BBC Athletics commentary is dire because.......

[Pipsquiggle]

Of the crowd noise!

Trying to hear Gabby, Denise, Jess & Michael but it sounds like they are in the crowd - lots of clapping and cheering, you can't hear them speak.

The sound department need to sort this out ASAP. It's really ruining the programme.

Plus they call men she!

10 points for the shoehorn.

I was wondering how much you get paid if you're some has-been who once won a bronze in a very niche event and now qualify to be a pundit.
Who are these people and how do they find them? Perhaps they're just pleased to be noticed and get a freebee after all this time in obscurity.

Yes it's awful. Maybe they'll sort it out before we go back to them.
It's all that silly rhythmic clapping when somebody is getting ready to do the long or triple jump that really annoys me.

The sound with the clapping is appalling

What’s a shoehorn?

@VeronicaBeccabunga if you mean the ones in the studio, they're all former Olympic gold medallists

Showing your age (or lack of it)

I wish they’d talk less and show us more sport!

Huh? All 3 of them discussing the athletics are gold medal winning athletes.

It is terrible, and I just said that to DH, but I've had more of an issue with seeing Fred Sirieux and Matt Baker doing 'commentating' bits of stuff they really know little to nothing about.

I would be fuming if I was a sports commentator with the BBC and folks like this with no background in sport landed a plum job like the Olympics. It's only every four years and I imagine everyone working in Sport would love to be there.

Matt Baker was a competitive gymnast. Granted not at Olympic level but he doesn’t know ‘next to nothing’

i would guess Fred knows more than the average man about diving - parental support is pretty key.

The other two on the gymnastics annoy me. I know they're knowledgeable but I want to switch off when I hear them.

Note to commentators- "medal" and "podium" are not verbs

Are you being serious?

You clearly don't follow athletics very closely do you....

Oh I see, you’re a post-modern fan of verbing the noun. (Thread: passim.)

I find the backstories so patronising, esp the women who have had kids and gone back into sport - they are treated with near incredulity. Life doesn’t have to stop when you have kids (admittedly it would be easier if you have an Olympic program helping you out with the childcare).

Ultimately all of the participants are elite athletes at the top of their game. Does it really make a difference whether your Nan told you to see if you could win an Olympic medal one day? No.

As the classic song says " A-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh, a-weema-weh Irigary"

The only one I can listen to, and who has the knowledge and intelligence to know less is more, is Hazel Irvine.

Eurosport coverage is far better!!!

I find Clare Balding really patronising & I can’t stand her faux enthusiasm about the athletes. The nonsense about Adam Peaty’s son & his comment about being “the fastest boy” drove me insane & I had to turn over.

The Swedish coverage is the same, they need to give presenters proper booths really, or pundit mics to those who are trackside etc.

What's a shoehorn?

Bless you!

I have noticed that this year, when so many more of the men are wearing tight lycra, at least one commentator has taken to referring to high performers as having the whole "package"

Linford Christie retired years ago, but his legacy lives on !

Are you talking about the athletics? They're all Olympic gold medalists - Michael Johnson has 4 golds and was world record holder in 3 events.