Whats wrong with Football in Olympics?
Discussion
Didnt find a thread on this, but listening to the radio yesterday was curious Why shouldn't football or professional footballers be in Olympics if the Olympics is meant to showcase the best athletes in the world?
I hear references to the amount of money they make, but is that relevant? Should the same rule not apply to Tennis and Federer or Wiggins who also earns millions/year?
I hear references to the amount of money they make, but is that relevant? Should the same rule not apply to Tennis and Federer or Wiggins who also earns millions/year?
I don't feel football or tennis really deserve a place in the Olympics. At least the football rules mean it's mostly youngsters.
As it is, I have watched wall to wall Olympics, and I have watched about 5 mins of football and tennis. Both sports get plenty of coverage already, and it's been great to watch the minority sports.
As it is, I have watched wall to wall Olympics, and I have watched about 5 mins of football and tennis. Both sports get plenty of coverage already, and it's been great to watch the minority sports.
When they went from the athletics glory to the soccer shootout between GB and Korea it was like having a bucket of dung thrown over your head. Watching Sturridge sulkily stomp off after buggering up his penalty kick, I felt like slapping every Prem player round the head with a bagful of gold medals.
None of the above is a reason to exclude it or conditionalise it, based on the Olympics ethos of Faster Higher Stronger and the "best athletes".
Take Athletics, a long history of drug cheats, yet remains the biggest event, based on the subjective comments above, Athletics should not be in it either.
Basketball, the most expensive collection of Athletes at the games, Lebron, Kobe, great spectacle, we want to see the best against the best.
Is it fair to have one rule for one sport and not another? Would the Olympics be as successful if it were just amateurs, I doubt it.
Take Athletics, a long history of drug cheats, yet remains the biggest event, based on the subjective comments above, Athletics should not be in it either.
Basketball, the most expensive collection of Athletes at the games, Lebron, Kobe, great spectacle, we want to see the best against the best.
Is it fair to have one rule for one sport and not another? Would the Olympics be as successful if it were just amateurs, I doubt it.
jbudgie said:
Zaxxon said:
I don't think Football should be included. They have the World Cup. Also footballers are being shown up as a lower class of sports person. They are embarrasing compared to the rowers, cyclists swimmers and athletes.
Agreed, don't think Tennis should be there either.Is it from the professional aspect, in which case what about the cyclists?
Is it from the major tournament aspect, in which case all other sports just because you are only watching them now have big major tournaments?
Why so?
I would remove football simply on the basis that winning an Olympic gold is not the highest accolade you can get in that sport. World Cup win, Euro win, Premiership title, Champions League, FA Cup etc all, I would suggest, rank higher to a footballer than an Olympic gold.
Same with tennis - Wimbledon victory or Olympic gold? Hmmm. Although having said that, TdF win or Olympic gold?
Same with tennis - Wimbledon victory or Olympic gold? Hmmm. Although having said that, TdF win or Olympic gold?
Antony Moxey said:
I would remove football simply on the basis that winning an Olympic gold is not the highest accolade you can get in that sport. World Cup win, Euro win, Premiership title, Champions League, FA Cup etc all, I would suggest, rank higher to a footballer than an Olympic gold.
Same with tennis - Wimbledon victory or Olympic gold? Hmmm. Although having said that, TdF win or Olympic gold?
The WC, PL and CL are more important, its a competition against the best.Same with tennis - Wimbledon victory or Olympic gold? Hmmm. Although having said that, TdF win or Olympic gold?
performances in olympic sports are about measuring yourself against a standard...
fastest over a distance, highest jumper, longest jumper.
we can quantify performances and measure who is the best, the best today, the best ever, whatever.
performances in football can't be quantified.
also, if you want to pick a game the culture of which is furthest from the olympic spirit, you might well choose football. it's hard to detect a microgram of respect for sportsmanship in professional football, even from the governing bodies.
in contrast, have a look at the athletics last night: immediately the heptathlon Ennis was congratulated by many of her rivals. after that all of the entrants paraded around the stadium together, waving to the crowd.
don't really get that kind of thing in football do you?
fastest over a distance, highest jumper, longest jumper.
we can quantify performances and measure who is the best, the best today, the best ever, whatever.
performances in football can't be quantified.
also, if you want to pick a game the culture of which is furthest from the olympic spirit, you might well choose football. it's hard to detect a microgram of respect for sportsmanship in professional football, even from the governing bodies.
in contrast, have a look at the athletics last night: immediately the heptathlon Ennis was congratulated by many of her rivals. after that all of the entrants paraded around the stadium together, waving to the crowd.
don't really get that kind of thing in football do you?
jcremonini said:
They should open it up so all footballers can play. If one countries FA wishes to just send u21 or whatever, they can. If it is still not considered a major tournament then at least it would be considered that way under it's own sails,
FIFA and uefa would never agree to sanction the event. Would rather they do away with it completely in all honesty. At least 7s can be played in a few days.vescaegg said:
Does anyone know why tennis seems to not be affected by the Olympic type rules that other sports have to abide by? Don't boxers have to be amateur and footballers under 23 etc in the Olympics? How come the pro tennis players get to compete without restrictions?
Amateur boxing is a sport on its own, nothing to do with pro boxing. Many amateur boxers stay amateur till the age cut off at 34. But as we have seen most of the top amateurs do go onto be professional fighters.Russ35 said:
vescaegg said:
Does anyone know why tennis seems to not be affected by the Olympic type rules that other sports have to abide by? Don't boxers have to be amateur and footballers under 23 etc in the Olympics? How come the pro tennis players get to compete without restrictions?
Amateur boxing is a sport on its own, nothing to do with pro boxing. Many amateur boxers stay amateur till the age cut off at 34. But as we have seen most of the top amateurs do go onto be professional fighters.IIRC, Sepp Blatter's aim was to get a GB team playing with a hidden agenda item of knocking the four UK nations individual teams on the head. He is on a loser there.
Without going all "tinfoil hat", the Soccer Team GB idea had the backing of the EU as part of the plot to abolish the four nations.
Without going all "tinfoil hat", the Soccer Team GB idea had the backing of the EU as part of the plot to abolish the four nations.
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