The 2008 Olympics Thread

**Dodge** · 27/08/2008, 8:26 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

Ok. But what about the Northern Irish players?

In any other sport, they would be part of the Irish Olympic side.

In any other sport, they're free to choose between the GB or Ireland teams. (NI rowers and cyclists this year for GB, NI boxers, athletes, triathletes and rowers for Ireland....)

The team in the olympics is representing Ireland, as is the football team called the Republic of Ireland. Don't forget that the official name of the country is Ireland, and the "Republic" bit is only used in football.

**geysir** · 27/08/2008, 8:46 PM

The exact same FIFA rules of eligibility apply for Ireland's hypothetical olympic football team as does for the ROI football team. They would be the one and the same team.

FIFA rules apply strictly to the Olympic games.

The GB soccer team for 2012 is a freak and is struggling even to have a GB existence.

**ramondo** · 28/08/2008, 1:31 AM

Originally Posted by superfrank

my question is what would happen if the republic of ireland reached the semis of the euro u-21's in 2011?

lol!! :d

**bennocelt** · 28/08/2008, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Jesus I don't post every bet in here. I posted one bet, a 9/1 winner

A far fairer post IMO. I too think we can do well, but unlike you I wasn't moaning at those who are already the best we can produce (See "Sailors from dun laoighre" for one of the worst cases)

Actually dodge, I totally understand what you are saying
And probably you are right(but whisper that!)

,
but then i think Irish people are made from a different cloth, and always think we can be successful if we really put our mind to it

I actually wasn't moaning at the athletes, if you look at it again i did say they tried their best. But I think in a sport like sailing D4 guys with accents that are alien to me would be rubbish at sport (but then again thats my opinion). GB won a lot of medals in sailing, we should be doing that too, get the boys from the Aran islands out there, sure they couldn't do any worse!
And the rowers are a bit of a joke IMHO

**noby** · 28/08/2008, 8:13 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

But I think in a sport like sailing D4 guys with accents that are alien to me would be rubbish at sport (but then again thats my opinion). GB won a lot of medals in sailing, we should be doing that too, get the boys from the Aran islands out there, sure they couldn't do any worse!

This opinion of yours gets funnier every time you bring it up. If there was a gaff-rigged category in the olympics then perhaps your boys from the Aran islands might be more suited.
And you're so caught up on the Dun Laoghaire/D4 thing, do you not realise that most of the GB team are based around the Solent, not the west coast of Scotland?

**Aberdonian Stu** · 28/08/2008, 8:29 AM

Aside from Dun Laoghaire not even being in D4, it's been the heartland of sailing in Ireland for pretty much as long as the sport has been in Ireland.

If you're going to pass judgement on where we're finding competitors it might make sense to understand a bit about these sports first. Saying it's mad to have sailors from Dun Laoghaire is the equivalent of saying it'd be crazy to think you could find any good hurlers in Kilkenny.

**Schumi** · 28/08/2008, 8:55 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

But I think in a sport like sailing D4 guys with accents that are alien to me would be rubbish at sport (but then again thats my opinion).

It may be your opinion but it's a daft opinion. It's as sensible as me saying that anyone with a country accent must be rubbish at any sports other than GAA. The two guys from Dun Laoghaire actually won two of their ten races which sounds pretty good to me. The main problem sailing has IMO is that it's fairly expensive to get started in. The best way to improve results, long term would be to provide funding to make it more accessible.

**Dodge** · 28/08/2008, 9:03 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

And the rowers are a bit of a joke IMHO

Both squads finished 10th. How is 10th in the world a joke?

Originally Posted by Schumi

two guys from Dun Laoghaire actually won two of their ten races which sounds pretty good to me

At lest one of them was from the North. Not sure where the other lad was from

**Aberdonian Stu** · 28/08/2008, 11:21 AM

Both of the lads in the 470 crew were from Dun Laoghaire, that's the pair that won 2 races. One each from the Royal Irish and Royal St George. There was another guy in from the Royal Irish but he's actually from Delgany so Dun Laoghaire can only claim to be where he's based rather than from.

The Belfast guy was in the Star crew with a lad from Cork while Ireland's sole female sailor is from the Howth Yacht club.

**Dodge** · 28/08/2008, 11:29 AM

Thought I read one of them was from Bangor. I stand corrected

**bennocelt** · 28/08/2008, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by noby

This opinion of yours gets funnier every time you bring it up. If there was a gaff-rigged category in the olympics then perhaps your boys from the Aran islands might be more suited.
And you're so caught up on the Dun Laoghaire/D4 thing, do you not realise that most of the GB team are based around the Solent, not the west coast of Scotland?

ah come on, that was very much me talking ****e (again)

**bennocelt** · 28/08/2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Both squads finished 10th. How is 10th in the world a joke?

just that they always come across as a bit full of themselves
i mean i guess thats the nature of that sport, but they could do it after they get an Olympic medal, in a sport that has not a huge amount of nations competing

(good morning Dodge

- good luck tonite anyway))