Max Power Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 I watched the opening ceremony and whilst spectacular in many ways, it was a bit flat due to the lack of spectators. I do feel sorry for the Japanese organisers. I noticed a local lady called Karen on Facebook, complaining that all the sports were on at the wrong time for her to be able to watch them!
Chinahand Posted July 25, 2021 Posted July 25, 2021 Great advert for the grit it takes to be a Paralympian https://youtu.be/OjIP9EFbcWY
Shake me up Judy Posted July 26, 2021 Posted July 26, 2021 Maybe I'm getting old but this Olympics has failed to ignite for me in the way it used to. I must confess that modern sport has lost its wonder for me as it has become more a branch of the lifestyle business; more about display and 'the look' than the simple joy and values that I remember as a kid. Does anyone else find modern sport too commodified and cynical ? Too obsessed with success ? Too much about fashion and glamour ? Too much narcissism and the body fascism of the treadmill and the gym ? What is it that sport has lost - or is it just me ? Where have all the heroes of my youth gone to ? What happened to the sports that I loved ?
wrighty Posted July 27, 2021 Posted July 27, 2021 On 7/26/2021 at 8:12 AM, Shake me up Judy said: Maybe I'm getting old but this Olympics has failed to ignite for me in the way it used to. I must confess that modern sport has lost its wonder for me as it has become more a branch of the lifestyle business; more about display and 'the look' than the simple joy and values that I remember as a kid. Does anyone else find modern sport too commodified and cynical ? Too obsessed with success ? Too much about fashion and glamour ? Too much narcissism and the body fascism of the treadmill and the gym ? What is it that sport has lost - or is it just me ? Where have all the heroes of my youth gone to ? What happened to the sports that I loved ? Professionalisation. It starts in all walks of life. In the olden days it was raw talent and a bit of application that won the day, but when things get professionalised with modern training plans we turn out clones. For example: Snooker - We all loved the hurricane, then Steve Davis came along and won everything because he could hit a white ball up and down for 2 hours in his practice routine. Now they're all the same having copied the successful model that Davis pioneered. Golf - the flair of Ballesteros, compared with the manufactured modern players perhaps started by Woods F1 - Senna vs Prost, Hunt vs Lauda - compare with Lewis Hamilton etc To be the best these days you have to devote everything to it like your competitors all do. It's taken the soul out of sport. Music has gone in a similar direction.
Bobbie Bobster Posted July 27, 2021 Posted July 27, 2021 Speaking of fashion and glamour. 5th Oly 200 free final.
The Chief Posted July 28, 2021 Posted July 28, 2021 Bit disappointed so far with the various clubs and sports on the IOM, very little on the socials to encourage the youth and other members. But then that is because most clubs and sports are cliques and really don't want anyone they don't know to get involved. And yes it happened to me when i got a extremely negative response from the Archery nazi's club when i asked about taking up the sport after 2012 (same for fencing), despite both sports asking for new members at the time.
2bees Posted July 31, 2021 Posted July 31, 2021 I absolutely love the gymnastics, the parallel bars and rings have blown my mind awesome stuff.
prism10 Posted July 31, 2021 Posted July 31, 2021 On 7/27/2021 at 9:55 AM, wrighty said: Professionalisation. It starts in all walks of life. In the olden days it was raw talent and a bit of application that won the day, but when things get professionalised with modern training plans we turn out clones. For example: Snooker - We all loved the hurricane, then Steve Davis came along and won everything because he could hit a white ball up and down for 2 hours in his practice routine. Now they're all the same having copied the successful model that Davis pioneered. Golf - the flair of Ballesteros, compared with the manufactured modern players perhaps started by Woods F1 - Senna vs Prost, Hunt vs Lauda - compare with Lewis Hamilton etc To be the best these days you have to devote everything to it like your competitors all do. It's taken the soul out of sport. Music has gone in a similar direction. Steve Davis, Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton. Two of them have something in common 🤔 I would not call Woods manufactured. He was playing as a 3 year old. Did Faldo, Woosnam or Lyle have the flair of Ballesteros? I think very few players did.
wrighty Posted July 31, 2021 Posted July 31, 2021 2 hours ago, prism10 said: Steve Davis, Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton. Two of them have something in common 🤔 All 3 of them have in common that they were coached/pushed/supported by fathers from an early age, setting them on a path to a professional approach to their chosen sports. I don’t think any characteristics shared by 2/3 are relevant.
Shake me up Judy Posted August 1, 2021 Posted August 1, 2021 Andy Murray is another obvious example. This 'hothousing' is ruinous to sport and only one step away from genetic engineering to produce champions. In essence, sport is a social activity and it shouldn't be about pure individualism and the 'win at all costs' mentality. Sport loses its meaning and ceases to matter if we forget that. We celebrate greatness and true genius when it rises from collective endeavour. I did think that Woods transcended his childhood coaching and played with a flair and style that was fantastic. Shame that his career all fell apart. The golden age of golf is over for me since the passing of Ballesteros, and now Woods' injuries. Cricket is scrabbling for relevance too in a world that's moved on.
Chinahand Posted August 1, 2021 Posted August 1, 2021 Wonderful entertainment. World record in the women's triple jump, joint golds in the high jump and now the 100m final. Great fun.
Bobbie Bobster Posted August 1, 2021 Posted August 1, 2021 "This is one of my biggest achievements in my career." 1096 days to go!
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