2016 Rio Olympics

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Kizmet, Jun 30, 2016.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I've enjoyed watching some of the Olympic trials over the past week. My favorite is the track and field events but I also like the swimming events. I've been casually tracking the problems with the Rio Olympics and they're really starting to pile up. Incomplete infrastructure. Financial shortfalls. Zika. Athletes refusing to attend. And now I hear that the Amazon rainforest is set to burn down. This could go down in the record books as quite a debacle.

    Dry Amazon Could See Record Fire Season - Scientific American
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I love the Olympics, but I agree, I don't see this ending well. I saw someplace that police and fire in Rio haven't been paid in 5 months, that's absolutely crazy.
     
  3. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Brazil's economy hasn't been this bad since the 1930s.
     
  4. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Track and Field ( from Eugene, starts today...10,000 meter run tonight...Rupp should win it ...look out for Meade and Lagat) for me too ( hands down..I ran in high school and college), but I have been watching the Swimming (from Omaha) too because of my son ( he is a swimmer). I dvr all track meets ( Diamond League too). I am that much of a fanatic!!
     
  5. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    I look forward to watching Rupp tonight and am interested in seeing how much Lagat has left in the tanks.

    The wife and I have been watching the swimming, diving and gymnastics so far - truly amazing athletics! However, anything trials-wise will be superseded by the Tour starting tomorrow.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Very few modern democracies are willing anymore to tolerate what the Olympics bring. You're seeing fewer cities make serious bids, and you're seeing the games placed in some funky locations. (Sochi? Really? Now this?) The next Games after Zikapalooza: Pyeongchang (no, you look it up), Tokyo, and Beijing (known as Beijing II, The Wrath of Khan). (Beijing will be the first city to have hosted both a Summer and Winter games. It will be interesting to see how they pull that off meteorologically, and how impacted they'll be by global warming--ironic, isn't it?)

    I'm working on a bid for Fallujah for the 2026 Winter games. The biathlon should be fun. Less skiing, but waaaay more shooting.
     
  7. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    I would love love love Lagat to get in the top three. He is a CLASS act. Amazing runner and man. I guess because I respect Meb ( the Meb factor..another..class act) and older runners that I want Lagat to get in. He has the speed. I agree, it is what is left in the tank. What he did in the Cardinal Invitational should give us room to dream.I am thinking 27:30 will win it, but you know..if Rupp gets on a roll...27:15 is not out of the picture. I do not expect a record run (26:45...Rupp set it last year) . Alberto Salazar ( his coach and one of my all time favorite runners..he and Boston Billy Rogers) is not grooming him for that now....


    Neither age nor distance seems to slow this guy down. Lagat, 41, ran his first 10,000 meters on Sunday—and not only did he win the race, but he finished in 27:49, which is well under the Olympic standard of 28:00 and a new masters world record. The previous record was 28:30, held by Martti Vainio of Finland.

    Bernard Lagat Debuts at 10,000 Meters and Smashes World Masters Record | Runner's World
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 1, 2016
  8. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I just saw this thing on tv where some network guy was saying that the tv people are busy figuring out all the camera angles, venues and things NOT to show so that we never get clear ideas of all the stuff that's messed up in Rio. It gave me this really cynical, Orwellian feeling.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In 1968, Mexican officials rounded up and jailed a whole lot of people without charges in order to make the streets seem nicer.

    In 1972, German officials ham-handed the hostage crisis because (a) they didn't want a strongly visible security presence before the action (too Nazi-ish) and didn't want to be seen as too militaristic when responding to the hostage crisis.

    In 1976, the Games were a financial disaster for Montreal. The Olympic Stadium, for example, was supposed to be domed, but they just couldn't finish it in time. Later, the city paid off the stadium right before they had to abandon it because it was falling apart.

    In 1980, we saw the U.S. and much of the West (but NOT the UK) boycott the Moscow games over the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan.

    In 1984, the Games saw a reverse boycott by the USSR and most of its allies. The Games themselves were played mostly in existing venues, including the decrepit LA Coliseum, which had been built for the 1932 games.

    And so it goes.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  12. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    My gracious...the Men's 10...the carnage.. I was off on the time..27:55 as opposed to 27:30, ( I did not think it would be that hot..79 in the shade) but Rupp just clocked (he toyed with the field. His 3:50 mile speed was the difference and (I think) his endurance from the marathon training had made him formidable in Rio. Enough to beat Mo Farah, ehh..not sure....we shall see. He will be a factor..at least top 5 if not 3 like in London. Will he run the marathon? That is the big question. If not, it is Luke Peskedra that will (2:14 in LA)

    Galen Rupp Knocks it Out of the Park to Win Olympic Trials and His 8th Straight USATF 10,000m Title - LetsRun.com

    Women's 10. Molly Huddle all the way. Again, the carnage. Wow. Happy for Hall from Texas. Stellar runner. I am sad about Hasay, but she is still young. Will Huddle come close to medaling at Rio? Will it take a sub 32 ( I think it might) to win? Dibaba is just so tough...If so, not sure...top 10....maybe....

    See?

    The Four Fastest Women of 2016
    1 30:07.00 Almaz Ayana ETH
    2 30:26.94 Alice Nawowuna Aprot KEN
    3 30:28.47 Gelete Burka ETH
    4 30:28.53 Tirunesh Dibaba ETH

    And Dibaba was beaten by Ayana this year..soundly..

    From Start To Finish: Molly Huddle Wins 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials Women's 10,000 - LetsRun.com
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2016
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It was a big deal in Boston recently when the city was deciding whether to bid on the Olympics. Most people were happy when the decision was "no." Because cities are increasingly deciding against bidding for the Games, the contracts are then going to places that clearly are not prepared to handle the task. Is it time to consider a permanent Olympic venue?

    Tale of 2 Rios: the Olympic city and the rest of town - San Francisco Chronicle

    Rio Olympics 2016: Rowers To Paddle In Poop, Dead Bodies

    Drug-resistant 'super bacteria' discovered in Rio waters as Olympics draw closer | syracuse.com
     
  14. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'm afraid he looked his age in the 10K
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Some think so: IMF chief backs Athens as permanent Olympic host
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Greece is no bargain now, either. It seems like every time I see Greece on TV, people are rioting, stuff is on fire, and the police look overwhelmed.
     
  18. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    He did, although I am sure the heat helped too. His 5K in the semifinals looked clean. His kick looked dangerous.

    The pace was all-out with 200 to go. As the crowd held its breath, it appeared that Rupp would not be in that final six as he had to strain to hold on to the final auto qualifying position, placing sixth in 13:49.50, the same time as seventh place Shrader; Rupp edged him by .001 according to the FAT system.
    Lagat would emerge victorious (13:48.36), closing in a race-best 53.64 over his final 400. Lopez Lomong ran a low-key, low-stress race to get second in 13:48.38. Jenkins was third (13:48.63), Mead fourth (13:48.81) and Chelimo fifth (13:49.26). Rupp’s good position with 800 to go proved to help him significantly, as his final 400 of 55.08 barely held of Shrader’s 54.48. Of course, Rupp would have made the final on time with ease, but he clearly was fighting hard to get that sixth spot.

    Steeple & Men's 5k Prelims: Galen Rupp Almost Misses Out on Auto Spot in 5K Final as Favorites Advance - LetsRun.com
     
  19. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Looked at a certain way, Greece is a bargain now for those very reasons. As Nathan Rothschild said, "Buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own."

    But I take your point.
     
  20. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator


    It was great watching Lagat win the 5K finals
     

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