Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Caution, may contain results!

[LeahM]

Can Mike Phelps win a gold medal with his eyes closed? You bet. I thought that was funny.

Apparently his goggles filled with water during the event and thats why he was mad at the end.


Is anyone else bothered by the unfair scoring for girl's gymnastics, I know its a girly sport but still! China's team was great and all but some routines should have had bigger deductions.

 

[swiftaw]

Here's a question for you. What is the correct way to rank the countries?

the BBC is using number of golds won, followed by number of silvers as the first tiebreaker, and number of bronzes as the 2nd tiebreaker.

NBC is using total medals won (perhaps because this puts USA number 1, whereas they are only number 2 in the other method)

Anyone know what the official ranking method is?

 

[MacNut]

Here's a question for you. What is the correct way to rank the countries?

the BBC is using number of golds won, followed by number of silvers as the first tiebreaker, and number of bronzes as the 2nd tiebreaker.

NBC is using total medals won (perhaps because this puts USA number 1, whereas they are only number 2 in the other method)

Anyone know what the official ranking method is?

I thought it was total count.

 

[swiftaw]

I thought it was total count.

I just checked. The official olympic site uses the first method I described above. That is, number of golds, and then number of silvers and bronzes used as 1st and 2nd tiebreakers if needed.

 

[MacNut]

I just checked. The official olympic site uses the first method I described above. That is, number of golds, and then number of silvers and bronzes used as 1st and 2nd tiebreakers if needed.

I would think that the number of medals would trump the number of gold. It is more of an accomplishment to get a medal of any kind. The guy that wins a bronze doesn't care about the guy that got gold. Why bother even give out silver and bronze than.

 

[swiftaw]

I would think that the number of medals would trump the number of gold. It is more of an accomplishment to get a medal of any kind. The guy that wins a bronze doesn't care about the guy that got gold.

Well, I could argue it's the same as saying that number of world series (or FA Cup final for us Brits) appearances should be the ranking as opposed to number of wins.

Remember silver/bronze 'winners' didn't win anything.

 

[MacNut]

Well, I could argue it's the same as saying that number of world series (or FA Cup final for us Brits) appearances should be the ranking as opposed to number of wins.

Remember silver/bronze 'winners' didn't win anything.

But they don't give an award for second place anywhere else but the olympics. So I ask why bother with silver and bronze. Just let the person that one gold stand there and nobody else.

 

[swiftaw]

But they don't give an award for second place anywhere else but the olympics. So I ask why bother with silver and bronze.

Tiebreakers

 

[MacNut]

Tiebreakers

That is stupid as well. If 2 countries won 20 gold they each won the same. No need for a tie breaker. They are both just as good. Why not let the countries fight it out for ultimate country and the winner gets a titanium medal.

 

[swiftaw]

That is stupid as well. If 2 countries won 20 gold they each won the same. No need for a tie breaker. They are both just as good.

The reason they give 3 medals is probably historical (obviously). And while they exist it makes so sense to use them in ranking countries performance. if there is a tie in the number of golds.

 

[EricNau]

But they don't give an award for second place anywhere else but the olympics. So I ask why bother with silver and bronze. Just let the person that one gold stand there and nobody else.

Third, when competing against the best in the world, is still very much an honor. So why not?

 

[MacNut]

The reason they give 3 medals is probably historical (obviously). And while they exist it makes so sense to use them in ranking countries performance. if there is a tie in the number of golds.

But say a country wins 20 bronze and another country only 15. Those bronze are still better than nothing at all. So the more medals a country wins the better the country.

 

[wonderbread57]

Total and most golds are both good stats but I would total it giving gold 3 points, silver 2 points, bronze 1 point.

 

[swiftaw]

Total and most golds are both good stats but I would total it giving gold 3 points, silver 2 points, bronze 1 point.

I have seen the weighted total somewhere before, but I think it was 5/3/1, as opposed to 3/2/1.

 

[sushi]

Total and most golds are both good stats but I would total it giving gold 3 points, silver 2 points, bronze 1 point.

That would make more sense these days.

I have seen the weighted total somewhere before, but I think it was 5/3/1, as opposed to 3/2/1.

If you can find the reference, please give us a link. Thanks.

 

[dukebound85]

wow shawn johnson is amazing

 

[MacNut]

I got a thing for Nastia.

How old is that Chinese team, are any of them older than 12?

 

[wonderbread57]

I got a thing for Nastia.

How old is that Chinese team, are any of them older than 12?

Was wondering the same thing. They look like the average age is around 13 or 14. Since they are the hosts they get this one pass on the rules but the public's eyes can't be deceived by passports, not when it's THIS obvious they are 11.

 

[swiftaw]

Was wondering the same thing. They look like the average age is around 13 or 14. Since they are the hosts they get this one pass on the rules but the public's eyes can't be deceived by passports, not when it's THIS obvious they are 11.

There has been quite a bit of controversy about that. The rules say everyone must be at least 16 in gymnastics (each sport is different), but there have been reports that some of the chinese girls are 13 and 14.

Rumor has it that this would been a much more vocal issue if the olympics had been held anywhere else.

Hmm, you don't think a government has the ability to issue passports with what ever ages it wants on it??

 

[MacNut]

Horrible questions to ask, so after you fell off the beam what were you feeling. I would take the mic and slug Andrea.

 

[swiftaw]

Horrible questions to ask, so after you fell off the beam what were you feeling. I would take the mic and slug Andrea.

Yeah, just for once I would love an athlete to turn around and say "well, that's a dumb question"

 

[dejo]

(Not So) Live

I gotta question NBC's "LIVE" broadcasting. For example, last night nbcolympics.com's Results Spotlight showed that Liesel Jones won the gold for women's 100m breaststroke even before the TV showed them starting to compete.

 

[wonderbread57]

Horrible questions to ask, so after you fell off the beam what were you feeling. I would take the mic and slug Andrea.

I actually didn't mind the tough interview with her. It was not impressive to me the whole "about to cry but noo must stay strong" thing she was doing. Like, just cry and get it over with and move the **** on. Had she got'en it out of her system before floor she could have helped her self and at least helped her team mates. But the whole super stoic thing... she was not pulling that off. Really, too much pressure for her and she did not know how to deal with it. But they are really young and pretty much isolated from the real world (home schooling etc) so they all did really well considering.

Yeah, just for once I would love an athlete to turn around and say "well, that's a dumb question"

The announcer of women's volleyball keeps telling the story of how he asked misty may who was better her or walsh and after thinking for a second or two she responded "that is a dumb question".

 

[dejo]

I thought it was total count.

Do you really think a silver or bronze is worth the same as a gold? Would you think the same if the USA had more golds but less total medals? Somehow I think NBC would change their ranking to match the official method just so that USA moves to the top of the list again.

 

[rasmasyean]

Do you really think a silver or bronze is worth the same as a gold? Would you think the same if the USA had more golds but less total medals? Somehow I think NBC would change their ranking to match the official method just so that USA moves to the top of the list again.

The only thing that counts is the gold. That's the one that will get the athlete the endorsements. And hence that's also the only one that gets attention.