2014 Commonwealth Games
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LSUY
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- Jul 12, 2005
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I watched it yesterday (I was really bored and had nothing to do) and the commentator said "the crowd might be a factor today". I couldn't help but wonder how many of the lawn bowlers were unsettled by the hushed silence and the odd outburst of polite clapping.
Lawn Bowls demands utter concentration. That's why if a player is about to deliver the bowl, the opponent should not make any noise or movement and must stand behind and away from him. Even those players at the head should not move and must be behind the head when they see a player stepping on the mat at the opposite end of the rink.
THFCSPURS19
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Trying to watch Lawn Bowls demands utter concentration as well.
Try playing that. It's not as easy as it looks. A typical game takes about 3 hours and if it starts at 8 a.m. when the green is still moist and by elevenish, it'll be running a lot faster. All the time you'll have to adjust your weight and keep your eyes on the ever-changing line the bowl traverses.
THFCSPURS19
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I know it's obviously a very skill-heavy game- I'm just saying I would find it very difficult to watch the sport...
Wasn't having a dig at you. Just to say that a lot of people sneer at it as a sport. Aside from what I mentioned in the earlier post, there's a lot of tactics involved particularly for the skips.
Mustard
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- Nov 14, 2012
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Just watching the gold medal match woman's doubles and it's pretty easy on the eye.
Very absorbing.
It helps if you appreciate sport I guess.
Yid-ol
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The BBC's attitude towards Bolt...
I get he's the best sprinter in the world (not the best athlete - that's Ashton Eaton) but was the Bolt montage, the Bolt conversations, the Bolt clock and the Bolt hashtag really necessary?
To be fair, bolt is right.
the games have been a bit shit. Just cant get excited about any of it.
THFCSPURS19
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I saw Ashton Eaton at the 2012 Olympics as the Athletics event I went to had several Decathlon events- he won Gold IIRC and he also broke the Decathlon world record at some point, didn't he...?The BBC's attitude towards Bolt...
I get he's the best sprinter in the world (not the best athlete - that's Ashton Eaton) but was the Bolt montage, the Bolt conversations, the Bolt clock and the Bolt hashtag really necessary?
LSUY
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You lucky git, I would have loved to have seen that but I missed out on tickets for the athletics. He absolutely beasted the decathlon. IIRC he surpassed Sebrle's WR at the US Olympic trials.
I guess it depends on what sports you're interested in. I agree the athletics has been pretty shit (never been too fond of swimming so can't say whether that's been any good) but the boxing, hockey, squash, cycling and netball have been entertaining.
Cavehillspur
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Charlie Flynn - possibly the most irritating boxer since Naseem Hamed, would love to belt him one lol
gilzeantheking
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Amantle Montsho has been suspended after testing positive for a banned substance
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28622841
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28622841
gushayes11
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I've tried to get into the games but can't. The big stars don't want to be there and are hyped up too much by the BBC.
yawa
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The BBC's attitude towards Bolt...
I get he's the best sprinter in the world (not the best athlete - that's Ashton Eaton) but was the Bolt montage, the Bolt conversations, the Bolt clock and the Bolt hashtag really necessary?
I think he's fantastic. Such a breath of fresh air for athletics and the fans love him.
nightgoat
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- Sep 12, 2005
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It's easy to say the Commonwealth Games are shit because the Americans aren't there, but that does it a big disservice as in a lot of sports the best nations are Commonwealth nations. Jamaica dominate the sprint events at Olympics and World Championships, likewise the Kenyans with the distance events. 16 of the 26 track events at the last World Championships were won by Commonwealth athletes.
All the best teams were in the Sevens tournament except Fiji (I'm not sure why they weren't, as they're part of the Commonwealth.) But still, the Sevens tournament wouldn't have been significantly improved by France or USA being there. Australia and South Africa are two of the strongest swimming nations, likewise hockey.
For a number of sports which aren't part of the Olympics this is the pinnacle of their sport, certainly in terms of media coverage and exposure to the public. How many people will have watched squash, for example, over the last couple of weeks but have no idea when the squash World Championships are?
It's also great for young athletes competing in a major international competition for the first time. A lot of the English and Scottish athletes who were relatively unknown before the start of the games will benefit come the next Olympics. It's also the only major competition to integrate para sports in with able bodied sports. I doubt many future Paralympics will have the same number of spectators that London had, but by including track events for wheelchair and visually impaired athletes in the Commonwealth Games a lot more people will see that than if they were held in a separate competition.
All the best teams were in the Sevens tournament except Fiji (I'm not sure why they weren't, as they're part of the Commonwealth.) But still, the Sevens tournament wouldn't have been significantly improved by France or USA being there. Australia and South Africa are two of the strongest swimming nations, likewise hockey.
For a number of sports which aren't part of the Olympics this is the pinnacle of their sport, certainly in terms of media coverage and exposure to the public. How many people will have watched squash, for example, over the last couple of weeks but have no idea when the squash World Championships are?
It's also great for young athletes competing in a major international competition for the first time. A lot of the English and Scottish athletes who were relatively unknown before the start of the games will benefit come the next Olympics. It's also the only major competition to integrate para sports in with able bodied sports. I doubt many future Paralympics will have the same number of spectators that London had, but by including track events for wheelchair and visually impaired athletes in the Commonwealth Games a lot more people will see that than if they were held in a separate competition.
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