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Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 11:15 am
by TheLionKing
Silver medal in the Women's Double Sculls.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:51 pm
by TheLionKing
Rosie MacLennan repeats as Olympic champion in the Women's Trampoline.

In soccer Sweden eliminates the US women's soccer team in the shootout. It's a huge upset given the US were two times Olympic and World champions.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 10:56 pm
by jcalhoun
Hey all,

I think the Olympics are horrible, and do my best to ignore them. I know I'm in the minority, but the sheer cost to tax payers of supporting "amateur athletics" is ridiculous. I see a Canadian named Rosie MacLennan won gold in trampoline. I have no doubt that she's a lovely person, and she's certainly risen to the top of her chosen sport, but should we as tax payers be supporting her? She's a carded athlete and gets 18k a year, and a 20k bonus for winning a gold medal. Her following her dream for the last four years (ie, since the London Olympics) has cost us 92,000 dollars. For someone who bounces on a trampoline.

Not all carded athletes get the same funding: it ranges from 900 per year to 18,000 --but still, there are 2268 athletes getting supported by the federal government, and about 650 are in the top tier (that's just shy of 12 million dollars, just for the top group). Is this really money well spent?

We will set aside the the $70+ million the publicly funded CBC bid merely for the rights to cover the games.

I just don't see how we can justify spending the sort of money we do on amateur athletes. The nature of athletic achievement is ephemeral and, dare I say, trivial. How does the nation benefit from this spending?

Cheers,

James

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 1:33 pm
by TheLionKing
Another Bronze, this time if Women's time pursuit cycling.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 9:23 pm
by Robbie
Definitely Usain Bolt is the :s: with his third 100 m Olympic gold medal. And he still has the opportunity to repeat the feat twice again if he strikes gold in the 200 m and 4 * 100 m as well. Not overshadowed at all is Andre De Grasse capturing the bronze.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:19 pm
by TheLionKing
Derek Drouin wins Gold in men's high jump with a flawless performance.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:42 pm
by TheLionKing
Erica Wiebe wins Gold in women's freestyle wrestling.

Meaghan Benefeito wins Bronze in platform diving.

Andre DeGrasse goes for Gold in the 200m later tonight.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:43 pm
by Robbie
TheLionKing wrote: Andre DeGrasse goes for Gold in the 200m later tonight.
No shame at all for taking silver.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 11:25 am
by TheLionKing
Bronze in women's soccer. A 2-1 victory over the host country Brazil. Not an easy task in a hostile environment.

Eric Lamaze wins Bronze in Individual Jump Off.

Evan Dunfee a Bronze in 50 km race walking.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 1:06 pm
by TheLionKing
TheLionKing wrote:
Evan Dunfee a Bronze in 50 km race walking.
Japan appealed Canada's appeal and won. The Japanese finished 3rd and Dunfee 4th.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 9:31 pm
by Robbie
Bronze in men's 4 * 100 m.

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 11:27 am
by Sir Purrcival
Are we in the running for anything now till the end?

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 12:36 pm
by TheLionKing
Bronze medal in the Women's Cross Country Bike Race by Catherine Pendrel

Re: 2016 Olympic Summer Games Thread

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 11:27 pm
by KnowItAll
jcalhoun wrote:Hey all,

I think the Olympics are horrible, and do my best to ignore them. I know I'm in the minority, but the sheer cost to tax payers of supporting "amateur athletics" is ridiculous. I see a Canadian named Rosie MacLennan won gold in trampoline. I have no doubt that she's a lovely person, and she's certainly risen to the top of her chosen sport, but should we as tax payers be supporting her? She's a carded athlete and gets 18k a year, and a 20k bonus for winning a gold medal. Her following her dream for the last four years (ie, since the London Olympics) has cost us 92,000 dollars. For someone who bounces on a trampoline.

Not all carded athletes get the same funding: it ranges from 900 per year to 18,000 --but still, there are 2268 athletes getting supported by the federal government, and about 650 are in the top tier (that's just shy of 12 million dollars, just for the top group). Is this really money well spent?

We will set aside the the $70+ million the publicly funded CBC bid merely for the rights to cover the games.

I just don't see how we can justify spending the sort of money we do on amateur athletes. The nature of athletic achievement is ephemeral and, dare I say, trivial. How does the nation benefit from this spending?

Cheers,

James
yeah, I also do not like paying for athletes and coaches expenses for training and competing, as well as for venues. Then there is all the other costs that I do not know about.

Never wanted the Olympics in Vancouver.

Wouldn't bother me at all if we didn't even take part in the Olympics or win medals.

Since we do, I do of course cheer for Canadians, but I wish they were all privately sponsored.