Liverpool FC Forum

[66-1112520797]

Too harsh to your country. Don't you think that size of the country also counts? I think there's a direct relation between the size of the country and number of federates to a sport and the actual level of the sport in the country.

Size doesn't matter. Population might. We have a bigger population than Australia, but they seem to be great at sports like swimming, cricket and rugby. I don't see why we shouldn't be better than them at cricket and rugby. Also, much is made of Australia being good at swimming due to the climate, but that shouldn't affect indoor swimming pools.

I think it's a matter of poor infrastructure, bad training/coaching, and a lack of investment. It goes down all the way to schools. Having experienced how poor PE/Games classes are, I'm not surprised that few Olympic champions emerge.

Of course size doesnt matter. 

But like you said MH, its the infastructure. I've done a fair bit of work in schools around Brisbane. And they are just sport crazy, before school in the morning most schools (junior btw) each having their own pool. They Had swimming lessons, tennis lessons and a few other activities before education in the classroom starts. I do reckon some of that though is down to the climate as its more "out doorsy", but its started at a young age.

Hats off to them for that really, considering the population size which is around 21 million. Thats not even half the population of GB, so in that respect they've achieved, and good on them. 

[The Manhattan Project]

Occasional?

Yes, occasional.

The number of athletes having their medals stripped due to drug cheating is small compared to the amount of medal winners in total.

[Scottbot]

But like you said MH, its the infastructure. I've done a fair bit of work in schools around Brisbane. And they are just sport crazy, before school in the morning most schools (junior btw) each having their own pool. They Had swimming lessons, tennis lessons and a few other activities before education in the classroom starts. I do reckon some of that though is down to the climate as its more "out doorsy", but its started at a young age.

Hats off to them for that really, considering the population size which is around 21 million. Thats not even half the population of GB, so in that respect they've achieved, and good on them.

The Aussie attitude to sport, exercise and outdoor living in general is pretty much a cultural thing that is ingrained in their society. Their infrastructure for producing elite athletes is the best in the world but they also place great emphasis on sport at participation/club level for all ages. The government have always placed a high importance on sport (especially in the last 20 years) and this permeates into education and of course they have got the parents fully on board as well. It also helps that they have good weather, lots of space and a far less frenetic lifestyle than us.

They are a MILLION miles ahead of us.

Unfortunately we are one of the fattest, most unfit nations in the world and winning these Olympics in 2012 is one of the best things that could have happened to GB because it has put Sport and Health back near (if not at) the top of the government agenda which is where it should have always been.

[laza]

Hats off to them for that really, considering the population size which is around 21 million. Thats not even half the population of GB, so in that respect they've achieved, and good on them. 

What do you mean good on them

Your one of us now Bam man

I hope your not saying your one of those type of immigrants who cant assimilate into the society he choses to live in 

Dont make me take you to that detention centre

[Roger Red Hat]

what olympics? has it started yet?

whose won?

[LFC2007]

Edit 

[Roger Red Hat]

has Daily Thompson won owt?

[dawson99]

has Daily Thompson won owt?

him and fatima whitbread in the mixed doubles sculls tomorrow morning

[Dundalk]

Now THAT ill watch

[Roger Red Hat]

come on Daily - lets get some medals

[red37]

Phelps is grabbing em all.

[woof woof !]

Watched the ladies gymnastics, what some of those girls can do on a length of wood is amazing.

[Kash_Mountain]

Watched the ladies gymnastics, what some of those girls can do on a length of wood is amazing.

Have you been down to the local strip joint again 

[Judge]

BEIJING (Reuters) - Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian threw down his Olympic bronze medal in protest on Thursday after his bid for greco-roman gold was ended by a decision denounced by the Swedish coach as "politics".

Abrahamian took the bronze from around his neck during the medal ceremony, stepped from the podium and dropped it in the middle of the wrestling mat then walked off.

"I don't care about this medal. I wanted gold," he said.

A bitter Abrahamian, silver medallist at Athens 2004 who had high hopes of top honours in the 84kg competition in Beijing, announced he was quitting the sport.

"This will be my last match. I wanted to take gold, so I consider this Olympics a failure," the 33-year-old said.

The Swedish wrestler had to be restrained by team mates earlier when a row erupted with judges over the decision in a semi-final bout at the Chinese Agricultural University Gym with Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, who went on the take gold.

Abrahamian shouted at the referee and judges then went over to their seats to speak to them up close. He angrily threw off the restraining arm of a team official then turned and left.

Swedish fans booed loudly as the judges filed out of the arena. Abrahamian said nothing to waiting reporters but whacked an aluminium barricade with his fist as he left the hall.

The gold medallist, who kissed the Chinese medal bearer after receiving his gold, said Abrahamian's walkout "did in a way spoil the victory ceremony for me".

"Certainly one can always question decisions made in the course of refereeing, but in sports it is appropriate to show sportsmanship and accept the results," Minguzzi said.

Hungary's Zoltan Fodor, an outsider who said he "never dreamed of reaching the final" won the silver.

The International Olympic Committee said it was investigating the dispute with the wrestling federation FILA, which Abrahamian said "does not play fair".

"We are in contact with the wrestling federation to establish the exact facts," IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

Abrahamian later said he believed his loss to the eventual gold medallist Minguzzi was "totally unjustified". The wrestler said his friends "called me just 20 minutes before the (bronze) competition, begging me to compete".

"I decided that I had come this far and didn't want to let them down, so I wrestled," he said.

Swedish coach Leo Myllari said: "It's all politics."

Myllari did not say if he intended to lodge a formal protest over the decision by referee Jean-Marc Petoud of Switzerland, judge Lee Ronald Mackay of Canada, and mat chairman Guillermo Orestes Molina of Cuba.

[The Manhattan Project]

Silly .