Tokyo Olympics

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I don't know how much interest in the Olympics there is here. I always enjoy them, but I don't feel it really gets going until the Athletics start in the second week.

Things to discuss might be:

- How do you think your olympians will do?
- Who's your best bet for a gold?
- What do you think about the new events such as rock climbing?
- Should they even have gone ahead given the circumstances?

[Zzzptm]

Here in the USA, instead of just showing the competitions, there is just SO MUCH FLUFF that gets added in about the athlete's struggle to overcome, deal with setbacks, yadda yadda yadda. How about just showing a quick photo of the athlete in real life and get back to the action? I like knowing that this person taking the shot right now is also a paralegal back in Denver, but I don't need to know about Aunt Velma's kidney transplant that nearly ended the person's ability to train for the Olympics. Heartbreak at the most recent international trials, sure, show the moves that cost them the gold, but I don't need the anguished faces. I *know* they're anguished, but that was yesterday, today is today, let's see the sport going on *now*.

Then it's down to what the broadcast companies decide is the main sport, like it or not. If I want to see some of the quirkier things, it may very well be in real-time and only on a pay per view channel that I'm not buying.

Basically, I'm either stuck watching Athlete Story Time with a bit of competition mixed in or shelling out for the odd stuff. So I'm frustrated, because I remember loving watching the 1976 and 1980 Olympics (1980 was winter only in the USA) and a good part of the 84 and 88 Olympics, back when there was more sport featured and less story.

If there's a better option that I'm not aware of, then I'm up for it.

I've also got a dim view of the IOC and the politicians surrounding the modern Olympics. I guess that's why one of my favorite comedies was Clarke and Dawe's brilliant The Games, done in Australia for the 2000 games, 2 seasons. It was copied by the BBC for the London games, but not equalled - the Aussie original is top comedy.

Episodes are not on YouTube... so... if you want to see them... yeah...  Let's just say I found some copies that fell off a truck...

[Charger]

The time difference makes it bit hard to follow these now...

Most events start bit before I get home from work and need to get some sleep around 3-5 am...so can't watch all that much...which is a shame really as I'd like to watch some.

It seems that everything that comes in the afternoon/early evening is pretty uninteresting stuff..

[Jack the Stripper]

I usually love to watch the Olympics but the build up has been so low key this time around with everything that’s been happening that I haven’t completely jumped onboard with yet. Also AFL football season is on right now and that takes precedent on weekends so I’ll be doing most of my Olympics watching during the week.

I do enjoy the swimming which the Aussies are really good at it and usually win quite a lot of medals in. The cycling and the track & field events are other favourites I like to watch.

Japan is only an hour behind Australia’s Timezone so it’s right in the sweet spot for viewing.

[Charger]

Japan is only an hour behind Australia’s Timezone so it’s right in the sweet spot for viewing.

Yeah you're in a lucky spot that way...and I think it's rather nice as most sporting events aren't and you can't watch them or you have to make big changes to your day. So enjoy this...In 4 years things aren't that great for you guys again...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

It's not going to be the same without a crowd, but then neither was the football, but it worked ok-ish!

I'm glad Jack can watch a big sports event without staying up until silly o'clock!

The BBC are showing stuff during the day, but I'm guessing it's mainly live in the morning and catch-up in the afternoon/evening. I didn;t watch much today as I was otherwise detained, and it was particularly events I wanted to watch.

I know what Zs means when you get the life story of the competitors. Here they tend to do it before-hand, a few documentaries have been shown over the last couple of weeks. And a little flag waving looking at the rise of the Brits since the low of 1992 when the Brits won but a single gold medal, to the point where in Rio we came second on the medal table behind the USA. I don't see that happening this year but hopefully we'll get a good haul!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Not getting into it yet.

Not a fan on martial arts, and the heats of other events don't interest me so much, some of the swimming finals will pique my interest in the next couple of days and other sports will start!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I don't know if it's because the UK actually won some gold today, or because they've started doing more finals in events I like, but I'm starting to get into this years games!

[Jack the Stripper]

We’re still in lockdown so have been watching quite a bit of the swimming. Australia has won all 6 of its medals so far in the swimming. Our girl Ariarne Titmus(current world champion) beat the queen of US swimming Kate ledecky in the 400 free.

Also enjoyed watching the Canoe slalom. Such a fine line in that event. Rowing is another event I always look forward too as well.

[Jack the Stripper]

Speaking of rowing the Aussies had a great day winning gold in the coxless four in both the men and women’s. Good day all round for the Aussies at the Olympics actually winning 7 medals today.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Another gold in the swimming pool today takes the GB tally to 5 Gold. That leaves us 6 in the medal table just behind Australia... should be able to overhaul them in due course!

It's actually our best start to an Olympics, we often come good in the second week. But we could have been even better but a number of medal hopes have under performed!

[Jack the Stripper]

^Well you’d wanna get a decent haul with all that money you throw at buying... ahem!... I mean winning Olympic medals 

For a country of only 25 million and about a 1/4 of the funding of a lot of the bigger nations throw at the Olympics for bragging rights Australia go alright 

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Australia is a very sporty country, and probably exceeds expectations given the size of the country.

GB does spend a lot of money so we don't get the repeat of 1992 where we only won 1 gold medal. BUT they only tend to concentrate on sports we should do well in... other sports don't get any money and it shows.

[Charger]

Looks like Finland opened their medal account as well...and in swimming of all things...something no one was expecting...pretty cool... My expectations was one medal so that's already achieved.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
I thought you guys were the ones to beat at the Javelin?