Badminton shambles

[Badger]

 

[KZNSeagull]

Good news. Correct decision

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

It's being reported here it was the Australian head coach who fired in the protest or something along those lines against the offending teams.

 

[TheJasperCo]

Kudos to the badminton authorities. Let's hope governing bodies in other sports take on a similar approach in light of this from now on. How will this affect the other teams though?

 

[Mtoto]

So pleased that the badminton authorities didn't bottle this one.

But where is the sanction for the authorities for endorsing a competition structure which encouraged this in the first place? They weren't trying to get knocked out, they were trying to improve their chances of winning gold by losing this particular match. If you let people see the draw following a round-robin, what do you expect? If you were in that position, you'd want to plot the possibilities too.
There's only one venue for the badminton, so people won't be moving around. Why not just draw the next round once the first one is out of the way? There will still be dead rubbers, but at least the players can treat them as useful match practice.
What would show "bottle" would be the people in charge admitting that the ultimate blame lies with them. Instead, they dump it all on the players.

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

fuckin discrace

 

[Simster]

But where is the sanction for the authorities for endorsing a competition structure which encouraged this in the first place? They weren't trying to get knocked out, they were trying to improve their chances of winning gold by losing this particular match. If you let people see the draw following a round-robin, what do you expect? If you were in that position, you'd want to plot the possibilities too.
There's only one venue for the badminton, so people won't be moving around. Why not just draw the next round once the first one is out of the way? There will still be dead rubbers, but at least the players can treat them as useful match practice.
What would show "bottle" would be the people in charge admitting that the ultimate blame lies with them. Instead, they dump it all on the players.

Food for thought, and changes will obviously have to be made. As you say, a draw *after* the group stages is surely the way forward.

 

[Wardy]

But where is the sanction for the authorities for endorsing a competition structure which encouraged this in the first place? They weren't trying to get knocked out, they were trying to improve their chances of winning gold by losing this particular match. If you let people see the draw following a round-robin, what do you expect? If you were in that position, you'd want to plot the possibilities too.
There's only one venue for the badminton, so people won't be moving around. Why not just draw the next round once the first one is out of the way? There will still be dead rubbers, but at least the players can treat them as useful match practice.
What would show "bottle" would be the people in charge admitting that the ultimate blame lies with them. Instead, they dump it all on the players.

It is not that different from the finals of a major football comp where a team know they are through but that coming 2nd will mean that they will face a lesser team. Just in football you make 10 changes and use the excuse that you are giving the normal team a rest and the reserve players a run out.

 

[Spiros]

Kudos to the badminton authorities. Let's hope governing bodies in other sports take on a similar approach in light of this from now on. How will this affect the other teams though?

Why kudos to the BWF? They created the situation by organising the competition that way. They should either have used a proper round-robin system with 4 teams in a group or just straight knock-out and then they could have prevented the situation altogether. Although the players were playing to lose that individual match they were doing so in order to maximise their chances of winning the overall competition, thanks to the shambolic competition set-up

 

[somerset]

But where is the sanction for the authorities for endorsing a competition structure which encouraged this in the first place? They weren't trying to get knocked out, they were trying to improve their chances of winning gold by losing this particular match. If you let people see the draw following a round-robin, what do you expect? If you were in that position, you'd want to plot the possibilities too.
There's only one venue for the badminton, so people won't be moving around. Why not just draw the next round once the first one is out of the way? There will still be dead rubbers, but at least the players can treat them as useful match practice.
What would show "bottle" would be the people in charge admitting that the ultimate blame lies with them. Instead, they dump it all on the players.

Crock of poo.....

 

[Pavilionaire]

The athletes competing all share in the Olympic oath that they will try and do their best, try their hardest etc. It is an important part of the opening ceremony. I welcome this firm, decisive action to expel the 8.

If you don't have rules then what do you have? France, that's what...

 

[Titanic]

The athletes competing all share in the Olympic oath that they will try and do their best, try their hardest etc. It is an important part of the opening ceremony. I welcome this firm, decisive action to expel the 8.

If you don't have rules then what do you have? France, that's what...

But they were trying their hardest to win a gold medal. I blame the organisers who chose such a stupid format.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

It didn't look good, but I am wondering what rule they can disqualify them under. Is there a law that you must play to a certain standard?

 

[Everest]

It didn't look good, but I am wondering what rule they can disqualify them under. Is there a law that you must play to a certain standard?

As well as the "not using best efforts" charge, the players were also accused of "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport".

So basically, as in football, bringing the sport into disrepute

 

[DJ Leon]

Hmmm. We've seen plenty of people ease up in Swimming heats when they know they've qualified - and they're applauded for it. It'll happen for sure in the athletics too.

Perhaps the way they tried to lose was absurd, but when we disqualify people for trying not to win, it might be a thinner line than you think.

 

[Pavilionaire]

But they were trying their hardest to win a gold medal. I blame the organisers who chose such a stupid format.

I totally don't buy that. If you enter the Olympic you abide by the oath, end of story. There isn't much integrity left in sport and the Olympics is the biggest competition in the world, so if they allow the deliberate losing to go unpunished then the oath becomes meaningless and the Olympic "ideal" (which, I believe, still garners respect and support) is forever tarnished.

 

[Gazwag]

They're totally moronic. I've only seen the clips on the BBC site, but the players in question are just missing serves, hitting it weakly into the net etc. If you really want to lose, there are surely ways you can do it while still looking like you're trying. What a bunch of muppets.

Quite, if your going to match fixed don't do it like a Pakistani bowler

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Hmmm. We've seen plenty of people ease up in Swimming heats when they know they've qualified - and they're applauded for it. It'll happen for sure in the athletics too.

Perhaps the way they tried to lose was absurd, but when we disqualify people for trying not to win, it might be a thinner line than you think.

Maybe. But I think there is a fairly clear difference between easing down to conserve energy, and actively trying to lose.

 

[Triggaaar]

FFS grow a pair and disqualify all four teams please.

I've taken your advice into account, and followed it.

 

[Badger]

Would it be appropriate to call this Badmintongate? Or Cockgate?