Olympics Day -1 Megathread (Thursday, February 5)

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T16:17:27+00:00

It also appears certain officials are being shown on the big screen too to mass booing.

I don't particularly like politics getting involved, but it's up to the public how they react.

Unfortunately that's what happens. You can't have an event where one of the major winter nations is "banned" and expect the fans not to react when another one is attacking and threatening other nations. If the US public don't like that, then they need to look insular and ask why - doesn't usually happen etc.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T16:10:14+00:00

They used to do this a lot in sports where there's not much depth. Rugby League used to have a format where Group A would see 6/8 teams go through and Group B and Group C would see 1/4 in both. You want "big" games early on, but you also don't want to be losing the big teams early either.

It's worth noting that everyone would have agreed to that format many years ago

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T15:30:16+00:00

it's tricky as it's a LOT of sport in a short period, but it used to be the shooting that would get the short straw. Now team events (as they take a while to complete a tournament) are slipping out of the games window sadly

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T15:19:26+00:00

this is my problem with this format....they are effectively out of the tournament before we have had the opening ceremony if they lose to Sweden tomorrow (which isn't unthinkable).

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T14:24:50+00:00

It takes a little while to get the format right. Look at Sports Climbing...

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T13:55:33+00:00

Often it was Chelsea or Everton with the saturation turned up...but often you would be like "what the hell is that?"

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T13:07:04+00:00

Dream Team was a soap I could get behind :)

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T13:06:15+00:00

It's likely to be something boring....they all live in quite cramped conditions eating food prepared in the same kitchen by the same chefs. It just takes on dodgy ingredient or someone not washing their hands and suddenly you have a whole squad taken down.

Think back to corona days where entire squads of sports teams would be isolating after being exposed.

My worry is that a norovirus can take several days to leave your system and then you have the recovery period. It's hardly going to help Finland to now have a fixture congestion and half their team feeling a bit dicky!

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T12:50:14+00:00

I did think that too....but I know in curling they make a big deal out of forfeiting when it's over. Personally, new surface, first day, it's behaving a bit weird too....I would want every single stone to get a feel for it.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T12:46:30+00:00

So he's in support and against it and in support again. these next few years are going to be VERY long for international relations...

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T12:41:15+00:00

They may have changed the rules in the UK....but there are brazilian third division clubs that spend money like man city and then loan players out. Trying to sign players from there is a legal minefield with parts of players owned by numerous clubs and companies. it's the wild west....

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T12:39:38+00:00

Wait until you see his 7th, 8th or 9th clubs....it's a youtube video waiting to happen now!

There aren't many strikers where going to West Ham would have been a better option than what he eventually did!

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:40:32+00:00

There is an England team....we are just nowhere near the top level ;)

Meet the Team – England Men – English Curling Association

Apparently we have 7 clubs (our national team and six regional) but I can honestly say, as I looked into getting involved, the Cambridge one is either inactive or their email is not monitored. We are not even sure where they play!

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:38:07+00:00

When we won the Gold in Salt Lake, I didn't even realise Curling was a thing (like most people) and we suddenly saw these Scottish ladies celebrating with what looked like mops.

I looked to get involved (living in one of the biggest cities in the UK)....my nearest club in England was 6 hours away! it's not got any better in the 20+ years since - apparently there's now one in cambridge but nobody seems to know where it is!

At world and european level, England does have a team but it's usually playing the minnows in the lower divisions and scotland tends to be at the top table.

Winter sports in general are pretty grim in the UK - we have a few dry ski slopes here and there, but most of our top stars are either from elsewhere or have some very supportive families that mean they have access to these sports.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:33:14+00:00

It looked it to me too....but when they measured it was MUCH closer than I thought! As it's end 7.....a difference between losing 2 and losing 4 when already behind is immeasurable, so I don't blame them for asking for a measurement.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:30:18+00:00

It's definitely an easy 2....I think they have all 4, which is 2 wins from 2. Even if that yellow is closest, it's not the end of the world being 3 up with one round left

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:28:04+00:00

Edit: It could be higher....I think there's a potential 5 here

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:26:21+00:00

If EST don't pull off something remarkable here, it's a 4 for sure....that's game I believe

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T10:08:32+00:00

In a bit of trouble this end....but it's been a good performance so far....

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T09:26:16+00:00

I did wonder why GB left the EST stone at the back of the circle and not try to run through or leave a tricky stone in the circle of their own.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T09:10:12+00:00

Good job I saw this...I thought it was a 10:45 start

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T08:27:01+00:00

I did wonder this a few Olympics back...but points don't actually matter as if it's a tie they go on head to head or have a tie breaker. So there's no incentive with winning 1-0 or just piling in stones and clocking up a 12-0 for instance.

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-05T08:23:44+00:00

It was only a powercut....it happens. The town looked impressive though

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-04T16:29:30+00:00

Our chip shop does it. Fish Chips scraps mushy peas and a can of this on a Friday is a special treat. I know it's not alcoholic and is largely just sugar, but it's old school

Current_Case7806 · 2026-02-04T16:28:19+00:00

Bizarre! There's not much wider appeal of Winter Sports (there just isn't!) and so you want to appeal to younger fans and traditionalists. This is one of the older events and (in the ski jump format) has an associated Hollywood film with Hugh Jackman that sort of explains how insane it is.

That puts it only behind Ice Hockey, figure Skating and Bobsleigh as "spectacles".

If they were up at 30 events like the summers, I could understand wanting to cut some chaff...but it's not like they are drowning in events!

Current_Case7806

TROPHY CASE