RIO OLYMPICS - general thread (not tennis)

[themass15]

I stayed up to watch the closing ceremony. I thought the faces of the people, pretending to be made out of clay, were a bit weird looking.

Mo Farah will be giving up the track after next year's world championships in London. Luckily, I ordered tickets for the men's 10,000m and 5,000m (amongst other tickets) quite a few weeks ago. I hope he can win both of them next year.

I have put in for the ballot but no guarantee of getting them for the World Athletics. All the sessions I have put in for have High Demand by them. Another almost 4 weeks to wait before we know.

[themass15]

Although not as good as London, I thoroughly enjoyed Rio. Shame the athletics and swimming were on so late but I did see Mo win the 5,000 on Saturday night as I was alternating between that and Andy v Raonic. Will miss the Olympics. It will seem like it does after Wimbledon, very flat. Having said that I am off to Germany to see an old friend on Wednesday and when I get back the US Open will start!

[Helen40]

Probably cos his age will be against him for the track. Athletes often change to marathon from 5000 and 10000 when they get older.

Does that mean that Callum has a great chance of doing really well in the coming years as he's only 24? :)

[cazza99]

Does that mean that Callum has a great chance of doing really well in the coming years as he's only 24? :)

Commies were saying 24 is a young age for a marathon as he won't have the legs yet. They were expecting Callum to improve.

[Stell]

If you'd put your name down last year, themass15, you would have been given the chance to get priority tickets like me. I ordered nine of them.

Over three hundred of the team are coming home today. I heard the plane got delayed and it's an eleven and a half hour flight.

[Hawkeye]

No doubt spent ages getting through the metal detectors!

[jackie55]

No doubt spent ages getting through the metal detectors!

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Rosalind]

Missing Olympics already! Lovely to watch homecoming on news though and heard in the press conference that Andy did excellent motivational speech to the GB team prior to flag carrying. :GBflag: That seems a long time ago!

[Helen40]

The Chinese were quizzing the Brits in the conference on whether they had got more medals because we had spent more money. The Brit replied that he didn't know cos the Chinese wouldn't reveal their figures! Class. :)

[Helen40]

I loved the Gold nosed jumbo jet that they flew in on, and the fact that BA renamed it victoRIOus. Props to whoever thought that name up. :)

They hash tagged it #GreattobBAck too. I guess they're allowed abit of advertising for sponsoring our team, and flying them back on a chartered jet with extra champagne. ;)

[Teresa]

Missing Olympics already! Lovely to watch homecoming on news though and heard in the press conference that Andy did excellent motivational speech to the GB team prior to flag carrying. :GBflag: That seems a long time ago!


I have recorded that bit on my iPad, so if anyone wants it just ask.

[Alis]

What a shame for Andy. How nice would it have been for him to come home in triumph with the rest of the team? He surely would have loved to have had the opportunity to stay around and support his fellow team members and just enjoy his history making win. What other athletes have been expected to perform at the highest level in the following week? None, other than the tennis players. Perhaps the ATP could tweak the calendar slightly in an Olympic year. It would help the tournaments as well as the players.

[themass15]

I felt quite emotional earlier when I saw them disembark from the BA plane

[clancy]

Just what I was thinking Alis!

[Alis]

The total ban on Russian athletes competing at the Paralympics has been upheld.

[Josephine]

I was thinking too what a shame for Andy and what little public acknowledgement he has had . Nothing for US Open or olympics in 2012 - Had to organise his own trip to Dunblane. Nothing for Wimbledon 2016. Most of these athletes are talking about taking months off now, while Andy has already played another tournament and is preparing for one of the biggest of the year. I know he gets very well rewarded for what he does but he can't just take a long break and come back on a level playing field.

Would be nice to hear bit from press conference about Andy's speech.

[Alis]

It's almost as though it was a given that Andy would win gold. I don't think the public at large have any idea how much that medal took out of him.

[WimbledonWestie]

I loved the Gold nosed jumbo jet that they flew in on, and the fact that BA renamed it victoRIOus. Props to whoever thought that name up. :)

They hash tagged it #GreattobBAck too. I guess they're allowed abit of advertising for sponsoring our team, and flying them back on a chartered jet with extra champagne. ;)

BA ran a Twitter poll to allow the public to vote on the choice of name for the plane- can't now remember what the other choices were.

[cazza99]

ESPN (http://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/17386728/poland-piotr-malachowski-auctions-silver-medal-won-rio-help-pay-3-year-old-cancer-treatment) - Polish discus thrower auctions silver medal to help cover child's cancer treatment

[Stell]

www.teamgbball.com/team-gb-awards/?dm_t=0,0,0,0,0&dm_i=39CA,C3VG,2KY6SM,16RN1,1

Vote for your favourite Olympian, though there is only a very small short list. I've already voted for Andy.

[Stell]

Our team won an award, last night. They were named 'Best Olympic Team'.