Rio Olympics - lots of spoilers!

BBC is Rio-tastic on Friday 5 August. Clare kicks off a Countdown to Rio show at 8.30 - 10.00. Then BB2 has Clare meeting Jonnie Peacock and Hannah Cockcroft, 10.00-10.30. Coverage of the opening ceremony starts at 11.40 and goes on until 4.00.

I think I shall rely on the news coverage or a highlights show. I also hope that if we do get some "normal time" coverage, they do not suddenly change after showing 80% of an event to a sport popular in the US! Can't remember which Games that happened in, but I know I was jolly annoyed at the time.



PS There is also a doc about Tom Daley on ITV on Saturday 30 July at 8.00 - 9.00, which is repeated on Tuesday at 10.40.

The Olympic schedule:

www.rio2016.com/en/schedule-and-results

I've always been a huge fan of the Olympics, and watched hours of coverage of just about every sport that is represented. I'm feeling a bit strangely withdrawn about the Rio Games. I guess as the excitement builds, I will again be glued to the screen. I think the revelations of drug cheats has dampened my enthusiasm. The Russians have been caught, but can they really be the only ones? Not likely, I think.

Love most things about the Olympics, watched it since I was a nipper,even the theme tunes I found enjoyable.  

Most looking forward to the track and field, the equestrian and the water sports but will enjoy any that involve a Brit having a chance, I might even enjoy that walk spoiled.

But they are a reflection of the reality of the IOC. I have always felt it odd that the Olympics are seen as a national thing. It is only the smaller nations that treat them with the respect that they deserve.

the modern games make a mockery of the ideals that were set out at the time of their renewal in 1896

These two articles taken from the IOC Charter will show you what I mean:

Article 2: The mission of the IOC is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement. This includes upholding ethics in sports, encouraging participation in sports, ensuring the Olympic Games take place on a regular period, protecting the Olympic Movement, and encouraging and supporting the development of sport.

Article 6: The Olympic Games are competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not between countries.

Both are flagrantly violated at every turn, both in spirit and in fact. These are no longer the Olympic Games if they cannot hold to these two principles. I will not be following the medals tables which are a violation of the principle of Article 6. National Olympic Committees, the bodies that are supposed to help with the selection process of athletes, have helped compromise Article 6.

Tuvalu have been invited to send one competitor. So much for the Olympic spirit:

www.rio2016.com/en/news/smallest-team-delegation-country-rio-2016-olympic-games

It seems to be a violation of Article 2 quoted above.

Actually the RB coverage is pretty good. Very few talking heads, just a commentator or two and plenty of coverage of the actual sport. I rarely watch the main channels when the Olympics is on. And the website was fantastic in 2012 . You could find all sorts of things on there.