Another Pathetic Olympics

[ramondo]

I don't know if there's anyone left to do a last-gasp save a la Jonh Tracey at LA in '84, but this year's performances, as I regrettably expected, have been as pathetic as ever.

Yes, we're a small nation and can't expect medals galore, but for Christ's sake look at the table! Look at the countries that have medals!

Truly an embarrassment.

Granted, the opposite extreme can be off-putting as well - I'm have to admit to being heartily sick of the Aussies' self-congratulatory partisan bull****, but so are lots of Aussies themselves. It comes down to taking it all too seriously.

The Irish problem is not taking it seriously enough.

While I usually hate comparisons, I can't help but look at New Zealand as an example of what we should hope to achieve - a serious chance of one or two gold medals at each games.

Not too much to ask is it?

[boc123]

Ya, it wasn't a great games for Ireland.

I thought Sonia showed some heart by qualifying for the final (I know some people thought it was embarassing, but at least she gave it her all, in one last attempt!).

Couple of highlights for me included Kelly Holmes win in the 800 meters (great race), the men's 100 meters (4 people under 10 seconds), the womens Pole vault ( The two russians battling it out, and one of them breaking the world record, You could see they hated each other)

[pete]

I don't think we had any hopes of medals going into the Olympics but obviously performances have been lower than expected. I notice Israel got its first ever Olympic gold this year so we not the owrst of countries.

Interesting to hear the Minister for Sport say government giving 110m to sport each year but neglecting to mention 50% of that goes to horse racing.

Pat Hickey is ever worse saying we should be concentration on minority sports like judo & archery as if we have anyone even close to top level in those sports. No surprise its OCI election time soon

[Pauro 76]

Have to say the lowlight was all the hype about Paula Radcliffe, who i reckon behaved like a spoilt child in the marathon, when she dropped out of the medals placings, she just quit and broke down and cried. Thought u were meant to stick things out till the end. She's kinda like portrayed as a Princess Di like person over here...

[noby]

She's kinda like portrayed as a Princess Di like person over here...

Well, she did hit the wall, and crash out of the race.

[Metrostars]

Anyone notice all the empty stands? It was very poorly attended. And the Greeks booing before the 200 metres last night was a disgrace. It's not the other runners' fault that their hero f-ed up before the start of the games.
BTW Babbington in the Show Jumping has a chance of a medal today.

[corkharps]

Well, she did hit the wall, and crash out of the race.

Yeah,but it was everybody else's fault, not hers!
I love to see Radcliffes head finally fall off tonight in the 10K!

[pete]

I can't think what sailing and athletics add on a practical level...

Probably encourages people to keep fit or something. Better than supporting a nation of gamblers

[Rathfarnham Utd]

Have to say the lowlight was all the hype about Paula Radcliffe, who i reckon behaved like a spoilt child in the marathon, when she dropped out of the medals placings, she just quit and broke down and cried. Thought u were meant to stick things out till the end. She's kinda like portrayed as a Princess Di like person over here...

a-beledin-greed!
What is going on with this bird? What about the 3 who won medals!
People seem really upset for her. She a quitter.And a cry-baby!
She needs a good spell in the Army! That will sort her cough out!

[parnell ranger]

I don't think we had any hopes of medals going into the Olympics but obviously performances have been lower than expected. I notice Israel got its first ever Olympic gold this year so we not the owrst of countries.

Interesting to hear the Minister for Sport say government giving 110m to sport each year but neglecting to mention 50% of that goes to horse racing.Pat Hickey is ever worse saying we should be concentration on minority sports like judo & archery as if we have anyone even close to top level in those sports. No surprise its OCI election time soon

well its definitely money well spent then cos the only golds won by an irish athlete have been by two horses,irish bred but with foreign pilots up in dressage!

[roboyle]

Dressage...

...getting a gold medal for teaching a horse how to walk funnier than anyone else can must be one of the most rewarding experiences ever... in the true spirit of the games that is!

As for Ireland, we're in a fairly unique position where our national sports is (by far) the biggest sporting attraction and while that stands for little internationally, it's bound to have a knock-on effect on minority sports.

P.S. Yes I know Australia is in a (not too) similar position but they are in 'fairly unique' position too!

[pete]

The GAA excuase is a lame excuse. Most countries have some big non summer olympic sport to distract them. Look at all those countries with big winter sports...

[aswad]

Why don't you sad losers get up off your computer desks, sober up and try to do better? Maybe "tossing off" and "talking ****e" could be incorporated into 2008 and all you ******* could win loads of medals.

Welcome to the Celtic tiger. No-one wants to get up at 5 in the morning and push weights or jog when they can get a pea-brained job in a computer factory and earn 30,000 a year for forwarding computer viruses all day. If the Olympic Council of Ireland gave me a grant of 20,000 to represent my country in the olympics I'd wipe my hole with it. 20,000? I'd earn more in Burger King. Our athletes are treated like dirt for three years and 51 weeks every four years. If Mark Carroll walked down the street would you recognise him? And now you lot think you can slag them off? Shame.

And leave the horsey people alone. That Sasha wan is a bang and a half. Christ on bikes I'd do her some damage.

[Schumi]

I don't know if there's anyone left to do a last-gasp save a la Jonh Tracey at LA in '84

Might be. We've got horse jumpers in joint-1st and 4th after the first run.

[patsh]

Of course it should be pointed out that horse racing is (i) far far more successful than any other sport around Irealnd in terms of world standing, particularly at (ii) putting money back into the economy and (iii) employing people. The Galway races alone is worth multiples of what the Government put in. I can't think what sailing and athletics add on a practical level...

Well Conor, lets not give any money at all to sailing, athletics, boxing, mountain biking etc. etc. FF should just hand all the money over to horse racing, sure their builder buddies would be very happy anyway......

Come on!

The benefit of sport is for children, the health of the nation, enjoyment etc. etc.
Does EVERYTHING have to be expressed in terms of the Economic bottom line so that FFers/P***Ds can understand it?