Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scorpion]

Isn't it a children's game played at picnics and backyard barbecues? Why are adults playing this game, and who decided it should be included in the olympics. Maybe there should be a children's olympics for kiddie sports like table tennis, badminton and such.

A: That guy over there got a silver medal at the Olympics.
B: Really? In what event? Triathlon? Diving? Gymnastics?
A: Badminton, I believe. (cue Eddie Murphy laughing)

It really should be dropped from the olympics. If not, what's next. Leap frog? Tag? Hide and seek?

[Captain Corea]

Not sure why you're saying only kids play it. It was a team sport in HS where I'm from.

[crisdean]

[young_clinton]

Could they please add Chinese acrobatics and the little Chinese girls that run around with the tape to the Olympic games list?

[edwardcatflap]

[Scorpion]

I went back and looked at the video. Yeah, it was a bit obnoxious. (I've deleted it.) I'd seen it a week ago, and didn't preview it again before posting it. I just remembered he criticized badminton being in the olympics. If I'd previewed it, however, I wouldn't have posted it....Having said that, I don't think it is a sport worthy of the olympics. I do associate it with children, frivolity and casual recreation. And just because it's popular in Asia doesn't make it worthy of inclusion in the olympics. Curling is popular in some places. I don't think it deserves a place in the olympics either. We can't even make the claim of 'cultural inclusiveness" in justifying badminton's place in the olympics (it's popular in Asia). It's a British past-time. It should be left as such.

Get rid of ping pong too.

[Fox]

If your complaint is that children's games do not belong at the Olympics, then surely the "dancing with ribbons," "swinging on monkey bars," and "playing around on a balance beam" events ought to bother you far more than badminton.

When the fellows at work want to play a game, at times it has been badminton. It has never been, "Hey, Fox, let's have a ribbon dance showdown, followed by a balance beam contest." Perhaps you are starting your reforms in the wrong place.

[Captain Corea]

Shhheeeeoooottttt...

When ya think of it, don't most Olympic games break down into kids' games?

Running
Jumping
More running
Throwing something
Swimming
Throwing something in water
Bicycling


I'm sure the list could go on.

Good thing the OP doesn't run the Olympics. lol

[transmogrifier]

The worst Olympic sport is, without doubt, walking.

The stupidest idea for a competitive sport ever.

[Newbie]

[Steelrails]

Are there any fat badminton Olympians? I don't think there are, so certainly there must be some measure of athleticism involved.

But watch a video and judge for yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2k-tsX5KE

I'm pretty sure that constantly jumping and accelerating for 3 sets worth would require some athletic ability.

[cheezsteakwit]

I played badminton in backyard BBQ's when I was a kid.

I used to think badminton shouldn't be in the Olympics, but then I read somewhere that a shuttlecock can move at speeds close to 200 mph & I saw a match on TV for myself recently. It takes good hand-eye coordination to compete in badminton at the Olympic level.

As for race-walking, I also thought this was a ridiculous 'sport' until I saw a high school competition here in Korea earlier this year. (I teach at a physical education high school a few days a week)

It was a long distance race & it wasn't the most exciting thing to watch but some poor girl got 'lapped' NOT once but TWICE by the eventual winner of the race. I felt so bad for the poor girl. She was really trying her best, but the eventual winner's technique was unreal - robotic almost. So I have a new found respect for race-walking, as ridiculous as it looks.

Now , in my opinion , Curling is a sport that SHOULD be droppped by the Winter Olympics. I mean, for real ?!?!? shuffleboard on ice ?!?!?

Granted, it's probably hard to find winter sports , as a lot of countries don't have long winters. , so what about adding an indoor game that can be played all year around the world ... like , say ... DODGEBALL !!!

Heck yeah, I'd tune in for that.

[radcon]

They need to expand the Olympics to a month and just add every game imaginable: Bowling, rodeo, dodgeball, horse shoes, kickball, MMA. Everything.

[jvalmer]

I say take out equestrian and shooting out, and put baseball back in.

[edwardcatflap]

First up, as I mentioned before, the Olympics is primarily a chance for people who play sports nobody watches to get a bit of the limelight for a change, so they shouldn't include any sports people enjoy on a day to day basis/talk about in bars. No football, tennis, golf, rugby, baseball, basketball or cricket. They should definitely axe any sports that already have tournaments which are more important than the Olympics, such as tennis or football, or sports where they limit the people who can participate. Football is the only one I know but I've a feeling the US doesn't field their best team in basketball as well. Is that right? On the subject of tournaments, they should get rid of the World Athletics championships as well, as for the athletes that's like having the world cup every two years isn't it? Not fair

Next, as someone else mentioned they should axe all the sports that involve judging. Some countries just cannot be trusted to play with a straight bat. We've all seen the farce the Eurovision song contest has become, for example.

Thirdly, they should axe all the sports that only posh people can play. Or any sport where the commentator spends any time at all talking about what kind of hats the spectators are wearing. This would unfortunately cut team GB's medal tally by half but it has to be done. So, out go rowing, sailing, show jumping and dressage.

On the subject of show jumping, if they're going to include sports where, let's face it, the animal does the bulk of the work, they should give the animal a prize that reflects it. I heard the other day an American rider was on a German horse that had already won a medal for a different country at Beijing. That can't be right.

Finally they should restrict any sports where someone can win more than, let's say, 3 medals. In running or swiming the competitors should be allowed to compete in one fast one, one long one and one relay and that's it.