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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alert) (Read 22059 times)
Smyslov_Fan
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alert)
Reply #36 - 08/19/12 at 05:42:52
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alert)
Reply #35 - 08/10/12 at 09:26:44
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No, it's not a "special genetics for running" that separates Jamaica from other nations. There have been cultural and genetic studies done. The genetic pool of Jamaicans does not differ substantially from other areas that have few if any world-class athletes. 

I don't deny that genetics are important, but the culture of Jamaica is almost certainly the best explanation for the recent surge in sprinters there. 

Jamaicans themselves tout their diet, their climate, and their genetics. But scientists have found no special benefit from any of those three elements that would explain why Jamaica is great and other nations are not.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alert)
Reply #34 - 08/10/12 at 08:39:30
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Uhohspaghettio -The others were like how a lot of Catalans consider themselves separate from Spaniards in Spain

The funny thing about Catalans is that it is the region with the big debt in Spain and now they asked the government in Madrid to help them to pay the debt. After all, separated for the party, but united when they have to pay.  Smiley 

Quote:
Antillian -I came across this recently - if you rank medal count on a per capita basis or per GDP, Grenada and Jamaica top the standings.

Indeed, Jamaica is a study case to know why the best runners appear there. Their athletes have a special genetics for running. 
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #33 - 08/09/12 at 21:20:54
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Minor nitpick: the 3-2-1 system for the three medals is not really the 'official' system. Usually they rate countries by gold medals (it would be something like 10000 for a gold, 100 for a silver and 1 for a bronze) or apparently in the US by total medals (weights of 1-1-1). I have seen 3-2-1 too but it's rare. I cannot find this scheme anywhere on london2012.com, for example.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #32 - 08/09/12 at 19:52:17
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I came across this recently - if you rank medal count on a per capita basis or per GDP, Grenada and Jamaica top the standings. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/datablog/interactive/2012/aug/07/olympics-2012-a...

And fantastic 1-2-3 finish by Jamaica in the Men's 200 m today with Bolt now silencing all doubters for sure.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #31 - 08/09/12 at 19:28:11
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I'm talking about the people who did support the SU and did not consider themselves separate from the Russian people, which is a huge amount. The others were like how a lot of Catalans consider themselves separate from Spaniards in Spain today, not everyone is always happy to be part of a country. 
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #30 - 08/09/12 at 04:37:20
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Uhohspaghettio wrote on 08/08/12 at 01:32:11:
Are they allowed to also support Russia now?

Did they ever support the SU?
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #29 - 08/08/12 at 22:02:38
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If you're looking for utter domination, Chinese table tennis is an excellent example. BBC has a rather ridiculous piece claiming they are finally facing competition. But every table tennis gold medal went to the Chinese. That's about as dominating as you can get.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #28 - 08/08/12 at 21:43:01
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Smyslov_Fan wrote on 08/08/12 at 15:16:52:
Anglo-Saxon isn't just a racial connotation, it's a cultural one. Clearly, USA, Canada, Australia, and even the UK have many races, but they are bound together by a common culture and language.  The language most used in Ireland and Scotland is English. They use the same court system and even have parliaments. Stefan's description is fully apt.

But I suspect the Anglo-Saxon nations as Stefan described them would outscore just about any other cultural group, including China or Slavic nations.

Probably except for the sports that are invrented by the British lke football and badminton Grin

Personally I think the olympics is a good passtime between the tour and the start of the football, though I must say the hockey is way more interesting to watch than a few years back. They have some improvements that are badly needed in football, like the use of cameras, time punishments, two referees and allowing for a free kick to be "passed to yourself" Oh and the stopping of the clock with an injury really helps as well in combination with a timer.  Smiley
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #27 - 08/08/12 at 20:13:21
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Thought Allyson Felix was very impressive in women's 200m final just now, made it look very easy to win gold.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #26 - 08/08/12 at 15:16:52
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Anglo-Saxon isn't just a racial connotation, it's a cultural one. Clearly, USA, Canada, Australia, and even the UK have many races, but they are bound together by a common culture and language.  The language most used in Ireland and Scotland is English. They use the same court system and even have parliaments. Stefan's description is fully apt.

But I suspect the Anglo-Saxon nations as Stefan described them would outscore just about any other cultural group, including China or Slavic nations.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #25 - 08/08/12 at 10:29:48
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Not actually sure quite how anglo saxon the Australians are Smiley (And America to a lesser extent.). 

Scotland/Ireland contain an awful lot of celtic/nordic heritage and isn't that where a lot of their population came from?
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #24 - 08/08/12 at 10:26:02
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One good joke from a right (or conservative if you prefer) German newspaper: Two neighbours meet each one on his balkony after Italy won the football match. The one takes the German flag from the balkony. The other says: I'll let it hang showing my continuing support for our team. The one answers: I'm not interested in the Olympics.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #23 - 08/08/12 at 09:42:56
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Would be more interesting (closer) to compare medals won by "Anglo-Saxons" (USA, UK, AUS) vs Continental EU.
  
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Re: 2012 Olympics (Spoilers alerts)
Reply #22 - 08/08/12 at 09:28:28
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Quote:
Smyslov_Fan - No, you misunderstood. It's impossible to state that Europe would win in a match between the US, China, Russia and Europe  in London 2012 because in order to do that, you would have to preselect the top three athletes from Europe. It would change the dynamic of qualifying, and many other aspects of the Games. 
Yes I agree, I was only refering to the total number of medals in London. I do not now in the future if Europe will win or not but Europe will be much more competitive that is for sure.
Of course it's possible for a continental Games to be organized. I just don't see it as desirable.

Yes, I agree.

Quote:
Willempie - Pff, how many WC's did West-Germany win and how many as Germany? Plus I think it would be similar to how we do the rest in Europe: An Italian as chief banker, a Belgian as political leader and a German as pope [quote]
In Olympics West Germany was strong in the cold war times and the a lot of athletes went to other countries but in football Germany win much more and became much stronger.

[quote]It's not a "big lesson" or "surprise" to me, it's totally obvious. You're not meant to take it so seriously. 
Of course I´m not taking it so seriously and is not a surprise but a big lesson in the value of the union compared to the value of a country alone. I do not see any point in individuals competitions but only in countries.

One group of people I feel sorry for though are the people who used to be part of a huge country like the Soviet Union, and now have tiny populations of a few million at most. Suddenly all their sports teams/participants are getting absolutely destroyed. Are they allowed to also support Russia now? 

Soviet Union was undemocratic and that is totally obvious to me like West Germany. Why do we need to compare with the worst examples and not the best? Why not comparing EU with US wich have the same democratic values and much more common way of life? If people want today status quo then ok and US and China will keep winning all the time. 
In football the same boring EU national championships that people are tired of seeing without any new refreshing ideas...
The world runs on new ideas  Wink      
 

  
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