OLYMPICS 2021

[Star555]

Haven't found a thread for Olympic sports discussions so I'm starting one. This thread is only for discussions of the actual sporting events as they happen over the next few weeks, not the unfairness of IOC's rules/philosophy (e.g. allowing a male athlete to declare himself a woman and compete in the women's category...which is immoral, unscientific, and wholly unjust, but that topic already has multiple separate threads).

Although this will be an Olympics like no other, I'm excited for the opening ceremony tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing gymnastics and swimming especially!

@Floralnomad

Has anyone seen the medal cosies that Tom Daley has knitted , very cute.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/27/tom-daley-knits-a-tea-cosy-holder-to-keep-his-gold-medal-safe-from-scratches

Just saw it in The Guardian. He is so lovely!

Aww thats lovely, I just assumed they would get a box to keep it in.

Right, I'm back on the dressage, what ate the riders doing to make the horse do different things?

are

It’s a combination of hands , legs and seat so basically how you communicate anything to any ridden horse .

So all physical prompts no words?

So when you are initially teaching the horse what you want it to do do you use treats like you do when you teach a dog to sit?

Do they fly the horses over ages before so they have time to get adjusted to the new environment and recover from the flight? It must be fairly traumatic.

I was just reading an article about a Canadian swimmer who couldn't see the scoreboard and didn't know she'd won at first, and it was exactly what I'd been thinking about earlier - with my vision, I can't see clocks or scoreboards or anything, even if I did squint! So some of them with eyesight like mine or worse wouldn't know that they'd won. I know they announce it eventually, or someone on their coaching team would let them know, but it wouldn't be instant the way it is for some competitors. I can see why they don't want to wear contact lenses in the pool, and prescription goggles can only do so much.

Just read a few articles about the horse transport - very interesting. A week quarantine before the flights, which have been anywhere from a few days ago to a couple of weeks ago. Special horse flights put on with 36 horses from a variety of teams on each flight.

DH and I were wondering about the transport of the horses - and how much it costs to fly them over. Do they get affected by atmospheric pressure etc on flights, and jetlag, I wonder? It's 12 hours or so to Japan, isn't it?!

Really enjoying all the events, but am pretty tired waking up to watch the finals in the early hours. A great Rugby 7s RSA v Argentina which Arg won with 5 men.
I am very disappointed with JJ Chalmers and Alex Scott as presenters. I am all for diversity, but they have zero presence and their knowledge is very poor. I don’t think they should be fronting the Olympics. The BbpBC should have its best presenters for the biggest sporting event in the world.

@Halsall

DH and I were wondering about the transport of the horses - and how much it costs to fly them over. Do they get affected by atmospheric pressure etc on flights, and jetlag, I wonder? It's 12 hours or so to Japan, isn't it?!

Some horses travel better than others but they are given very good care on board and travel in air conditioned partitions with their grooms, their own food from home, full veterinary care etc. Whenever there is a major competition such as the Olympics or the World Equestrian Games , they travel through Liege airport in Belgium which is the international horse transport hub of Europe.

More info here

So when you are initially teaching the horse what you want it to do do you use treats like you do when you teach a dog to sit?

Different people use different methods but generally a horse may get one or two treats at the end of a training session. But some riders don't reward with treats at all, others just use treats for training exercises on the ground. You have to use treats with care because you don't want a horse to get pushy and impolite or it can be dangerous. Generally you want a horse to work with you because he enjoys what he is doing and enjoys being with you, rather than for any reward. And horses are individuals and what motivates one, will not necessarily motivate another.

So all physical prompts no words?
Yes a rider might give a horse an encouraging word or sound here or there but mainly the communication is through the connection they develop with the horse through the "aids" via the reins, legs and seat.

This article explains it well dressagetoday.com/instruction/how-to-develop-feel-as-a-rider-and-find-harmony-with-your-horse

We were also wondering about the transport, how dramatic it is for a horse, and how expensive it must be...
Also that dressage is one of the sports with the oldest competitors - a lot of the people were in their 50s ...where being in your 30s is positively ancient in some sports!

@Mooserp

Do we know who is going to be in the Mixed Tri team?

I imagine definitely Alex Yee and Jonny Brownlee, and then for the women probably GTB and either Jess Learmonth or they might put in Sophie Coldwell who is the reserve and will be fresher. Love a mixed relay, it's always very exciting!

Fantastic swim from the 4 x 200 relay team so close to a world record but another gold in the bag!

Best thing about insomnia is watching the swimming gold live. Brilliant result for team GB.

Re talking to the horses , during the test you are not allowed to be heard talking to the horse so although you may talk to it at home if you do so in competition it needs to be very quiet .

Ouch! That Russian dive looked painful!

Does that mean we aren't last

It does indeed!

Fantastic swim from the men’s 4x200m team.

Amazing swim in the relay! I think this Olympics I’m realising how close in age some of them are to my DC - Matthew Richards is only a year older than my DS

When is the mixed tri?

I'm watching Handball, the commentary is dire but it's an exciting game.

Agree Valencia

Thanks for all the horse info and links, I've learnt a lot.

@MirandaWest

Amazing swim in the relay! I think this Olympics I’m realising how close in age some of them are to my DC - Matthew Richards is only a year older than my DS

Yes I have had this dreaded thought too.

One of the Chinese female divers and the GB gymnastic twins are younger than my eldest daughter!