To think a round of applause is an inappropriate response to an injured athlete being stretchered off

[sickntiredtoo]

I was at a gymnastics competition yesterday when one of the acrobats fell from a throw and landed on her neck.The competition was halted and she was kept from moving until the paramedics arrived and stretchered her off about half an hour later.At which point the audience of several hundred people (who of course were nearly wholly families of the gymnasts) burst into a round of applause !
I was

I think sympathetic applause for someone being stretchered off is lovely and a sign of support and respect. Clapping at weddings is weird though.

I had no idea about the clapping at funerals thing and don't remember it at Princess Di's funeral was so sick of the hoo-ha by the time the actual event came round.

I think though that I'd quite like a rousing round of applause at my funeral. A proper send-off. If people can whistle through their fingers too, so much the better.

The OP just didn't understand sporting traditions. It's been made abundantly clear to them now and I think some people went too far

I don't think anyone would have mentioned her ignorance if she hasn't told another poster off for being idiotic, followed by the most head scratchingly stupid reason for why she thought they were clapping.

Good now we can return to the competition after a long delay

well I obviously didn't mean that was what the crowd was thinking, more that was how it could be interpreted by the injured gymnast and her distraught family.
And I would question whether it is a tradition.I was at the London World champs in 2009 when Jessica Gil Ortiz fell on her neck and I certainly don't remember the crowd erupting in applause as she was carried out.

To say I thought the crowd was happy she was injured was by far the stupidest thing on this thread.

It really isn't the stupidest thing.

Perhaps it is new to gymnastics!

FWIW when a family member broke his neck in a rugby game, the team moved to another field and carried on the match whilst he, the captain and the coach waited for the air ambulance. They did stop and clap him on to it when it arrived though!

OP questioning these things is fine, some people just can't understand when others see the world differently to them, but hopefully you've been reassured that the girl and her family saw it as supportive. It's definitely really common at football and rugby matches, but perhaps a bit new to gymnastics.

Would probably have seen it as supportive I mean. I really hope they did anyway.

Maybe it's a regional thing then, or more prevalent in some sports and not in others.I have NEVER come across it before.
To me applause is a signal of approval for something positive.

applause means appreciation

Well, clearly it's in your region now OP . And a good thing too.

According to the dictionary it is a sign of approval
The competition was not in fact in my region and I was sitting with coaches and parents from our club who also thought it was weird which is what sparked my thread.So I am certainly don't think it is a universal thing
It still seems very odd to me to clap at 'bad' things. Especially not seriously bad things. that girl might be paralysed perhaps a respectful silence would be better.
I mean would you clap at a road accident , or someone has a heart attack?

of course not, because those things are not spectator activities, are they? Really, you're being very obtuse. And actions can evolve over time, yes, the dictionary can say one thing but people can take an action and use it in a different way. The clapping would have signified that everyone was wishing her well.

You're just digging your heels in because not one person on this thread is agreeing with you. Just believe it. It's perfectly normal and acceptable.

Well they were doing this at Rugby and football matches as far back as I can remember which is the 1970's. I have seen it done in England, Scotland and Ireland- so not regional I don't think.
I think it's nice- it's giving appreciation to the injured person.

Stop being so stroppy, OP. The several hundred people at the event who clapped are clearly up to date on modern etiquette. You'll know what to do next time, to show your respect for the injured athlete.

When my paralyzed family member was loaded on the helicopter he called out "I don't think I'm available to play next week, guys!"

I think a "respectful silence" would have destroyed him. In the moments before you realise you're now disabled, you need all the support you can get. (And in the moments after, too.)

According to the dictionary it is a sign of approval

Yes, in this case it is approval (or appreciation would be a better word) of the very hard work that the gymnast has put in just to be there, and appreciation of the great efforts being made by the gymnast immediately prior to the fall. He or she must have been exerting him or herself to have fallen.

Where is your club from, OP? What reaction would your team have shown at this unfortunate moment?

Exactly Honeysuckle a respectful silence would be truly hideous.

I also read this as a sign of approval- of the hard work of the athlete and their bravery in the face of being injured.

There is approval in that type of applause, just obviously not of the bad thing itself!

I went to a wedding where people clapped when the vicar said 'you may now kiss the bride' - he even said clapping was allowed!

It has happened in Rugby League for as long as I have been watching it. It is horrendous to see a player go down with a serious injury but during the time they are being treated it is normal for both sides of fans to stop any chanting/singing and then when they are taken off the pitch fans of both sides will applaud them off the team - it would actually be thought of badly if fans didn't clap.

'Don't be idiotic!! I thought it was because they thought .Good now we can return to the competition after a long delay'

You didn't obviously mean that you didn't think this is what the crowd were thinking -read above ^^ your earlier post saying just that.
Applause after incidents at sporting events has been around for years. In the 1980s I remember horse shows where everyone clapped for fallen riders/disqualification. It's respectful and supportive.

"This was what I might have wondered as well, OP, and like you, I would have been somewhat surprised, though I guess I might have wondered as well whether it was applause for the wonderful ambulance men"

Triliteral there are wonderful "ambulance women" now as well you know, it being the 21st century and all! Or "paramedic" if you prefer

OP, stop being all snippy and defensive! Can't believe you've never come across this before.