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?

Thanks! 👍

You do realise those field events are played at all levels, around the world? Not just the Olympics!! How do you think the athletes rise up the ranks to reach Olympic level in the first place?

@GoogleWhacked i read that there’s an 11 year old taking part in the skate boarding

I know... but I'm sure it's also a useful guide as to where you are in the pool (along with all the other things people have mentioned)

With rowing, as others have said the difference between the quad (abbreviated to W4x) and the coxless four (W4-) is that the rowers in the quad have two oars (or blades as they're called) each and those in the four have one oar each. It is the coxless four as you can also have a coxed four (W4+) but that is no longer an Olympic event. GB won a gold in the men's coxed four (M4+) at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 which was the first time Steve Redgrave won a gold in rowing.
When there are two people in a boat, if they have two oars each it is a double; if they have once each, it is a pair. Again, the pair can be with or without a cox.

Just watching the gymnastics. When Simone Biles finished her routine it looked like she went over to an Olympic official at the sideline area, then over to a to speak to someone behind a barrier (her coaches?) then back to the sideline )to wait for scores?) . The other gymnasts seem to finish their routine and go to a coach right there on the side. What’s that about?

I was watching a sailing race earlier (don't know which class) and the judges decided to scrap the whole thing and start again because of the wind being sketchy and unreliable. I don't understand why - the competitors all face the same conditions. Any insights?

I think (on the long legs) the German team were trail blazers on this front. I'm sure I read that they were objecting to the need for overly skimpy leotards (for a number of different reasons) and said they were going to wear long legs.

I haven't spotted if anyone other than Germany are wearing them? I think all the gymnasts should be given a choice regarding the shape/cut of their leotards.

Really love the questions and answers from everyone here!

The equestrians have to bring horses, which don't go well in the overhead bins either.

In this case it was because the way the wind was blowing would have favoured some of the competitors (given them a boost) and it was felt that was unfair because it would be easier for some teams than others rather than being an equalising force.

I LOVE watching the behind the scenes footage of the horses being transported on planes. They're so chill!

Have you seen International Velvet? I imagine things are a bit different now (and obviously that's a film, not real life), but the bit where they transport the horses is very sad.

Oh wow! 11 years old and an Olympian 😲 I feel very unaccomplished.

I read somewhere - maybe bbc news? - they are allowed to have long legs but it can make their legs a bit slippery and hard to get a grip on so they often don’t like it. I definitely find that in my yoga class, pesky foot keeps slipping off my leggings when I try to do tree pose 😂

My son wants to know if the athlete’s family get free tickets to their relatives’s event or if they have to buy them like everyone else?

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername
I saw a post that the Canadian equestrian team have their own plane to transport the horses and it's called Air Horse One. Which is absolutely brilliant.

They have to buy them like everyone else. One of the GB swimmers family unfortunately bought theirs off a site that turned out to be a scam but Martin Lewis helped them get their money back and luckily they got proper tickets in time.

I used to train with someone who competed for us in 2012 and 2016 - she was given well over three-dozen cap with her name on (she competed in two events). She used two cap hats for each race (they're elastic and so they don't fit as snugly each time and the last thing you want is it slipping during the race) as you put one over your hair, then your goggles, then another cap to help keep the goggles in place 😀

Thank you @Catopia.
This thread is giving me so much joy amongst all the other race baiting threads!

There is a plane called Air Horse One but it's not being used for the Olypmics & it doesn't beling to the Canadians. It belongs to a private company and has been used to transport horses all over the place.
This article does a good job of explaining! And yes the name is brilliant! https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/paris-olympics-horses-transportation-planes

I work with someone who has a cat that likes swimming and his name is Adam. (The cat that is)

Thank you. I thought they might get a couple each to give to people!

This is not my stupid question but a question I've seen a lot of on social media in various forms.
"Why aren't the BBC showing <insert sport here>?"
"Why didn't the BBC coverage show <insert name of British athlete?"
And a silly answer, often delivered with so much confidence despite being wrong "Oh well IPlayer have EVERYTHING live."

I know you weren't asking a question but in case anyone is wondering they only have the rights to show 2 live events at once. Hence one on proper telly and one on the red button.