Winter Olympics 2014.

[VeryPC]

This is interesting

BBC News - Where is it illegal to be gay?

I know Russia has introduced a law stopping "promotion" of homosexuality but according to this timeline, the USSR (and therefore Russia) actually decriminalised homosexuality BEFORE some other countries we would consider more enlightened.

Homosexuality only decriminalised in the UK in 1982.

 

Shocking every time I read that fact.

 

Al

[VeryPC]

Does anyone else keep getting confused by the fact that the Olympic ski bibs look like Team GB outfits?

 

Every time an athlete lines up to the gate I think it's one of ours!

 

Al

 

EDIT - from a distance, I hasten to add. Up close they look nothing like our colours

Edited February 11, 2014 by VeryPC

[localzuk]

Yeah, I was thinking that. It confuses me quite a lot!

[rickjames]

MENS HOCKEY TODAY. FINALLY.

[witch]

Women's ski - jumping

Finally!

(why on EARTH has it been so hard to get this included)

[featured_spectre]

I was watching that this morning. Very very close when I left the house, looked like a Swiss 1-2 finish.

[Oaktech]

Women's ski - jumping

Finally!

(why on EARTH has it been so hard to get this included)

 

if the FIS and the IOC are to be believed it is because of a lack of interest from competitors... However it remains to be seen how long it remains a sport as medical advisers are concerned about the rate of serious injuries among competitors. The suggestion is that the physiology of the female body makes them less resilient to repeated impacts to the legs, and makes knee and pelvis injuries more likely and more serious than their male counterparts. We will see.

[localzuk]

The half pipe events seem to be a bit of a disaster - lots of complaints about poor snow conditions, world champions falling left right and centre!

[Mcom]

The half pipe events seem to be a bit of a disaster - lots of complaints about poor snow conditions, world champions falling left right and centre!

 

It will make for a good highlight real

[witch]

if the FIS and the IOC are to be believed it is because of a lack of interest from competitors... However it remains to be seen how long it remains a sport as medical advisers are concerned about the rate of serious injuries among competitors. The suggestion is that the physiology of the female body makes them less resilient to repeated impacts to the legs, and makes knee and pelvis injuries more likely and more serious than their male counterparts. We will see.

I can't see how the ski jump is any worse than the other ski stuff women do - they do jumps in slopestyle and the moguls must be absolute hell on the knees and hips.

The issue about lack of interest is just nonsense

[Oaktech]

I can't see how the ski jump is any worse than the other ski stuff women do - they do jumps in slopestyle and the moguls must be absolute hell on the knees and hips.

The issue about lack of interest is just nonsense

 

Well, the stats, seem to say different about it being worse than other disciplines...

 

Within twelve months, eight female top athletes suffered serious knee (and in one case: vertebra) injuries and thus had to withdraw for long recovery periods, putting their good chances at the Olympics in Sochi at risk. On 12 January 2013, Daniela Iraschko, the 2011 World Champion, fell in Hinterzarten and withdrew,[14] Anja Tepeš suffered a serious injury on 17 March in Oslo,[15] 2013 Cup de France winner Espiau suffered a knee injury in June[16] and on 12 August 2013 Alexandra Pretorius, two-times women's Grand Prix winner, suffered a serious knee injury in Courchevel.[17] On 21 August 2013, Sarah Hendrickson, the 2013 World Champion, suffered a knee ligament damage in Oberstdorf.[18] On 20 December 2013, Jacqueline Seifriedsberger fell during the training jumps for the World Cup event in Hinterzarten,[19] and on 3 January 2014 Svenja Würth fell during the training jumps in Chaikovsky.[20] On 11 January 2014, Ema Klinec, ranking first after the first jump, fell in Predazzo.[21] Female ski jumpers need a longer approach than their male colleagues to make up for their light weight and to reach the necessary speed. Due to their light weight, however, female jumpers reach distances which are not below those of male jumpers. In media reports, it is argued that this might physiologically overburden the knee of female jumpers.[citation needed]

 

However, I'm all for equality in the ability to choose to wreck one's body.

[Miscbrah]

Hey everyone.

 

Who's watching the winter Olympics? What are you looking forward to and what awesomeness have you seen so far?

 

I'm idly watching it in the gym, just because it's on the tv by the bench and the crosstrainer.

 

I'm almost exclusively watching and looking forward to the fitties who might be competing:

 

http://www.mensfitness.com/sites/mensfitness.com/files/imagecache/gallery_full_image/photo_gallery_picture_images/hottest-sochi-athletes-vanessa-mae.jpg

 

http://www.mensfitness.com/sites/mensfitness.com/files/imagecache/gallery_full_image/photo_gallery_picture_images/hottest-sochi-athletes-linn-githmark.jpg

 

http://eftsportsperformance.com/eft_v3/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/1380578235000-c06-olynotes-01.jpg

 

http://cdn04.cdn.justjaredjr.com/wp-content/uploads/headlines/2013/10/hilary-knight-sochi-kickoff.jpg

 

http://media.giphy.com/media/pcfdfm6hjTvji/giphy.gif

 

[/perv]

 

I mean GO TEAM GB or smthg.

[rickjames]

http://www.prestonhollowpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Eriksson-Loui.jpg

 

LOUI <3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

[VeryPC]

I'm almost exclusively watching and looking forward to the fitties who might be competing:

Let's stay focussed on the sport and other discussion worthy stuff shall we?

 

Al

Edited February 12, 2014 by VeryPC

[Earthling]

Reminds me so much of the Keirin in velodrome cycling, which I also love.

 

Also saw some early rounds of the curling - such a compelling game. I'll be following that right through to the finals for sure.

 

Al

 

Is that the one where they all chase after a postman on a moped? When I saw that during London2012, I thought it was so sweet, I had to watch it again.

 

Curling's great. Strategy, precision, focus, calm.

[Oaktech]

Is that the one where they all chase after a postman on a moped? When I saw that during London2012, I thought it was so sweet, I had to watch it again.

 

Curling's great. Strategy, precision, focus, calm.

 

And yet bowls, which is almost exactly the same sport but with rolling instead of sliding, is somehow as dull as dishwater!

[VeryPC]

Is that the one where they all chase after a postman on a moped?

Yep that's the one. Slowly build speed and wait for the Derny bike to pull off the track, then explode in to a spoked maelstrom of finish line hunting fury. Cue glory, elation, crashes and injuries - much much like the short track speed skating in fact.

 

Al

[Earthling]

And yet bowls, which is almost exactly the same sport but with rolling instead of sliding, is somehow as dull as dishwater!

 

Only because there aren't as many babes playing bowls. Otherwise, I find it just as absorbing.

[witch]

@Oaktech - where are the stats for injuries to male ski jumpers?

Listening to the commentary for the snowboarding - both males and females seem to have lots of injuries in that sport but they haven't stopped women competing

I don't think decisions like this should be taken by the IOC - in the past women weren't allowed to compete in lots of sports because they weren't considered strong enough - and yet that has been shown to be false. I'm sure that women would prefer to do these things than not - it is up to them as to whether they want to risk injury or not.

[featured_spectre]

Reminds me of this looking at the medal count.

 

http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/adNxn12_700b.jpg

[witch]

 

I'm almost exclusively watching and looking forward to the fitties who might be competing:

 

.

 

Only because there aren't as many babes playing bowls. Otherwise, I find it just as absorbing.

 

If you want to make comments like this please start your own thread. Tired of sensible and interesting threads being diverted into male posturing and sexist rubbish.

[localzuk]

I'm of the opinion that Curling is won by the team who shouts the most.

 

It really is a fascinating sport.

[Oaktech]

Firstly, just to make sure we aren't talking at cross purposes, I'm not agreeing with them in. As I said before, I totally support anyone's ability to make their own decisions.

 

The stats for injuries in the top flight of the mens tour are much lower, but as far as I can tell this is only because the mens sport has a bigger pool of talent to choose from.

 

My personal opinion, is that the quality of the competitors are currently so variable, some ladies are there because they have the guts to do it, rather than because they are particularly good. I have great respect for them, I wouldn't do it, but those are some of the accident stats. Better competitors will come up through the ranks and they will be more highly skilled, better trained and less prone to accidents. It's a sport that will only get better and better if it is allowed to.

[witch]

Yeah, I know - it isn't a dig at you, it's just difficult for women who have had legions of men deciding over the years what is "best" for them. I don't remember any other male sports being a concern because of injury rates.

I agree with your "pool of talent" comment and I hope the powers that be can see that woman's ski-jumping can only improve

[Miscbrah]

If you want to make comments like this please start your own thread. Tired of sensible and interesting threads being diverted into male posturing and sexist rubbish.

 

*looks at shoes*

 

Sorry witch & VeryPC.