link to a good schedule of events? And where best to watch them? I feel like things are all over and it’s making me nuts and frustrated.

www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/20/1018366514/tokyo-olympics-watch-guide

[Velar Fricative]

The NBC Sports app and the Tokyo Olympics app also show daily schedules by sport.

[mbcdefg]

Simone Biles is the first Olympian to receive her own Twitter emoji - #SimoneBiles comes with a little GOAT wearing a leotard and a medal.

[Aloe Vera]

Jul 21, 2021 17:08:01 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Jul 21, 2021 13:37:59 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

I agree. I get that it’s kind of a slippery slope where if you allow one, you have to allow all. But…if athletes have a demonstrated need to have a 1:1 support, then that’s what they should have. I realize that comparing to caddies isn’t a perfect comparison (as some might argue that they’re a part of the golfer’s team), but they’re not sending one caddy per 7 golfers. (And the people they list as additional support people aside from the one PCA all have many other obligations there…often at the same time the athletes would need assistance.)

I think that Japan is very, very strict on their rules about COVID and people really didn't realize just how many support people and "things" they need and bring with them to perform at the highest levels.

Like, the athletes never really sat down and attributed their success to all these moving parts beyond themselves and then when Japan narrowed it down to the bare bones and the athletes actually had to account for all their support it became obvious it was..a lot.

@@@@

Which is totally fine. I know that a bunch of US women athletes who are breast feeding mothers were told they couldn't bring their babies OR support/spouses and too damn bad. Deal with it.

Many said they would forfeit the games bc of this rule. Japan finally granted them exceptions, but it was pretty harsh and not explained well.

www.si.com/olympics/2021/06/30/tokyo-olympics-allow-babies-breastfeeding-athletes


My apologies I'm sorry about posting without the @ thank you for fixing it.

This is on the USOPC, not the Japanese government. The USOPC didn't file the proper paperwork to request additional people and aren't bothered to rectify the issue.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/21/usopc-response-becca-meyers-paralympian/

[cattledogkisses]

Did anyone have "oyster plague" or "roving brown bears" on their Olympics bingo card?


www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/20/tokyo-olympics-oyster-repairs/
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/21/bear-enters-softball-olympics-tokyo/

[foundmylazybum]

Jul 22, 2021 10:42:06 GMT -5 Aloe Vera said:

Jul 21, 2021 17:08:01 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

I think that Japan is very, very strict on their rules about COVID and people really didn't realize just how many support people and "things" they need and bring with them to perform at the highest levels.

Like, the athletes never really sat down and attributed their success to all these moving parts beyond themselves and then when Japan narrowed it down to the bare bones and the athletes actually had to account for all their support it became obvious it was..a lot.

@@@@

Which is totally fine. I know that a bunch of US women athletes who are breast feeding mothers were told they couldn't bring their babies OR support/spouses and too damn bad. Deal with it.

Many said they would forfeit the games bc of this rule. Japan finally granted them exceptions, but it was pretty harsh and not explained well.

www.si.com/olympics/2021/06/30/tokyo-olympics-allow-babies-breastfeeding-athletes


My apologies I'm sorry about posting without the @ thank you for fixing it.

This is on the USOPC, not the Japanese government. The USOPC didn't file the proper paperwork to request additional people and aren't bothered to rectify the issue.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/21/usopc-response-becca-meyers-paralympian/

Isn't the paperwork required by the Japanese gvt.

[pugz]

Can the opening ceremony be streamed anywhere other than NBC tomorrow night? We only have roku on one TV, no broadcast

[basilosaurus]

Jul 22, 2021 7:15:23 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Jul 21, 2021 15:33:41 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Does anyone have a link to a good schedule of events? And where best to watch them? I feel like things are all over and it’s making me nuts and frustrated.

www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/20/1018366514/tokyo-olympics-watch-guide

Perfect. It airs ceremonies at dinner time.

[af1212]

Jul 22, 2021 23:39:30 GMT -5 pugz said:

Can the opening ceremony be streamed anywhere other than NBC tomorrow night? We only have roku on one TV, no broadcast

Peacock I bet

[simpsongal]

I always feel jealous of other countries' stylists when our team marches out....they look fine but <<yawn>>.

[shortstax]

I forgot how much the Olympics make me tear up. I've been watching the opening ceremonies while working for the past 2 hours, and I've cried a few times.

Maybe I'm just a mess, lol.

[Aloe Vera]

Jul 22, 2021 16:06:39 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Jul 22, 2021 10:42:06 GMT -5 Aloe Vera said:

This is on the USOPC, not the Japanese government. The USOPC didn't file the proper paperwork to request additional people and aren't bothered to rectify the issue.

www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/21/usopc-response-becca-meyers-paralympian/

Isn't the paperwork required by the Japanese gvt.

Yes, but the USOPC doesn't want to fill it because it claims there are enough support people. Becca Meyers is saying it is 100% the fault of the USOPC.