To say climbing at the Olympics needs more air time?

[hedgehogger1]

Just watching it for the first time. Everything about it is fascinating

Definitely! DS and I have been really enjoying it.

It was amazing!

I can't work out the scoring system for the bouldering though. I get that they need two hands on the top. Do they get one green square if they can only get one hand on?

Climbers are so fit

I've been looking for it. Was it on BBC?

@hedgehogger1

I can't work out the scoring system for the bouldering though. I get that they need two hands on the top. Do they get one green square if they can only get one hand on?

I think there are certain check points on the way up and you get 1 green square if you make it to one of them, then 2 green squares if you get all the way to the top

Yes! It’s great isn’t it. Mens finals tomorrow 9.30-2.20pm, and women’s same times on Friday. I watched it on Eurosport today but my DM said its on bbc red button too? Not sure as I didn’t try that.

I'm watching it on catch up. Mind you I clicked climbing then had to fast forward through loads of boxing etc

Have loved it here too. My son climbs, so this was the event he was waiting for. I just wished the bloke commentating today would shut up a bit though. He never stopped rabbiting on! Looking forward to the finals now,

Plus they have giant toothbrushes:)

We are enjoying it. We went to “Clip and Climb” yesterday at our local leisure centre so we feel like we are experts!

I wanted to watch the surfing, another new sport, but couldn't find any of it. None. At all. Very disappointed. Whereas interminable hockey or baseball...

I can't stand the boxing. This should have its time. I don't need to watch people try and give each other brain damage

Totally agree with you there hedgehogger

Much more worthy than skateboarding

Onto the "Lead" event now. Love that they're all stood at the bottom with binoculars acting out what their hands are going to do

@hedgehogger1 not sure if you’ve seen, but if you’re watching on BBC the issue is that due to Discovery’s rights to show the olympics so BBC can only show two sports at a time Whereas before you’d be able to choose from loads on the red button. It’s been a bit rubbish.

FWIW the climbing was shown a lot during the day on BBC today.

inews.co.uk/sport/olympics/bbc-olympics-tv-coverage-two-live-streams-why-limited-tokyo-2020-discovery-plus-deal-explained-1121071

Am a climber, so YES!

I've loved the little I've seen, and I know fuck all about climbing, but it looks exhilarating.

Baseball on the other hand 🤔. I've watched two matches. The commentator hasn't told me the rules, so I don't know what is happening. I understand rounders, but these games I haven't a clue.

It’s fascinating! If you look up Magnus Midtbo on youtube he’s got some great videos - a recent one talking about the Olympics and one 3 months ago where he tried speed climbing. I’ve never climbed in my life but he just makes it look so easy ! .

Climbing is amazing to watch. Definitely needs more air time. I think the bouldering part is the most fun to watch as so much variety to see.
The bouldering is divided into tops and zones. To complete the problem, you need two hands on the top in control. A hold on the way is designated the zone and you score the zone by holding that in control. On the visuals, it’s two squares to show a top for that problem, one for the zone and you are looking to top as many as possible in as few attempts as possible. Scores are compared by looking at how many problems are topped, then how many zones have been reached. If these are equal then they look at how many attempts to top, then how many attempts to the zone. Eurosport commentary is fairly rubbish but good to see climbing reaching a wider audience.

I'm a climber, so totally biased, but it should definitely get more coverage.

I hope it comes back for Paris, and at future Olympics it's be great if they separated the lead and bouldering into 2 medals, and ditched the speed climbing altogether (which isn't a proper climbing discipline imo).

Also, for anyone planning to watch it, the BBC commentary is miles better than eurosport.

I've found it on iplayer. It deserves a permanent place IMO.

Climbing is back for Paris with a single medal for speed climbing and a joint event for lead and Boulder. Ideally 3 separate events would mirror the current World Cup format but separating the speed makes for a much better event. The woman who won the speed element in today’s qualifying round did not score at all in the bouldering and came 19th in the lead but due to the scoring will advance to the combined final. Speed climbing is interesting in its own right but does not have the variety and jeopardy that you see in lead and Boulder and most of the world’s top lead and boulder climbers have had to take up speed climbing solely for the Olympics.
Anyone interested in some background on the comp and how Boulder works have a look at UKC.
www.ukclimbing.com/news/2021/08/day_2_at_the_games_-_womens_qualification_medal_favourites_and_bouldering_explained-72843