The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Games of the XXX Olympiad Pub, Stratford

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The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Games of the XXX Olympiad Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

This week the pub has set up in the heart of the Olympic Precinct at Stratford, where we can watch the world's greatest athletes do their thing and strut their stuff during the best Modern Olympics Games ever.

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" has been the motto for the modern Olympic Games since their beginning in 1896 - and let's hope it stays that way.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Jessica Ennis, Kieran Behan, Oscar Pistorius, Bradley Wiggins, Leryn Franco, Michelle Jenneke, Victoria Pendleton, Aaron Cruden, Katie Taylor, Misty May, Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Krisztián Berki (on that horsey thingy) and the the Winner of the Gold Medal at Wimbledon - Andy Murray.




Last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t33138p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-games-of-the-xxx-olympiad-pub-london

Flip whats happening?!

rodders wrote:Flip whats happening?!

Well, as has been per normal in this part of the world, Rodders, it's raining

Honestly, don't understand boxing, but Jimmy Magee did thankfully.

The Irish crowd were brilliant. Thought it was a home crowd for the British.

Jonas showed seriously class at the end it should be noted.

The boxing!

OK sounds like Taylor won? Happy times

I did wonder Munsty what the crowd would do. They have been very generous in their support for the Irish competitors so far, but against a Brit? Sportsmanship won out, not just inside the ring, but outside it as well. Well done to all.

She did Rodders. 26-15, she won by.

Linebreaker wrote:Australia eventually gets its 2nd Gold... a sailor called Tom.

Just to put it in perspective

Sydney 16-25-17
Athens 17-16-16
Beijing 14-15-17

so 47-56-50 in the last 3 Olympics

London 2-12-7 so far...

Talk about free falling.

I gather OZ has instituted an immediate inquiry into the disaster which was the swimming. Interesting though, as in spite of the avalanche of golds which GB has been winning, this has comprehensively overshadowed their results in the pool where they have done much worse than expected (or predicted). So other than the usual crop for the USA, the Chinese have also done well, and France?

Back to work now.

Bitterly disappointed for Annalise Murphy - 4th in the sailing.

Thing I like most about the Olympics is watching sports you wouldn't normally give the time of day to - like sailing. I have seen that Sky do this sometimes and have foundthe tv on that channel occasionally when I switch it on. Usually stuff like the Americas CUp - even more boring than watching paint dry. Howevere, these races were cracking - short and easy to follow even for someone who knows nothing about it. Also I was fascinated how manoueverable the boats were, how tightly they could turn around the mark at the end of each leg.

Also watched some water polo last night. Still no love lost between Russia nd former Iron Curtain countries. Match was between Russia and Hungary. IN this you get sin-binned when you try to drown one of the opposing team Huge fun.

Enjoy the rest of it.

Just heard JP Pietersen is out of the rugby Championship, he broke his thumb in the final.

Of all the players we couldn't afford this to happen to, then it is him.

He's a fine rugby player, J P Pietersen.

Looks like there's a bit of life left in the second Test, Biltong!

nah mate, too late for a result, does provide some interest for the last session though.

It goes in cycles Kia and the big talk here is that we were riding on the crest of a wave in swimming from Sydney to Beijing... and it has tapered off considerably due to retirements of some of our greats and with them some of the successful work ethic in the pool.

However, this hasn't stopped some pundits from really having a go at the system as a whole. Lots of our coaches were offered positions in Team GB in particular - and took them. Funding for sports was also reduced but now this wake up call in London has started the debate concerning compulsory sports participation at schools again.

Many kids still do play sports here but the proportion of those going into elite training for the Olympics has dropped off significantly. The question remains though - how much do we really want to compete at the highest level... "so what if we don't do as well as we have in the last few Olympics?" and how to spend the millions of $ invested in these elite programmes more efficiently to produce better results.

Our team is still rather large and perhaps the qualification 'cut-off' needs to be revised upwards so that only those with realistic chances get the chance to represent Australia... not all these 'hangers on' who are well past their peak but refuse to step aside or accept that they are beyond world-beating now. It's a bit like the cricket you know.

223 for 6 now, Biltong...!

So the lead is 220 runs or so? 48 overs max left in the game.

Even if they get them out for under 250 there still won't be enough time to chase that down in a session and a bit. Would England go for it do you think?

Linebreaker wrote:It goes in cycles Kia and the big talk here is that we were riding on the crest of a wave in swimming from Sydney to Beijing... and it has tapered off considerably due to retirements of some of our greats and with them some of the successful work ethic in the pool.

However, this hasn't stopped some pundits from really having a go at the system as a whole. Lots of our coaches were offered positions in Team GB in particular - and took them. Funding for sports was also reduced but now this wake up call in London has started the debate concerning compulsory sports participation at schools again.

Many kids still do play sports here but the proportion of those going into elite training for the Olympics has dropped off significantly. The question remains though - how much do we really want to compete at the highest level... "so what if we don't do as well as we have in the last few Olympics?" and how to spend the millions of $ invested in these elite programmes more efficiently to produce better results.

Our team is still rather large and perhaps the qualification 'cut-off' needs to be revised upwards so that only those with realistic chances get the chance to represent Australia... not all these 'hangers on' who are well past their peak but refuse to step aside or accept that they are beyond world-beating now. It's a bit like the cricket you know.

I am obviously no expert on Australian sport, but like many from outside that country I am very aware of your reputation for being very good at many sports. My very first sporting heroine was Margaret Court. That was in the days of total Oz dominance of tennis - John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and of course Rocket Laver. The, as you say, the cycle turns. Not many Oz players, male or female, at the top of the tennis rankings now .

Interestingly there is a conversation starting in the UK as well. Not just about swimming, but about the fact that so many of the UK medals have been won by the alumni of the private (v state) schools. This one could run and run and will have no positive outcome other than a lot of bitching.

I have read that in Beijing each medal (not sure if that was of any colour or just gold) cost $40million!!! And they are still reaping the benefits as can be seen from the medal tables at the moment. That is not an amount of maney which most democratic nations in the grip of a serious recesssion can begin to contemplate spending.

Exactly Kia - it's all out of proportion. We all like our sport but there are more immediate things to spend money on.

I lived in the same suburb where "Newc" had his tennis shop when he was top dog.
I'd stick my head in about once a week and say "G'day Newc!" and he'd reply "G'day mate.... 'ow's it goin'?" with his trademark moustache beaming at me. The logo for his shop was also a tennis ball with a 70's mo! Oh, life was so simple back then....

Is that $40million in state spend or does that include private investment, sponsorship etc?

In terms of the social status of the competitors well you'd imagine that will vary from sport to sport. Some sports just aren't accessible to a lot of people because of the costs involved. Thats not specific to the UK.

KP opening the batting as England look to chase 253 in 39 overs.

First ball down to third man for 4.

GAME ON!!!

And KP goes.

44-1 off 9 overs

209 needed off the next 30.

It's do-able.

Are all opinions valid?

In respect of something specific Munsty, or in general?

MBTGOG wrote:Are all opinions valid?

Only the ones everyobne else agrees with - you should know that by now Munsty

I will start the bitching on English sports funding. Referring back to Rodders' (? I think) comment about some sports being inaccessible due to the high cost of the equuipment, for example not everyone can afford a horse and / or riding lessons - but there is an element in the funding for Sixth Form education in England (NOT the UK, England only) which is called Entitlement. The Entitlement funding covers everything which is not part of the formal course of study for a sixth form qualification (A levels, International Baccalaureate, BTECs etc etc), in other words ALL the extra-curricular stuff that sixth formers take and need to support them including tutor support for filling out UCAS forms, college counselling services, drama, music AND SPORTS. That bit of the funding has been slashed under this government. If you are in a Sixth Form in England and you are not taking Sports Science as an A level or BTEC course the chances are that your access to any sport is very limited unless you can afford to do it yourself.

Ozzy3213 wrote:In respect of something specific Munsty, or in general?

In general really. It's something you hear quite often but I wouldn't say it is exactly a 100% truth. Actually, that sounds a bit ironic, all opinions are valid is an absolute truth... Sorry, running away on my own little tangent there.

KiaRose wrote:

The Entitlement (enrichment) funding covers ... ALL the extra-curricular stuff that sixth formers take and need to support them including ... SPORTS. That bit of the funding has been slashed under this government.

Just to put a figure on that - there has been a reduction from £740 per student to £195 instigated by the present Government. That is how much this Government cares about the students in the state sector having a rounded education.

I think a lot of people are going to find out this legacy business is a bit of a fallacy and it will most likely only be the uber-talented that will benefit.

But then again, I've been influenced by my cynical lecturers.

OK thanks Kia, didn't know that.

Munsty I don't think legacy is a fallacy. Not everyone can be an elite athlete but everyone can find a sport that they enjoy and have fun doing it.

If someone feels enspired to go for a run because of Mo Farah or Jessica Ennis, and I believe that they will, then that is a good thing.

I really do hope there is a legacy and not a Wimbledon effect.

But, I am talking about the government leading this legacy and I think Kia has shown some pretty damning statistics with regards to how sport is viewed in schools.

The goverment are a shower of useless shoitehawks, they won't be leading anything.

There's socio-economic issues that won't disappear because of the Olympics.

However there's a lot of people out there of all ages and hopefully what they've watched will give some of them the inspiration to put down their xbox or remote control and get down to their local Judo or athletics club or join a gym or even just go for a brisk walk.

It has made me very angry, Munsty.

Marco Polo (mint)

This is the problem when schools funding is based on academic success.

Rodders,

I know what you mean and it will be good if that happens, but it is the follow up schemes which are just as important.

Though I know we are both on the same path here. It's just annoying as I do a sports related course and I know lots of people who want to go into sport either teaching it or outside of that but most of them will struggle when it comes to getting funding.

The entire education system at compulsory level needs restructuring. I just hope they restructure it more competently than their current attempts with the NHS

Argh, help, I've mislaid part of my application for the track side job in the next Olympics! I can't find my certificate of sanctimonioustwatdom. I think Jones or Inverdale has it...

I had a friend who often broke into song because he couldn't find his key. I remember seeing dressed up as a chicken for a fancy dress party busting some moves on the dance floor, it was like poultry in motion. I remember at another fancy dress party, he was dressed as a clock and when he was hungry, he went back four seconds. This other time, he dressed up as a bicycle but was two-tired to stand up.

Cold bath. Cycled, rowed and ran today at the gym. Don't want another episode like last week. This is cold. Like actually.

ChequeredJersey wrote:The entire education system at compulsory level needs restructuring. I just hope they restructure it more competently than their current attempts with the NHS

Where have you been CJ?

They have been comlpetely restructuring education -it is now an anarchic free-for-all run by an idiot who has got rid of ALL the civil servants from his private ministerial office and is relying on gobshite party apparatchiks to tell him how to run the system.

Oh and by the way, from next year the compulsory age for education / training goes up to 17.

Munsty I did a sports related course many moons ago. I'm now work in IT.

Look I know where you are coming from. Most of my spare time goes on my sport and I do some coaching/instructing mainly on voluntary basis. Unfortunately its not financially viable for me to do it for a living right now.

I think thats just the way of things. Most people involved in sports aren't able to make a living from it or even get any funding at all.

Wills you sort out that DOMS yet sir?

Much better rodders ta. Pain had mostly subsided by Saturday.

Back to normality tomorrow with the weights.

rodders wrote:Munsty I did a sports related course many moons ago. I'm now work in IT.

Look I know where you are coming from. Most of my spare time goes on my sport and I do some coaching/instructing mainly on voluntary basis. Unfortunately its not financially viable for me to do it for a living right now.

I think thats just the way of things. Most people involved in sports aren't able to make a living from it or even get any funding at all.

Wills you sort out that DOMS yet sir?

It might be the way of things, but if they want a real legacy, then this is how they show it. That's why I'm saying the legacy will be a fallacy if they won't fund it.

Fair enough Munsty. I wouldn't expect much in terms of funding in these economic conditions. The legacy will be a generation of people inspired to take up these sports, be they aspiring Olympians or below average Joes.

I'm definitely in the latter category and already I'm keen to do a bit more running and break my (woeful) PBs. Might even try my hand at Judo in the near future if I can find the time. If others feel that way then thats a good thing.

Wow just watched Katie Taylors performance there! Very impressive indeed.

Well after watching more of it, I am going to continue in my pursuit to get one of my friends to take up handball. He is a decent water polo player, but honestly, I think if he'd taken up handball two years ago, he'd have been at the Olympics. Certainly got all the physical tools for it and he has the powerful shot from water polo.

Well good luck with that. Great stuff.

Rodders, Munsty

The "legacy" which GB is experiencing right now is that of John Major - a very underrated PM in UK. It was he who went for the Lottery with the intention that it should fund sports in the country. Much of the success GB is now having in sports / Olympics is down to that decision which was much criticised and derided at the time.

What needs to happen now, is not just to concentrate on the elite. You could make an argument that the cream will always rise to the top, but admittedly in today's world it does need to be financially supported, but Sports UK plc MUST start investing in the infrastructure which was destroyed in the 80s and 90s. Schools NEED playing fields and if there is no grean space near them then they need money to bus the kids to the playing grounds - private schools in cities do this all over the country, why not state schools? Why are they looking for a football club and other such bodies to take over the olympic park? How much of it will be available for the denizens of Stratford? While the Games are happening the local swimming pool in Stratford has been closed Why?

If we are going to get kids off the sofa and out playing games / sports / whatever we have to create an environment where it can be done. Unfortunately that will need money and, I know I am harping on about this, but there seems to be very little inclination from the present government to fund stuff for ordinary people. A bit more willingness from the companies who sponsor elite sports to invest in low level sports would be helpful. How about directly taxing the money that is paid by sponsors for sporting organisations (not individuals) or for the tv rights and ring-fencing that money to support sports for everyone - the kind of people who will never achieve a place on an olympic team much less win a medal.

And yes Rodders - Katie Taylor was very impressive.

Night all.

I promise that tomorrow that I will wake up and not to be as jaundiced as I have been today.

Good morning my fine rugby worshipping friends. Hope we are all well there and no hangovers

and for those with hangovers

Morning all, I just came back from dropping my son off at school.

The temperature is -1 celcius.


How people live in that kind of cold, is beyond me

That's barbaque weather up here!

Good morning pawb dwellers.

Just below freezing out west this morning. About 4 deg here.
However, max temps seem to be rising during the daytime. Low 20s expected tomorrow.

Just heard there may be some snow on the Blue Mtns tonight which is about 80km from Syd. No wonder one of my feet was numb... got to stop this barefoot habit.