Joke of Olympic Proportions!

[BetOnThis]

It was bad enough that the Olympics went to a place with such terrible human rights records, and with such horrible pollution. But then one thing after another the joke just grows.

Accusations of Michael Phelps-just because he's good. Can you say bitter? Get over it, the guy kicked your butts.

Under age Chinese gymnasts, who look like they might be all of twelve years old. If your girls are heavier at 16, then so what! So is the rest of the world. The host nation is so desperate to win that they falsify records. So not surprising from the nation who takes kids of four or five and put them in life long gymnastics camps if natural talent is found. Couldn't let that go to waste could we, who needs a childhood?

Bah!

[Mike0715]

Communist countries put a great stock in sports. While Cheng Fei's family has been given special consideration and would be left in poverty without it, Shawn Johnson's family mortgaged the house to keep their daughter in gymnastics. (It's incredibly expensive when you get to competition level. My wife and I are seeing the bills come in with our son.)

So, do only "rich kids" get a chance to represent America? And China contributed the natural talent at whatever cost to them?

[SuckerPunch]

I'm not sure you understand what a person needs to perform at the olympic level in gymnastics. If these kids don't start at age 4 or 5 they will never have the skills necessary to make it when they get older. Do your research before you start talking smack about crap you know nothing about.

[Love the Babes]

I can't agree that this Olympic Games are a huge joke at all. Certainly the US is not as dominant as they used to be - but hey, it's good that the rest of the world is putting up a challenge. I think the Chinese has done a lot to minimise the pollution problem and it certainly is not the issue that most of us thought it would be. Phelps? I don't think he thinks the Games are a joke at all.

[BetOnThis]

Originally Posted by SuckerPunch

I'm not sure you understand what a person needs to perform at the olympic level in gymnastics. If these kids don't start at age 4 or 5 they will never have the skills necessary to make it when they get older. Do your research before you start talking smack about crap you know nothing about.

Yeah, I understand. I understand that the Chinese kids are taken from their families at four or five years old and put in gymnastics camps where they remain until they are either injured and out of the games, or else are put into competition (illegally young?).

In America that doesn't happen-and I am paying the bills too for my own gymnast child. I am fully aware of the costs of raising an Olympian, and know that I could not do that. Doesn't change the fact that the Chinese kids got no choice, and yet had their childhoods (and families) taken from them.

Doesn't change the fact that Phelps won fair and square and deserves to enjoy his hard earned win without accusations of cheating. He worked damn hard for his medals, and tested clean time and again. It's a joke that the accusations came. Like I said, from people bitter at winning.

The Olympic games is a long standing tradition (in modern times, not ancient) that deserves better than dealing with the human rights violations. With the protests. With the censorship of the journalists who are over there. With the health risks that the athletes may face because of the pollution.

The joke is that the Olympics should not have been sent to Beijing, and should not have had to be surrounded by all this scandal.

Yeah, I've done my research. Thanks.

[Mike0715]

This is interesting:
IOC's gymnastics probe falls well short - Olympics - Yahoo! Sports

It's all cleared up now. All questions have been asked, there is no issue, it was a mistake and all parties are innocent. (note sarcasm) That was quick.

For He Kexin's sake, and her family, I'd rather it just be over.

Another headline: People got uppity at the opening celebration because a pretty little girl lip synced a song actually sung by a more homely looking child. The kids do what they're told...that's showbiz kid.