Winter Olympics 2026 - Milano Cortina

(Yesterday 09:50 )Louisetights Wrote:  This is the games we're it's either Gold or heartbreakingly 4th and no in between

To win three golds in one winter games is historic enough, but the 4th places are gutting to be honest, but I do think there are events where we never taken part in before and should be looking at taking part in. Wondering if converting an old disused industrial estate and turning in to a multi winter indoor sports training facility somewhere might help us improve in some sports and get athletes into sports like speed skating (not short track) which I don't think we have ever competed in before.

Some of our curling team seem to be folding under the pressure.
Mixed team, men's team and now the women's team.

^Must be the Arsenal effect!!

Despite what I've previously said, well done to the Women's team. They did hold it together and pull a certain defeat out of the ice with a double steal on the last end.

(Today 06:43 )lovebabes56 Wrote:  

(Yesterday 09:50 )Louisetights Wrote:  This is the games we're it's either Gold or heartbreakingly 4th and no in between

To win three golds in one winter games is historic enough, but the 4th places are gutting to be honest, but I do think there are events where we never taken part in before and should be looking at taking part in. Wondering if converting an old disused industrial estate and turning in to a multi winter indoor sports training facility somewhere might help us improve in some sports and get athletes into sports like speed skating (not short track) which I don't think we have ever competed in before.

I recall some chatter about this in the past, but no one can ever get the funding and financials to stack up.

A full-size speed skating rink must be hugely expensive to build and a bitch to maintain and operate. And we’ll never produce enough skaters to make it financially worthwhile.

Also, I don’t believe there is a link between public participation and elite performance. After London won the Olympic Games in 2007, we binged on 50m pools to make sure we didn’t embarrass ourselves in the aquatic events. Over half-a-billion pounds spent on huge aquatic centres in London, Manchester, Sunderland and Cardiff just to win two bronze and a silver in 2012.

And, sure, we all cheered for Rebecca Adlington and had our collective national wank-fest for three weeks in one summer. But then half the leisure centres in the country started closing or crumbling for lack of money to maintain the pools. And now more kids than ever are finishing secondary school without knowing how to swim — which is problematic when you live on an island.

A bit ranty, but my point is this… Funding for elite athletes in marginal sports isn’t good value for money if it comes at the expense of facilities that the general public might use. I’d rather see more kids off the couch and socialising in curling rinks than stuffing a trophy cabinet with medals that we’ll all forget about within hours of the closing ceremony.

(Today 11:20 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Despite what I've previously said, well done to the Women's team. They did hold it together and pull a certain defeat out of the ice with a double steal on the last end.

The last two ends of this match were riveting.

GBR women must have been mentally packing their bags. Then a spectacular shot by Rebecca Morrison, a mistake from the Americans, and they are somehow still in with a (slim) chance to make the semis.

(Today 06:33 )lovebabes56 Wrote:  ^Which is when?

Sunday, I think. about the same length as the summer games, somehow.

Then it's the Paralympiad instead.

Another twist. The GB men have claimed a thumping 9-2 win in their last round robin match 9-2 against USA.

So all attention now turns to the results of Italy and Norway. GB need one of those countries to lose their last two round robin games in order to make the semi finals.

Italy have just lost to Canada.
Switzerland have beaten Norway.

Norway and Italy play their final matches of the round robin tomorrow against Canada and Switzerland respectively.

GB now need one of Italy or Norway to lose tomorrow. If that happens GB are in the semi finals. If both Norway and Italy both win then GB are out.

Get the prayer mats out!!

Fascinating battle in the men's Ice hockey between Canada and Czechia.
3-3 at the moment deep into the closing few minutes. Overtime looming unless someone can find a winner........
Nope overtime it is.
And Canada get out of jail to win 4-3.

Meanwhile the GB women curling team are in last chance saloon for a second time today.
After a miraculous 7-6 win over USA this morning they face Japan needing to win to stand any chance of progressing.

(Today 11:37 )Goodfella3041 Wrote:  I recall some chatter about this in the past, but no one can ever get the funding and financials to stack up.

A full-size speed skating rink must be hugely expensive to build and a bitch to maintain and operate. And we’ll never produce enough skaters to make it financially worthwhile.

Also, I don’t believe there is a link between public participation and elite performance. After London won the Olympic Games in 2007, we binged on 50m pools to make sure we didn’t embarrass ourselves in the aquatic events. Over half-a-billion pounds spent on huge aquatic centres in London, Manchester, Sunderland and Cardiff just to win two bronze and a silver in 2012.

And, sure, we all cheered for Rebecca Adlington and had our collective national wank-fest for three weeks in one summer. But then half the leisure centres in the country started closing or crumbling for lack of money to maintain the pools. And now more kids than ever are finishing secondary school without knowing how to swim — which is problematic when you live on an island.

A bit ranty, but my point is this… Funding for elite athletes in marginal sports isn’t good value for money if it comes at the expense of facilities that the general public might use. I’d rather see more kids off the couch and socialising in curling rinks than stuffing a trophy cabinet with medals that we’ll all forget about within hours of the closing ceremony.

Apologies if I've brought up an old chestnut subject that many of us probably don't like talking about or discussing.