London 2012 Olympics: China's Yi Siling wins first gold medal of the Games

[shuttler]

Congrats to PRC on maintaining the lead in Gold medals tally for so many days.

The Olympics or any such international events (like the Asian Games) should be restructured to include more sports and more equal number of medals from similar sports. I just browsed through the lists at London 2012 site. There seem to be about 70+ gold medals available from swimming and athletics. In football, a team of 11 people must defeat other teams numerous times, over many days they must maintain their success, only to win a single gold medal. In swimming or athletics, very often a single athelete gets to win multiple medals within a few days. Some thing is amiss.

On the same note, in weightlifting, I see that Iran and former Soviet Union countries are historically in a great position. However, the way that men's weightlifting weight categories are grouped allows for only 2 or 3 medal opportunities for these countries because all weightlifters above 105 kg are categorized into the 105+ kg bundle. They could have divided this segment further into another 3 or 4 categories, like 110 kg category, 120 kg category, 135 kg category, 160 kg category, and 180+ kg category, for example. I am quite certain, then, countries like Iran could have won multiple medals from this event alone.

Iran's multiple world record/olympic record holder Hossein Rezazadeh for those who did not know.
2004 OLYMPIC GAMES HOSSEIN REZAZADEH THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (OLYMPIC SNATCH) - YouTube

His 'protege' Behdad Salimi also appears to have immense talent.
Behdad Salimi 214kg Snatch World Record - 2011 World Weightlifting Championship - YouTube

Looking at medals tally, we see that out of 18 gold medals by USA, 11 came from swimming alone. For Britain, they have recently won gold medals in sports like rowing or canoeing or some other sport that most of the world does not probably even know about. Cutting down on the number of gold medals available in these sports may be a good idea for fair distribution of medals.


Edited: In addition, China should rally other non Western and Asian countries towards this cause. Take a look at Usain Bolt's numerous outstanding World Records. Then, in the 3000 m and similar distance competitions, East Africans like Kenyans, Sudanese and Ethiopians seem to dominate. Increasing the medals tally in those competitions would be beneficial to the non Western countries like increasing the number of medals in the 105+ kg weightlifting competition will be for Iran and some neighbouring countries strong in this competition.

Cutting down on "Western specialty" sports' medal available will also help ensure that Westerners remain satisfied with fewer medals. No more 30+ golds in swimming, and no more 35+ golds in athletics.

Very good points mate! Some of these events are western centric. Take Equestrian (5 gold) WTF!!!, rowing (14) Sailing (10) Canoeing (Slalom 4 + Sprint 12 = 16), Fencing (10) for example.

 

[Banglar Lathial]

Very good points mate! Some of these events are western centric. Take Equestrian (5 gold) WTF!!!, rowing (14) Sailing (10) Canoeing (Slalom 4 + Sprint 12 = 16), Fencing (10) for example.

True. I do not even know what "Slalom" means. I'll have to look up a dictionary. How many spectators actually watch these events? In the meantime, Kung Fu, Wu Shu, Wing Chun (maybe), Karate, Chinese chess, among other sports should be promoted in Asian Games and Olympics by the East Asians. This will ensure these games are not mere displays of Western culture or similar.

 

[888jamie888]

True. I do not even know what "Slalom" means. I'll have to look up a dictionary. How many spectators actually watch these events? In the meantime, Kung Fu, Wu Shu, Wing Chun (maybe), Karate, Chinese chess, among other sports should be promoted in Asian Games and Olympics by the East Asians. This will ensure these games are not mere displays of Western culture or similar.

They sold out, so quite a lot.
Chinese chess? You kid surely?
Simply because westerners are good at sports you want them cut down?
Why don't you just commit more resources to becoming good in that sport?

 

[shuttler]

True. I do not even know what "Slalom" means. I'll have to look up a dictionary. How many spectators actually watch these events? In the meantime, Kung Fu, Wu Shu, Wing Chun (maybe), Karate, Chinese chess, among other sports should be promoted in Asian Games and Olympics by the East Asians. This will ensure these games are not mere displays of Western culture or similar.

Exactly! Olympic not any sports event for the less fortunate! You need expensive horses plus expensive upkeeps to participate in equestrian. that is the most outrageous event to have been included in Olympics. And the equipment used in rowing, sailing and even cycling now are very very expensive items

 

[Banglar Lathial]

They sold out, so quite a lot.
Chinese chess? You kid surely?
Simply because westerners are good at sports you want them cut down?
Why don't you just commit more resources to becoming good in that sport?

If you mean the stadium seats were sold out, it means nothing significant because Olympics is telecast all around the world, with perhaps a potential billion or more viewers. We need to know how many viewers around the world watch these events, not how many viewers in London or the West watch these events. Of course, as Western specialty events which most nonWesterners have not heard of, these sports will attract Western spectators.

What's wrong with Chinese chess?

I want them to cut down on meaningless medals that Westerners use to artificially inflate their medals tally, like in Swimming. 30+ gold medals in swimming is meaningless. It's the same thing, essentially, whether you swim 100 m, or 200m, or backstroke, or breaststroke, or do similar things. There should be maybe 8 medals for swimming at most, 4 for men and 4 for women.

Same holds true for sports like canoeing, slalom (!) and others that most people do not know or do not follow.

Exactly! Olympic not any sports event for the less fortunate! You need expensive horses plus expensive upkeeps to participate in equestrian. that is the most outrageous event to have been included in Olympics. And the equipment used in rowing, sailing and even cycling now are very very expensive items

That's true, but these events are not even popular with rest of the world's spectators. Who participates in them? Mostly Westerners. Let's include those events that the rest of the world can learn a lot from. In East Asia, you have Kung Fu, Wushu, Karate, that could be included.

In weightlifting, they could add 5 or more categories for 105+ kg weightlifting. This way many more medals could be won by Iran, neighbouring countries. Indonesia could appeal for Silat and Sepak Takraw to be added to the Olympics and Asian Games, for example. If these events are to be international and being hosted in non Western cities quite regularly, then they must also include many non Western specialty sports. Having 30+ gold medals from swimming and 35+ gold medals from athletics while other sports handing out 2 or 4 gold medals is very unbalanced, lopsided.

 

[888jamie888]

If you mean the stadium seats were sold out, it means nothing significant because Olympics is telecast all around the world, with perhaps a potential billion or more viewers. We need to know how many viewers around the world watch these events, not how many viewers in London or the West watch these events. Of course, as Western specialty events which most nonWesterners have not heard of, these sports will attract Western spectators.

What's wrong with Chinese chess?

I want them to cut down on meaningless medals that Westerners use to artificially inflate their medals tally, like in Swimming. 30+ gold medals in swimming is meaningless. It's the same thing, essentially, whether you swim 100 m, or 200m, or backstroke, or breaststroke, or do similar things. There should be maybe 8 medals for swimming at most, 4 for men and 4 for women.

Same holds true for sports like canoeing, slalom (!) and others that most people do not know or do not follow.

I'm afraid I don't have the figures to hand. The fact that it is an Olympic sport, means it has a decent level of participation and a governing body.
You've never heard of canoeing? Slalom is weaving through gates in the rapids.
Is it a board game? Let's add monopoly while we are at it.
Is running not the same, just different distances? Archery, shooting, etc. They are all the same right? Let's scrap them all.
It's not like non westerners, can't do those events. Is it?

 

[Banglar Lathial]

As of now, the USA leads with 21 gold against China with 20 Gold.

As I have listed, of USA's 21 gold medals, 14 came from swimming. Is that lopsided enough? Seems to be totally meaningless if a simple task like swimming could be awarded 30+ gold medals. Much more complicated sports of strength, skill, endurance lasting multiple stages of competition for many weeks and also involving teamwork, strategy and planning gets you maybe 2 or 4 gold medals.

 

[Juice]

badmitton is a sport? seriously?...Well...compared to ping-pong I guess....They do have men's sport in Asia?

 

[Jackdaws]

badmitton is a sport? seriously?...Well...compared to ping-pong I guess....They do have men's sport in Asia?

LOL - yes, they do. And when they hold "World" Series and "World" Championships - they invite players from other countries too. Only in the US - would LA playing NY be consider a "World" Series.

 

[Banglar Lathial]

I'm afraid I don't have the figures to hand. The fact that it is an Olympic sport, means it has a decent level of participation and a governing body.
You've never heard of canoeing? Slalom is weaving through gates in the rapids.
Is it a board game? Let's add monopoly while we are at it.
Is running not the same, just different distances? Archery, shooting, etc. They are all the same right? Let's scrap them all.
It's not like non westerners, can't do those events. Is it?

Olympic sports are those that have been approved by the IOC, I reckon, which is mostly Western. This has nothing to do with decent level of participation. Most of the world does not even know what slalom means.

As for Chinese Chess, you can include 'regular' chess as well since that's an international sport. Board games like monopoly rely a bit on 'luck' like gambling in casinos, so except for Chinese and Westerners, not many other people may be interested in gambling events.

Running 100m, 200m and 400m is different from running 3000m, 5000m or marathon because of endurance of athletes involved. That's why the winners in the first set of events (100m, 200m, 400m) are from similar groups of countries, and winners from second set are from a different group of countries.

It's either, 1. Non Westerners do not pay much attention to those sports, or 2. Those non westerners that can compete with the West or outdo them in swimming do not have competent, financial or administrative structures to back their national olympic committees and athletes in these events, or 3. Those nonwesterners like Chinese, Japanese, Koreans that are very keen on these events and have competent financial or administrative structures supporting events like swimming and athletics are found wanting in some ways because of their physical limitations compared to Westerners. That's why Chinese, and other East Asians win more gold in certain events involving more accuracy and efficiency for their given resources, balancing acts like gymnastics and diving. Westerners win in western specialty events. Iranians and neighbours win in 105+ kg weightlifting, other upper body strength events (involving sheer strength of human body). East Africans win in long distance running involving endurance, and West African origin athletes win in athletic events involving short quick bursts.

badmitton is a sport? seriously?...Well...compared to ping-pong I guess....They do have men's sport in Asia?

Hossein Rezazadeh
Multiple world and olympic record holder in 105+ kg weightlifting
2004 OLYMPIC GAMES HOSSEIN REZAZADEH THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (OLYMPIC SNATCH) - YouTube

Behdad Salimi
"Protege" of Hossein Rezazadeh I reckon. Already created World Record in snatch, i think.
Behdad Salimi 214kg Snatch World Record - 2011 World Weightlifting Championship - YouTube


Iran is considered Asian in most respects. Also, I think 105+ kg weightlifting can be considered men's sports.

 

[huskie]

badmitton is a sport? seriously?...Well...compared to ping-pong I guess....They do have men's sport in Asia?

like tennis they are. maybe you are not good at anything, but still it is very energy-consuming to play any of them. but do try them sometimes, 'cause you would spend much more time running around picking up balls, and that is definitely a sport for incompetent people like you, and you would probably win a gold.

 

[ChinaToday]

not a bad day overall but expect china to regain the lead tomorow

 

[888jamie888]

Olympic sports are those that have been approved by the IOC, I reckon, which is mostly Western. This has nothing to do with decent level of participation. Most of the world does not even know what slalom means.

As for Chinese Chess, you can include 'regular' chess as well since that's an international sport. Board games like monopoly rely a bit on 'luck' like gambling in casinos, so except for Chinese and Westerners, not many other people may be interested in gambling events.

Running 100m, 200m and 400m is different from running 3000m, 5000m or marathon because of endurance of athletes involved. That's why the winners in the first set of events (100m, 200m, 400m) are from similar groups of countries, and winners from second set are from a different group of countries.

It's either, 1. Non Westerners do not pay much attention to those sports, or 2. Those non westerners that can compete with the West or outdo them in swimming do not have competent, financial or administrative structures to back their national olympic committees and athletes in these events, or 3. Those nonwesterners like Chinese, Japanese, Koreans that are very keen on these events and have competent financial or administrative structures supporting events like swimming and athletics are found wanting in some ways because of their physical limitations compared to Westerners. That's why Chinese, and other East Asians win more gold in certain events involving more accuracy and efficiency for their given resources, balancing acts like gymnastics and diving. Westerners win in western specialty events. Iranians and neighbours win in 105+ kg weightlifting, other upper body strength events (involving sheer strength of human body). East Africans win in long distance running involving endurance, and West African origin athletes win in athletic events involving short quick bursts.



Hossein Rezazadeh
Multiple world and olympic record holder in 105+ kg weightlifting
2004 OLYMPIC GAMES HOSSEIN REZAZADEH THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD (OLYMPIC SNATCH) - YouTube

Behdad Salimi
"Protege" of Hossein Rezazadeh I reckon. Already created World Record in snatch, i think.
Behdad Salimi 214kg Snatch World Record - 2011 World Weightlifting Championship - YouTube


Iran is considered Asian in most respects. Also, I think 105+ kg weightlifting can be considered men's sports.

Yes, sports must be approved by the IOC. They are approved if the IOC thinks those sports are widely participated in multiple countries.
I can't say I've ever heard of Chinese chess until now. I wouldn't consider it a sport, it doesn't really require anything physical.
So you are saying that there is no difference between 800m and 100m swimming?
Physical limitations? Do me a favour.

 

[Banglar Lathial]

Britain is at 4th position now, with 8 gold medals, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals.

Of these 8 gold medals, 4 came from cycling (3 from Cycling-Track, 1 from Cycling-Road), 2 from Rowing and 1 from Canoeing Slalom. Almost always, in recent years, UK has won a few medals in these specialty sports to gain a top 10 place for itself.

Similarly, USA is ahead of China at the moment with 21 gold and 42 medals. Of these, 14 gold and 28 medals in total were won in swimming alone.

Awarding 30+ golds in sports like swimming seems to be very unbalanced. Chinese should lobby for 40+ medals in Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Iranians should lobby for 30+ gold medals in 105+ kg weightlifting (one for 110 kg, one for 120 kg, one for 130 kg, one for 135 kg, and so on).

Yes, sports must be approved by the IOC. They are approved if the IOC thinks those sports are widely participated in multiple countries.
I can't say I've ever heard of Chinese chess until now. I wouldn't consider it a sport, it doesn't really require anything physical.
So you are saying that there is no difference between 800m and 100m swimming?
Physical limitations? Do me a favour.

IOC is Western. They 'think' what the West thinks.

If you have not heard of Chinese Chess until now, then it would be good if that is included in Olympics. Many people around the world will learn a thing or two, and Olympics will be less of a display of Western culture.

People usually live on land, at least in our regions of the world, and elsewhere that I have lived in and travelled to. Swimming 100m or 200 m, or backstroke, or breaststroke, or canoeing, slalom or these equestrian events do not really interest most people living on land. From time to time, people may need to swim, that's fine, that's why I recommend 4 gold medals for men, 4 for women in swimming, not some odd 30+ gold medals in swimming as it is now.

What favour are you asking for? Everybody has physical, mental limitations. Is that surprising?

 

[888jamie888]

Britain is at 4th position now, with 8 gold medals, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals.

Of these 8 gold medals, 4 came from cycling (3 from Cycling-Track, 1 from Cycling-Road), 2 from Rowing and 1 from Canoeing Slalom. Almost always, in recent years, UK has won a few medals in these specialty sports to gain a top 10 place for itself.

Similarly, USA is ahead of China at the moment with 21 gold and 42 medals. Of these, 14 gold and 28 medals in total were won in swimming alone.

Awarding 30+ golds in sports like swimming seems to be very unbalanced. Chinese should lobby for 40+ medals in Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Iranians should lobby for 30+ gold medals in 105+ kg weightlifting (one for 110 kg, one for 120 kg, one for 130 kg, one for 135 kg, and so on).




IOC is Western. They 'think' what the West thinks.

If you have not heard of Chinese Chess until now, then it would be good if that is included in Olympics. Many people around the world will learn a thing or two, and Olympics will be less of a display of Western culture.

People usually live on land, at least in our regions of the world, and elsewhere that I have lived in and travelled to. Swimming 100m or 200 m, or backstroke, or breaststroke, or canoeing, slalom or these equestrian events do not really interest most people living on land. From time to time, people may need to swim, that's fine, that's why I recommend 4 gold medals for men, 4 for women in swimming, not some odd 30+ gold medals in swimming as it is now.

What favour are you asking for? Everybody has physical, mental limitations. Is that surprising?

What makes you say those sports are specialist? We are best at those events, therefore we win most of our gold from them.
Your 30+ medals for kung fu or whatever is ridiculous, so I'll ignore that.

China added some sports for Beijing. That is merely your opinion. I don't think they are biased. The IOC has members from loads of countries.
Sure, if Chinese chess meets the requirements, it could be added.But seeing as you just complained you didn't know what slalom was, that would be pretty hypocritical.
So simply because you don't do them, we should cut them down?