Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10201729)

Second place means you are #1 loser.

Originally Posted by Greenhill (Post 10206806)

On the point of the word 'athletes' being presented in quotes, this is a good explanation of what happened in the dodgy badminton matches the other night:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Gm80vDa1C4

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10206990)

If you ask me the fault is entirely with the federation that decided to go with the round robin, with entirely foreseeable and farcical consequences.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10206990)

Actually it glosses over the point that as soon as the idea of a round robin stage was floated back in the spring it was inevitable that players / coaches looking to maximise their chance of a medal would try and manipulate the draw for the knockout round via the results in the round robin.

Its really no different to the footy where one team was glad of a draw to avoid having to change bases, but these athletes, for whom the Olympics are truly the pinnacle of the sport, get punished for doing what was actually in their best interests to progress to the medal rounds, by playing badly.

If you ask me the fault is entirely with the federation that decided to go with the round robin, with entirely foreseeable and farcical consequences.

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10207040)

I don't see anything substantially different from, say, a swimmer taking it easy in heat and saving themselves for a final or another race. It seems to happen all the time.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10207051)

Its a little different in that a swimmer in a heat still has to do well enough to get to the next round. In this case both sides were actively trying to lose to get an easier draw in the next round, it was pretty farcical and certainly if i was a spectator paying good money to watch I would have been pissed off.

Tha'ts not the competitors problems though is it? The olympics come only every 4 years, and they have put in years of effort to have the opportunity to compete. If losing was going to give me a better chance in the next round I would have done the same as them, even if it meant putting up with the boos.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 10207075)

It is the competitors fault. They were warned by the referee to stop doing it - they didn't and so were kicked out.

Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 10207146)

It's plainly daft for a referee to compel players to do their best to end up in an unfavourable competitive situation.

Originally Posted by Alan2005 (Post 10207250)

Yeah, I agree it's a crap system that encourages cheating like this.

What makes it their own fault is that they continued to cheat after they got caught. That's just stupid as you don't get a more "unfavourable competitive situation" than being thrown out of the event. They should have cheated better.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10207051)

Its a little different in that a swimmer in a heat still has to do well enough to get to the next round. In this case both sides were actively trying to lose to get an easier draw in the next round, it was pretty farcical and certainly if i was a spectator paying good money to watch I would have been pissed off.

Tha'ts not the competitors problems though is it? The olympics come only every 4 years, and they have put in years of effort to have the opportunity to compete. If losing was going to give me a better chance in the next round I would have done the same as them, even if it meant putting up with the boos.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10207288)

Yes, but it's badminton.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10207296)

Your point being?


Have you ever played badminton?... its a killer, makes squash seem like a stroll in the park.

Originally Posted by iaink (Post 10207296)

Have you ever played badminton?... its a killer, makes squash seem like a stroll in the park.

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10207299)

Its was only the nerdy kids at school that played it because they were crap at football.