Five minute job. Point at Hong Kong and they can't do much but to recognise the individual nations.
[Other Sport] Paris 2024 Olympics & Paralympics ***Official Match Thread***
- Thread starter South Stand Bonfire
- Start date
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Its not a dislike, nor does it upset me. That is 100% in your proud brain. It just makes very little sense to me to compete as different nations in nearly every context and then when its time for Olympics all of that is thrown away. I'm sure it makes sense to you because you're used to it but from the outside it looks odd since no one else in the entire world has the structure of fluidily breaking into small nations or a big state whenever it fits.
I think its odd, I don't dislike it. It just makes me surprised that English people are fine with the rest of the big nations thinking "they're only that to keep up with the rest of the big nations in the medal league".
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
Who told you the rest of the big nations think that?
People from big nations talking about it.
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair" or "only doing it to get more medals". Obviously the argumentation is flawed because as four different nations, UK could send more athletes. But the perspective that you're doing it for medal league vanity is ever present when the international community talk about it.
Proud brain is another odd thing to say. The fact is that you regularly criticise this country, so of course it comes across as you disliking us in some way. Go find me a post where I've criticised Sweden (good luck with that).
So you can't understand the idea of tradition, or that the different nations with different languages and culture might like to have a team representing just them? Millions of people like that, so why are you having such difficulty grasping it?
How is it thrown away? We compete against countries all over the world, including Europe, yet when the Rider Cup comes around we love playing alongside our European friends, including Sweden. Swedish people love that too, but I'm guessing not you? You see it as Sweden throwing everything away
Except for every country in Europe.
Britain have always competed as one in the Olympics (one of just a few countries who have always been in it I think), so how would it be about keeping up? I'd be amazed if any big country thought that, I've certainly never heard that nonsense before. Not that it matters, but for our size of country we do pretty well. In 2012 we finished 3rd and in 2016 we finished 2nd, above China. We usually finish about countries of similar size, like Germany, France, Italy and Spain. We compete together because we are one country. Not even a big one.
More surprising is that we don't compete as a country in sports like Rugby and Football, but as I've explained, it's a fair bit about tradition and culture.
- Nov 15, 2006
- 4,246
f*** ‘em, come on GBPeople from big nations talking about it.
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair" or "only doing it to get more medals". Obviously the argumentation is flawed because as four different nations, UK could send more athletes. But the perspective that you're doing it for medal league vanity is ever present when the international community talk about it.
People from big nations talking about it.
If you read Reddit (worlds biggest forum) threads when its brought up, you'll inevitably find people saying its "unfair"
What absolute nonsense. In order of population the UK is the 21st largest country with about 68 million people. Meanwhile, India and China have 1.4 billion people. And they think it's unfair that we have so many
I don't see British people complaining that the likes of China and the US have more people than us. They typically finish above us in the medal table, as you'd expect.
The individual nations have never ever competed at the Olympics individually, since their inception in 1896.
That's one heck of a chip you have to lug around isn't it.
As usual, Swanny pontificating on a subject about which he knows nothing bar what the Internet tells him.
For someone who has never been to our country, our city, or our club, he certainly likes to show off how much he thinks he understands about all three.
For someone who has never been to our country, our city, or our club, he certainly likes to show off how much he thinks he understands about all three.
That said, lets all keep this thread on a positive track, shall we.
Proud brain is another odd thing to say. The fact is that you regularly criticise this country, so of course it comes across as you disliking us in some way. Go find me a post where I've criticised Sweden (good luck with that).
So you can't understand the idea of tradition, or that the different nations with different languages and culture might like to have a team representing just them? Millions of people like that, so why are you having such difficulty grasping it?
How is it thrown away? We compete against countries all over the world, including Europe, yet when the Rider Cup comes around we love playing alongside our European friends, including Sweden. Swedish people love that too, but I'm guessing not you? You see it as Sweden throwing everything away
Except for every country in Europe.
Britain have always competed as one in the Olympics (one of just a few countries who have always been in it I think), so how would it be about keeping up? I'd be amazed if any big country thought that, I've certainly never heard that nonsense before. Not that it matters, but for our size of country we do pretty well. In 2012 we finished 3rd and in 2016 we finished 2nd, above China. We usually finish about countries of similar size, like Germany, France, Italy and Spain. We compete together because we are one country. Not even a big one.
More surprising is that we don't compete as a country in sports like Rugby and Football, but as I've explained, it's a fair bit about tradition and culture.
1. I criticise every country on earth. None more so than Sweden. Everyone, including Swedes, always get upset about it before they return to watching their respective societies burn to the ground. One day in the very distant future, it will turn out that I was right saying "my nation isn't great" or "this nation isn't great". But thats kind of beside the whole thing because sports has little do with it.
2. I can understand the tradition and idea yes but times change and you'd think ideas would also change. 1900 was a long, long time ago. I mean apparently there's some openness to new ideas since you 25 years ago decided to switch name to "Team GB", which sounds more like a shite F1 team than a nation. Then it shouldn't be impossible to call yourself... the names of your respective nations.
3. I just googled "Ryder Cup" and found out its a golf competition. While there are some 10-15 percent (nearly all upper class) of Swedes who give a shit about golf, the vast majority will refer to it as "bourgeois bandy". You have to like the upper class to like golf and it matches really bad with 150 years of socialism. The "Swedish people love it too" might be true but we're talking a very small percentage of people. The majority won't know what Ryder Cup is.
4. Britain has always competed as one, yes, and like I said I have literally no problem with it other than finding it odd. I would have found it odd in the 1980s if Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia etc. played international team sports as five or six different nations just to turn into "Team YUGO" when the Olympics came along. Same with Soviet. If this had been the case, I would almost certainly have considered the opportunity that these nations did it for propaganda purposes. I'm not saying thats the case with UK but obviously people are going to consider it.
Tldr: I really don't give a shit about "Team GB" other than finding it a bit odd. Thats all. No right or wrong.
The strength and flexibility of these rings gymnasts is incredible.
- Jul 5, 2003
- 1,493
Aye, they can easily just take it to the debate forum. Let's just keep this about the real time performances of outstanding athletes.
Harry Hepworth with a superb routine on the Rings for his first Olympics. Never had a gymnast in the Rings final, done himself proud with a seventh place finish.
hart's shirt
Well-known member
Quite right.
On the whole, it's been a very enjoyable and agreeable thread in the first week, so there's no need for it to change now.
And definitely no need for anyone to get personal here. Let's at least wait until the wrestling competitions start tomorrow for that.
Iggle Piggle
Well-known member
- Sep 3, 2010
- 5,948
I'm from Brighton when I watch BHAFC
From England when I watch International football
From UK watching the Olympics and
From Europe watching the Ryder Cup.
It's not hard and doesn't require an essay on the topic.
From England when I watch International football
From UK watching the Olympics and
From Europe watching the Ryder Cup.
It's not hard and doesn't require an essay on the topic.
So you want England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to stop playing football independently. Why? Who benefits from that? The people of those nations wouldn't want it, so what's the point? And if we did you'd only come here moaning that all the other countries said we only did it so we could win something.
Christ, who cares what they're called
Ok I'll take your word for that. But the fact is that people (not sure what class, sorry) from around Europe like joining together to compete in that competition. But that's just one example. What about when arch rivals from Barcelona and Madrid suddenly, in your words, 'pretend that they're one happy united bunch' and play for Spain? (and the same with every other country. You seriously can't understand the idea that people can be rivals in one thing, and then together in another? What about when tennis plays join someone in doubles, that they were against in the singles? No doubt you can't understand that.
They turned into team YUGO for football, so you've kinda shot yourself in the foot there.
Not that Yugoslavia were an independent sovereign nation for hundreds of years like the UK, long before the start of the Olympics.
So you're not saying it, but people will consider that we're doing this for propaganda purposes? Jesus Christ, it's a bit early in the day to be totally fcuked on weed.
I'm not going to respond to the above as I appreciate the desire to keep the thread about sports so if anyone wants to continue the whole "why do you hate us for being Team GB"-"I don't hate you for being Team GB"-conversation, we can take it in PM.
deletebeepbeepbeep
Well-known member
- May 12, 2009
- 21,782
Astonishing shooting by Rutter.
F: first miss.
F: first miss.
Iggle Piggle
Well-known member
- Sep 3, 2010
- 5,948
I'd rather stick a cactus up my arse but thankyou for the offer.