Well done to the London Mayor for meeting the Eurostar train. I am surprised there wasn’t a band and bunting and other dignitaries, especially minister of sport Wigan’s Lisa Nandy.
Not desperation though is it, the elections have been and gone. The Mayor of Paris made speeches (quite charming ones actually) at the opening and closing ceremonies, and the Mayor of London was on hand to greet participants returning on Eurostar. Isn’t it about protocol? Were any other dignitaries there to greet the Olympians?
Well done to the London Mayor for meeting the Eurostar train. I am surprised there wasn’t a band and bunting and other dignitaries, especially minister of sport Wigan’s Lisa Nandy.
Going back to the day of the opening ceremony. Was it ever determined who by and why the rail lines were sabotaged and put into chaos? Not heard anything more…… maybe I missed it?
Going back to the day of the opening ceremony. Was it ever determined who by and why the rail lines were sabotaged and put into chaos? Not heard anything more…… maybe I missed it?
They arrested one Russian national.
If I was going to bet, I'd bet on other Russian nationals being involved too....
If you were to weight it more to gold and silver and give gold 5pts, silver 3pts and bronze 1 pt then the table remains the same:
G
S
B
Pts Total
1
United States
40
44
42
374
2
China
40
27
24
305
3
France
16
26
22
180
4
Great Britain
14
22
29
165
5
Australia
18
19
16
163
6
Japan
20
12
13
149
7
Italy
12
13
15
114
8
Netherlands
15
7
12
108
9
Germany
12
13
8
107
10
South Korea
13
9
10
102
Final MEDAL table we are 3rd. Based on it being about MEDALS won and not their bloody colour.
What the medal table (however you display it) shows is how being the host country really does give you a boost. I went back over the past 7 Olympics to show how we stack up against the French.
2000 France 38 UK 28 2004 France 33 UK 30 2008 France 43 UK 51 2012 France 35 UK 65 2016 France 42 UK 67 2020 France 33 UK 64 2024 France 64 UK 65
As you can see we've been pretty steady since 2012 & so have the French ( even more so since 2000) but then this year they almost doubled their tally from 2020 & 2004.
Host nations have more competitors as the qualification standards are lower for athletes from the host country. Olympic hosts are also guaranteed a spot in most team sports as well.
Also in the run up to an Olympics it's likely a host nation will increase their funding as well.
And on top of that the pride in appearing for your country at a home Olympics no doubt pushes athletes to do even better.
So it's really no surprise to see that France massively increased their medal count.
Going back to the day of the opening ceremony. Was it ever determined who by and why the rail lines were sabotaged and put into chaos? Not heard anything more…… maybe I missed it?
I don't think anything's been said since the first day when they were talking about it being more the sort of thing that the far left would do rather than the far right. Not that that means anything if there was any involvement from outside France.
Whether the silence since then is because they have no idea who did it in the absence of any terrorist group claiming responsibility or just that they want to avoid distracting from the games, your guess is as good as mine.
Currently working out if day tripping to Paris for the Paralympics is doable, all the cycling tickets are gone, but loads of Athletics and swimming ones available at the moment
Currently working out if day tripping to Paris for the Paralympics is doable, all the cycling tickets are gone, but loads of Athletics and swimming ones available at the moment
If not hotels in Paris aren't too dear, although they're famous for their tiny lifts!
yeah, £199 for return Eurostar in Premium Standard, can do it on the first one out and the last one home, probably morning Athletics at Stade de France, and then something in the city centre before getting the train, not sure what I'll gain from spending on a hotel, apart from a great meal in Paris somewhere
Currently working out if day tripping to Paris for the Paralympics is doable, all the cycling tickets are gone, but loads of Athletics and swimming ones available at the moment
If not hotels in Paris aren't too dear, although they're famous for their tiny lifts!
Yes they are. (Personal opinion, of course).
Parisian hotels are among the worst, across European capitals. In my view.
For context, I'm a pretty shit bike racer, but am better than 99.9% of people. I'm as far away from qualifying for the Olympic road race as any of that 99.9% 🤣
The 10km world record of 26 minutes is the best example of the difference between Olympians and amateurs in my opinion. If you can do it in 45 minutes you're in very good shape.
Best ever 10k time was 39 minutes. I've got a mate who can run a 10k in 33, and a 5k in 16.42, and he is almost superhuman. Absolutely boggles the mind what real athletes are capable of
Alex Yee ran a sub 30 10km in the triathlon after a 1.5k swim and 40km bike ride, mental
yeah, £199 for return Eurostar in Premium Standard, can do it on the first one out and the last one home, probably morning Athletics at Stade de France, and then something in the city centre before getting the train, not sure what I'll gain from spending on a hotel, apart from a great meal in Paris somewhere
I would jump on that. Especially as the next two Olympics aren't in Europe.
Go for it Rothko, personally the Paralympic’s don’t do anything for me, but that looks like a doable schedule- would stay overnight as it makes the outlay seem more palatable.
Go for it Rothko, personally the Paralympic’s don’t do anything for me, but that looks like a doable schedule- would stay overnight as it makes the outlay seem more palatable.
Does it have to be premium on the train ?
£30 difference on the price, so makes the slightly posher more appealing
I went to a couple of the athletics sessions at the London paralympics and it was an incredible experience which I'd recommend to anyone. I'd been in two minds about it, but the atmosphere swept me up very quickly.
Often wondered if snooker should be an Olympic sport. I say that having just got back from Tesco's, where I saw Kyren Wilson near the bananas, there shopping with his two boys. I caught sight of him again a few minutes later, "queuing" at the checkout 😉
Often wondered if darts should be an Olympic sport. I say that having just got back from Tesco, where I saw Luke Littler near the alcopops. I caught sight of him again a few minutes later at the till, packing away his shopping and swiping his contactless card. Fantastic checkout.
Comments
That's higher than the ceiling of the room I'm currently in, and almost as high as football goalposts (2.44m or 8ft)
Spoiler alert: they aren't in fact kicking themselves now.
It is more likely to be people buying lottery tickets. One of the reasons I don’t mind losing a couple of quid a week.
Were any other dignitaries there to greet the Olympians?
Was it ever determined who by and why the rail lines were sabotaged and put into chaos?
Not heard anything more…… maybe I missed it?
If I was going to bet, I'd bet on other Russian nationals being involved too....
Also in the run up to an Olympics it's likely a host nation will increase their funding as well.
And on top of that the pride in appearing for your country at a home Olympics no doubt pushes athletes to do even better.
So it's really no surprise to see that France massively increased their medal count.
Whether the silence since then is because they have no idea who did it in the absence of any terrorist group claiming responsibility or just that they want to avoid distracting from the games, your guess is as good as mine.
Parisian hotels are among the worst, across European capitals. In my view.
appealing