The 2012 Summer Olympics - Inspire a Generation

[Calypso 464]

The mini-odyssey of the Olympic torch has begun several hours back in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This is the first time I'm watching the Olympics outside the Philippines and I'm quite excited. Go Team USA!

What country do you think will win the most number of gold medals? How about the one to lead the overall medal table in the end?

Which athletes will make new world records?

How different will the Games be now that baseball and softball have been eliminated from the official program?

Will Phelps win all seven events he's competing in?

What team are you rooting for?

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."

- Pierre de Coubertin

"If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's backyard."

- Jesse Owens

This thread is for Olympic updates, highlights and discussions.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

The summer Olympics are among my absolute favorite sporting events. My #1 favorite is probably the Soccer World Cup, but the Olympics (summer especially, even though Sweden usually does better at the Winter Olympics) is right up there.

The 100 meter dash is THE single biggest competition, if you ask me.

[X Factor 1,112]

The summer Olympics are among my absolute favorite sporting events. My #1 favorite is probably the Soccer World Cup, but the Olympics (summer especially, even though Sweden usually does better at the Winter Olympics) is right up there.

The 100 meter dash is THE single biggest competition, if you ask me.

I usually watch the 100 and 200 meter dash. I will be tracking Usain Bolt since he blew away the competition in Germany.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

So excited!! Gymnastics are my favorite every time the Summer Olympics roll around.

[Calypso 464]

I'll be following most events in athletics, artistic gymnastics, cycling and swimming. I get really curious how big names like Bolt, Lochte, Phelps, and Serena Williams will perform this time. There must be a lot of pressure on their side as the world keeps an eye on them.

[El Rey 4]

I'd love to see Spain bags the gold medal in basketball.

I'm also looking forward to 2016 in Rio because golf will be back as an Olympic event. Can't wait for a leaderboard full of young guns such as McIlroy, Fowler, and Garcia on it.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Why is golf an Olympic sport? Honest question, I'm not trying to stir things up or anything.

[X Factor 1,112]

I'd love to see Spain bags the gold medal in basketball.

It will be tough because the US has many NBA players on their team. Lebraun, Kobe and others will bring home the gold.

[Calypso 464]

Why is golf an Olympic sport? Honest question, I'm not trying to stir things up or anything.

I feel the same, Magnus, but handball, table tennis and badminton are also full medal sports at the Olympics.

It will be tough because the US has many NBA players on their team. Lebraun, Kobe and others will bring home the gold.

The US men's basketball team with NBA players has once been defeated at the 2004 Athens Games. Anything goes in sports really.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

I feel the same, Magnus, but handball, table tennis and badminton are also full medal sports at the Olympics.

I'm not into golf at all. That's not really why I am asking though. Handball, table tennis and badminton, as far as I know, have been Olympic sports for a long time, longer than golf at least. I would say in those sports, winning the Olympics is the biggest thing you can accomplish, the most prestigious title you can win. This obviously is not the case with golf. Nor is it the case with soccer or tennis, just to name a few. Maybe my uninformed opinion is wrong, but I would think the US Open or British Open to be more prestigious - for obvious reasons; golf is just now becoming an Olympic event (or again, apparently). And that's really why I asked.

I understand it may/will take time for the Olympic golf competition to gain ground as far as prestige goes... But, yeah, I still wanted to ask. Again, not trying to stir things up, it's an honest question.

It is also an interesting "bigger", more general question: what sports should be in the Olympics?

Edited July 24, 2012 by Mr. Borkström

[Calypso 464]

I'm not into golf at all. That's not really why I am asking though. Handball, table tennis and badminton, as far as I know, have been Olympic sports for a long time, longer than golf at least. I would say in those sports, winning the Olympics is the biggest thing you can accomplish, the most prestigious title you can win. This obviously is not the case with golf. Nor is it the case with soccer or tennis, just to name a few. Maybe my uninformed opinion is wrong, but I would think the US Open or British Open to be more prestigious - for obvious reasons; golf is just now becoming an Olympic event (or again, apparently). And that's really why I asked.

I understand it may/will take time for the Olympic golf competition to gain ground as far as prestige goes... But, yeah, I still wanted to ask. Again, not trying to stir things up, it's an honest question.

You do have an interesting point.

From what I understand, for a sport to be included in the official Olympic program it has to:

1. primarily be popularly played across the globe

- The International Olympic Committee measures the widespread presence of a sport according to the number of countries that send athletes to compete in it. That's why soccer, volleyball, track and field events, boxing, and tennis are still part of the Summer Games although these are already competed in a world cup, other prestigious tournaments or world championships. Of course these sports will be very well-represented by different nations.

2. receive majority of the votes from the members of the IOC

- IMO, where there is voting, there are biases and the play of politics. I guess that's why golf will be played again at the Olympics after over a century of exclusion.

I made a little research on these:

- Golf was played at the 1900 and 1904 Olympics and never again but is set to make a comeback four years from now at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

- Handball became an Oympic sport in 1936, but I saw a little trivia last week on the official website of the Olympics that handball is one of the oldest sports ever played on earth.

- Table tennis appeared at the Summer Olympics in 1988, badminton in 1992.

It is also an interesting "bigger", more general question: what sports should be in the Olympics?

I'm pretty satisfied with the current list of sports and events, especially because the IOC has retained some sporting events that were included at the ancient Olympics in Greece, like wrestling, boxing and equestrian competitions. I don't wish for golf, softball, baseball and cricket to return. Volleyball, basketball, tennis, and soccer are a few of the world's favorite spectator sports so the Olympics can't do without them.

Edited July 24, 2012 by Calypso

[X Factor 1,112]

They are getting really serious with golf. It has been reported that London's Thames river has become a makeshift golf course.

[X Factor 1,112]

Just an update. Even though the games oficially begin on Friday, some games like soccer are playing now. The US women soccer team won today 4-2.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Why is golf an Olympic sport? Honest question, I'm not trying to stir things up or anything.

Women's beach volleyball is more exciting than golf.

[Calypso 464]

Women's beach volleyball is more exciting than golf.

Read a few sentences:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/beach-volleyballers-might-lose-bikinis-olympics-192415280--oly.html

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympic-beach-volleyball-image-female-athletes-see-changed-211100924--oly.html