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Thread: Winter Olympics. Who's watching?

  1. #1
    Grand Master thieuster's Avatar
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    Winter Olympics. Who's watching?

    Watched the Opening yesterday. Nice, beautiful, but not the London Opening in 2012!

    Great day for us today and Team NL: Ladies 3000m speedskating: gold, silver, bronze. Men 1500m shorttrack: silver. For a brief moment, we were on top of the leaderboard (now overtaken by Germany, I think).

    Menno

  2. #2
    Grand Master mart broad's Avatar
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    My Wife i looked out the window and watched the grass grow i have zero interest

  3. #3
    Master Tifa's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mart broad View Post
    ... i have zero interest
    +1

  4. #4
    Grand Master Dave+63's Avatar
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    I’ll never understand why NL are so good at speed skating but all the medals in the 3k isn’t a surprise.

    I’m watching it and will no doubt see my brother on TV again as he coaches the Canadian bobsleigh team.

  5. #5
    Craftsman
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    That's because it is not London and not 2012 ...he he.

    The synchronised drones were quite something though.

  6. #6
    Synchronised drones something else......& hoping Elise Christie gets a result this time...

  7. #7
    Nope, my tv has a built in Claire Balding built in Off switch.

  8. #8
    Master yumma's Avatar
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    Yeah, enjoying it a great deal too, not enough hours in the day to keep up with it all, but love it.

    Nothing but admiration for all competitors. Sad for Jamie Nicholls not qualifying for the Slope Style final. Cannot wait to see Dave Ryding perform as well.

    I’m just sad it’s only every four years.


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  9. #9
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carl.1 View Post
    That's because it is not London and not 2012 ...he he.

    The synchronised drones were quite something though.

    Not really, it's because we don't really have mountains and when it's cold and snowy its pretty horrible.

    Plus we have Rugby, Football, cricket, darts and snooker to get excited about.

    As for 2012 - excellent games. Much better than Rio.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by bigvic View Post
    Nope, my tv has a built in Claire Balding built in Off switch.
    Most people seemed to like the drones.

  11. #11
    Craftsman
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    Mite watch the girls ice skating

  12. #12
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Watching as much as I can.
    Day one and already an all Dutch podium, 4 medals in total 😎.
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  13. #13
    Master
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    Errrrr, No!

  14. #14
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andyg View Post
    Not really, it's because we don't really have mountains and when it's cold and snowy its pretty horrible.

    Plus we have Rugby, Football, cricket, darts and snooker to get excited about.

    As for 2012 - excellent games. Much better than Rio.
    Err yes really, it is because it is not London and not 2012 as the OP said.

  15. #15
    Craftsman
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    I’ve been watching it on and off for the last few days. In true a Olympic style, in these few days I have become an expert in Slope style, Curling, Skiathlon etc and feel qualified enough to shout at the telly and critique the athlete’s performance.

  16. #16
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    Are they doing the biathlon this year?

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Andyg View Post
    Not really, it's because we don't really have mountains and when it's cold and snowy its pretty horrible.
    There's a distinct lack of mountains in the Netherlands, they seem to do ok at the Winter games.

  18. #18
    I'm watching it when I can, currently a few hours a day on average. Men's luge was fantastic, and hats off (or maybe not 'cos it's bloody cold out there...) to Andrew Musgrave in the skiathlon.

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by zippy View Post
    There's a distinct lack of mountains in the Netherlands, they seem to do ok at the Winter games.
    Everyone skates to work on the frozen canals.

  20. #20
    Grand Master thieuster's Avatar
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    Yeah right! I haven't seen proper ice on the canals in 10 yrs, I think. Ice skate rings are the secret of the success. And the Dutch Speedskating Association has a good program for young talents etc.

    And with the 5000m Speedskating men, things are looking even better: another gold medal. During the time that Sven Kramer on the track, there was hardly any traffic on the streets according to Dutch traffic control. My oldest started the 2018 sailing season today with a training on the water, but first, they had to watch Kramer winning gold on TV.

    Menno
    Last edited by thieuster; 11th February 2018 at 18:26.

  21. #21
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by seadog1408 View Post
    Are they doing the biathlon this year?
    Beautiful sport Mike, must be very difficult to shoot straight when breathing heavily and being tired.
    Bit of the old hunter gatherer stuff so to say ;)

  22. #22
    Master -Ally-'s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    Everyone skates to work on the frozen canals.
    Elfstedentocht

  23. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    Everyone skates to work on the frozen canals.
    For those missing the reference, here it is: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.33d4dd493416

    Absolutely love the Winter Olympics, Sven was a beast in the skating today - just on another planet. And the final jump from the 17 yr old Red was incredible.

  24. #24
    Grand Master thieuster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by -Ally- View Post
    Elfstedentocht
    Eleven Cities Tour; A a one-day-without-a-pause, 200 km speedskating race. The last one was on Jan 4, 1997...
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfstedentocht

    Despite the fact that it's 21 yrs ago, the Elfsteden Committee is constantly inundated with requests for a membership card. Only members can participate.

    Menno

  25. #25
    Master -Ally-'s Avatar
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    ^ A Dutch lecturer told me all about it, she was quite old but said she had previously participated.

  26. #26
    Grand Master thieuster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by -Ally- View Post
    ^ A Dutch lecturer told me all about it, she was quite old but said she had previously participated.
    She's one of the 16K lucky ones. 16K sounds a lot, but I think that there's a waiting list as long as the membership list. In the old days, between 1963 and 1985, membership dwindled and grandparents handed their membership to their grandsons and daughters. One of my colleagues obtained his grandfather's membership card with starting number 36. The low numbers are very sought-after because you can start in the first 'tier' (1 - 200). That makes it much easier to find your way en-route. Nowadays, the membership cards have to be returned to the committee when you decide to quit membership.

    Menno

  27. #27
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    Really not interested in either of the Olympic Games. I think more and more of the events are no longer relevant, or too snobbish or unfair.

    Yes you can win gold on a bicycle, snowboard or skates, but not for motorsport.

    You can win about 40 medals for swimming forwards, backwards, sideways at 50/100/200m etc but only one for javelin.

    And you can win for javelin, or archery, or shooting, but not darts.

  28. #28
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zippy View Post
    There's a distinct lack of mountains in the Netherlands, they seem to do ok at the Winter games.
    True, but not such a shortage of long strips of water prone to freezing or long track ice rinks specifically required for speed skating.

    To.me its about as interesting as i am sure it is to the majority of people in Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, Australia and South America. A rather exclusive Middle class sport for middle class people, much like every other winter Olympic sport.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  29. #29
    Quote Originally Posted by crazyp View Post
    For those missing the reference, here it is: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.33d4dd493416
    Missed it myself TBH

  30. #30
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by -Ally- View Post
    Elfstedentocht
    Bless you!
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  31. #31
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pete-r View Post
    Really not interested in either of the Olympic Games. I think more and more of the events are no longer relevant, or too snobbish or unfair.

    Yes you can win gold on a bicycle, snowboard or skates, but not for motorsport.

    You can win about 40 medals for swimming forwards, backwards, sideways at 50/100/200m etc but only one for javelin.

    And you can win for javelin, or archery, or shooting, but not darts.
    That's a new one for me :)

    I'll be busy with my livestream at work from 13:30 CET, 1500m Ladies speedskating.

    Middleclass my arse, skating can be done by everyone in Holland, an old jeans, pair of skates and a woolly jumper are all you need. Skates can be rented as well. Fun for everybody.
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  32. #32
    I’m watching it a bit - I generally have zero interest in watching sport but tend to watch the Olympics - before I get bored they switch to a different event!
    I have come to the conclusion it’s only open to the posh end of the market for UK Olympians (how many kids have parents who can afford enough ski holidays to spot their child’s potential early enough?) - and indeed I may have been a fantastic world class ski-jumper or brilliant on the Luge but how do you find out growing up in North London?! - having watched the moguls I wonder how the competitors will manage the stairs in the 40’s with all that knee action! - but generally it’s a fun thing to watch


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  33. #33
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    It's not all skiing and not all posh/expensive.

    Generally you are either interested in doing (winter) sports or not.
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  34. #34
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daddelvirks View Post
    It's not all skiing and not all posh/expensive.

    Generally you are either interested in doing (winter) sports or not.
    There's been F all skiing so far (unless you count the Moguls)... too windy! I can see this being an (the first?) Olympics where a number of prestige titles go undecided at this rate!

    The person that complains it's 'posh' because only the rich can afford skiing holidays needs to look at the demographics of summer Olympians too... A huge bias to those from public/private schools, even amongst sports like athletics.

    Many of the top skiiers (not British ones, although Dave Rydding's not exactly Bullingdon Club, is he?) just happen to have been born in the mountains - Their winter sports lessons are skiing, so it's hardly elitist if you're lucky enough to have been born in the mountains.

    M
    Last edited by snowman; 12th February 2018 at 14:16.

  35. #35
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by snowman View Post
    There's been F all skiing so far (unless you count the Moguls)... too windy! I can see this being an (the first?) Olympics where a number of prestige titles go undecided at this rate!

    M
    They're not panicking yet :)

    But if the wind continues the ski jumping will be difficult as well, or extra exciting.....
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  36. #36
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Yes!!

    And another gold and bronze
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  37. #37
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Superb display on the ice from the Dutch team.
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  38. #38
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    Superb display on the ice from the Dutch team.

    Thanks, back to work now..............;)
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  39. #39
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  40. #40
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Two silver and one gold added to the total
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  41. #41
    Journeyman
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    Re Elise Christie:

    “It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand" Brian Stimpson, Clockwise

  42. #42
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daddelvirks View Post
    Two silver and one gold added to the total

    Makes up for missing out on the World Cup I suppose.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  43. #43
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    All very middle to upper class but still a great event (except the wind during Slope Style!)
    RIAC

  44. #44
    Grand Master Daddelvirks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andyg View Post
    Makes up for missing out on the World Cup I suppose.

    Nah, not really, that's something we should be very ashamed of.
    But, we sometimes forget we are only a tiny country and are often punching above our weight.
    Got a new watch, divers watch it is, had to drown the bastard to get it!

  45. #45
    Master
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    Started well but it's been all downhill ....

  46. #46
    Grand Master VDG's Avatar
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    Great performance from Russian curling team



    Fas est ab hoste doceri

  47. #47
    Master Grandiloquence's Avatar
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    Loving the half pipe snowboarding - Chloe Kim taking the gold at the age of 17 was amazing.

  48. #48
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    Shaun White with an amazing run in the Superpipe.

  49. #49
    Master Grandiloquence's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Olly View Post
    Shaun White with an amazing run in the Superpipe.
    Yep, lived up to the billing.

  50. #50
    Master Tenko's Avatar
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    I’m watching via the highlights programme.

    Sliding around on the white stuff isn’t as easy as they make it look so I have to admire the courage, determination and skill on display from the competitors.

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