Olympics - women's fencing. Oh dear.

[GingerBeerMan]

What is it that you would like, to consider it 'proper'.

The systems will time accurately to 1/100 of a second, but when the time starts and stops in a subjective sport is entirely in the hands of the sport official tasked with controlling it.

If the timing of all sports could be fully automated (as they are in swimming, canoing, etc) the Official Timekeeper (Omega) would be very happy.

As an aside, the new system Omega are using for the swimming, will measure accurately to 1/10'000 of a second, yet the rules of the sport only allow timekeeping to 1/100. Thus last night you had a shared silver medal when the two swimmers finished in the same 1/100, when if permitted, Omega could have split them.

This fencing incident seems really harsh, and something doesn't look right, but don't blindly blame the technology.

It's not hard to make a system where the clock starts precisely when the ref says to start. They get it to stop precisely when an encounter ends. Why must someone else press the clock to start? As shown, it's highly inaccurate.

 

[simmo]

It's the sword of thing that just shouldn't happen at the Olympic Games.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

Pppppfft what's the point...

 

[hans kraay fan club]

It's not hard to make a system where the clock starts precisely when the ref says to start. They get it to stop precisely when an encounter ends. Why must someone else press the clock to start? As shown, it's highly inaccurate.

It stops electronically when a contact is made. Electronically this is very straightforward.

What are you suggesting will electronically start the clock? Perhaps an electronic device worn by the ref, utilising voice recognition software, to automatically close a contact on (each individual referee's) command of 'start', plus a wireless link to carry that signal to the timing device at the official's table? that's a lot of additional technology to possibly fail.

A more failsafe solution would be that when the referee gives the 'play' command, that rather than this being a command to the fencers, this is a command to a 'starter' who then presses the start button on an acoustic start device (as used to start the swimming / athletics races). The fencers would know to start on the beep, and the timing would become fully automated. This requires a rule change though, so your beef is with the rule-makers, rather than the technology, which does what it can within the current rules.

 

[simmo]

It stops electronically when a contact is made. Electronically this is very straightforward.

What are you suggesting will electronically start the clock? Perhaps an electronic device worn by the ref, utilising voice recognition software, to automatically close a contact on (each individual referee's) command of 'start', plus a wireless link to carry that signal to the timing device at the official's table? that's a lot of additional technology to possibly fail.

A more failsafe solution would be that when the referee gives the 'play' command, that rather than this being a command to the fencers, this is a command to a 'starter' who then presses the start button on an acoustic start device (as used to start the swimming / athletics races). The fencers would know to start on the beep, and the timing would become fully automated. This requires a rule change though, so your beef is with the rule-makers, rather than the technology, which does what it can within the current rules.

Can't the ref just have a device in their hand similar to what the weathermen have.

They shout start and click that the same time and this is starts the clock, it is then stopped when a score is made and then they restart it when play begins again.

This is the 2012 Olympics not the 1948 one isn't it?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Can't they just have a device in their hand similar to what the weathermen have.

They shout start and click that the same time and this is starts the clock, it is then stopped when a score is made and then they restart it when play begins again.

This is the 2012 Olympics not the 1948 one isn't it?

Yes they could, IF THE RULES ALLOWED IT. As things stand, the referee is not responsible for timekeeping - he is deemed to have too much else to concentrate on.

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

Do you think the sick (humor) on this thread is any worse than what the idiot said to Tom Daily just because you are not typing it directly to the athlete concerned?
bit like kicking a wounded animal as far as i am concerned

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Do you think the sick (humor) on this thread is any worse than what the idiot said to Tom Daily just because you are not typing it directly to the athlete concerned?
bit like kicking a wonded animal as far as i am concerned

What? A few puns about swords is the same as directly abusing an athlete about his recently deceased father, and threatening to KILL him? Are you mental?

 

[simmo]

Yes they could, IF THE RULES ALLOWED IT. As things stand, the referee is not responsible for timekeeping - he is deemed to have too much else to concentrate on.

I have seen it and to be honest it is obvious it is the timekeepers fault. The fact that there is still one second on the clock after the "winning score" to me suggests that they did not press the button at all (unless that was the BBC clock and not the official clock). It is also obvious that the action lasted for more than a second. Surely in the appeal someone could have timed it again. Poor effort by the timekeeper and the officials after.

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

would you have said it to the girls face
seeing as you name call on here at the drop of a hat probably

 

[kevo]

I have seen it and to be honest it is obvious it is the timekeepers fault. The fact that there is still one second on the clock after the "winning score" to me suggests that they did not press the button at all (unless that was the BBC clock and not the official clock). It is also obvious that the action lasted for more than a second. Surely in the appeal someone could have timed it again. Poor effort by the timekeeper and the officials after.

The clock was still showing 00.01 after the end of the contest - so if there had been another 'double' hit, there would have been a fourth encounter.

As HKFC says, the solution is simple enough. Instead of telling the competitors to fence, the referee presses a button which sounds a 'beep' and also starts the clock. Removes the human timekeeping element which will always be subject to delays of a fraction of a second. It seems inconceivable that they've never considered this.

 

[Titanic]

would you have said it to the girls face
seeing as you name call on here at the drop of a hat probably

Not that I have said anything... to me they look like jokes (perhaps feeble ones), and not direct personal insults about a recently deceased father.

I don't understand your problem.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

I thought that in swordfighting you couldn't start until a glove (or ladies hankerchief) had been dropped and your opponent picked it up, isn't that the proper way to challenge someone to a duel?

Hence the phrase, ' throwing down the gauntlet ' and 'picking up the gauntlet '.

Modern fencing has no sense of Chivalry.

I think that's the thrust of my arguement, but if anyone wants to parry against it........

ARTHUR: Victory is mine! [kneeling] We thank Thee Lord, that in Thy mer--
BLACK KNIGHT: Hah! [kick] Come on, then.
ARTHUR: What?
BLACK KNIGHT: Have at you! [kick]
ARTHUR: Eh. You are indeed brave, Sir Knight, but the fight is mine.
BLACK KNIGHT: Oh, had enough, eh?
ARTHUR: Look, you stupid bastard. You've got no arms left.
BLACK KNIGHT: Yes, I have.
ARTHUR: Look!
BLACK KNIGHT: Just a flesh wound. [kick]
ARTHUR: Look, stop that.
BLACK KNIGHT: Chicken! [kick] Chickennn!
ARTHUR: Look, I'll have your leg. [kick] Right! [whop]

[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's right leg off]

BLACK KNIGHT: Right. I'll do you for that!
ARTHUR: You'll what?
BLACK KNIGHT: Come here!
ARTHUR: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
BLACK KNIGHT: I'm invincible!
ARTHUR: You're a looney.
BLACK KNIGHT: The Black Knight always triumphs! Have at you! Come on, then. [whop]

[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's last leg off]

BLACK KNIGHT: Oh? All right, we'll call it a draw.
ARTHUR: Come, Patsy.
BLACK KNIGHT: Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!

 

[simmo]

Do you think the sick (humor) on this thread is any worse than what the idiot said to Tom Daily just because you are not typing it directly to the athlete concerned?
bit like kicking a wounded animal as far as i am concerned

So contacting Tom Daley directly, about the death of his father and threatening to kill him (is that true HKFC?) is the same as posting a few puns on a football website about a South Korean fencer losing controversially a semi final in a sporting competition.

Well call me old fashioned, but I fail to see the THRUST of your argument.

 

[Benson]

It is all a bit unsabrery.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

So contacting Tom Daley directly, about the death of his father and threatening to kill him (is that true HKFC?) .

Yes.

The little scrote offered Daley a mealy-mouthed 'apology', and when he didn't reply, the scrote followed up with something like "Don't reply to me then, you ****. I'm going to ******* drown you".

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

So contacting Tom Daley directly, about the death of his father and threatening to kill him (is that true HKFC?) is the same as posting a few puns on a football website about a South Korean fencer losing controversially a semi final in a sporting competition.

Well call me old fashioned, but I fail to see the THRUST of your argument.

call me mr boring but I fail to see anything humorous or clever in your reply

 

[ifuhatepalacestandup]

Not that I have said anything... to me they look like jokes (perhaps feeble ones), and not direct personal insults about a recently deceased father.

I don't understand your problem.

i dont have a problem i was just asking (see the question mark in my original post ) if it was ok to take the piss out of someone who is distraught just because your not doing it to their face

 

[simmo]

call me mr boring but I fail to see anything humorous or clever in your reply

So then by your reply you do think that contacting Tom Daley directly, about the death of his father and threatening to kill him is the same as posting a few puns on a football website about a South Korean fencer losing controversially a semi final in a sporting competition.

Yeah?

 

[withdeanwombat]

You spend years training and lose because of some muppet . f***ing shambles.

That Burnley ref should be put to the sword.............and the one for the Rochdale penalty.