FabSwingers.com forum: Olympics- what's the point?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just watching the football highlights. Am reliably informed by my son, the fountain of all knowledge about footie, that the teams are a mix of unknowns and moderately well known players ie well paid professionals. So... If it's not the best players in the world competing, what is the point? Such has always been the case in the Olympics but it just seems so much more ridiculous now, with all the expense and hype.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Odd that you view your son as the font of all knowledge, I know little about football but do know that the lack of big names is at least in part to a limit on players over 23. No idea what the logic of that rule is though!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You have Englands younger players there who did under 21 Euros/world cup.

The media doesn't jump on the football because their page 3 boyfriend David Beckham isn't in it.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Well, Ryan Giggs was born in 1973 so how did he get into the team, aged 39?

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By *am sampsonMan
over a year ago

cwmbran

"Well, Ryan Giggs was born in 1973 so how did he get into the team, aged 39? "

as was said earlier a limit on players over 23 - each squad can have 3 overage players

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By *ovedupstillCouple
over a year ago

mullinwire

personally, with the likes of football, it SHOULD be no player that has played in footballs top league in the last 12 months.

so, in essence, our team would be made up of the cahampionship, and non league football (or the scottish 1st, LOW and northern irish leagues)

tin hat donned and ready for action, SAH!!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Doesn't change my question/point though. Still not the best players in the world so where's the kudos in an Olympic Gold?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

football should not be an olympic sport. imo

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By *ipgloss..Woman
over a year ago

Stourbridge

I concur!

Euros, mega wage paying clubs and pissy FA's have put pay to this

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By *cottishrichMan
over a year ago

Here and there

In china four years ago, Argentina won gold in the football. Lionel Messi was in the team. Your argument is invalid.

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By *am sampsonMan
over a year ago

cwmbran

Do similar rules apply to basketball - the money some of the olympians earn in this sport far outweighs what your average footballer earns - and the same arguement probably applies to lots of other sports

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Odd that you view your son as the font of all knowledge, I know little about football but do know that the lack of big names is at least in part to a limit on players over 23. No idea what the logic of that rule is though!"

Traditionally, the Olympics were for amatuer competition and when they allowed athletes to gain sponsorship they were no longer amateurs. Football carries high wages and mega sponsorship deals and it's rare to find good footballers to compete at international level who haven't been snapped up by one company or another ot promote it's products, hence the age limit of 23 where footballers that age are still finding their feet in professional football (unless they are exceptionally good a la Rooney, Ronaldo etc etc), but they still need a few big names to draw the crowds in so that could be why they allow three overage players.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Don't forget, clubs have to release their players for participation in the Olympics and they can refuse if they feel there is a risk to the player getting injured in football's close season when he shouls be relaxing and preparing for the forthcoming season. Who'd risk a £35m player in a tournament that is a bit mickey mouse tbh. If it was the best of the best we'd have another World Cup every two years and I'd hate to have to choose between GB and England (England would be my team, and TeamGB would have hardly any good players playing for them if it was the best of the best, as in the UK, they're mainly English with one or two exceptions obviously)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Does football not have enough competitions..

world cup, euros, cup of nations,and the champions league to name but a few..

Football is not needed at the olympics !!

Does anyone know if they have Rugby or golf in the games ??

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

Does anyone know if they have Rugby or golf in the games ??

No, these aren't in the Olymoics at all!

As for Footie, it is on our screens for 99% of the year already, so why do we need it in the Olympics? Leave it out so we can watch other sports, and also rest the football players for their next season!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Although I'm a big football fan, I do agree that it is not needed in the Olympics. No rugby, and golf will be in the next games in Rio xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 30/07/12 21:16:59]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Rugby not in Rio, but golf will be xxx

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

Look at the end of a Javelin, think you might find a point there

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"In china four years ago, Argentina won gold in the football. Lionel Messi was in the team. Your argument is invalid. "
. If it's my argument that's invalid, why? I think the whole thing is ridiculous. A watered-down national side devalues the whole games. It should either be totally amateur or not in the Olympics at all.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 30/07/12 21:26:07]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If the teams played at full strength would it not be the same as the World Cup and I suspect FIFA wouldn't want that?

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By *ouple4funnewCouple
over a year ago

liverpool

"Olympics what's the point?"

lots of corporate contracts and backhanders for the well connected old boys network

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

"If the teams played at full strength would it not be the same as the World Cup and I suspect FIFA wouldn't want that?"

Pick a Sunday morning Pub team

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!"

I watched that with my housemate who use to do it so after a cpl of hrs if her telling me what it all means I decided I still fooking havnt got a clue why they do it

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By *acreadCouple
over a year ago

central scotland

The olympics lost the spirit of its creation when big business moved in,

it was at one point strictly amatuer.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!"
. Ah, now THAT I understand lol

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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago

carrbrook stalybridge

"Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!"

its about skill and comunication between the horse and rider

it takes a hell of a lot of practice and dedication between the pair of them to get to that level

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

"Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!

its about skill and comunication between the horse and rider

it takes a hell of a lot of practice and dedication between the pair of them to get to that level "

Why isn't Crufts in the Olympics then ?

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

"Saw the dressage yesterday ! What's that all about!

its about skill and comunication between the horse and rider

it takes a hell of a lot of practice and dedication between the pair of them to get to that level

Why isn't Crufts in the Olympics then ?"

Or that dancing dog off Britain's Got Talent lol

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By *kywatcherMan
over a year ago

Southwick

The inclusion of tennis seems an unnecessary distraction. For me inclusion of 26 sports seems ludicrous and as previous posters have mentioned golf will be an Olympic sport in Brazil. For me the Olympics is about track and field.

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By *kywatcherMan
over a year ago

Southwick

[Removed by poster at 30/07/12 21:56:27]

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By *kywatcherMan
over a year ago

Southwick

[Removed by poster at 30/07/12 21:58:37]

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By *kywatcherMan
over a year ago

Southwick

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Olympics should be about the best of the best, but with the advent of paid sport and sponsored athletes, this has gone down the drain, which is why you never see world title holders of boxing in the olympics and very few others at the top of their game taking part, their sponsors don't think it's worthwhile.

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By *b430Man
over a year ago

Tayside

"The inclusion of tennis seems an unnecessary distraction. For me inclusion of 26 sports seems ludicrous and as previous posters have mentioned golf will be an Olympic sport in Brazil. For me the Olympics is about track and field. "

Pushing the Post Message button should be an Olympic Sport and you'd win a Gold!

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

Pushing the Post Message button should be an Olympic Sport and you'd win a Gold!

I have only just managed to stop laughing and you have set me off again

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By *kywatcherMan
over a year ago

Southwick

Pushing the Post Message button should be an Olympic Sport and you'd win a Gold!

"
Dodgy mobile I'm afraid

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Or more likely because boxing in the Olympics is one of the few sports which is still 100% amateur. And boxing is one of the few sports where that distinction is very clear.

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By *ce WingerMan
over a year ago

P.O. Box DE1 0NQ

I did post on one of the other threads about International lawnmower racing to keep the footie pitches up to standard.

Love track and field, was a sprinter myself and was quite good at high/long jump as well

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Olympics should be about the best of the best, but with the advent of paid sport and sponsored athletes, this has gone down the drain, which is why you never see world title holders of boxing in the olympics and very few others at the top of their game taking part, their sponsors don't think it's worthwhile."
. I agree 100%. What IS the point/value in it anymore? What was a lauding of athletes of amateur status, is now ruined and devalued by capitalism and commercial greed

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By *abloBackMan
over a year ago

London

People complain about the cost of the games, then complain about the sponsorship that subsidises them

They complain that some of the sportsmen are overpaid

Then complain about the football which is an under 23 competition. Not having any star players. Then they complain about the three over 23 yr old star players for being er, well over 23!

Then to compound it all, the font of all knowledge is a schoolboy.

Incidentally

In the first modern Olympics in 1896 the tennis event was won by a British competitor who was Irish

He also got a silver in men's doubles partnered by a German long jumper

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By *uckscouple2007Couple
over a year ago

Bucks

Or more likely because boxing in the Olympics is one of the few sports which is still 100% amateur. And boxing is one of the few sports where that distinction is very clear. "

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think the OP has raised 2 questions here. What is the point of Professional Football in the Olympics and the Olympics itself.

Persoanlly I wonder what is the point of football in any case but thousands of people play it, watch it, they get a lot of pleasure from it and it has earned its validity as an International Sport. Therefore it has a place in the Olympics which any sports person will tell you is the pinnacle of anything they can achieve.

And the same priciple makes me agree sports like golf and rugby should have been included years ago because they are huge International Sports that have personal skill and teamwork at their core.

And this idea also leads me to say that the Olympics themselves have a huge place in International Sport. It pulls together countries like nothing else (witness the millions that watched the Torch Relay) and allows the top exponents of lesser known sports demonstrate their sport and shine on the biggest stage on earth.

And isn't London 2012 showing the rest of the world what a great place this is?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Olympics should be about the best of the best, but with the advent of paid sport and sponsored athletes, this has gone down the drain, which is why you never see world title holders of boxing in the olympics and very few others at the top of their game taking part, their sponsors don't think it's worthwhile.. I agree 100%. What IS the point/value in it anymore? What was a lauding of athletes of amateur status, is now ruined and devalued by capitalism and commercial greed"

It makes you think about it. For some people its all about the money.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"People complain about the cost of the games, then complain about the sponsorship that subsidises them

They complain that some of the sportsmen are overpaid

Then complain about the football which is an under 23 competition. Not having any star players. Then they complain about the three over 23 yr old star players for being er, well over 23!

Then to compound it all, the font of all knowledge is a schoolboy.

Incidentally

In the first modern Olympics in 1896 the tennis event was won by a British competitor who was Irish

He also got a silver in men's doubles partnered by a German long jumper"
. Eh, if you are having a go at what I've said the your post is so mixed-up it is irrelevant, tbh lol. Why not read the posts again, slowly, then see if you have the grasp of the thread

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By *londeCazWoman
over a year ago

Arse End of the Universe, Cumbria

Pushing the Post Message button should be an Olympic Sport and you'd win a Gold!

I have only just managed to stop laughing and you have set me off again"

Sorry for the hijack, but for some reason Ryan, your bag picture at avatar size makes me think of Sergei the Meerkat everytime I see it.......no idea why....

Hijack over

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By *abloBackMan
over a year ago

London

"People complain about the cost of the games, then complain about the sponsorship that subsidises them

They complain that some of the sportsmen are overpaid

Then complain about the football which is an under 23 competition. Not having any star players. Then they complain about the three over 23 yr old star players for being er, well over 23!

Then to compound it all, the font of all knowledge is a schoolboy.

Incidentally

In the first modern Olympics in 1896 the tennis event was won by a British competitor who was Irish

He also got a silver in men's doubles partnered by a German long jumper. Eh, if you are having a go at what I've said the your post is so mixed-up it is irrelevant, tbh lol. Why not read the posts again, slowly, then see if you have the grasp of the thread

"
I can't help your low grasp of the subject

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Perhaps the inclusion of Football gives incentive and hope for many kids all over the world who will never be lucky enough to ride a horse, or a bike, or sail a boat or swim in a pool etc……but still dream of having their chance of Olympic glory….!.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

The amateur status one is interesting. It WAS possible for it to be all amateur when the only people participating were those with money and time. Pre-Olympics the 'lords of the manor' would have their champions and whilst that person may have been a fieldworker or dairyman and that's what they were paid for they might also get an extra something and more food for their training.

Sports has become business now. Those doing well in the Games know their time is short and therefore make the most of the limelight as the commercial opportunities will pay for them to live after the Games.

As to the football, rugby, golf questions then most people see those as sports. The Olympics no longer covers poetry and sculpture but they were competitive Olympic events 100 years ago.

And, on the money/commercialisation points, we are in a stagnant economy. The Opening Ceremony did cost a lot but 96% of the 550+ (I can't remember the exact number) suppliers were British. That spending helps our economy now and into the future.

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By *Ryan-Man
over a year ago

In Your Bush

Pushing the Post Message button should be an Olympic Sport and you'd win a Gold!

I have only just managed to stop laughing and you have set me off again

Sorry for the hijack, but for some reason Ryan, your bag picture at avatar size makes me think of Sergei the Meerkat everytime I see it.......no idea why....

Hijack over

Hey I will take that it's better than Gollum

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