The 2008 Olympics Thread

[bennocelt]

From 3am most days


If you're talking about showjumping; we didn't qualify. Ballsed up at the world and euros (Riders retiring hurt us). Denis Lynch is in the individual

We have a full team in the 3 day eventing

reading in the INDo today that he is on a very expensive horse, the Arabs wanted to buy it for 5.5 million........wow

[Dodge]

I wonder are rte.ie showing much of the Irish participation in the olympics. If they are, then its proxy server time. Burnett in the shooting did well last time out in Athens hopefully he'll go one better.

RTE are promising to stream 4/5 similtaneous events via rte.ie and have stated that every minute of Irish action will be covered live (Somehow, with the sailing, I doubt it)

[DmanDmythDledge]

Badminton
Scott Evans faces Marc Zwiebler of Germany in first round (last 64) at 3.45am (Irish time) on saturday
Chloe Magee faces Kati Tolmoff of Estonia in first round (last 64) at 10.50am (Irish time) on saturday
Both Irish players are ranked below their opponents

Zwiebler is ranked 24 in the world, Scott 47. Not quite the mismatch it appears to be, however. Scott's ranking has suffered recently as he was unable to defend ranking points won last year due to injury. He would probably be around mid 30s if he had been able to compete.

He has played Zwiebler once before, last December at the Irish International Championships. The score was 21-15, 21-17 in ze Germans favour. I expect another close game but unfortunately don't think Scott will get through.

Tolmoff ranked 46, Magee 77. They have played twice previously, with Talmoff winning on both occasions. In Oct 2006 Talmoff won 21-11, 21-16 and in Jan 07 Talmoff won 21-12, 21-14. The gap between the players has narrowed since then but I think it is a step too far. Magee's preparation for the Olympics has been quite good, reaching the final of the US Open Grand Prix, beating the world no. 53 on her way to the final.

Scott's game will be live on RTÉ but Chloe's will not be shown.
http://www.badmintonireland.com/cont...=901&zoneid=37

[Aberdonian Stu]

RTE are promising to stream 4/5 similtaneous events via rte.ie

ARGH! And I haven't got a reliable broadband connection. Really want to follow the basketball competition, if it's a sport you're in to this year's comp promises to be great.

[Dodge]

ARGH! And I haven't got a reliable broadband connection. Really want to follow the basketball competition, if it's a sport you're in to this year's comp promises to be great.

I am, and I agree. One of my abiding memories of the event 4 years ago si the RTE's commentator's pronunciation of Manu Ginobilli (with the strongest Cork accent I've heard on TV). Obviously I'm looking for the US to be upset again.

[superfrank]

Do you have a link for the stream, Dodge?

[pete]

I remember the sailors were criticised 4 years ago by Hickey & I think he had some valid points. I may be wrong but seem to remember they near the rear of their fields.

The 3 day eventers should be doing better too as I would imagine relatively expensive to fly the horses there & keeping them in participation.

[Dodge]

The 3 day eventers should be doing better too as I would imagine relatively expensive to fly the horses there & keeping them in participation.

Strange logic. Surely its expensive for all the other countries too, so they should do better too? BTW the horsey bits are in Hong Kong this year

[Pauro 76]

Question for ye, was just raeding Metro or some paper the other day. they had a picture of the Swiss Olympic team for something. they said it was only their third Olympic team? is this true?

[Dodge]

Question for ye, was just raeding Metro or some paper the other day. they had a picture of the Swiss Olympic team for something. they said it was only their third Olympic team? is this true?

Nope. Maybe its their third time in a particulur sport.

They've won 174 medals in the summer games

[sligoman]

Is there a list anywhere of when the Irish people are competing...in any sport?

[Dodge]

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...53&postcount=9

Great spreadsheet downloadble there...

[Dodge]

Do you have a link for the stream, Dodge?

Here's the press release

http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics2008/player.html

Player above

[shedite]

Friend of mine was at the Atlanta Olympics and brought me back a towel with the following quote on it. Feckin love it...

"In the Olympics, we don't just see athletes at their best, we see humanity at it's best"

[Dodge]

Irish boxers should be relatively happy with their draw for the Olympics. Here's their path to medals


Light Fly
Barnes will fight Meza of Ecuador in last 16. If he wins his last 8 fiight will be against Namibia/Poland/sierra Leone. Hopefully he'll then fight gold medal favourite Shiming Zou in the semis

Bantam
Nevin will fight Ourradi of Algeria. Then the winner of Mongolia/Mexico in the last 16. Hopefully setting up a quarter final with the winner of Australia/Botswana/Colombia/Morocco. A pretty tough draw

Light Welter
Joyce wil fight Kate of Hungary in first round. Then the winner of Domincan Republic/Armenia. Hopefully setting up a QF with the winner of Iran/Tunisia/Romania/Puerto Rico

Middle
Sutherland received bye in first round. In last 16 he'll fight Nabil Kessel. Then hopefully he'll fight the winner of Domincan Republic and Venzuala for a medal. Blanco of Venezuala beat Sutherland in the last 16 of the 2007 worlds. Tough draw

Light Heavy
Egan will fight Julius Jackson of the Virgin Isles (He beat him at the 2007 worlds). Hopefully fighting the winner of Turkey/Kenya in last 16. IN the last 8 he'll fight the winner of haiti/Brazil/Ghana/Nigeria

[Dodge]

Egan has a real chance.

He's beaten Julius jackson before (RSC). The turkish fighter got in when Ismayl Silakh of Ukraine was kicked out. Aziz Ali made it through at the final African qualifier. All 4 possible oppenents in the QF made it through at the last continental qualifier (bar the Brazilian who made it through in the first contintental) None have medalled at major events before (although the haitian won the 2008 Golden Gloves). The Ghanain is new to the weight having stepped up from Middleweight

[pineapple stu]

Who was the Limerick boxer at the last Olympics? Had big hopes, think he got past one round and then got eliminated after a tie or something? Is he back this time? Might well be imagining stuff though.

(I'm sure I could use google, but Dodge seems quicker. )

[Dodge]

Apart from Egan...
Barnes's draw is tougher than I thought. Meza is another relative newcomer. He easily won the 1st Americas qualifier though. If he gets through that I'd expect him to fight the Namibian commonwealth champion (2005) Jafet Uutoni. If not he could face the Swaziland fighter who beat Barnes at the 2006 commonwealth games (although no dount that Barnes has come on since the)

Joyce was beaten 32-17 by Kate in the 2007 Worlds. He's an expereinced fighter having won bronze at 2003 worlds and 2004 & 2006 europeans. If he gets through that he wouldn't fear any of the boxers in his path.
Nevin's draw is very tough. Oradi won the 1st African qualifer. IF he gets through that he'll probably fight the World Silver medallist Badar-Uugan from Mongolia. IF he gets through that, he'd be favourite to medal (unlikely though) in the QF.
Sutherland should beat Kessel (who finished 3rd in the first African qualifier). After that he's likely to face Blanco. Blanco beat Sutherland 20-13 in the last 16 of the 2007 Worlds and went on to win Silver. He also beat James Degale of England, who Sutherland has had a few figths with. Blanco would be a strong favourite

[Dodge]

Who was the Limerick boxer at the last Olympics? Had big hopes, think he got past one round and then got eliminated after a tie or something? Is he back this time? Might well be imagining stuff though.

(I'm sure I could use google, but Dodge seems quicker. )

Andy Lee, now doing the professional thing. lost on countback to a Cameroon fighter

[shakermaker1982]

Looking forward to the boxing I must say. A medal from any of the boxers would be a fantastic achievement for the amateur boxing set up. It's a fantastic achievement that they have 5 qualifiers - extremely tough to get there in the first place.