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Bazza wrote: The one that's really amazed me was our lack of Boxers.

Yes agree. Where are our boxers and weightlifters?

Bloody good topic this. Enjoying it

BC wrote: I don't disagree DW...I think the rationale for bringing in sports like surfing, BMX, skateboarding etc is to engage with the younger generation so the Games remain relevant but for mine, I think it's moving too much from tradition and losing its values. The motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" will mean nothing in a few years.

I think its really tragic they are bringing in some of these novelty type events, it does detract from the nobility of the games in my view, the heart and soul being track and field swimming and the traditional events rowing, gymnastics, boxing etc...

BC wrote: I guess the question which immediately springs to my mind is just how much cash do we splash at athletes so that they can win medals and we as a nation can collectively feel good about ourselves? That's really all it achieves. At days end, should we be concerned if we finish 15th instead of 5th if it means we can divert funding from a select few athletes to more deserving causes back here in Oz? I'm not convinced either way but do think there comes a point when we have to say..is it all worth it?

Essentially what has happened here is the host nation syndrome..

Britain invested billions into sport into the lead up to London in the same way we invested in the Lead up to Sydney, the results came flooding in for them at London and they are still reaping those benefits 4 yrs later , just as we did at Athens..

There has been a gradual decline for us since then and now we are off a cliff, I wonder if the same will happen to the British, given the improving economy there they may well keep it up, we on the other hand a going bust federal budget wise.

Baz Tokyo as the host nation 2020 gets to introduce a new sport.They have picked Rock Climbing as there introduced sport.Its a big growing modern hobby but not a sport up to this point.The IOC see it as modernising the games.

gtrxuone wrote: Baz Tokyo as the host nation 2020 gets to introduce a new sport.They have picked Rock Climbing as there introduced sport.Its a big growing modern hobby but not a sport up to this point.The IOC see it as modernising the games.

Its the modernising concept I think compromises the games integrity I think.

even at the best of times, the British have always beaten us at track and field. As someone mentioned above, the country which has really strugglled -- besides Russia -- is West Germany; but I would much rather put money into social welfare programmes than sport. They do have 1.1 million Syrians after all.

No doubt about that AR when I was a kid the Soap Dodgers had the likes of Daley Thompson, Sebastian Coe, Steve Ovett, Linford Christie who were all great athletes in track & field whilst we only really had Darren Clark & Gary Honey who were competitive at the Olympics back then.

In the last 3 days we have only won 1 bronze and 1 silver.Been a rough couple of days.Point of interest its been stated that the Australian Swim Team had the largest budget of any swim team at Rio.Money from the AIS and an undesclosed large donatiin made by Gina Rhinehardt.

Bh: yep they were good. Steve Cram. Also I think Alan Wells was/is the last Anglo-Saxon to win the bloody 100 metres when he did so at Moscow. Apparentlly, he ran against the yanks in an invitation event in Germany in 1981, and beat them just to confirm his greatness.

Sailors to the rescue again with 1 gold and 1 silver.

Another 2 medal chances still to come in the coming days