Olympics 2012

[Captain Clarkie]

We're up to 18 gold medals which is two away from the upper target of 20, and we're ten away from our upper target of 50. These were quite optimistic targets but with just under a week to go we should hit the targets set which is a pretty astonishing feat considering our size & our resources.

It really is troubling for us cynical-types isn't it? After the Olympics, we can remind ourselves that this is all DESPITE cuts made by both Labour and Conservatives in the World of Sporting Exercise.

[Vibranium]

It really is troubling for us cynical-types isn't it? After the Olympics, we can remind ourselves that this is all DESPITE cuts made by both Labour and Conservatives in the World of Sporting Exercise.

I keep forgetting a lot of countries have government funding for their Olympic sports

[Captain Clarkie]

It depends on a number of factors, of course. For one, there *are no* track and field or gymnastics or swimming world championships during a year when the Olympics are held. So, the Olympics are automatically more prestigious than the non-existent 2012 World Championships. Secondly, the Olympics have a MUCH larger audience base. So, while it's pretty damned nice to be known as the 2011 World Champion in a track event, it's much more widely acknowledged to be an Olympic champion. Also, because of the (real or imagined, it doesn't matter) prestige involved, you get a larger pool vying for inclusion. Yes, yes, I know that the larger pool usually doesn't mean much considering the big guns, the favorites, the U. Bolts of the world enter in the annual world champs.

Now, this obviously doesn't have a damned thing to do with sports that have a MUCH MORE prestigious event. For my part, why do I care about a road cycling event, when I just watched the absolute best cyclists compete in the Tour de France? An Olympic gold in tennis is kind of pale compared to Wimbledon, or any other major. I'm pretty sure that a soccer medal is less of a big deal than a World Cup. The basketball is relatively meaningless when you take into account the talent competing in the NBA. There are a lot of others that might be a toss-up; Are the Olympic rowing events anything in comparison to the ones at Oxford or Harvard? I don't know. And Olympic boxing is simply a joke.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that a lot of other events POINT directly AT Olympic competition every 4 years. Table tennis, weight lifting, diving . . . You catch my drift.

Basically, the answer to your question depends pretty much entirely on the sport involved. There is no blanket answer for the entirety.

I like to think that even if the Atheletes have a more prestigious tournament/final elsewhere, there is still something about Olympic Gold that is Irreplaceable, it's not like they're trying any less.

[Captain Clarkie]

I keep forgetting a lot of countries have government funding for their Olympic sports

Do the colleges that dominate all Sports in all fields in the US recieve no US Government funding at all?

[thehod]

I keep forgetting a lot of countries have government funding for their Olympic sports

It's lottery funding mostly, which isn't exactly the same.

[king mob]

It really is troubling for us cynical-types isn't it? After the Olympics, we can remind ourselves that this is all DESPITE cuts made by both Labour and Conservatives in the World of Sporting Exercise.

Depends if you class the lottery as a tax or not but yes, it's an astonishing return for not a lot of investment.

[thehod]

Tradition and Focus, the Olympics is the best because the World say's it is. It's not that complicated an idea is it?

I was thinking more along the lines of why the world says the Olympics is better. One of those theoretical things.

[Dreadstar]

I like to think that even if the Atheletes have a more prestigious tournament/final elsewhere, there is still something about Olympic Gold that is Irreplaceable, it's not like they're trying any less.

Certainly. But the question was still framed with the qualifier "more prestige". World Cup, for example, trumps Olympic gold medal, doesn't it? I mean, I'm just guessing here, I'm not a soccer fan.

[Dreadstar]

Do the colleges that dominate all Sports in all fields in the US recieve no US Government funding at all?

Most of the real dominant-in-sports colleges tend to be money-making machines, so no, not really.

[king mob]

Of course winning the World Cup is better than the Olympics because you're playing the best international football teams in the world, but football shouldn't be in the Olympics because it's the most popular (and I say this as someone who loves the game) overexposed and overhyped sport on the planet. Football has it's pinnacle (international football predates the modern Olympics) but the Olympics is the top for athletics, swimming and even pointless sport like dressage or synchronised swimming.

[moonknight11]

Mckayla Maroney didn't look like a pleasant person to be around yesterday. I have my own idea as to her reaction and demeanor, but let's just put it down to shock and be nice.

Really? She looked disappointed and shocked but I don't think she was that bad.

[Captain Clarkie]

Most of the real dominant-in-sports colleges tend to be money-making machines, so no, not really.

This shows my ignorance of US college sport. It's seems like a ready-made money-making machine for Pro-Sports. There's a whole culture I don't get.

[thehod]

Certainly. But the question was still framed with the qualifier "more prestige". World Cup, for example, trumps Olympic gold medal, doesn't it? I mean, I'm just guessing here, I'm not a soccer fan.

Yep.

Like I said, with some sports their specific tournaments are the pinnacle of their sport. The World Cup, the US Open, Wimbledon () being prime examples.

With some though, the Olympics is the pinnacle. Athletics, Gymnastics, Cycling, Rowing, and others.

The World Athletics Championship is biannual, not during an Olympic year, so the next will be 2013, then 2015 and so on. Most others are held annually.

As Mob said, the prestige of the Olympics come from its history, but it probably has something to do with it only coming every four years too.

I just find it interesting to see how the Olympics always captures the interest of the spectators, but why, to so many people, with so many world championships under their belts, consider their careers incomplete without an Olympic medal, sometimes of any colour. To some, winning an Olympic bronze is better than multiple world titles.

I find it an interesting concept.


Speaking personally, I'd have the Olympics being bigger, larger, containing more sports, with the best players in all sports taking part, professional or not. I'd have it as the greatest sports show for all sports. But that's just me. I've been in love with the Olympics since 1984.

[Captain Clarkie]

Of course winning the World Cup is better than the Olympics because you're playing the best international football teams in the world, but football shouldn't be in the Olympics because it's the most popular (and I say this as someone who loves the game) overexposed and overhyped sport on the planet. Football has it's pinnacle (international football predates the modern Olympics) but the Olympics is the top for athletics, swimming and even pointless sport like dressage or synchronised swimming.

Plus blatant attempts to con officials is hardly the Corinthian Spirit.

[Captain Clarkie]

Saying that though, the Olympics is as close as you can get to the mythology of pure Sport and Sportspersonship.