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[Other Sport] Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympics ***Official Match Thread***



Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,333
The individual nations are not recognised by the IOC whereas they are by FIFA.
Five minute job. Point at Hong Kong and they can't do much but to recognise the individual nations.
 




Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,333
Your dislike of our country is really odd. The UK is made up of different nations. That's a fact. We could compete in football as one, but the first ever international football match was between England and Scotland (same for rugby), and we like to keep the teams separate both tradition and a sense of pride for each nation. I'm not sure why that upsets you. And for the Olympics we compete as one. Again I'm not sure why you care about that.
Its not a dislike, nor does it upset me. That is 100% in your proud brain. It just makes very little sense to me to compete as different nations in nearly every context and then when its time for Olympics all of that is thrown away. I'm sure it makes sense to you because you're used to it but from the outside it looks odd since no one else in the entire world has the structure of fluidily breaking into small nations or a big state whenever it fits.

I think its odd, I don't dislike it. It just makes me surprised that English people are fine with the rest of the big nations thinking "they're only that to keep up with the rest of the big nations in the medal league".
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Its not a dislike, nor does it upset me. That is 100% in your proud brain. It just makes very little sense to me to compete as different nations in nearly every context and then when its time for Olympics all of that is thrown away. I'm sure it makes sense to you because you're used to it but from the outside it looks odd since no one else in the entire world has the structure of fluidily breaking into small nations or a big state whenever it fits.

I think its odd, I don't dislike it. It just makes me surprised that English people are fine with the rest of the big nations thinking "they're only that to keep up with the rest of the big nations in the medal league".
Who told you the rest of the big nations think that?
 


Flounce

Well-known member
Nov 15, 2006
3,966
Alcaraz vs Djokovic on Iplayer in the tennis final is fun. Much closer than at Wimbledon. 30 mins gone and 2-2 in the first set.

Come on Carlos!
 


Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,333
Who told you the rest of the big nations think that?
People from big nations talking about it. :shrug:
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair" or "only doing it to get more medals". Obviously the argumentation is flawed because as four different nations, UK could send more athletes. But the perspective that you're doing it for medal league vanity is ever present when the international community talk about it.
 




Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,456
Goldstone
Its not a dislike, nor does it upset me. That is 100% in your proud brain.

Proud brain is another odd thing to say. The fact is that you regularly criticise this country, so of course it comes across as you disliking us in some way. Go find me a post where I've criticised Sweden (good luck with that).


It just makes very little sense to me to compete as different nations

So you can't understand the idea of tradition, or that the different nations with different languages and culture might like to have a team representing just them? Millions of people like that, so why are you having such difficulty grasping it?


in nearly every context and then when its time for Olympics all of that is thrown away

How is it thrown away? We compete against countries all over the world, including Europe, yet when the Rider Cup comes around we love playing alongside our European friends, including Sweden. Swedish people love that too, but I'm guessing not you? You see it as Sweden throwing everything away :rolleyes:

I'm sure it makes sense to you because you're used to it but from the outside it looks odd since no one else in the entire world has the structure of fluidily breaking into small nations or a big state whenever it fits.

Except for every country in Europe.


It just makes me surprised that English people are fine with the rest of the big nations thinking "they're only that to keep up with the rest of the big nations in the medal league".

Britain have always competed as one in the Olympics (one of just a few countries who have always been in it I think), so how would it be about keeping up? I'd be amazed if any big country thought that, I've certainly never heard that nonsense before. Not that it matters, but for our size of country we do pretty well. In 2012 we finished 3rd and in 2016 we finished 2nd, above China. We usually finish about countries of similar size, like Germany, France, Italy and Spain. We compete together because we are one country. Not even a big one.

More surprising is that we don't compete as a country in sports like Rugby and Football, but as I've explained, it's a fair bit about tradition and culture.
 


Flounce

Well-known member
Nov 15, 2006
3,966
People from big nations talking about it. :shrug:
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair" or "only doing it to get more medals". Obviously the argumentation is flawed because as four different nations, UK could send more athletes. But the perspective that you're doing it for medal league vanity is ever present when the international community talk about it.
f*** ‘em, come on GB :smile:
 


Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,456
Goldstone
People from big nations talking about it. :shrug:
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair"

:ROFLMAO:

What absolute nonsense. In order of population the UK is the 21st largest country with about 68 million people. Meanwhile, India and China have 1.4 billion people. And they think it's unfair that we have so many :ROFLMAO:

I don't see British people complaining that the likes of China and the US have more people than us. They typically finish above us in the medal table, as you'd expect.

The individual nations have never ever competed at the Olympics individually, since their inception in 1896.

That's one heck of a chip you have to lug around isn't it.
 








Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,333
Proud brain is another odd thing to say. The fact is that you regularly criticise this country, so of course it comes across as you disliking us in some way. Go find me a post where I've criticised Sweden (good luck with that).

So you can't understand the idea of tradition, or that the different nations with different languages and culture might like to have a team representing just them? Millions of people like that, so why are you having such difficulty grasping it?

How is it thrown away? We compete against countries all over the world, including Europe, yet when the Rider Cup comes around we love playing alongside our European friends, including Sweden. Swedish people love that too, but I'm guessing not you? You see it as Sweden throwing everything away :rolleyes:

Except for every country in Europe.

Britain have always competed as one in the Olympics (one of just a few countries who have always been in it I think), so how would it be about keeping up? I'd be amazed if any big country thought that, I've certainly never heard that nonsense before. Not that it matters, but for our size of country we do pretty well. In 2012 we finished 3rd and in 2016 we finished 2nd, above China. We usually finish about countries of similar size, like Germany, France, Italy and Spain. We compete together because we are one country. Not even a big one.

More surprising is that we don't compete as a country in sports like Rugby and Football, but as I've explained, it's a fair bit about tradition and culture.

1. I criticise every country on earth. None more so than Sweden. Everyone, including Swedes, always get upset about it before they return to watching their respective societies burn to the ground. One day in the very distant future, it will turn out that I was right saying "my nation isn't great" or "this nation isn't great". But thats kind of beside the whole thing because sports has little do with it.

2. I can understand the tradition and idea yes but times change and you'd think ideas would also change. 1900 was a long, long time ago. I mean apparently there's some openness to new ideas since you 25 years ago decided to switch name to "Team GB", which sounds more like a shite F1 team than a nation. Then it shouldn't be impossible to call yourself... the names of your respective nations.

3. I just googled "Ryder Cup" and found out its a golf competition. While there are some 10-15 percent (nearly all upper class) of Swedes who give a shit about golf, the vast majority will refer to it as "bourgeois bandy". You have to like the upper class to like golf and it matches really bad with 150 years of socialism. The "Swedish people love it too" might be true but we're talking a very small percentage of people. The majority won't know what Ryder Cup is.

4. Britain has always competed as one, yes, and like I said I have literally no problem with it other than finding it odd. I would have found it odd in the 1980s if Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia etc. played international team sports as five or six different nations just to turn into "Team YUGO" when the Olympics came along. Same with Soviet. If this had been the case, I would almost certainly have considered the opportunity that these nations did it for propaganda purposes. I'm not saying thats the case with UK but obviously people are going to consider it.


Tldr: I really don't give a shit about "Team GB" other than finding it a bit odd. Thats all. No right or wrong.
 






Flounce

Well-known member
Nov 15, 2006
3,966
The Alcaraz vs Djokovic game is gripping. Currently 6-5 to Djokovic who has been hanging on but never discount him.
 


Grizz

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 5, 2003
1,472
That said, lets all keep this thread on a positive track, shall we.

Aye, they can easily just take it to the debate forum. Let's just keep this about the real time performances of outstanding athletes.

Harry Hepworth with a superb routine on the Rings for his first Olympics. Never had a gymnast in the Rings final, done himself proud with a seventh place finish.
 




hart's shirt

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2003
10,942
Kitbag in Dubai
That said, lets all keep this thread on a positive track, shall we.
Quite right.

On the whole, it's been a very enjoyable and agreeable thread in the first week, so there's no need for it to change now.

And definitely no need for anyone to get personal here. Let's at least wait until the wrestling competitions start tomorrow for that. :)
 




Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,456
Goldstone
2. I can understand the tradition and idea yes but times change and you'd think ideas would also change

So you want England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to stop playing football independently. Why? Who benefits from that? The people of those nations wouldn't want it, so what's the point? And if we did you'd only come here moaning that all the other countries said we only did it so we could win something.


you 25 years ago decided to switch name to "Team GB", which sounds more like a shite F1 team than a nation

Christ, who cares what they're called :shrug:


3. I just googled "Ryder Cup" and found out its a golf competition. While there are some 10-15 percent (nearly all upper class) of Swedes who give a shit about golf, the vast majority will refer to it as "bourgeois bandy". You have to like the upper class to like golf and it matches really bad with 150 years of socialism. The "Swedish people love it too" might be true but we're talking a very small percentage of people. The majority won't know what Ryder Cup is.

Ok I'll take your word for that. But the fact is that people (not sure what class, sorry) from around Europe like joining together to compete in that competition. But that's just one example. What about when arch rivals from Barcelona and Madrid suddenly, in your words, 'pretend that they're one happy united bunch' and play for Spain? (and the same with every other country. You seriously can't understand the idea that people can be rivals in one thing, and then together in another? What about when tennis plays join someone in doubles, that they were against in the singles? No doubt you can't understand that.


4. Britain has always competed as one, yes, and like I said I have literally no problem with it other than finding it odd. I would have found it odd in the 1980s if Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia etc. played international team sports as five or six different nations just to turn into "Team YUGO" when the Olympics came along.
They turned into team YUGO for football, so you've kinda shot yourself in the foot there.

Not that Yugoslavia were an independent sovereign nation for hundreds of years like the UK, long before the start of the Olympics.


Same with Soviet. If this had been the case, I would almost certainly have considered the opportunity that these nations did it for propaganda purposes. I'm not saying thats the case with UK but obviously people are going to consider it.

So you're not saying it, but people will consider that we're doing this for propaganda purposes? Jesus Christ, it's a bit early in the day to be totally fcuked on weed.
 


Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,333
I'm not going to respond to the above as I appreciate the desire to keep the thread about sports so if anyone wants to continue the whole "why do you hate us for being Team GB"-"I don't hate you for being Team GB"-conversation, we can take it in PM.
 








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