Tokyo 2020

I've been dipping in and out of the Olympics mainly due to the time difference but some good action so far.

Women's 100M today and a lot of build up just now on the BBC for Dina Asher Smith but I just cannot see her being fast enough to win gold.

BMX was interesting and one thing I do enjoy about the Olympics is watching sports you normally wouldn't give a second thought.

I've watched quite a bit but it's been sh*t because they sold the European rights to Discovery+ for £950m so they've put all the best coverage behind a paywall and the BBC have been given the scraps and everything else has to be shown on delay.

The Olympics, like the FA Cup, were always supposed to be free to air but ya know, capitalism and all that.

How many subscriptions do they expect us to take out?

Rant end.

Yeah, watching bits on eurosporr as they have extra channels

I've watched quite a bit but it's been sh*t because they sold the European rights to Discovery+ for £950m so they've put all the best coverage behind a paywall and the BBC have been given the scraps and everything else has to be shown on delay.

The Olympics, like the FA Cup, were always supposed to be free to air but ya know, capitalism and all that.

How many subscriptions do they expect us to take out?

Rant end.

Agree 100%

To be honest I've watched everything on catch up anyway so kind of forgot about the rights issue but agree it should be free to air.

I've watched quite a bit but it's been sh*t because they sold the European rights to Discovery+ for £950m so they've put all the best coverage behind a paywall and the BBC have been given the scraps and everything else has to be shown on delay.

The Olympics, like the FA Cup, were always supposed to be free to air but ya know, capitalism and all that.

How many subscriptions do they expect us to take out?

Rant end.

Yep, definitely enjoying it far less compared to the last two Olympics where you could watch any sport you wanted.

Don't think the BBC have helped themselves with the constant repeats and interviews though.

Yep, definitely enjoying it far less compared to the last two Olympics where you could watch any sport you wanted.

Don't think the BBC have helped themselves with the constant repeats and interviews though.

BBC are given scraps and are only allowed one live event plus one red button - the time difference doesn’t help as well so there will be a lot of repeats of events that happened overnight

Gutted that Tokyo can't host it in the way they would have (would have been amazing with full crowds) but the venues look great and the action has been great. Loved staying up to watch the mixed relay triathlon yesterday.

BBC are given scraps and are only allowed one live event plus one red button - the time difference doesn’t help as well so there will be a lot of repeats of events that happened overnight

I know they've got their limitations on what they can show but even with that in mind I don't they've done a great job this year.

I was working from home the other morning and saw the same swimming final replayed 3 times in a 4 hour span which just seemed a bit ridiculous especially considering the main medal win highlights are on the website anyway. Similarly yesterday they had the 10,000m live on the red button whilst also having the same 10,000m race running on a 20 minute delay on BBC One.

I know they've got their limitations on what they can show but even with that in mind I don't they've done a great job this year.

I was working from home the other morning and saw the same swimming final replayed 3 times in a 4 hour span which just seemed a bit ridiculous especially considering the main medal win highlights are on the website anyway. Similarly yesterday they had the 10,000m live on the red button whilst also having the same 10,000m race running on a 20 minute delay on BBC One.

At the very least it always reminds me of what a great broadcaster Hazel Irvine is. The very best in the business. Professional, enthusiastic and engaging (and the very antidote to the excruciating 'turn up the bantz' ignorant approach taken across most of BBC Sport's output. Only have to look at their football coverage to see what a cesspit that has become. )  Nice to see studio guests like Mark Foster and Lutalo Mohamed as well.

I've watched quite a bit but it's been sh*t because they sold the European rights to Discovery+ for £950m

What pisses me off the most about this isn't so much the inconvenience to the international audience, but the complete lack of consideration for athletes. For example, swimming finals take place in the morning, in order to be broadcast in prime time in the US. This is far from ideal, and makes it almost impossible to perform at your best. Overall performances have consequently been really underwhelming.

We've come to expect such "Money talks" attitude from FIFA, but it goes against everything the Olympics (used to) stand for.

What pisses me off the most about this isn't so much the inconvenience to the international audience, but the complete lack of consideration for athletes. For example, swimming finals take place in the morning, in order to be broadcast in prime time in the US. This is far from ideal, and makes it almost impossible to perform at your best. Overall performances have consequently been really underwhelming.

We've come to expect such "Money talks" attitude from FIFA, but it goes against everything the Olympics (used to) stand for.

Hasn't swimming always been traditionally a morning event at the Olympics though?

I've been watching a lot actually. Swimming has been amazing the US and Aussie's have been just dominant. Peaty is an absolute beast. He just destroyed the breaststroke races.
Curious why the British don't have any good wrestlers. Dont you have high school or Collegiate wrestling programs? Freestyle wrestling comes from Folk wrestling which started in England in the 1800s.

Hasn't swimming always been traditionally a morning event at the Olympics though?

No, finals are usually in the evening.

Finals in the morning means athletes have to wake up pretty early in the morning, to eat properly and do some warming up, stretching, etc.
They don't usually do this in major competitions, so they have to completely readjust from their usual routine.

I've been watching a lot actually. Swimming has been amazing the US and Aussie's have been just dominant. Peaty is an absolute beast. He just destroyed the breaststroke races.

Some finals have been entertaining, but the times are far from the usual standards. Despite the few world records, most of the swimmers do not swim their best times. It's even more noticeable in the long distance races.

At the very least it always reminds me of what a great broadcaster Hazel Irvine is. The very best in the business. Professional, enthusiastic and engaging (and the very antidote to the excruciating 'turn up the bantz' ignorant approach taken across most of BBC Sport's output. Only have to look at their football coverage to see what a cesspit that has become. )  Nice to see studio guests like Mark Foster and Lutalo Mohamed as well.

Yep the people they've had on have been good. Lutalo was absolutely brilliant!

Italian winner in the 100M!!

Fantastic stuff.

I do think it's very strict to be instantly disqualified for a false start, especially in a final.

Anyone know why that rule is so severe?

Italian winner in the 100M!!

Fantastic stuff.

I do think it's very strict to be instantly disqualified for a false start, especially in a final.

Anyone know why that rule is so severe?

It's actually the same in swimming. A few years ago, you were allowed one false start which resulted in a warning for the entire field. A second false start would result in a DQ, even if you were not responsible for the first false start. The new rule was implemented because people used to jump the first start on purpose, to put additional pressure on the athletes with a better reaction time.

By the way, I don't know if the same rule applies in athletics but in swimming, judges are given some leeway to rescind a DQ under special circumstances. 5 years ago, a Spanish swimmer was allowed to compete after an initial DQ because judges concluded a noise in the crowd was responsible for his false start. See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcuBUqZkMiw

Italian winner in the 100M!!

Fantastic stuff.

I do think it's very strict to be instantly disqualified for a false start, especially in a final.

Anyone know why that rule is so severe?

Because you don’t want to have a bunch of launches because people are trying to jump the gun.

Sprinters are a fickle bunch (I coach long distance stuff, XC and Track) and the amount of prep for them to get ready for a race and then the start are crucial.

It’s that way here in the states at the high school and collegiate level when you get to the post season races. One and done.

Really cool seeing the Italian teammates celebrating their gold medals so close to each other.

But I’m looking forward to longer distance events myself. Want to watch the brits, Hawkins and Chris Thompson in the marathon and want to see how Cole Hocker does in the 1500. Kid’s going to be a long distance star for the US one day.

F**k me, anyone see that 21 year old female Chinese weightlifter?. Probably eats 3 men for breakfast

F**k me, anyone see that 21 year old female Chinese weightlifter?. Probably eats 3 men for breakfast

She seems nice...

In women's football, what a ridiculous pen awarded to Canada...

https://youtu.be/DWbPSqZDAe8?t=39

She seems nice...

In women's football, what a ridiculous pen awarded to Canada...

https://youtu.be/DWbPSqZDAe8?t=39

Yeah, was pretty poor. Men's semi finals tomorrow

Great to see a gold in the velodrome for GB (finally).

Also, Michael Johnson really is the greatest sports pundit around. Effortless and so insightful.

Also, Michael Johnson really is the greatest sports pundit around. Effortless and so insightful.

One of my favourite people in the world.

Looking forward to the Canada vs Sweden final in women football which was called off due to heat. Would be great send off for Sinclair who carried this team for many many years.

Some performance from Kenny and Archibald there in the madison, utter domination!

Some performance from Kenny and Archibald there in the madison, utter domination!

Delighted for Laura and Katy there! Awesome!

Wow! Check out Kate French in the modern pentathlon! GOLD!

Wow! Check out Kate French in the modern pentathlon! GOLD!

Class and the lithuanian woman threw absolutely everything into it too she must have picked up a lot places at the end to take silver 

Class and the lithuanian woman threw absolutely everything into it too she must have picked up a lot populates at the end to take silver

The German athlete had quite the nightmare with her horse didn't she? Felt awful for her and the horse.

Congrats to Laura Miur on her silver in the 1500. Beating Hassan is quite an accomplishment.

Congrats to Laura Miur on her silver in the 1500. Beating Hassan is quite an accomplishment.

Fantastic for Laura Muir. She's waited a long time for that. Kipyegon looked outstanding as well on that gold medal run.

Those pesky Italians! Kiltys 3rd leg and the Italians final leg were unbelievable but our final leg was poor in fairness.

Kept the medals ticking over on the track though.

It’s 03.35am, just woke up and the Oly’s are on, fookin bbc, but guess what, they are showing that absolutely riveting diving sh*t, I mean is there anything more F***ing boring and pointless than this sh*t, here’s a idea to liven it up a bit, why not put a 5m shark in that pool, or big f***in Salty crocodile, I’d love to see that Tom Daley et al, beat that water to a foam, wouldn’t that be more exciting ?

Just wonder though if any would get past the first leg…   ….see what I did there ?



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is there anything more f**king boring and pointless than this sh*t

I raise you the 50km walk. This always cracks me up and for whatever reason, it always seems to be broadcast.

I raise you the 50km walk. This always cracks me up and for whatever reason, it always seems to be broadcast.

Yep, know what you mean,  might be a good idea to have various random piles of sh*te dotted along the way, from cow pats to elephant dung to little goose shits,  I'm betting contact with the ground will be a different challenge 😆

Gold for GB in the mens modern pentathlon. What an incredible effort from Britain after gold with Kate French yesterday!

Strange to think that the one sport you could rely on Britain getting a medal was in the rowing yet this year it was a complete disaster. Track cycling as well has slipped in that it is no longer the treasure trove of gold it once was. Yet it has done alright.

Jessica Springsteen, daughter of a certain Bruce, is a silver medallist in the equestrian with Team USA. Fantastic!

Quite the all star lineup for the US women’s 4x400, no way we weren’t getting gold there. Those ladies can fly.

Quite the all star lineup for the US women’s 4x400, no way we weren’t getting gold there. Those ladies can fly.

Was genuinely pleased for Felix. What a lady. I don't know how she is perceived in the US, but in Europe she always seems to fly under the radar a bit. But her achievements and longevity are impressive.

It’s 03.35am, just woke up and the Oly’s are on, fookin bbc, but guess what, they are showing that absolutely riveting diving sh*t, I mean is there anything more F***ing boring and pointless than this sh*t, here’s a idea to liven it up a bit, why not put a 5m shark in that pool, or big f***in Salty crocodile, I’d love to see that Tom Daley et al, beat that water to a foam, wouldn’t that be more exciting ?

Just wonder though if any would get past the first leg…   ….see what I did there ?



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I quite like it

Was genuinely pleased for Felix. What a lady. I don't know how she is perceived in the US, but in Europe she always seems to fly under the radar a bit. But her achievements and longevity are impressive.

She’s loved by the T&F community as far as I know.

I’m glad she’s bested Carl Lewis in medals.

Cannot believe the madness of the mass indoor cycling events!
Groups of twenty cyclists jostling wheel to wheel in a limited arena, surprise surprise one goes down taking the majority of riders on bikes with no brakes with them.
Hara kiri on a bike.

Jason Kenny - sensational. A fitting way to end the games

Fantastic effort in the Olympics for team GB - 65 medals in all and 4th overall in the table - brilliant.

Tremendous by everyone after the year all those sportsmen and women have been through to get to Tokyo, so a massive thank you to them all for entertaining us over the last couple of weeks.

See you all in Paris in 3 years time