A thread for your stupid Olympics questions

[FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant]

If you have any "stupid" questions about the Olympics here's the place to ask them. Hopefully some knowledgeable people will know the answers.

At this temperature it's too hot for me to walk my dog but the horses are participating in the jumping events. Does the heat not impact them in the same way? Is it because they're bigger? Is it just because they're horses?

That's a great q. I have no idea, but with so many athletes across all sports, I always wonder about "accessories". I had a very strict PE teacher at school and I can't seem to shake the ethos that sport is no play for jewellery or fancy hair dos!

Does this have to do with it no longer being ok for athletes just to perform well? They now have to be attractive or stand out in some way to get sponsorship dollars. Hence Sha'carri Richardson's deliberately calculated Insta personality. If you watch the Netflix series Sprint, you wll see what I mean.

Well, quite, and as PP mentioned before, when the men's sprints are won by a 100/0th of a second, you would have thought not wearing thick necklaces, not wearing a watch and having hair at least tied back, or even cut short would be the % gain needed to win?

Not sure if it's been asked yet. High jump- I know they're trained to roll, but I always squeak when I see them roll over on their necks- how does that seems the safest way to jump?

I’ve just watched that YouTube video where the swimmer shows you the free stuff they get. They actually get a phone for competing at the Olympics?

Sponsorship and free gifts aren't anything new!

I know that but I’m just surprised at a phone lol

I think it's the same phone that the medal winners use to take a selfie on the podium - there's a lot of product placement!

Better than some shampoo and toothbrush 😆
And referring to a PP, are they no longer getting condoms? Or did he just not show them off?!

I went to the ping-pong quarter finals on Tuesday.

What's this business with the serves? Why all that cowering, hunching down very close to the table, holding the bat in one hand and the ball in another, both hands very close together at the level of the table and almost touching your nose? Some even draped their forearms on the actual table edge.

Then, the seemingly obligatory stamp when you finally do that disappointingly feeble serve?

They all did it. Is it all about the spin? There was certainly very little speed there.

I also noticed, as I watched two doubles matches featuring four different teams, that each pairing consisted of one right-handed and one left-handed person. Basically out of the two sets of four contestants, so eight people, a right-handed person was always playing next to a lefty. I don't think that can be coincidence - is there some advantage to it?

Do the Paralympians get the same free gifts as the Olympians do?

This was my PE teacher at school. Lane 6, No 689:

What are the red and blue lines on the velodrome track for? I know the black one is the shortest route for riders to follow, but what are the others?

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/search/article/20150217-track-Jargon-buster--What-do-the-painted-lines-on-a-velodrome-mean--0

Velodrome markings explained.

Sorry, should have googled that myself!

Could anyone answer my question about the high jump? How is it okay to roll over your neck? How do they fall safely?

Don't be silly @taggysits, that's what this thread is for!
I for one have having my questions answered, and also seeing the questions that others ask - I've learned so much!

100% this @GoogleWhacked. I happen to know quite a lot about track cycling, but nothing about some other Olympic sports. I’m sure there will be people on here who actually do some of those other sports to a high level along with a multitude of parents of kids who do it for fun right through to armchair experts. It’s all about the variety of questions and answers!!

I realised that it was easier to post a link rather than trying to explain in my own words which would probably be along the line of that's the thingummy to mark the whatzit called that they do during that race where they throw each other.
I know what I mean but you would be none the wiser.

Can someone tell me how the hell this omnium works please? 🙏

Who makes the bikes used for the keirin?

When the bell rings if you are wearing a clown wig you get six points, if you say who's a good boy? to a passing dog you get 25 points, if your middle name starts with a vowel you get minus 4 points, if you eat a fruit pastille without chewing you get 10 points?

No idea if been trying to figure it out for years much to my MAMIL brother's dismay!

Can I add to this, who gets to drive them? I assume it’s a referee or race official and not just a random games volunteer with a bike license (would love it if that was actually who it was!)

No, it's definitely not a random volunteer! Riding a derny is a skilled job and you really need to understand the racing to do it properly. There are specific training courses though the details of qualifications required may vary from country to country, I'm not sure.. But there's a lot more to it than just sitting on a bike, it's a very important and technical role.

I believe, though I am happy to stand corrected, that at the Olympics in the Keirin it’s the same chap for all events, and he’s a race official. You have to qualify on a specific licence.

in the individual derny racing, which sadly hasn’t made it into the olympics but if you are getting in to the track cycling, watch the six days, the riders have a driver of their own.

I know a couple of people qualified to drive the derny, but not to Olympic level by any stretch.

Theres a really good explainer of the track cycling here. https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/olympic-track-cycling-explained

if you think 6 riders behind a moped is mental and carnage and you’ve got your head around the elimination race in the omnium (aka the Devil) just wait for the Madison!