I'm not remotely interested in these Olympics

[Wobbler]

I'm enjoying it so far. This has been a very "streamable" commercial-free Summer Olympics, and I had fun watching a few selected events (boxing, volleyball, swimming) today.

There has been a lot of over-the-top alarmism about Rio and Brazil leading up the Games, but they're doing fine. Why anyone would wish ill on a developing* country is beyond me.



(*Yes, yes, "recently industrialized")

[1argoholic]

It's been fun and I always get into it. Today's woman's beach volleyball between Canada and The Netherlands was just WOOOW! what a bunch of absolute knockouts. I swear they don't let you into the sport unless you're easy on the eyes. The volleyball was great as well.

How about the Canadian men sweeping the US in traditional volleyball. They must blast that ball at 100km an hour on those spikes. Fun stuff.

[ArgoRavi]

The best story of Sunday was Iraq holding on to tie Brazil in soccer. How in the world does Iraq get its men's soccer team into the Olympics while Canada can't even get close?

[ArgoZ]

The best story of Sunday was Iraq holding on to tie Brazil in soccer. How in the world does Iraq get its men's soccer team into the Olympics while Canada can't even get close?

I don't understand how the nations are selected for the Olympics. Canada's National Men's team is currently still playing qualifying games for the 2018 World Cup. Their next match is Sept 2.

[shayman]

I don't understand how the nations are selected for the Olympics. Canada's National Men's team is currently still playing qualifying games for the 2018 World Cup. Their next match is Sept 2.

I was curious too. Here's how the 16 mens teams got to the Olympics
Host country (Brazil)
2015 South American Youth champion (Argentina)
2015 UEFA Euro Under-21 champion (Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Sweden)
2015 Pacific Games (Fiji)
2015 CONCACAF qualifying (Honduras, Mexico)
2015 Africa U-23 Cup (Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa )
2016 AFC U-23 (Iraq, Japan, South Korea)
2016 CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff (Colombia)

More here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footba...#Qualification

[Wobbler]

Thanks for the info, shayman. Canada needs to find a way to get into the Pacific Games - I think we could take Fiji!

[gilthethrill]

What county if favored to take gold in Men's Handball?

[Wobbler]

I can't answer that question, but I just saw what the poor Egyptian women's beach volleyball team are wearing in competition. Damn... that must be awful. I'm going to try to watch the Egypt-Canada match on Thursday, and I'll be cheering for both teams.

[1argoholic]

I had to look at what Wobbler was talking about in regards to the Egyptian women's volleyball team. At least they look like athletic wear. Good for them even though they must roast. I can see SNL skit ahead though.

[Wobbler]

I had to look at what Wobbler was talking about in regards to the Egyptian women's volleyball team. At least they look like athletic wear. Good for them even though they must roast.

Thanks, 1argoholic, and noted.

[Double Dare]

My favourite Canadian athlete: http://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/olym...=mailsignoutmd

[ArgoZ]

I was curious too. Here's how the 16 mens teams got to the Olympics
Host country (Brazil)
2015 South American Youth champion (Argentina)
2015 UEFA Euro Under-21 champion (Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Sweden)
2015 Pacific Games (Fiji)
2015 CONCACAF qualifying (Honduras, Mexico)
2015 Africa U-23 Cup (Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa )
2016 AFC U-23 (Iraq, Japan, South Korea)
2016 CONCACAF-CONMEBOL playoff (Colombia)

More here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footba...#Qualification

Interesting. A mix of mostly young, amateur tournaments. This is probably why the Olympic competition is viewed by many as not very significant, however it provides excellent experience for the athletes involved. Not only did Canada not qualify, but also the USA, who can field a very good team at the national level.

For anyone interested, Canada's next game on Sept 2 against Honduras is considered a must win, if they are to qualify for Russia in 2018. A win puts them into the final stage, the furthest they have been in 20 years, so it's a big deal. Also of note, the team has decided on playing home games at BC place rather than BMO. Home crowd support and wind conditions were the deciding factors, not grass surface, believe it or not.

[1argoholic]

Thankfully Canadian Women Kick Ass because the men have done squat. How about the women's soccer team beating powerhouse Germany. The men will never do that. I think any funding should be pulled from sports like men's soccer or basketball because they never accomplish anything. For years both have done nothing. Obviously they don't deserve the funding. Put funding towards sports that are showing growth. Have to admit I enjoy the women's soccer. They play a tougher game as they typically don't roll around trying fake injuries to get the other team carded.

It would be nice to see sports like Handball which are killer or more Waterpolo. I have two nieces from Calgary who play it at a fairly high level.

I've enjoyed The Olymipic's for the most part. Even that swim by Phelps shutting up his big mouthed rival from South Africa. I'm not even a Phelps fan but it was fun to watch.

Oh well into the screaming heat to water a clients garden and harvest cucs and zucs. There's a crap load every two days from those crazy plants.

[ArgoRavi]

Thankfully Canadian Women Kick Ass because the men have done squat. How about the women's soccer team beating powerhouse Germany. The men will never do that. I think any funding should be pulled from sports like men's soccer or basketball because they never accomplish anything. For years both have done nothing. Obviously they don't deserve the funding. Put funding towards sports that are showing growth. Have to admit I enjoy the women's soccer. They play a tougher game as they typically don't roll around trying fake injuries to get the other team carded.

It would be nice to see sports like Handball which are killer or more Waterpolo. I have two nieces from Calgary who play it at a fairly high level.

I've enjoyed The Olymipic's for the most part. Even that swim by Phelps shutting up his big mouthed rival from South Africa. I'm not even a Phelps fan but it was fun to watch.

Oh well into the screaming heat to water a clients garden and harvest cucs and zucs. There's a crap load every two days from those crazy plants.

I still believe that Canada needs its own domestic men's soccer league as the MLS has no interest in developing Canadian players. Yeah, I know that TFC has some academy but a full Canadian Soccer League, like we had in the late 1980s, is what is necessary to give us a chance to develop a solid national team. Of course, the question becomes would a city like Toronto support a team in a Canadian-only league?

[Wobbler]

It's nice to cheer for Canadians when they are in contention (and feel awful for them when they don't quite make it, as with the women's gymnastic team), but there have been plenty of great performances by athletes from everywhere. I love watching stuff like the 56 kg men's weightlifting, where tiny guys lift three times their body weight.

...and the Canadian 4x200 freestyle relay team just won a bronze. That's a lot of strong swimming.

[1argoholic]

We have our own swimming star in the making with that 16 year old who has three medals in the pool and really helped lead us to that last bronze. She's going to dominate in four years if everything goes right.

[1argoholic]

Did anyone catch what Byron McDonald said after the Canadian women won bronze in the pool last night? He is the expert colour guy for CBC swimming. I walked out of the room and came back to hear him talking and it was obvious that he thought the mikes were off. It was a relay race and Canada beat China for third. Bryon said " That Chinese girl went out like a rocket and then died like a pig, good for us". I phoned my mom as I knew she was watching but she didn't hear it. Holy Shit man what are you thinking??? I was floored and knew right away that he thought the mikes where off.
Up until them McDonald has been a wealth of info and he knows swimming inside and out.

[argolio]

Elliotte Friedman is a fine journalist. Not so good on play-by-play.

[Wobbler]

Canada has a gold medal at last! I missed it, but Penny Oleksiak must have been pretty amazing to set an Olympic record. Kudos to 1argoholic for predicting her success.

[argolio]

Canada has a gold medal at last! I missed it, but Penny Oleksiak must have been pretty amazing to set an Olympic record. Kudos to 1argoholic for predicting her success.

I think she was 7th at the turn, so quite the comeback. And she's only 16. Who knows what she can do if she keeps at it.