OT: Olympic Badminton Controversy

[Aluminny69]

All eight women disqualified for throwing badminton matches

 

[EricLA]

In a way I'm glad the Olympic committee decided to do that. I totally get, for example, in a hoops game putting in all your reserves when you are up big. that's getting all your players a chance to play but it's NOT throwing the game/match. I'm sure it's hard to prove that, but if it's that obvious, then good. The players and teams SHOULD play to win.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Now that's tanking Patton would have envied...sheesh!

 

[Icebear]

How would they, the athletes, like to be fans who paid a pretty dollar for venue tickets and then got to watch that mess.

 

[OneTrickPony]

How would they, the athletes, like to be fans who paid a pretty dollar for venue tickets and then got to watch that mess.

Now if there had been a spoiled fruit vendor...OK!

 

[meyers7]

How would they, the athletes, like to be fans who paid a pretty dollar for venue tickets and then got to watch that mess.

Well you gotta wonder about anyone paying a pretty penny to watch badminton anyway.

 

[Wonkster]

Well you gotta wonder about anyone paying a pretty penny to watch badminton anyway.

Wasn't badminton invented in England? There may have been a bunch of limey badminton aficionados there in the stands.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Wasn't badminton invented in England? There may have been a bunch of limey badminton aficionados there in the stands.

If it had been Philadelphia, I think the two teams would've been running for their lives...

 

[CL82]

I can't blame the teams (much) for advancing their interests. It was a predictable potential problem that was cause by a rules change.

 

[BugsyCT]

I went back and watched both these matches online in their entirety. It was pretty bizarre. In both matches, the players began by constantly tapping the birdie into the net on their serves and half-@ssing their volleys. It was so blatant it was ridiculous, and the officials & the crowd were having none of it. It wasn't until the officials intervened during the 1st set and gave them warnings that they upped their game and made it look like they were trying harder, but at that point everyone was already skeptical. They both finished their "matches," but in the end, it didn't save any of them from disqualification.

I have to think they were pressured by their coaches or higher ups in their respective nations to throw the matches to get an easier draw the next round. Even if they thought their strategy was smart based on the given format, it was still the wrong thing to do. They'd be more respected for giving their best and losing to a tougher opponent later on than making a mockery out of their own sport and disgracing themselves and their country.

I don't think this is the kind of attention that badminton wanted.

 

[meyers7]

I can kind of understand China's predicament. The way the knock out stage was set up there was no way China's two teams could get Gold and Silver. They would have played each other in the quarters or semi's, from what I heard. But still......bad form.

 

[wallman]

I actually like badminton but this was "a bad show chaps"!

 

[Waquoit]

I think this is a case of selective outrage for USA fans. Apolo Ohno did the same thing is the USA trials a few years back. He tanked a heat race of an event he had already qualified for. If he had won, his buddy would have been knocked out.

 

[pinotbear]

..better check where all the "big, late money" fell with the British bookies on them thar bad-mitten matches.

 

[OneTrickPony]

..better check where all the "big, late money" fell with the British bookies on them thar bad-mitten matches.

That's why I never bet on badminton...the sport is notorious...

 

[FairView]

It's about the medal count, baby! While we watch the count and feel proud of US achievement, in these countries winning medals, and especially gold, is a goal strongly encouraged by the state.

 

[Icebear]

There are local badminton clubs all over England. It is the #3 national sport behind cricket and football (soccer).

 

[FairView]

There are local badminton clubs all over England. It is the #3 national sport behind cricket and football (soccer).

They are just so darn civilized! Where's NASCAR and competitive eating?

 

[meyers7]

There are local badminton clubs all over England. It is the #3 national sport behind cricket and football (soccer).

Have my doubts about that. I would think Rugby and probably Tennis are ahead of badminton.

 

[wallman]

I don't know about eating but I hear that they can knock down a few beers while competing at darts as well as the Aussies.

 

[OneTrickPony]

I don't know about eating but I hear that they can knock down a few beers while competing at darts as well as the Aussies.

I'll vouch for that...gotta keep your eyes on those darts...

 

[meyers7]

I don't know about eating but I hear that they can knock down a few beers while competing at darts as well as the Aussies.

I know they have dart highlights on like.... Skysports.

 

[Icebear]

Have my doubts about that. I would think Rugby and probably Tennis are ahead of badminton.

Not according to statistics cited during the Olympics. Apparently badminton is HUGE in England.
There is even badminton.tv in England and it is the most popular racquette sport, even more than tennis or squash with more than 4 million participating or about 8.6% of the population."

Previous surveys by Sport England and the Department of Culture also supported the view that badminton was the leading racket sport in the country, despite the global popularity of the Wimbledon tennis tournament and the money involved in tennis." ​

English Sports survey.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Not according to statistics cited during the Olympics. Apparently badminton is HUGE in England.

A lot of people are in the closet about it...

 

[meyers7]

Not according to statistics cited during the Olympics. Apparently badminton is HUGE in England.
There is even badminton.tv in England and it is the most popular racquette sport, even more than tennis or squash with more than 4 million participating or about 8.6% of the population."

Previous surveys by Sport England and the Department of Culture also supported the view that badminton was the leading racket sport in the country, despite the global popularity of the Wimbledon tennis tournament and the money involved in tennis." ​

English Sports survey.

I read that it was the second racket sport, after tennis. Let alone Rugby. Might be how one determines popularity. i.e. more people play soccer in USA than any other sport, but it's not near the most popular.