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Original poster

A thread for your stupid Olympics questions

659 replies

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 01/08/2024 12:34

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?

OP posts:
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15
ForGreyKoala · 02/08/2024 00:36

CanadianJohn · 01/08/2024 17:42

I think "sports" that are no longer played outside of the Olympics should be dropped... like shot-put, discus, and the hammer throw.

Elite marathoners rarely need to wee during the event, though there was the infamous Paula Radcliffe 'bladder event' as she neared the finish line at the Athens Marathon... maybe 20 years ago.

Edited

What are you talking about?? Of course those sports are played outside of the Olympics!!!

JobMatch3000 · 02/08/2024 00:42

Why are "professional" sports like football, basketball and golf included? Famously Torvill and Dean weren't allowed to compete if they "turned pro" / earned money for their sport.

crazyunicornlady73 · 02/08/2024 00:54

Brilliant thread, what a good idea. I have two.

Firstly, why does there appear to be a little swimming pool at the end of the showjumping course?
Is it a horse fitness thing?

Secondly, where do the horses for the modern pentathlon come from and do the owners get to stick around and give the competitors tips about how to ride them?

BeaLola · 02/08/2024 01:01

crazyunicornlady73 · 02/08/2024 00:54

Brilliant thread, what a good idea. I have two.

Firstly, why does there appear to be a little swimming pool at the end of the showjumping course?
Is it a horse fitness thing?

Secondly, where do the horses for the modern pentathlon come from and do the owners get to stick around and give the competitors tips about how to ride them?

I wondered about the little pool and I understand it's for the penthathlon competition

HauntedbyMagpies · 02/08/2024 01:20

Myteaiscild · 01/08/2024 17:13

Anyone think the dressage is being swept under the carpet a bit in light of recent events? I thought I saw on the app that it was due the other day but not seen anything televised?

Ooh, and, the bouldering and climbing? I loved that last time, any idea when it starts?

I realise they're possibly not stupid questions but just asking for opinion and intel 🙏

Dressage was on the day after the opening ceremony and on Wednesday. It's the final this Saturday I think

whenwhenwhen · 02/08/2024 01:21

So here's my stupid question. This piece of music was on the BBC Olympics coverage, we are trying to figure out what it is. It is the baseline to something pretty familiar but we cannot identify what it is. Ten housepoints (or houseplants) to whoever can identify it!

https://voca.ro/11K85zSvQHvL

TIA!

Vocaroo | Online voice recorder

Vocaroo is a quick and easy way to share voice messages over the interwebs.

https://voca.ro/11K85zSvQHvL

HauntedbyMagpies · 02/08/2024 01:31

@Elliania ChillED. The word is chilled.

morebubbles32 · 02/08/2024 01:33

dizzydizzydizzy · 01/08/2024 16:18

To catch them if they fall. It's dangerous.

Show quote history

One of the Ukrainian men has a female coach who would be absolutely splatted if she tried to catch him if he makes a mistake on dismount, I think the coaches are just there to try and make sure that if the gymnast falls they don't fall on their head and neck. There have been a few super scary falls - one Brazilian in the women's team final in warm up managed to give herself a black eye.

DreamTheMoors · 02/08/2024 01:35

AlarminglyAwful · 01/08/2024 17:46

These are as popular as any other sport. Amateur athletics clubs across the country will compete in leagues which include there disciplines. And they are still very much part of the Diamond League. Just because you don’t follow athletics, doesn’t mean they aren’t ‘real sports’.

Show quote history

Thanks, @AlarminglyAwful—
They’re very common in the USA too, including high school girl’s athletics.
And wow some girls do exceptionally well at them.

yesmen · 02/08/2024 01:36

Gold medal for you OP. 🙂

In GBR what does the “R” stand for.

What can be done for the most unfortunate women boxers?

HauntedbyMagpies · 02/08/2024 01:37

GreenShady · 01/08/2024 19:32

Not the thing about live events on IPlayer but why is it so hard to find individual sports or events to watch? They're all there but you have to forward through 2 hrs of other things to get to the one you want - or am I doing it wrong?
I'm sure in other years IPlayer has organised the viewing in a way that was more user friendly.

Discovery+ have the full rights to the Olympics. You can watch every event on there

HauntedbyMagpies · 02/08/2024 01:41

@ilikecatsandponies It's all on Discovery+ as they have the rights

HeartandSeoul · 02/08/2024 01:58

I have a question that I hope doesn’t sound too stupid!

Why, when there are sensor pads at the ends of the swimming pool (inside), is there the need for ‘spotters’ (not sure of their official term!), to ensure the swimmers are starting at the right time (when doing backstroke, or when changing swimmers for a relay race)?

You see them peering out over the edge at the swimmers, and it just looks a tad bizarre when you consider that there are sensors that could tell you when the swimmer had started the race.

(I need to go to bed, and struggling to keep my eyes open, so apologies if this makes little sense! I hope you know what I am trying to say).

DreamTheMoors · 02/08/2024 02:02

Did anybody else see the South and North Korean athletes taking a selfie together?
If that’s not bilateral cooperation, I just don’t know what is.

JandLandG · 02/08/2024 02:04

hepsitemiz · 01/08/2024 14:09

Horses sweat so can self regulate their temperature. I was at Versailles yesterday and saw them enjoying being walked down their lovely long cool avenues of shady trees, cool as a cathedral. I imagine riders and grooms would have been fighting over who got to do those walks. Cooling contraptions in their stables too… those temporary structures often heat up something terrible!

Good comment.

I know nothing about this, but...good comment; sounds ace, glad you enjoyed.

LightFull · 02/08/2024 02:15

DreamTheMoors · 02/08/2024 02:02

Did anybody else see the South and North Korean athletes taking a selfie together?
If that’s not bilateral cooperation, I just don’t know what is.

No

But I'm so excited for the North Korean competitors to be out in the real world experiencing a world outside of what they're used to

It will be hard to go back

LightFull · 02/08/2024 02:17

Synchronised swimmers paint gelatine onto their hair which makes it go rock hard and keeps it in place

LightFull · 02/08/2024 02:21

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/08/2024 18:30

Why do some gymnasts (well, one that I have noticed) wear leggings/long leg skinsuits, but the majority have bare legs.

Why is Simone Biles' leotard different to the rest of the US gymnasts's leotards?

To cover hair and during periods

LightFull · 02/08/2024 02:27

OrkneyGirl · 01/08/2024 23:02

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!

The commentators explained that these are required elements the dancing stuff

AnnieMcFanny · 02/08/2024 02:29

TheTripThatWasnt · 01/08/2024 16:34

A poster of Paris (I think based on the design from the 1924 Olympics but I may have got that bit wrong), with either a gold, silver or bronze border.

I think it's great that they have got something more useful than some of the other random stuff medalists get - they can easily frame it and have it on their wall forever.

Show quote history

i Don’t know if it’s still the same today but if so then all competitors get a beautiful parchment type certificate that commentates their participation in the Olympics. It’s personalised, is a good size and you can’t miss it on the wall. They also receive an Olympic medal for taking part. It’s a bronze/coppery colour and good in weight.

LightFull · 02/08/2024 02:30

For the individual women's gymnastics final today they wore different leotards because they were no longer in a team.

It then makes it easier to differentiate between them

Cookerhood · 02/08/2024 02:33

DodoTired · 02/08/2024 00:10

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?

A friend of mine is a journalist who used to cover the Olympics & I remember her telling me about all the condoms at the Barcelona Olympics, so I don't imagine anything has changed. They were all given some in their welcome pack.

Mumandcarer80 · 02/08/2024 02:40

I would like to know why football is in the Olympics? Do we not see enough football already? And why don't team GB have a team?

OCaledonia · 02/08/2024 02:47

How tall is the man who handed a camera over for the selfie photo of the medalists the other day? He is dressed in the beige trousers and white top and cap so I assume he's one of the volunteers.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 02/08/2024 02:51

@whenwhenwhen there is a coverage playlist on Spotify. Not sure if it might be in there?