Rio

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Sonia O'Sullivan not impressed with the 10k WR being absolutely smashed there. She's 'questioning' how easy it was for 3 women to get under 30 minutes, despite 5 people only ever having done it previously.

The winner of the race just broke the record by 14 seconds, and hardly looked out of breath afterwards. Suspicious.

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It's obvious what went on. I'm tired of this.

And then you hear Niall O'Toole on OTB earlier and now on RTÉ2 just now talking to the lads and everything is alright with the Olympics again.

My stream froze after they crossed the line so i missed out on Neville Maxwell bursting into tears on air. I love it when you get to see people being emotional about their (minority) sports.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Sonia O'Sullivan not impressed with the 10k WR being absolutely smashed there. She's 'questioning' how easy it was for 3 women to get under 30 minutes, despite 5 people only ever having done it previously.

The winner of the race just broke the record by 14 seconds, and hardly looked out of breath afterwards. Suspicious.

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Its the selective suspicion that I find hard. Bolt does 9.58 with his arms outstretched for the last 10m and no one bats an eyelid. Almost as big a joke in relative terms to what happened this evening.

Watching the hockey - our lads hanging on 1-0 down after the 1st Q. Argentina should be out of sight.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Its the selective suspicion that I find hard. Bolt does 9.58 with his arms outstretched for the last 10m and no one bats an eyelid. Almost as big a joke in relative terms to what happened this evening.

Watching the hockey - our lads hanging on 1-0 down after the 1st Q. Argentina should be out of sight.

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You're right about the selective suspicion. The only thing about Bolt's regards (as off the wall they are and as mental it is that the only people that have beaten him tend to be cheats themselves) is that the times have come down gradually. It;s not like a 23 year old record got smashed on this particular day!

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Harte playing a blinder in goal. Shame to be 2-1 down now,

2-2 now - Argentina bottled it last night - 10 mins left - whatever the result they've done very well.

edit - aaaaaannd its gone again 3-2 Argentina.

Michael Conlan had a good 'ol rant after that decision. Looked fairly mad alright. I wonder if combination of O'Reilly's drug suspension and coaches comments on judges after Taylor had an effect on the panel?

Bolt is one of those strange untouchables. I've been scolded by perfectly reasonable people for daring to suggest the human body can't go that fast over 100 metres naturally. It'll turn out like Lance Armstrong one day.

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Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter

Michael Conlan had a good 'ol rant after that decision. Looked fairly mad alright. I wonder if combination of O'Reilly's drug suspension and coaches comments on judges after Taylor had an effect on the panel?

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I doubt they could care less about either of those things. That Russian is winning gold whether he makes it out of the ring alive or not.

Annalise Murphy is an Olympic medallist. So proud of her, fantastic job Annalise! :)

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I doubt they could care less about either of those things. That Russian is winning gold whether he makes it out of the ring alive or not.

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Didn't see the fight so I don't know whether he was "cheated" or not but all three judges gave it to the Russian and he should have just taken it on the chin (pun intended). He sounded a bit like Alex Ferguson/Mark Hughes/Random Premiership manager when some decisions went against them. To be honest 4 years ago Katie was fairly lucky to be awarded that win in the final bout and her opponent claimed there was bias going on. Such is a sport where judges have to make up their own mind - I am not sure that it is a scientific art.

If you haven't seen the fight I don't think you have the context to say what he should have done.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Didn't see the fight so I don't know whether he was "cheated" or not but all three judges gave it to the Russian and he should have just taken it on the chin (pun intended). He sounded a bit like Alex Ferguson/Mark Hughes/Random Premiership manager when some decisions went against them. To be honest 4 years ago Katie was fairly lucky to be awarded that win in the final bout and her opponent claimed there was bias going on. Such is a sport where judges have to make up their own mind - I am not sure that it is a scientific art.

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Here's the full fight:

http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/rio...4165/10611027/

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I'm delighted he had his outburst because being quiet gets nobody anywhere. The boxing judging in the Olympics has been brutal and clearly suspect. So I was delighted that he let rip. Screw the Olympics.

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That being said, congrats to Annalise!

Superb by Thomas Barr. Best male Irish track performance since...?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Superb by Thomas Barr. Best male Irish track performance since...?

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Bob Tisdall?

Don't agree. It was like listening to the perpetual whinging of the Premiership managers when they lose, without the expletives. Just comes across as a bad loser. It's not as if the judges were from Georgia and Belorussia. They were from Poland (not exactly Russia's best buddies), Sri Lanka (the other side of the world) and Brazil. Is he claiming that all three were got at because all three awarded it to the Russian ? I play a lot of cricket and we umpire our own games and the amount of moaning and accusations of cheating which go on when teams don't get decisions does my head in.That said, I can understand his frustration having put in 4 years dedication and then for the judges to give the fight to his opponent.

Slightly disappointed with Annalise. She was in the gold medal position and she said she then relaxed because she knew she'd win a medal. It was as if she was happy with a medal (any medal) when the gold was there for the taking.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Don't agree. It was like listening to the perpetual whinging of the Premiership managers when they lose, without the expletives. Just comes across as a bad loser. It's not as if the judges were from Georgia and Belorussia. They were from Poland (not exactly Russia's best buddies), Sri Lanka (the other side of the world) and Brazil. Is he claiming that all three were got at because all three awarded it to the Russian ? I play a lot of cricket and we umpire our own games and the amount of moaning and accusations of cheating which go on when teams don't get decisions does my head in.That said, I can understand his frustration having put in 4 years dedication and then for the judges to give the fight to his opponent.

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two scandalous decisions in 24 hours and both to the benefit of Russians. raises serious questions really.
you would also have to ask yourself why certain organisations, including boxing, allowed the Russians take part yet others, and the entire Russian paralympic team, were not allowed compete. also raises questions.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Slightly disappointed with Annalise. She was in the gold medal position and she said she then relaxed because she knew she'd win a medal. It was as if she was happy with a medal (any medal) when the gold was there for the taking.

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only she can know what tactics were required to ensure it wasn't another 4th place like London. if the gold was really on I have no doubt she would have gone for it. she couldn't "relax" at any stage given the threat that others posed to a medal of any colour

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Don't agree. It was like listening to the perpetual whinging of the Premiership managers when they lose, without the expletives. Just comes across as a bad loser. It's not as if the judges were from Georgia and Belorussia. They were from Poland (not exactly Russia's best buddies), Sri Lanka (the other side of the world) and Brazil. .

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Cos they love the Russians.

Reports Pat Hickey arrested

http://www.irishexaminer.com/rioolym...il-750161.html

I don't understand why he'd be touting tickets for a half-empty stadium. Crowds have been shocking.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Cos they love the Russians.

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Well they love Stalin !

Real nailbiter now: Medals 2, Arrests 2.

I'm Conlons corner here, it needed to be said, you know when you have knocked f*~k out of someone and he had. The stadium is empty most of the time, viewing figures down also I believe. The sport is foul, it's broken. And if won't be fixed with stiff upper lipped quiet compliance and acceptance you are advocating OwlsFan.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Reports Pat Hickey arrested

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With any luck John Delaney is dusting off his CV and dancing round the office to The Girl from Ipanema...:party:

[Edit]

Some juicier reporting on the arrest from the BBC...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37107450

That is juicier, certainly.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

I'm Conlons corner here, it needed to be said, you know when you have knocked f*~k out of someone and he had. The stadium is empty most of the time, viewing figures down also I believe. The sport is foul, it's broken. And if won't be fixed with stiff upper lipped quiet compliance and acceptance you are advocating OwlsFan.

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But what are you saying? That the judges were got at? A few Poles living in Ireland say that there is no way there judge would favour Russia over Ireland. Therefore you must be saying that all three were either bribed or were instructed to vote for the Russian (all three mind). We're sort of going in to the realms of conspiracy theories here because then there would have to be others involved. I am just not sure.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/olympics/36773039


The AIBA - who run world amateur boxing - have admitted that there have been problems with the officiating and judging at some bouts at the Games.

"Less than a handful of the decisions were not at the level expected and consequently it has been decided that the concerned referees and judges will no longer officiate at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

"In accordance with AIBA Rules the result of all the bouts will stand."

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Slightly disappointed with Annalise. She was in the gold medal position and she said she then relaxed because she knew she'd win a medal. It was as if she was happy with a medal (any medal) when the gold was there for the taking.

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It wasn't really there for the taking. She led, very briefly, around the windward mark on lap 2. She then had five boats attack her hard on the downwind, which is very difficult to defend against, as they can sit between you and the breeze and completely kill your speed.

To me, she didn't show any signs of backing off. If anything, she did very well not to get rolled by van Acker, who is normally a far quicker light weather sailor. There wasn't really too much she could do from the position she ended up in, as she was forced to the outside at the mark. She was completely safe against Rindom, Bouwmeester and Tenkanen, and van Acker would have had to put several boats between her and Annalise to beat her overall. Annalise had nothing to gain by being conservative, it wouldn't have improved her chances of hanging onto silver much at all.

I see Shane Ross is getting out of Rio asap in case he also ends up in the clink :)

"Minister for Sport Shane Ross is leaving Rio de Janeiro tonight. Speaking to RTÉ News he said given the seriousness of the matter and in the interest of taking swift and decisive action, he will return to Dublin as soon as possible".

Its no conspiracy to think that a lot of the judges are on the take, some of the scoring is farcical. Just because he is from Poland doesn't mean he doesn't like greenbacks, ffs

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...on-allegations

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Well they love Stalin !

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Cos he was Georgian.

Video of our Olympic Chief answering the door in the nude to the police http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-37107450

It gets more bizarre by the minute.

Suspension of the judges raises serious questions about how Olympic boxing is being run. Who trained these people in the rules?

This guy won in a unanimous decision but royally got pumelled by Conlan... I mean you couldn't make it up...

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Originally Posted by RTÉ

Nikitin was due to fight the Billy Walsh-coached Stevenson for a place in the final, but it's been reported that he could pull out of the bout because of injuries sustained in his defeat of Conlan.

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http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/201...10065-nikitin/

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

But what are you saying? That the judges were got at? A few Poles living in Ireland say that there is no way there judge would favour Russia over Ireland. Therefore you must be saying that all three were either bribed or were instructed to vote for the Russian (all three mind). We're sort of going in to the realms of conspiracy theories here because then there would have to be others involved. I am just not sure.

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You can't rule it out, that they were got at looking particularly at how things unfolded since. It was not an honest mistake, in my opinion, no.

Thomas Barr, what a race.

What race is he Stutts? :D

Less than a quarter of a second between 4th place and the Gold Medal.

What bet he will win that medal in time, Id nearly bet on that if i could, what with a Kenyan and Turk in the medals.....

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

But what are you saying? That the judges were got at? A few Poles living in Ireland say that there is no way there judge would favour Russia over Ireland. Therefore you must be saying that all three were either bribed or were instructed to vote for the Russian (all three mind). We're sort of going in to the realms of conspiracy theories here because then there would have to be others involved. I am just not sure.

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QED

They have 4 years to set this up. They have worlds and god knows how many continental, commonwealth, pan american competitions etc. The organisation lives and dies by the countries that finance it. You go around the world with the judges and explain that good relations with this or that country who put a lot of the money up are very important to the sport. Then a few days later you suggest that one of their boxers won a fight. If the judge takes the bait they get brought back the next time. If they won't do it you thank them and never call them again.

Neymar should retake that.

Olympic football (mens) is a poor spectacle.
It's the Volleyball, Basketball and Handball are the cream of the team competitions, even the bronze medal games are fierce matches fought to the last.

I thought those mountain bikers were getting raised fist salutes from the thousands lining the route, but on closer inspection I see it's a raised phone salute.

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

But what are you saying? That the judges were got at? A few Poles living in Ireland say that there is no way there judge would favour Russia over Ireland. Therefore you must be saying that all three were either bribed or were instructed to vote for the Russian (all three mind). We're sort of going in to the realms of conspiracy theories here because then there would have to be others involved. I am just not sure.

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I think it shows a lot of naivety to think that one of the most corrupt sports in the world isn't likely to have that corruption filter down to the Olympic level by way of individual bribery or conspiracy.