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?

It needs to be fair conditions. Unstable breeze or not enough wind is awful to try and race in. It becomes a total lottery.

It depends on the event and class. I sail the ilca6, women's Olympic dinghy, and for our world champs all boats are supplied. You can't use your own boat.

Used to be 2 or 3, I think?

Why is the UK team branded as GBR?

Oh, I can answer this one, back in the day I shot for my region. The arrows are carbon fibre, with spin wing fletchings, and the nocks (the bit that sits on the string) are personal sizes for the string thickness. The points at the end of the arrows have different weights, all your arrows are a full set of identical arrows, all weighted precisely and balanced. They would balance if you set any of your arrows on your fingertip in the middle of the arrow. Your draw length (distance from the front of the bow to your lips) is the arrow length.

I spent nights straightening arrows (before carbon), clueing nocks on, and changing points. Nobody and I mean nobody touches another archer's arrows. They are eye-watering and expensive at Olympic level.

I wondered this and it appears to be "because it just is". Although this is interesting on the justification for Team GB over Team UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37058920

That's a very good question indeed.

On a similar note, I was confused in the swimming the other day when the swimmer from NI won a medal for Ireland (who they kept referring to as 'Team Ireland').

I thought NI was part of the GB Olympic team (they always used to be clear in commentary and refer to 'GB and Northern Ireland'), so how can a NI athlete be competing for Ireland?

Because the rights to complete coverage are with Discovery +. They show EVERYTHING.
the other broadcasters just get some (key) bits

Northern Irish athletes can choose to compete for Ireland or the UK.

As anyone born in NI can have an Irish passport I assume they can choose which country to represent.

Why do floor gymnasts do fancy dance routines - usually whilst standing - between the impressive bits? Their movements never seem to be in time with the music anyway! I just want to see the triple backflip with a double thingummyjig and would be happy if they just moved to the next take off position!

Another one...Is there a world or Olympic record for the canoe or kayak slalom event? How can water and swirling pools be made the same from one venue to the next or are the courses exactly the same wherever you participate? It was a commentator's thoughts on the difference between the uk and French course that got me wondering. Must be really weird managing such volume of water compared to the stability of a running track!

It wasn't on tv last year either - you have to pay for a subscription to something else to watch equestrian other than highlights. Only the dressage qualifiers have happened so there won't be any highlights yet.
It's to do with sky(?) buying all the licence rights and it would cost the bbc a fortune to televise everything like they used to on the red button.

1500m runner Ciara Mageean represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games and is representing Republic of Ireland in Paris. Like most Northern Irish athletes who opt to compete for RoI she is a Catholic. As is golfer Rory Mcilroy and swimmer Daniel Wiffen who took gold in the 800m freestyle.

Apparently they need recovery time between the big moves. However, I don't know if that's factually correct.

Tradition.

The team’s full, official name is ‘Great Britain & Northern Ireland’, which is shortened to ‘Team GB’ because it’s shorter & catchier.

The various different names for our country & it’s constituent parts confuse many British people, never mind the foreigners!

Is it well that's just rubbish I thought it was a single flower or something!

To prove its not just a big chocolate coin

Does anyone have any "funniest olympic moments' memories? would love to know. :)

Because judges also look for things like flexibility, extension (stretchiness apparently) and other elements that are easier to see in dance and smaller movements. That's why they also have to do leaps and jumps and things.
Also technically these events are part of the "artistic" gymnastics as opposed to the rhythmic gymnastics where they use the hoops, balls and things & the judges do base some of their marks on the artistry of the routines, even on the beam and bars.

The poster is specially designed by an illustrator to represent the full story of the games. I think it's really cool; he took ages to design and create it apparently. Better than flowers - at least you can hang this up at home!
Oh and the medals have a tiny piece of the Eiffel Tower in them. Which I think is cool!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68250353

Why don't they have better covid precautions in place?

Each sport has different (or no) rules. Gymnastics now has a minimum age of 16, but there is an 11 year old competing in skate boarding!

Is it true that there are tons of condoms and other contraceptives distributed and available everywhere in the Olympic village because it becomes a giant shaggaton for athletes?

Because if you’re from NI you can choose which country to represent in the same way you can choose which passport to have, which identity is yours. The Good Friday agreement was quite remarkable…