#2016 olympic test event

[stateofcharles]

Ekaterina Volkova from Finland🇫🇮 performing at the 2016 Olympic Test Event

photo credits: Wikiwand

[sunflowervoltwentyeight]

Hi! This is a fic rec of my favorite fics involving sports. These fics are organized by word count from longest to shortest. You can view my other fic recs here. Enjoy!

Unbelievers by isthatyoularry / @isthatyoularry (136k)

It’s Louis’ senior year, and he’s dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he’s also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies “with benefits” was not exactly the plan.

Or: The one where Louis and Harry definitely aren’t friends, and football is everything.

Soft Hands, Fast Feet, Can't Lose by dolce_piccante  (112k)

American Uni AU. Harry Styles is a frat boy football star from the wealthy Styles Family athletic dynasty. A celebrity among football fans, he knows how to play, he knows how to party, and he knows how to fuck (all of which is well known among his legion of admirers).

Louis Tomlinson is a student and an athlete, but his similarities to Harry end there. Intelligent, focused, independent, and completely uninterested in Harry’s charms, Louis is an anomaly in a world ruled by football.

A bet about the pair, who might be more similar than they originally thought, brings them together. Shakespeare, ballet, Disney, football, library chats, running, accidental spooning, Daredevil and Domino’s Pizza all blend into one big friendship Frappucino, but who will win in the end?

Oh Glory by alivingfire / @alivingfire (77k)

Tomlinson looks Liam over, tilting his head. “Are you a swimmer as well?”

“Yeah,” Liam says, a little cautiously. Harry wonders if it’s Tomlinson’s fame or the unimpressed eyebrow that’s making Liam wary. “Distance, I’m doing the 1500m. Harry here’s a sprinter.”

“Ah,” says Tomlinson, turning his glinting eyes back to Harry. “So you’re not an endurance man.” A beat passes, and his grin grows, wide and filthy. "Shame."

Harry Styles is Team Great Britain's newest swimmer, and has spent his whole life training for this moment, a chance at the gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympics. All his training, hard work, and dedication to no distractions is tested when he's assigned to the same Rio apartment as Louis Tomlinson, British gymnast and Harry's childhood crush.

Summer's In the Air and Baby, Heaven's In Your Eyes by starryhaze / @starryhaze28 (71k)

“So we probably shouldn’t do this.” Louis says, and Harry knows he means staying like this, wrapped up in each other, and he nods, then lifts his head from Louis’ shoulder. His eyes are focused on the ground while he tries to will the tears away.

“We shouldn’t. I’m sorry Lou it’s just-“

“Hey it’s fine, baby.” Louis promises, gently rubbing this thumb over Harry’s cheek. Harry leans into the touch and blinks up at Louis.

“Not your fault.” Louis says, looking around before he presses his lips against Harry’s in a short but sweet kiss. “You’re like my dirty little secret now.” He grins wickedly and gives a wink, making Harry blush and bite his lip as he steps away.

⋆ .ೃ ࿔ *: ･

or a 70s tennis au filled with skirts, pet names and intrigue

On the Edge by zanni_scaramouche / @zanniscaramouche (47k)

Figure skating is as vital to Louis’ identity as his DNA, so when his skates go missing right before the last Olympics of his career there may be a meltdown only vanilla bath salts can fix. Well, that and the stupidly charming hockey player he met on the plane.

Harry’s too old to be the wonder kid and too young to be taken seriously in the NHL. As an alternate thrown in at the last second, he fights to prove himself on the national team at the largest sporting event known to man. Or he will, once he gets off this flight and can focus on something other than the fussy figure skater and his stunningly blue eyes.

A baggage mix-up skews both of their perfectly laid plans for gold, forcing the two to work together as the clock clicks towards the minute they’re expected to shine on centre ice.

The Boys of Summer by afirethatcannotdie / @afirethatcannotdie (45k)

“I mean…we’re gonna have to sneak around anyway, yeah? Like, with that whole rules thing that I guess we’ve decided to ignore. Might make it a little more fun this way.”

AU. In which Louis is a reluctant sports coach, Harry's a fellow counselor who wears tiny yellow shorts, and camp rules say they're forbidden to date.

Bloodsport by tofiveohfive / @tofiveohfive (40k)

“You know how our next game is against the Cardinals, right? You remember how vicious those guys can get. I wanted us to come up with some plays, maybe work on a block from the left—”

Louis stops when he hears a chuckle.

He doesn’t think he’s said anything particularly funny, so he turns to Harry, waiting for an explanation.

“‘S funny, ‘s all.” Harry throws his finished bottle somewhere near the other discarded ones. “This is the first time you’re talking to me in eight months, and it’s still about football.”

Be My Little Good Luck Charm by 100percentsassy (34k)

In which Harry is a promising amateur golfer making his debut at the PGA Championship, and Louis is a Sky Sports anchor who would really rather be commentating on footie.

The other boys are around too: caddy!Niall provides victory pints, Liam is Louis’s Very Serious co-anchor, and poor Zayn just gets his face drawn on.

But Me, I'm Not a Gamble by orphan_account (33k)

A Posh & Becks AU in which Harry is a star on the stage and Louis is a star on the pitch, but they're both inexplicably terrible at articulating their feelings. In the end, it only takes a season's worth of failed matchmaking schemes, platonic dinner dates, road trip holidays, and one very convenient David Beckham cameo for them to figure it all out. And if Niall knew all along? Well, he at least has the decency not to be too smug about it.

Swallow My Words by YesIsAWorld / @louandhazaf (32k)

Senior year is stressful. On top of balancing school work, family, and friends, Harry's lacrosse team is vying to win the state championship, he's not sure where he's going to college yet, and he has a secret boyfriend that no one can know about.

Part 1 of Swallow My Words

Player by jacaranda_bloom / @jacaranda-bloom (28k)

Louis’ job should be simple. Harry Styles, one of the top ranking tennis players in the world, is every publicist’s perfect client. He’s charismatic, enigmatic, and fit as fuck. The darling of the media, a national treasure, and a sponsor’s wet dream. He’s also a goofball with the kindest heart, sweet, and polite, and singularly focused on achieving his goals.

There are just two minor problems. Firstly, Louis’ debilitating crush on said client. And secondly, Harry has just accidentally Instagrammed a picture of his dick to his 18 million followers. So no, Louis’ job is anything but simple.

OR the one where Louis is Harry’s highly strung publicist and has a thing for his client, Harry is an international sports star and has a thing for his publicist, Liam and Zayn have a thing for each other, and Niall wishes everyone would just get their shit together.

You and Me Were Kings by orphan_account (28k)

harry plays football in a small town in west texas. louis might be the only person that doesn’t give a damn. au.

We Made These Memories for Ourselves by supernope (17k)

Breath held, Harry squints his eyes open and focuses on the first stick. A blue line. Harry breathes out an unsteady breath. He’s pretty sure he read that one blue line is a negative, but he fishes the box from the bottom of the pile just to make sure.

“Negative,” he confirms, voice echoing around the small room. “Next.”

Now that he’s feeling a little less shaky, he scans the rest of the tests at once, is met with a headache-inducing mixture of pink plus signs and blue double lines. His heart rate picks up until it’s pounding triple-time in the base of his throat and the pit of his stomach, thundering in his ears and throbbing in his temples. He flips over the rest of the boxes slowly, but he knows what they’re going to say before he even looks.

We've Got Nothing to Lose by iwontseecadyagain (12k)

“Oops!” A deep and slow voice fills Louis’ ears as an arm reaches around his waist, to keep Louis from rebounding into another white-outfitted body – this time a short young girl who could only be gymnast.  “Hi,” Louis replies as he turns to smile up at the person and thank him for preventing Louis’ life from dissolving into a real-life game of Pong, but the words dry up in his throat when he sees.

The person is a boy, tall and lanky with curly brown hair pushed away from his face messily and held back by a gaudy Union Jack scarf, green eyes sparkling from all the camera flashes and impossibly pink lips curled in a wide smile that nearly encompasses his whole face.

And Louis recognizes him instantly. And he thinks that maybe if walking into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony wasn’t enough, having Harry Styles’ arm around him might be the killing blow.   Also known as an Olympics AU where Harry is a pro tennis player, and Louis is a pro footballer. They meet at the opening ceremony and fall in love, obviously.

We Should Get Jerseys by orphan_account (12k)

There’s a lot surrounding Harry, and Louis knows, in his heart of hearts, that there always will be. He just doesn’t know if he’ll manage to equate into the ‘always’ of it.

Harry is a hockey player, and Louis is his slightly melodramatic boyfriend.

And Darling I Will Be Loving You 'til We're 70 by orphan_account (11k)

“Well, you deal with the football team, and we’ll handle everything else,” Teddy answers. He sits up confidently and crosses his arms – Harry always tells them that believing in yourself is 90% of the job – with his head held high. Louis sees a flicker of determination in his eyes, mixed with a bit of mischief and youthful exuberance. It reminds him of himself, when he was younger and even now, 32 years old and married with four children. He’s really fucking grateful for the life that he lives and the kids that he has. (And his husband is pretty alright, or whatever.)

A canon spin on Posh/Becks where Louis coaches their daughter's football team for the very first time and Harry comes back from a summer working for Saint Laurent.

Part 1 of posh/becks au

[jmdbjk]

Episode 7: Still Purple

Beyond the Star, produced by HYBE Media Studio

"Every single one of our performances was significant to us, they are all precious memories." – Jimin

The song Butterfly starts and I know this episode is going to be hard to watch because I'm already tearing up.

This is a long post. Apologies. There's a lot to say about it.

They are talking about what concert memories mean the most to them:

Hobi says it was their first stadium concert at the Rose Bowl which was the most significant memory for him as far as which concert was the most memorable.

Jungkook says it was Chicago when it was the first time they'd ever performed in the rain:

Jin says it's when they perform IDOL that is his favorite concert memory.

Jimin says even though fans would see what he's talking about through photos but in real life, what they see from the stage is so beautiful, words can't do justice to describe it:

They reminisce about their concert at the Olympic Gymnastic Arena and recalling the emotions they felt then, that they had reached the top in 2016 are a very precious memory to them

Concerts are what they were made to do. Their type of performance, the big choreography, the big songs... big performances... belong on the live concert stage.

And now we're at the series of concerts that were to be their last before they really embark on Chapter 2: PTD Las Vegas.

BigHit/Hybe pulled out the stops for this one. The city of Las Vegas was all in and being the party city it is, it was one of the most fun and extravagant things I've ever witnessed.

I 1000% regret not going. I didn't know it was going to be the last chance for a long time.

They get to do things like attend a few concerts and visit the Bellagio Fountain when the fountains of water are set to the rhythm of Dynamite and Butter. I know Hobi has a video of Jungkook and Tae vibing to Dynamite at the Bellagio Fountain on his camera roll! Show it to us Hobi!!

Jimin, Yoongi and Namjoon went to the Silk Sonic concert.

I think it's curious that they do not mention the 2022 Grammy performance or event at all. When they left Seoul for this trip on March 28, 2022, Hobi was not with them because he had tested positive for covid prior to departure. Jungkook wasn't with them because he'd left the day before for the purpose of a work schedule but I don't remember what it was, and upon landing in the U.S. he tested positive for covid and had to quarantine until he had a negative test.

They were to perform at the Grammy Awards show on April 3, 2022. They were missing two members up until the day before the performance. Thankfully Hobi tested negative in time to catch a plane to Las Vegas:

Jungkook tested negative the day before the performance and was able to practice ONCE with the group. Here he is doing a Vlive while quarantining in his hotel room:

And after all that, they gave a performance of a lifetime during the Grammy Awards:

Anyway... I digress... just curious they make no mention of it at all...

Jungkook brought his boxing coach (Coach Tommy) and this might be the workout he was doing prior to joining Hobi, Tae and Jimin for that Vlive following one of their concerts.

Jungkook says the only thing he regrets about the previous 10 years was that it took him a while to realize certain things and then put them into practice.

Namjoon wonders what it would've been like had they ended things after ON and Yoongi reflects that they would've taken a break from November 2020, if the pandemic had not happened and they would've been on a break for about two and half years (for enlistment). They didn't expect the pandemic to go on for so long (none of us did).

Namjoon wonders if he stayed true to the lyrics he wrote in ON while living his life. He thought they were running straight ahead all this time but as it turns out, they had gone in a circle and were back at the starting line. He contemplates what to do to run forward again.

The last PTD Las Vegas concert is bittersweet for all of us. So much has happened to culminate with this.

Tae says it's time for them to organize their thoughts so they can come back with a better image and performance and they aren't saying they are done, they are saying they've worked hard and now they need the time to grow.

And then we see Jimin in the car, on the way home after their last PTD Seoul concert on March 13, 2020. He is on the phone inviting someone over. Guess who?

It looks like he's taken a shower. He shows us a pot of fish cake soup his dad made for him. Jimin prepares three place settings, fetches 3 bottles of soju, and pardon me but the fact Jimin has a can of spray cheez in his auxiliary kitchen changes everything for me.

Why is he consuming that and why does he store it above the kitchen sink in is extra kitchen? Why do these expensive apartments have two kitchens? Jimin barely needs one kitchen but he has two...

Anyway, Jungkook arrives and they proceed to eat and drink.

While they are having a conversation about what time they go to bed and wake up, Jimin says he might sleep until 4 pm and then this ensues:

When Jungkook makes the remark that he sounds like Yoongi, off-camera, you can hear someone stifling their wheezing laugh. Staff camera man is in on the joke and the documentary editors are too as they cut briefly to Yoongi eating take out chicken.

The editors were wrong for that! HAHAHAHAH!

Then Tae and Namjoon talk about and show us their living spaces and how they feel living on their own.

Namjoon is very particular about his space and he says its very precious to him. He says the way one curates their living space speaks a lot about their personality and taste. I agree 100%. He says he wants to show us his space so we can know what kind of person he is.

Tae says he decorated his own space, commissioning art pieces for it. He has an extensive collection of vinyl records and puts on a yellow vinyl disc that appears to be Betty Wright, a recording of a live performance. He says boredom can be a given when living alone and he says he looks for Small but Definite Happiness in his daily life. SDH. We should all strive to do that.

Then we're back at Jimin's and Jungkook is cooking more food, chopping vegetables. FYI, that Miele induction cooktop is about $3,500.

Watching Jimin retell the story of when one of his friends pointed out that he seemed depressed, was not himself, was one of the most revealing things we've ever heard from Jimin.

And now he feels he's in a very healthy place. I'm gonna elaborate on this in another blog post when I'm done with this series.

All in all, the members had to learn to live alone after living together for 8 years or more for some of them.

Yoongi reflects on running so hard in their 20s. He wonders if they shouldn't have enjoyed themselves more and not let the pressures become overwhelming. Regardless, now that he's reached 30, all those worries and thoughts have disappeared and he feels liberated.

I've realized some of these interviews for these episodes were conducted on the day they traveled from Seoul to Las Vegas because they are wearing the same clothing.

Episode 8 coming soon... and more.

[freifraufischer]

The New Zealand Problem

Sometimes you can see the issue that will light the gymternet on fire a mile away before anyone has even seen the smoke. And sometimes that fire had always existed.

In gymnastics one of the paths to qualification at the Olympics goes to the single highest all around placement at each continental championship from a country that did not qualify a team already. This is fairly straight forward in most places but gets dicey in one corner of the world. The Oceania Gymnastics Union is essentially a continental federation of 2 countries. Yes there are other members (Guam, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, and America Samoa), but there are no elite gymnasts from those countries. Australia qualified a women's team to the Olympics, so by default that means a Kiwi WAG gets an Olympic spot. At least according to FIG. But they aren't the only ones who get to decide who is an Olympian.

I've talked about "No Olympic Tourist" Policies before, and people may have run into them in regard to Sweden and ice skating, but many small to medium sized countries have policies to limit the size of their own Olympic teams for budget reasons. These national Olympic committees (NOC) set criteria that are higher than the general qualification rules for a given sport. Sweden's is often considered the most extreme (you have to show you are in the top eight in the world, meaning you can make an Olympic final and contend for a medal. The reason they're called No Olympic Tourist Policies is because you wont be sent to the Olympics just to be there.

New Zealand has had a No Olympic Tourist Policy for decades, and while their criteria is less extreme then Sweden's it works similarly. You have to convince the NZOC that you are within the top 16 in the world (the ability to make a semifinal in athletics or swimming where races are 8 lanes wide). In 2012 Jordan Rae was one of the last gymnasts to qualify at the London Test Event, but NZOC turned down her spot and it passed on to Đỗ Thị Ngân Thương of Vietnam who finished behind her and who went on to compete in London.

In this interview from 2016, Rhythmic gymnast Tanya Moss-Barry who represented New Zealand in Los Angeles describes how initially they believed that New Zealand would send no gymnasts to the Olympics that year. Only a top 8 finish at an event in Tokyo convinced the NZOC to send her, and she believes it was at the expense of equally deserving WAG and MAG gymnasts. They would send only one of them.

It appears that Courtney McGregor was sent to Rio on the basis of her vaulting competitiveness. Which itself suggests that the people making the decisions at the NZOC don't really know much about gymnastics. McGregor came in 4th on vault at the Rio test event and 17th at 2015 Worlds. But as anyone who knows gymnastics knows... vault fields are much smaller than other apparatus and a finish in the teens doesn't mean you are as competitive as one on the other apparatus. But more power to them if they were able to get the Olympic committee to send her on that basis.

So the problem for 2024.

The WAG Olympic Qualification road has handed an Olympic spot to New Zealand by default. There are no other elite gymnasts in the region it can go to and no mechanism for that spot to be reallocated to anyone outside of Oceania. And based on the results from Worlds it is highly doubtful that the NZOC will consider either Madeleine Marshall (93rd in the AA and 110th on beam) or Reece Cobb (102nd in the AA and 56th on beam) to be competitive. Courtney McGregor is making a comeback but without competing elite in years I'm not sure how she makes that case either.

Georgia-Rose Brown recently changed countries from Australia to New Zealand but she almost certainly is banking on making an argument for her competitiveness based on her bars results (she came in 4th and 5th on bars at two World Cups in 2023). Maybe the people making a choice at NZOC wont know that 2023 World Cups aren't evidence of competitiveness. Her best bars result of the entire quad would have put her in 22nd on bars at 2023 Worlds. If she qualifies here is to hoping she can make a case. But it does raise the question of if she knew about the NZOC policy before changing countries or if she saw the automatic NZ WAG qualification spot as an opportunity and didn't realize there was an extra step. I have to believe she went into it knowing though. The NZOC is pretty well known in Kiwi circles.

So what happens to this spot if it goes to a Kiwi and the NZOC turns it down? Well... that's not clear. It could go unfilled. Or FIG could ask the IOC permission to let them revert it to the Worlds AA results as Australia's team means that Oceania already had representation.

Or some smart cookie NCAA gymnast with ties to Guam or Fiji could make a country change REAL soon and find themselves at the Olympics with a relatively easy path.

[allekha]

Natália Gaudio, 2016 Olympics Test Event ball routine

[thepastisalreadywritten]

25 July 2024

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games will see competitors parade on boats along the River Seine through central Paris on Friday.

An unprecedented security operation is in place, with organisers also facing challenges over the cleanliness of the Seine, costs and the environmental impact of the Games.

When are the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games?

The summer Olympics run from 26 July to 11 August, with 10,500 athletes competing in 329 events.

The Paralympics take place from 28 August to 8 September, featuring 4,400 athletes in 549 events.

There will be 206 countries represented at the Olympics, and 184 at the Paralympics.

Where will Olympic and Paralympic events take place?

The main athletics events will be at the Stade de France, on the northern outskirts of Paris.

There are also Olympic and Paralympic venues in the city centre.

The Pont d'Iena, for example, is hosting cycling events, while beach volleyball is at the Eiffel Tower and the marathon starts at the Hotel de Ville and ends at Les Invalides.

Is the Seine clean enough for swimming?

Open water swimming and triathlon events are due to take place in the Seine, more than 100 years after swimming in the river was banned.

Tests done in mid-June showed that levels of E. coli in the water were 10 times the acceptable level.

However, Games organisers hope July sunshine and measures like a rainwater storage basin will make it clean enough.

Ahead of the Games, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a dip to try to prove the river was safe.

How are France's security forces preparing for the Games?

The Games will be protected by the largest peacetime deployment of security forces in French history

Up to 75,000 police, soldiers and hired guards will be on patrol in Paris at any one time to guard venues and events.

The use of the Seine for the opening ceremony, with crowds watching the parade from the banks, is a first for the modern Olympics.

The original plan was to give free tickets to 600,000 members of the public to watch from the river's banks.

However, the government was worried about potential threats such as a drone attack, and spectator numbers were scaled back to 326,000.

More than 220,000 of those will be invited guests and 104,000 will be members of the public who have bought tickets.

Some 44,000 barriers have been erected, with QR codes for residents and others seeking access to the river Seine and its islands.

Many of the barriers will be removed after the opening ceremony.

Intelligence services uncovered two plots against the country by suspected Islamic militants in early 2024.

In May, a man was detained on suspicion of planning an attack on the torch relay in Bordeaux, and another man was arrested in southern France over a plan to attack an Olympic football venue.

How much are the Games costing?

The cost of this year's Games is estimated to be about 9bn euros (£7.6bn), less than any of the previous four Games — in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, London, and Beijing.

Much of the funding is coming from private companies, as well as sales of tickets and broadcasting rights.

The government's official auditors have said it may have to pay between 3bn and 5bn euros (£2.5bn and £4.2bn) for costs such as policing.

Are the Games environmentally friendly?

The organising committee of Paris 2024 has promised to make it the greenest Games in Olympic history, with half the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016.

The Games will be held in the same city where, in 2015, world leaders agreed to try to prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C.

About 95% of the Olympic and Paralympic sites are either existing structures or temporary ones.

The organisers say they are using as much recycled material as they can — including recycled cardboard beds for athletes — and trying to minimise carbon emissions.

However, it has been reported that thousands of air-conditioning units have been ordered for Olympic Village rooms by some national teams.

Are the Games pushing up prices in Paris?

Millions of visitors are expected in Paris during the Games, with ticket holders expected to spend an estimated 2.6bn euros (£2.2bn).

Hoteliers in Paris pushed up their rates, in many cases doubling them or more, in anticipation of a big rise in demand.

But there have been reports that many hotels have had unexpectedly low sales.

Bus and metro fares are also doubling in the capital during the Games.

In January, the Louvre art gallery put up its entrance fees by almost 30%.

[b1rdcatchers]

currently obsessed with olympic pictograms so i'm rating them

simplified images of different sporting events/locations helped athletes and tourists navigate the country even if they didn't speak the language, resulting in a win for accessibility and graphic design everywhere. below are a few notable sets.

^1. London, 1948: 5/10. aggressively old-timey, but i like the figure drawings

^2. Mexico City, 1968: 10/10 love the color choice, love the waves, love the weightlifing

^3. Grenoble (winter), 1968: 9/10 a mild headache is worth it for the slay

^4. Munich, 1972: 4/10 not my favorite but set the precedent for future pictograms. the group shots are fun

^5. Moscow, 1980: 6/10 munich plus wiggles :)

^6. Los Angeles, 1984: 4/10 they look like crash test dummies but points for good posture

^7. Sarajevo (winter), 1984: 9/10 the additional lines give dynamism but don't distract from the central figures!!

^8. Barcelona, 1992: 7/10 i like the calligraphic influence

^9. Lillehammer (winter), 1994: 10000000/10 absolutely perfect little guys. actually it's one guy and he does all the sports

look at this shit it's delightful why did they keep changing pictograms after this when they obviously struck gold

^10. Atlanta, 1996: 3/10 boring but points for being caked up

^11. Nagano (winter), 1998: 6/10 interesting paint-like strokes, deduction for luge which is actually a seeker of hermaeus mora come to kill me

^12. Sydney, 2000: 10/10 theyve all got little boomerangs :')

^13. Salt Lake City (winter), 2002: 5/10 based off cattle branding icons apparently? not my favorite but i have to respect the new direction

^14. Athens, 2004: 9/10 horrible cropping as to exclude their horrendous mascot but i love love LOVE when they take inspiration from the cultural history of a location!! in this case, cycladic figurines (pictured below)

^15. Turin (winter), 2006: 10/10 no notes i love it

^16. Beijing, 2008: 10/10 historical reference goes HARD

pictured: seal script, a predecessor to modern chinese lettering. you may recognize it from its use in avatar: the last airbender!

^17. Sochi (winter), 2014: 12/10 i love him he's just a fella. like that's my guy there he goes

^18. Beijing (winter), 2022: 8/10 i do like the calligraphic strokes but not as much as previous examples

HONORABLE MENTIONS

^equestrian events and kayaking at rio, 2016

^cycling at berlin, 1936 (all others were superimposed over the circle while this one fully incorporates it)

^biathlon at vancouver (winter), 2010: so fucking badass it's like a cartoon villain

Thank you for indulging my autism event :)

Links: Summer, Winter

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.12 (after 1900)

1914 – World War I: The United Kingdom and the British Empire declare war on Austria-Hungary. 1914 – World War I: The Battle of Halen a.k.a. Battle of the Silver Helmets a clash between large Belgian and German cavalry formations at Halen, Belgium. 1944 – Waffen-SS troops massacre 560 people in Sant'Anna di Stazzema. 1944 – Nazi German troops end the week-long Wola massacre, during which time at least 40,000 people are killed indiscriminately or in mass executions. 1944 – Alençon is liberated by General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the first city in France to be liberated from the Nazis by French forces. 1948 – Babrra massacre: About 600 unarmed members of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement are shot dead on the orders of the Chief Minister of the North-West Frontier Province, Abdul Qayyum Khan Kashmiri, on Babrra ground in the Hashtnagar region of Charsadda District, North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan. 1950 – Korean War: Bloody Gulch massacre: Seventy-five American POWs are massacred by the North Korean Army. 1952 – The Night of the Murdered Poets: Thirteen prominent Jewish intellectuals are murdered in Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union. 1953 – First thermonuclear bomb test: The Soviet atomic bomb project continues with the detonation of "RDS-6s" (Joe 4) using a "layered" scheme. 1953 – The 7.2 Ms  Ionian earthquake shakes the southern Ionian Islands with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Between 445 and 800 people are killed. 1960 – Echo 1A, NASA's first successful communications satellite, is launched.x 1964 – South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country's racist policies. 1969 – Violence erupts after the Apprentice Boys of Derry march in Derry, Northern Ireland, resulting in a three-day communal riot known as the Battle of the Bogside. 1976 – Between 1,000 and 3,500 Palestinians are killed in the Tel al-Zaatar massacre, one of the bloodiest events of the Lebanese Civil War. 1977 – The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. 1977 – The Sri Lanka Riots: Targeting the minority Sri Lankan Tamils, begin, less than a month after the United National Party came to power. Over 300 Tamils are killed. 1981 – The IBM Personal Computer is released. 1985 – Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Osutaka ridge in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, killing 520, to become the worst single-plane air disaster. 1990 – Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found to date, is discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota. 1992 – Canada, Mexico and the United States announce completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). 1994 – Major League Baseball players go on strike, eventually forcing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. 2000 – The Russian Navy submarine Kursk explodes and sinks in the Barents Sea during a military exercise, killing her entire 118-man crew. 2015 – At least two massive explosions kill 173 people and injure nearly 800 more in Tianjin, China. 2016 – Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). 2018 – Thirty-nine civilians, including a dozen children, are killed in an explosion at a weapons depot in Sarmada, Syria. 2021 – Six people, five victims and the perpetrator are killed in Keyham, Plymouth in the worst mass shooting in the UK since 2010.

[stateofcharles]

Natália Gaudio from Brazil🇧🇷 performing at the 2016 Olympic Test Event

photo credits: Rede do Esporte via Wikimedia Commons

[vincentbarletta]

Six Must-See Destinations for Rowing Enthusiasts

Rowing is among the oldest water sports, although it originated as a means of transportation during ancient civilizations. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used rowing for transportation and warfare. However, by the 18th and 19th centuries, it had evolved into a competitive sport in Europe.

Rowing became popular after several organized clubs were established in Britain, notably along the River Thames. It wasn’t long before the sport spread worldwide, reaching the United States, Australia, and Canada in the early 19th century. Today, rowing is a globally celebrated sport, with countless destinations offering unique and picturesque environments for enthusiasts. Below are six standout rowing destinations around the world.

Lake Bled, a glacial lake nestled in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, is one of the most idyllic rowing destinations. Boasting crystal-clear waters and the iconic Bled Island rising in its center, Lake Bled offers calm, sheltered waters that create perfect conditions for rowing. The lake attracts recreational rowers and elite athletes and hosts numerous international events, including the Bled International Regatta. Rowing enthusiasts enjoy the serene surroundings and the backdrop of Bled Castle, which adds a timeless charm to the rowing experience.

Henley-on-Thames in the United Kingdom is a symbol of the British rowing tradition. The Henley Royal Regatta, established in 1839, is among the most prestigious rowing events in the world. Held on the River Thames, the regatta is known for its strict dress code and exclusive social atmosphere. The river’s narrow course creates fierce competition, and its historic charm and lasting traditions continue to attract both seasoned rowers and newcomers.

In the United States, the Charles River in Boston is among the top rowing destinations. The location is home to the Head of the Charles Regatta, the world’s largest two-day rowing event, held annually since 1965. The river winds through Boston and Cambridge, offering a scenic route with challenging bends and varying currents that test the rowers’ skills. The lively atmosphere, with spectators lining the bridges and riverbanks, adds to the festive yet competitive spirit.

Lucerne, Switzerland, is another iconic rowing destination known for hosting the prestigious World Rowing Cup on the Rotsee. The Rotsee (Lake Rot) has unique geographical features, being long, straight, and sheltered by surrounding hills, which makes it ideal for rowing. The long rowing tradition in Lucerne itself, dating back to 1899, and the city’s beautiful medieval architecture and scenic views of the Swiss Alps continue to draw rowers to the annual three-day event.

Among the most recent additions to the list of iconic rowing destinations, Tokyo Bay in Japan has become an outstanding rowing venue after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Sea Forest Waterway, formerly a shipping channel, is the only saltwater Olympic rowing venue, and features an innovative design in a distinctive industrial setting. In just a few years, Tokyo Bay has established itself as a top destination offering rowers a world-class experience in one of the world’s most vibrant metropolises.

Finally, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil concludes this list with a tropical destination for rowing devotees. Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas became a prominent venue in 2016 when it hosted the Summer Olympics. With challenging winds and breathtaking views of landmarks like Christ the Redeemer, the venue offers a unique experience where the sport meets the enthusiastic and colorful Brazilian culture.

Each of these six rowing destinations offers something unique, from lasting rowing traditions to modern venues and scenic natural landscapes. These are only a few of the many iconic rowing venues across the globe. Other locations worth exploring include Split in Croatia, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and Chungju in South Korea.

[cas-tymon-piskorski]

CAS - service (olimpic group guardian)

Reflection: The olympics started at 22 of September. This is a local event that has been going on at Choszczówka (a district in Białołęka), for the past 10 years I think. From being a participant I finally had the occasion to be a guardian of a group myself with 3 other people including myself. We were chosen to take care of a group consisting of girls born in 2016. Our role was basically to make sure everybody in our group participates in each discipline and we had to make sure that everyone is feeling well, is hydrated and is having a nice time. This was an unforgettable experience which I highly recommend for everyone to try one day because taking care of a group of people much younger that yourself can really teach you something (and test your patience at the same time).

Preparation: To sign up as a volunteer for the olimpiad you just simply needed to fill in a online document send it and then attend one group meeting which’s objective was to divide us into different roles, so I would say it was very simple.

[lboogie1906]

Erin Jackson (September 19, 1992) is a speed skater, roller derby player, and Olympic gold medalist. She is the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport. She qualified for The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland, where she competed in inline speed skating for various distances on road and track. She qualified to compete in the 500-meter-long track speed skating event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

In 2021, she won her first 500-meter Speedskating World Cup races in Poland with two track records, making her the first Black American woman to win in the World Cup.

In 2022, she won the gold medal in the Women’s 500m speed skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She is the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating.

She was born in Ocala, Florida to Tracy and Rita Jackson. She has one brother. She first skated at eight years old when she tried figure skating. She went on to the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors in Materials Science & Engineering.

She won gold in the 500-m inline skating race at the 2008–09 Junior World Championships, gold in the same event at the 2014 Pan American Championships, and was named US Olympic Committee Female Athlete of the Year for Roller Sports in 2012 and 2013. She competes in roller derby with the Jacksonville RollerGirls of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, earning the MVP award at the 2014 WFTDA Division 1 Playoffs and advancing to the WFTDA Championships in 2015 and 2016.

In 2016, she transitioned to speed skating on the ice. She qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics with only four months of experience in speedskating on ice. She finished 24th out of 31 competitors in Pyeongchang.

She is the first American woman to win an Olympic speed skating gold since 2002 and the first American woman to win the women’s 500m since 1994.

In 2023 she was a contestant on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, season 2; as a contestant, finalist, and winner.

She represented the US at the 2024 Four Continents Speed Skating Championships and won a gold medal in the 500 meter and a silver medal in the team sprint. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[freifraufischer]

The New Zealand Problem: Painful Choices Edition

Courtney McGregor has recently given an interview where she explains that she's not being permitted to trial for Oceania championships because the criteria require results from the last two years (which she doesn't have). There is a lot of anger and frustration from the gymternet about this but I have a theory about what is going on with New Zealand Gymnastics refusing to allow McGregor to compete for the Oceania trials. It's going to seem a little byzantine as I explain it.

First, remember that Gymnastics New Zealand wants to get a WAG to the Olympics and the New Zealand Olympic Committee is the gatekeeper here. The Olympic Committee has set the policy that you have to be in the top 16 in your sport before they'll send you to the Olympics. A few weeks back I asked Courtney how that was done in 2016 for her and she said that she wasn't directly involved in the conversations but that her impression was that it couldn't be based on a single score or result. She was allowed to go based on her 2015 Worlds, 2016 Pac Rims, and 2016 Test Event placements. The fed needs to be able to make a large picture case for the athlete to the NZ Olympic committee.

Let's start from the basis that Gymnastics New Zealand already knows they can't make that case for Madeleine Marshall or Reece Cobb based on their 2023 Worlds results. Marshall was their best AAer in 93rd and Cobb had their best apparatus result in 56th on Beam.

McGregor would have no spectrum of results to make a case. Even if she won Oceania champs it would be just one result and remember she told me it couldn't just be 1 result. Her last international result was 5 years ago where she was 102nd in the AA at worlds and 17th on vault. I think McGregor is a beautiful gymnast and competitive on the basis of what the New Zealand policy wants their athletes to be. I just strongly suspect GymNZ doesn't think they can make that case for her to the Olympic Committee because of her lack of recent results.

So what's the harm in letting her compete?

Well from a strategic point of view if your goal is "get a New Zealand WAG to the Olympics" ... there is a downside to having her in the field. And yes I know what I'm about to describe is a bit twisted.

Georgia-Rose Brown came 4th and 5th at the Baku and Doha World Cup bars finals last year. She's also in the group that GNZ has elected to send to World Cups this year. Based on "you have to show a set of competitive results" I think GymNZ thinks they can make a case for her. Ideally the case for brown is 2 World Cup finals in 2023, and hopefully a couple more in 2024, with her qualifying at Oceania Championships. I believe based on my understanding of the New Zealand Olympic Committee policy they would send Brown on that basis.

But if Courtney beats Brown at Oceania championships the case for Brown changes. It's no longer a case where (ideally) Brown has a bunch of World Cup results and qualified through Oceania championships. She now has World Cup results which by themselves get her nothing and Brown hasn't qualified in her own right at Oceania championships. They've passed on McGregor for not meeting the standard, and they simply aren't going to consider someone who didn't qualify in their own right.

Is this frustrating and warped and counterintuitive to the idea of competition? Yes. No argument from me. But we're already in a situation where an athlete can win a spot at the Olympics and not be sent. Gymnastics New Zealand looks like the rigid bad guy here for not allowing Courtney to Trial for Oceania Champs. But I doubt they are. I'm sure they would LOVE to be able to to send Courtney to the Olympics if she qualified. It's not personal against her. It's triage.

All of this doesn't mean I don't hope Courtney is able to convince them to send her to Oceania anyway. I hope they do. I'm just trying to get people to see that it's not a "no lose" situation for Gymnastics NZ.

[ozzyscollectiblehub]

The Olympics: A Celebration of Global Unity and Athletic Excellence

The Olympics are more than just a sporting event; they represent a global celebration of unity, athletic excellence, and the pursuit of greatness. Since their inception, the Olympics have become one of the most iconic gatherings in the world, bringing together athletes from diverse cultures and backgrounds to compete on the grandest stage.

A Brief History of the Olympics

The origins of the Olympics date back to ancient Greece, where the games were held in Olympia every four years beginning in 776 BCE. These early competitions were held in honor of Zeus and featured athletic contests that tested the strength, skill, and endurance of participants. However, the modern Olympic Games, as we know them today, were revived in 1896 by French educator Pierre de Coubertin, who envisioned an event that would promote peace and unity among nations through sports.

The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece, with 14 nations and 241 athletes competing in 43 events. Over the decades, the Olympics have grown exponentially, now featuring thousands of athletes from over 200 nations competing in both Summer and Winter editions of the games.

The Spirit of Competition and Unity

At its core, the Olympics symbolize the spirit of competition and the power of sport to bring people together. Every two years (alternating between Summer and Winter Games), the world comes to a halt as we witness the remarkable athleticism, discipline, and dedication of the competitors. It’s a time when national pride is on full display, but more importantly, it’s a time to celebrate humanity’s collective drive to excel and push beyond boundaries.

From track and field events to gymnastics, swimming, and team sports, the Olympics showcase the best of the best in their respective fields. Winning a gold medal at the Olympics is often considered the pinnacle of an athlete’s career — a testament to years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.

Memorable Moments in Olympic History

The Olympics have provided countless unforgettable moments that have left a lasting impact on both the sports world and society. From historic victories to displays of courage and resilience, the games have created legends and inspired generations.

Jesse Owens’ Triumph in 1936: Owens, an African-American track and field star, defied racial prejudices and won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, directly challenging Adolf Hitler’s ideas of Aryan supremacy.

The Miracle on Ice (1980): The U.S. men’s hockey team, composed of amateur players, pulled off an incredible upset by defeating the heavily favored Soviet Union team in the Winter Olympics, solidifying one of the greatest moments in sports history.

Usain Bolt’s Unmatched Speed (2008): Bolt electrified the world with his record-breaking performances in Beijing, winning three gold medals in sprint events and setting new world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters, cementing his status as the fastest man on Earth.

Simone Biles’ Gymnastics Mastery (2016): Biles wowed audiences in Rio with her breathtaking performances, winning four gold medals and becoming a symbol of athletic excellence and mental strength.

The Olympics as a Platform for Social Change

Beyond athletic achievements, the Olympics have also served as a platform for social and political change. The games have historically been a stage for athletes and nations to raise awareness of important global issues.

The Black Power Salute (1968): American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute during their medal ceremony in Mexico City to protest racial inequality in the United States. This act became one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history and highlighted the power of athletes to use their platform for social justice.

The Refugee Olympic Team (2016): For the first time in Olympic history, a team composed of refugees competed under the Olympic flag in Rio de Janeiro. This powerful statement of inclusivity and hope showcased the unifying power of sport and the Olympics’ commitment to humanity.

The Modern Olympics and Global Impact

In today’s world, the Olympics continue to grow in importance, with billions of viewers tuning in to watch the games from every corner of the globe. The athletes who compete at the Olympics are no longer just national heroes; they are global icons whose performances inspire millions.

With the advent of social media and live streaming, the reach of the Olympics has expanded, allowing fans to engage with the games like never before. Athletes are now more accessible to their fans, and Olympic moments are shared in real time across digital platforms, making the event more interactive and globally inclusive.

The Future of the Olympics

As the world evolves, so too does the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to introduce new sports and technologies to keep the games fresh and relevant. In recent years, the inclusion of sports like skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing has brought younger audiences into the Olympic fold, showcasing the versatility and adaptability of the event.

Sustainability has also become a focal point for the Olympics. Host cities are now encouraged to minimize their environmental impact, and future Olympic Games will likely see even greater efforts to promote sustainability and reduce the event’s carbon footprint.

The Legacy of the Olympics

The Olympics represent more than just a sporting event; they are a global celebration of human potential, unity, and perseverance. From the humble beginnings in ancient Greece to the modern-day spectacle, the Olympics continue to inspire and bring the world together. As the games evolve, their legacy will undoubtedly endure, reminding us that sport has the power to transcend borders, break barriers, and create a more connected and understanding world.

The Olympics will always be a stage for greatness — a place where the impossible becomes possible, and where individuals, communities, and nations unite in the spirit of friendly competition and shared humanity.

[study-buddies]

Paris Olympics: Parisians' Unusual Protest Over River Seine Cleanliness

A Historic Venue Revisited The romantic River Seine, a historical icon in Paris, is making a splash again in the sporting world. Over 124 years after hosting its first Olympic swimming events, the Seine is set to welcome athletes for the Marathon swimming and Triathlon events at the Paris Olympics. However, this picturesque river has recently been the center of an unusual and pungent protest by disgruntled Parisians.

The Legacy of the Seine in the Olympics The Seine first hosted Olympic swimming events in 1900 at the Basins d’Asnières-Courbevoie, along a 13 km route in the heart of Paris. By 1923, however, swimming in the river was banned due to rising pollution and increasing traffic. Now, as the Seine gears up for the 2024 Olympics, concerns about its pollution levels and weather conditions are mounting.

The Push for a Cleaner Seine Efforts to make the Seine swimmable again date back to 1990 when former Paris mayor and French president Jacques Chirac promised to swim in the river to demonstrate its cleanliness. Although Chirac’s plan never materialized, current Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo made river swimming a key goal in the 2016 Paris Olympics bid, aiming to open 20 swimming areas by 2025.

Pollution Problems and Government Plans The Seine’s pollution issues stem from a combined sewer system introduced in the late 19th century, which mixes waste and stormwater. This system often leads to sewage overflow during heavy rains, contaminating the river with harmful bacteria like E. coli and Enterococci. To combat this, the French government has invested 1.5 billion euros in measures including a massive underground rainwater storage tank and enhanced sewage treatment facilities.

Protests and Public Outcry Despite these efforts, pollution levels remain a concern. A sewer issue led to the cancellation of an Olympic test event last year, and recent tests by the Surfrider Foundation revealed that the Seine’s water still fails to meet European Union regulations. In a bold move, French president Emmanuel Macron and Mayor Hidalgo planned to swim in the Seine to prove its safety but canceled due to snap elections. This prompted an anonymous online campaign under the hashtag #JeChieDansLaSeineLe23Juin (“I Shit in the Seine on June 23”), encouraging Parisians to defecate in the river as a form of protest.

The Protest Plan and Current Water Quality The protest, initially intended as a joke, gained traction, with a website providing a calculator for participants to determine the best time and place to defecate for maximum impact. Meanwhile, Mayor Hidalgo took a symbolic dip in the Seine on July 17, claiming the water was “very good.”

Current water quality data shows fluctuating pollution levels, with E. coli and Enterococci often exceeding safety limits. The World Triathlon Federation’s guidelines set maximum permissible levels at 900 cfu for E. coli and 330 cfu for Enterococci, but recent readings have frequently surpassed these thresholds.

Contingency Plans for the Olympics In response to these challenges, Olympic organizers have prepared contingency plans. If pollution levels remain high, swimming portions of the triathlon events may be canceled or relocated to alternative venues like the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

Conclusion As the Paris Olympics approach, the cleanliness of the River Seine remains a hot topic. While government efforts are ongoing, public protests highlight the urgency of the situation. The world will be watching to see if Paris can successfully host safe and clean swimming events in this iconic river.

[pashterlengkap]

Runner Caster Semenya rejects “intersex” label & forced medical interventions

Cis lesbian South African runner Caster Semenya has said that she does not identify as intersex. “That identity doesn’t fit me; it doesn’t fit my soul,” the two-time Olympic gold medalist writes in a powerful New York Times essay, adapted from her upcoming memoir, The Race to be Myself. “I know I look like a man. I know I sound like a man and maybe even walk like a man and dress like one, too. But I’m not a man; I’m a woman. I’m a different kind of woman, I know, but I’m still a woman.” Related: Olympian Caster Semenya wins appeal against testosterone limits The cisgender South African Olympic gold medal-winning runner has been battling World Athletics’ discriminatory rules for years. In the piece, the runner — who was assigned female at birth, raised as a girl, and has never identified as anything other than female — details her years-long fight to be allowed to compete against other female athletes in elite track and field events, including the Olympics, after it was revealed in 2009 that she was born with differences in sex development (DSD). Get the Daily Brief The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you: Subscribe to our Newsletter Semenya describes being forced to undergo medical testing when she was just 18 due to speculation about her sex and gender that arose from fellow athletes, sports officials, the media, and fans ahead of the 2009 Berlin World Championships. She only learned about the results of those tests when they were leaked to the media that same year. “I learned that I had XY chromosomes, rather than the typically female XX pairing, and high levels of testosterone, produced by undescended testicles I didn’t know I had,” she writes. “In order to continue racing as a woman, I was told, I needed to have surgery to remove them.” Semenya writes that she refused to have surgery. “I was healthy, I loved my body, and it had made me a champion. Why must I go and mutilate it to conform to someone else’s rules?” Instead, she writes, she opted to take medication to artificially lower her body’s natural testosterone levels in order to meet the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF, now World Athletics) requirements for female athletes, despite potentially dangerous side effects. She says she began to feel sick almost as soon as she started taking the medication. At the same time, she endured continual scrutiny. “I’d been called a hermaphrodite. I had to walk back out into the world with this thing hanging around my neck. I wasn’t oblivious to the stares and whispers from other runners,” she writes. “I wasn’t going to take on an identity that did not fit my soul because some doctors had taken my blood and images of my organs. I was not a hermaphrodite or anything other than a woman.” After learning in 2015 that Indian runner Dutee Chand had won her challenge against the IAAF’s requirement that she artificially lower her own testosterone levels, Semenya says she stopped taking the medication. She went on to compete in the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 IAAF World Championships. In 2018, the IAAF announced new regulations that prevented Semenya from competing against other women in her events. (World Athletics expanded and made the rules stricter this year.) “To me, its restrictions aren’t about leveling the playing field; they are about getting certain types of women off the field completely,” she writes. She blasts the IAAF’s hypocrisy in celebrating white male athletes like Michael Phelps for their natural physical advantages, and for accepting bribes from Russian athletes who had used performance-enhancing drugs, all while forcing her to alter her own body. As writer Precious Adesina noted in her profile of Semenya for The Cut, a 2020 Human Rights Watch report found that female athletes from Africa and Asia have disproportionately been subjected to “sex testing,” “gender verification,” or “femininity testing.” “It was people like Chand and me… http://dlvr.it/SxvGlw