To think the British Olympic Commentators need to get a grip!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Watching the women's snowboarding. We've just got a medal. Yes. I agree it's exciting, yes it's our first, but seriously?
There's weeping, He can "feel his pulse in his lower intestine"...
Oh dear!

Great Medal...really exciting watching her wait while they all had a turn but utterly rubbish commentary.
At one point they were chatting about what 'Degsy' or 'The Calla' or some other nickname for someone either about to 'huck it' or she might actually have been the one 'putting one down' .. Anyway they were discussing what she'd had for tea her tea while the screen showed someone doing a backside 180 or something which I will never now know the name of because they were prattling on about rubbish.
And I don't care how other nations behave but it certainly isn't British sportsmanship or great commentary to start cackling, hurrahing and cheering when another competitor lands on her backside (not 180) even if it does mean a medal for the Brit.
They also rather spoilt is as she went to the podium and they basically said ... Good old Jonesy did a safe, boring run and won the medal because everyone else tried to do something more exciting. A bit of a backhanded compliment that highlighted how inappropriate and out of their depth they were.

Having written all that that we did have a good laugh at the following exchange
Man 1.... I'm so excited my foots gone to sleep .. ( breathy chuckle)
Man 2..... I've got pins and needles in my left leg ( even breathier excited giggle)
Woman ... I think I'm going to be sick!
All... Silence
Man 1 ... Um um she's railed that and is going for the grab here ...( slightly embarrassed lets get back to the commentary tone of voice)

Don't get me wrong, I love enthusiasm. I'm not overly hot on winter sports but it's nice to see us winning something, but The female commentator I was listening to actually said Hahahaha when someone fluffed their 'jump'? which is pretty unprofessional, and as for "I can feel my pulse in my lower intestine!"
Screaming and excitement I can cope with, I just thought they sounded slightly unhinged!

But the female commentator wasn't a professional broadcaster, she was a team mate of Jenny Jones who didn't progress beyond the semi final. So, highly biased.

Absolutely - there is no way before the Olympics Aimee would ever have imagined that she would get to the semi final.

So suddenly to be cast into the spotlight and doing commentary on one of her best friends? Well it is no surprised she wasn't polished and showed nothing but enthusiasm.

When you watch virtually all sporting events you have a team of commentators who have worked together before, have experience of "filling", are used to being in constant contact with a wider viewing public for the duration of the event.

I note all those picking up on her "laughing" at those falling conveniently missed when she said she of course didn't wish them ill but she was just far too excited for her friend.

Yep, she is not a professional commentator, nor is she employed by the BBC. She is free to be as biased as she wants, particularly as she's part of the British team! It wouldn't surprise me if her and Jenny Jones are sharing accommodation either, being part of the same event. In fact, I've heard more comments commending the women snowboarders for their obvious friendship with the other competitors, and other good sportsmanship.

The fact that Ed Leigh, who has known Jenny for most/all of her career, managed to hide his bias, shows his professionalism.

Should we go back to the days when all BBC broadcasters had RP accents?

It was one of my favourite bits of commentary EVER! Loved how excited and emotional they were.

Well done to Jenny Jones - Hoorah for all women in sport but especially trail blazing ones. And how brilliant we got to listen to one of her best mates during the competition.

Whoever said the commentators should be neutral is all well and good, but we should atleast be able to cheer on our own competitors.

Our first medal in the snow ever - and it was a woman.

Yippee ........ I may have also sobbed

carabocs. Barry Davies was just on 5Live along with Blowers to discuss this, they introduced the item with his Seoul commentary 'the question is where we're the Germans? And frankly who cares?'. They also pointed out whoever was commenting on the 1972 Olympics cheering for Mary Peters.

Blowers was much more old school and admitted he'd been told that the day he referred to 'we' when talking about England would be the day he lost his job. Even he had some nice stuff to say about the slopestyle commentators though.

I think the bit that upset people was when they were cheering after the last rider fell which was a bit unedifying....that said the three medallists were doing exactly the same, and the snowboarding community at that level is very tight so it isn't that surprising the commentators reacted the same way. It's also worth noting that they reacted equally personally (ie in shock and horror) when Sarka Pancochova crashed and that the last rider fell but was immediately on her feet.

300 complaints!

The BBC has also received 53 compliments on its general Winter Olympics coverage since the event opened on Friday

I wonder what these were about.

Apparently they're all friends.

I have no idea what they were talking about with all their numbers. I was still thinking about the moguls and their knees.

Now this is biased !!

Goaaaaaaalllll!

On the topic of how we should react to people from other nations falling over, I notice that on the BBC sports site you can watch videos of mogul skiiers and speed skaters falling over.

I've sent a positive response to the BBC to balance the whingers.

How did you do that 2Rebecca as I'd do that too?

I loving the slope style and half pipe commentators, helps me know when its a great trick when they get excited. Am enjoying this olympics

Oo, I want to send a positive complaint as well, chip away at the 300 who have nothing better to do

I thought it was hilarious and played it again for the benefit of my boyfriend. "Solid! Solid! LITERALLY massive! Go on the Jones! Squuuuueeeeeeeee!!!!!! SOLID!!!!!"
Once I realised that it was fellow competitors not "proper" commentators (which took about 3 seconds) I liked it.

To those who have mentioned that sport isn't important.

Get a grip it's an important part of who we are.

On the BBC program at 7pm each evening, there's a section where they show clips of people falling over. It seems it's ok to laugh at people falling over apart from when it means somebody British wins a medal...

I don't really understand why snowboarding being a 'young persons sport' is an excuse for the commentary being amateurish. (I didn't mind it by the way).

As an aside, does anyone else find Ed Leigh and Graham Bell two of the most irritating people on telly? (and also Chemmy Alcott, looking forward to her and her self trumpet blowing making an appearance soon)

Loved Jenny Jones jones though, she was so sweet!

www.bbc.co.uk/contact and then click the send us an appreciation link at the bottom and fill in a few online details.

Done, thanks 2Rebecca

I did too, lol