Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-12T23:46:38Z

RayM: /* criteria? */

== Female version of sports ==

Hi, long time reader but new editor as I wanted to give something back to the project. I was just wondering why Women's boxing is the only female specific sport listed. To be consistent surely sports such as women's weightlifting, wrestling and some of the athletics events what require pure strength (shot-put, hammer etc) should be included. What do more experience members think of including these?
Can I also suggest the 20km walk race?

:The other female sports you list seem more legitimate than women's boxing. Women's boxing appears to be particularly artificial - how often are there schoolyard boxing matches between girls?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:55, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::It happened often enough where I grew up, but I probably came from a tougher neighborhood than you. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 20:02, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:::I doubt they boxed as boys and men do. I have never, ever heard of that happening, and the small town I grew up in had plenty of fistfights.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 20:15, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::::You must have lived a particularly sheltered life then Andy!! --[[User:DamianJohn|DamianJohn]] 20:54, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

How often on your schoolyard did you see fencing matches? Or two first graders break out into a clean-and-jerk competition? Or archery? Or the down-hill slalom? Or the pentathlon? Or sailing? I think it's fair to say that if you are an Olympics athlete, you probably focused on it outside of the schoolyard. 
On a personal side note, as a person who was in both track relays and swimming relays; swimming relay exchanges are much harder. You have to time it such that you enter the water at the exact same time that the person in front of you touches. In track, it's just wait for "Go", then run; wait for "Hit", then put your arm back. Close hand, run some more. But I'm just some guy on the internet; you probably shouldn't take my word for it. But if we are going to have this footnote, could we add some citation at least giving a reputable opinion that track is harder than swimming? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 21:34, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'll second that comment: swimming relays are difficult to get right, and easy to blow. Disqualifications are common at the high school level, and not unheard of in college swimming because of the split-second timing required by all but the first swimmer in the relay.--[[User:Bwebster|Bwebster]] 00:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

::But I don't think difficulty is the test. Lots of silly new televised competitions are difficult, but are not legitimate sports.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::So swimming relays are illegitimate because of the absence of a baton. That is your argument? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==criteria?==
I'm wondering what our actual criteria are for inclusion on this list. I, for one, don't think that Swimming relays, BMX, or beach volleyball are "joke" sports, unless we want to include golf as a joke sport, sailing as a joke sport (please don't do this. the sailing fan in me would be sad). In fact, it seems to me that even dressage requires more athleticism than, say, prone rifle shooting. I realize that people higher up the pecking order on this site than me may have something invested in this article, so I won't make edits until there's a clarified set of criteria for this article.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 20:46, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:You raise excellent points. What is the criteria for separating the legitimate from the joke sports, or for including an event in the Olympics? Why isn't golf an Olympic sport?

:I've added "underlying purpose" to the sport as a criterion. More insights are welcome.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:13, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::What is the underlying purpose of any sport? [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:26, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

[http://rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/golf Golf will return to the Olympics in 2016]. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:18, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
[http://www.olympic.org/content/sports/all-sports/golf/equipment-and-history/?tab=history It was also contested at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympic Games]. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 01:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

I think this entire article is in violation of Conservapedia Commandments #1 ("Everything you post must be true and verifiable") and #5 ("Do not post personal opinion on an encyclopedia entry"). [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:With regards to our Fifth Commandment, I agree. Perhaps an administrator would like to move this page to the Essay pseudonamespace. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 11:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::"Citius, Altius, Fortius" would be a good stating point for the criteria I think - sports that do not have an element of the Olympic motto would need a good reason to not be on this list, although most team sports would not satisfy this test [[User:AlanA|AlanA]] 11:49, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::I think that a good test is that there shouldn't already be another, similar sport with a stronger tradition and more credibility. That would exclude recent additions like beach volleyball.
::::Related to this, it's chiefly the multiplicity of similar events that undermine swimming's credibility, so "one event testing one set of athletic abilities" might be a good way to phrase it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:07, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I agree with AlanA and CPalmer, but there is a difference between saying a sport should be excluded from the Olympics and saying that it is a "joke sport". [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 14:28, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

After Mr. Schlafly's recent edit comment, "women's martial arts removed from the list - martial arts are legitimate self-defense pursuits," I gather that his main criterion for a non-joke sport is that it has some "legitimate" real-world analogue. If this is so, it should be affirmed and applied to this article. I don't agree with the premise, but it could serve to make this alleged encyclopedia page something more that mere opinion. [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 19:43, 12 August 2012 (EDT)
::As with every article based on one of his "insights," the criteria are simply "does ASchlafly think it so"? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 19:46, 12 August 2012 (EDT)

== Dressage ==

I wonder if the editor who listed dressage as a joke sport is aware of the history behind the sport? It developed over centuries of military training and tactics for the cavalry, when horse and rider needed to move in harmony with each other during battle. Just because it has become a rich man's sport in today's society does not erase its meaningful history - it certainly wasn't a "joke" to thousands of cavalrymen. [http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] by Dr. Thomas Ritter. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 00:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm going to remove it from the list, until someone can come up with a realistic reason it should be on here. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Because, for all intents and purposes, there's very little difference between dressage and Crufts, and I don't see many dog events at the Olympics?--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:41, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I said a logical reason, thanks. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Technically you said a realistic reason. Dressage is about training between man and beast so said beast will do what you command, this is the same as some of the events at Crufts. There's no racing as a test of speed or rider's abilities. On that level I can't see any difference.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:46, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::Racing or speed are not necessary components in a competition. As for not testing the rider's skill? Seriously, you're being absolutely ridiculous. The whole event is about showing the rider's skill in directing the horse through its movements. While I haven't participated in dressage myself, I have been around horses and riders enough to know that including dressage on this page is the joke created by a bunch of envious, armchair quarterbacks. If you can't do the activity, then don't open your mouth to criticize. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Just because it's hard to do doesn't make it a serious sport. Ballet is hard to do. So is playing the 'cello. Neither of those are sports. Just because it has a long history doesn't make it a serious sport. It is an elitist activity that the average sports fan cares nothing about. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:02, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Alright, go ahead. Disparage these athletes all you want. I have my doubts that any editor who has contributed to this page could compete in any of these "joke sports" on an Olympic level. It sounds like sour grapes to me. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:That's a sore loser's argument. Do you limit your opinions to those things you can do at an elite level? That would mean not having preferences about most things in the world, unless you are so gifted that you can compose poetry, play jazz piano, paint, sculpt, figure skate, design a building and cook at the level of the best in the world. Which none of us can. Just because a person can't do something doesn't mean they can't have an informed opinion about it. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::I have yet to see an "informed opinion" on any of the sports listed on this page. What I see is a bunch of editors who think it's fun to disparage hard-working athletes for their own amusement. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Welcome to Conservapedia. It's what ASchlafly does. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 11:00, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Why do you add to it if you don't agree with the premise? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:06, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Greco-Roman wrestling ==

I removed Greco-Roman wrestling from the list. All wrestling styles have their particular rules, but that doesn't make them not a real sport. Saying it artifically prohibits the match is like saying hurdles is not a real sport since it hinders running. If anything, the role of throws requires more strength to compete properly. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 10:14, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:I agree - Graeco-Roman wrestling requires strength, technique and flexibility, as well as guile, and is one of the purest sports contested at the Olympics. Some people do like to joke about wrestling, but that in itself doesn't make it a joke sport.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 10:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::However, compare it to freestyle wrestling, also an Olympic Sport, but with far fewer restrictions on how athletes can show their abilities at that particular skill to their best, and it does come across as a joke sport.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 11:12, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::You could say them same about boxing and freestyle (or folkstyle for that matter). If I was allowed to punch my opponent, I would have been a much better wrestler in high school. But not being able to punch them doesn't make it a joke. Just a different sport. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:50, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Table tennis ==

Have you actually watched any of the table tennis matches? The skills required to compete in this event - the quickness, agility, perspicacity - are at least equal to those in regular tennis. [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== This article is too negative and unnecessary ==

This article is too negative. For example, while there are martial art systems (or self-defense systems) which are better than taekwondo when it comes to self-defense[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwV3KZKcq4k][http://hammerprinciple.com/martialarts/items/karate/aikido], it can get you into great shape - especially if the twaekwondo center has a weight room. When I was involved in taekwondo, I enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Plus, when I was playing racketball without googles (which I should not have done), using a block I learned in taekwondo, I stopped a ball from hitting my face inches before it was about to hit me. :) The only potential downside I see to twaekwondo is that full contact sparring could potential cause brain damage as many medical doctors are against boxing for example and boxers can become "punch drunk".[http://digitaljournal.com/article/264678][http://www.justanswer.com/medical/2j5r4-does-sparring-mixed-martial-arts-muay-thai-specifically.html]

Although there are less toxic forms of keeping pools clean than chlorine[http://news.discovery.com/human/chlorinated-pools-swimming-cancer.html], swimming is great exercise and there is nothing wrong with the backstroke or relay races.

Soccer is great and inexpensive way to exercise and it probably keeps more people in shape than any sport in the world due to its popularity in the world.

There is no public outcry to remove these sports from the Olympics. Women enjoy synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics for example.

I think this article is a wet blanket and a sour grapes way of minimizing others achievements.[[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 10:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm not sure ASchlafly will agree with you. It was his idea, after all, and fits in with his basic orientation towards focusing on finding negative outcomes. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:59, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:We agree on this, [[User:Conservative]]. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:08, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::User:Conservative, I recommend using Firefox to make your posts. It has a spell-check facilility, which would help you spot typos such as the amusing "twaekwondo".
::Other than that, how could a "joke sports" article not be negative? Perhaps by talking up the humor content of the sports involved???
::Thirdly, you are right that there is nothing wrong with relay races, but swimming relays are not proper relays, as has been explained above. Backstroke ''is'' absurd - it's slower than crawl and more tiring than breast stroke, so what's the point of it, unless you're scared to put your face in the water?--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::Actually, people are wrong when they state swimming relays are not proper relays - there is strategy involved (fastest swimmer first, last? where to place the slowest swimmer?), and precise timing is needed during the exchange. As for the backstroke being absurd - how about testing the athlete's endurance? Not everything needs to be flashy and fast in order to be a competition. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:17, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Sharon, This is already being discussed above, at the end of the section headed "Female version of sports". Your post would be better off up there, where more informed people than I will see and respond to it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:48, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
CPalmer, I typed out taekwondo correctly 1 out 3 times. :). Secondly, Firefox does not have taekwondo in its spellcheck dictionary. :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::CPalmer, as far as the backstroke, one of the principles of good exercise is working out all your muscles. Also, if the backstroke is more tiring than a breastroke as you say, that is a good indication it is giving someone a good workout. Given your approval of this article, I can only assume you may be a cranky old man who calls the police on kids making too much noise bouncing their basketballs!!! I rest my case that this article is a wet blanket article!!!! [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I do not doubt backstroke's utility as a workout for lane-blocking old granddads, but a good workout does not necessarily make a good sport. Olympic toe-touching, for instance, or exercise biking, would certainly be seen as joke sports, were they to be added to the program.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:44, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==swimming medleys==
I removed swimming medleys. The author of that particular edit was wondering what the track comparison would be, and the answer there is the pentathlon, heptathlon, decathlon, etc.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:05, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Not really. Multi-event athletics competitions require the athlete to do multiple different things, without specifying how. Swimming medleys, by contrast, require the swimmer to do the ''same'' thing in four different ways. If the decathlon included 100m running, 100m walking, 100m backwards running and 100m rolling then your argument would stand up better.
:I would support a swimming pentathlon that included short, medium and long-distance swims, plus springboard and platform diving, but that would require more genuine versatility than is possessed by most if not all competitive swimmers as far as I know.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::So I gotta ask, CPalmer, what sports do ''you'' play? how many of those might be considered "joke" sports. I know people who swim competitively, one in the backstroke, which you disparage, two in medleys. They're no joke. Because I need to go to work in about ten minutes, I'm not going to get into any kind of edit war here, I just wish you'd stop being so bitter and accept that people can have amazing sporting achievement EVEN IN EVENTS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. Isn't that amazing? --[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:21, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I am not saying that a gold medal in backstroke isn't an impressive achievement. I'm saying that it shouldn't be an Olympic event because it's a silly stroke for competitive purposes.
:::I don't play any sports competitively, but I play recreational football, tennis and darts. I do not think that darts should be an Olympic sport, however.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::By the way, you knowing people who compete in these events does not in itself stop them from being joke events. If you mean that "they're no joke" because your friends take them extremely seriously, please consider the possibility that to others, that may make them more and not less absurd.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I think I can see where you're coming from. I still disagree, but if you're using those criteria, then shouldn't you also include breast-stroke and butterfly? They're both less efficient than freestyle/crawl. Breast at least has some use apart from a competition environment, but butterfly seems totally useless. If you want those particular criteria, then please be consistent with them.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::I agree about butterfly, and breast stroke, and walking races on dry land. For Olympic purposes, I think 100m, 200m, 400m and a longer distance, plus relays, for men and women, would be a sensible swimming program - say 12 gold medals in all, so far more than are available for archery or horse riding.
::::::Breast stroke has a case for inclusion, but the trouble is that the breast stroke performed competitively bears little resemblance to the steady, effort-conserving stroke that is so useful in real life.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Quite honestly, the purpose behind sports is not to entertain the spectators, or to make money for the sponsors, or to worry about how you as an athlete will appear to others. The point behind sports when you're an athlete is to challenge yourself to do as well as you possibly can, and if you're on a team, to aid and push your teammates to do their best as well. The purpose behind sports as a spectator is to camaraderie, and enjoyment. Today's society has lost sight of the meaning of sportsmanship, and I hate to say this, but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 12:51, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:'but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed." ASchlafly would call that "nitpicking" a "conservative insight." Why do you expect otherwise from this site? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 13:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Why do you, and others, push the point when you don't agree with it? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Backstroke Not an inefficient, silly stroke ==

A common and important part of swimming training is lifesaving and a version of the backstroke is used for lifesaving.[http://lifesaving.org.uk/swimming/training/Swim-strokes/backstroke.html]

Inefficiency can depend on context. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 13:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Thanks, Conservative. I'd given up arguing about it. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== A thought ==

It seems to me like this is not really an encyclopedic entry. Could we make this an Essay, so it can still be thought about and debated, but we don't dilute the true encyclopedic entries? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:[[Atheism and bestiality|"The]] [[Psychology,_obesity,_religiosity_and_atheism|true]] [[Agnosticism,_obesity_and_self-esteem|encyclopedic]] [[Sports_performance:_Religious_faith_vs._atheism|entries"?]] [[User:RayM|RayM]] 16:01, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Everything in those articles is verifiable and true. It is not my fault that there are [[Atheism and beastiality|atheists who are ok with extreme animal "loving".]] The Department of Motor vehicles in all jurisdictions refuse to give driver's licenses to animals. But in the lala land of atheism and evolutionism, humans are beasts. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 19:33, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Curling at the 2010 Winter Olympics ==

I hope nobody claims that curling should not have been at the 2010 Winter Olympics and that it as inserted by Canadians trying to pad their gold medals!!! :) Curling was one of the popular sports at the Olympics. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayDqRzRN8_M] At the 2006 Olympics, curling drew 5 million television viewers which was more than ice hockey and figure skating.[http://www.ovguide.com/curling-at-the-2006-winter-olympics-9202a8c04000641f8000000000548b84] Those guys with brooms really swept in the television ratings! :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 16:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

User talk:RayM

2012-08-12T23:45:19Z

RayM:

{{welcome|--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 09:48, 6 August 2012 (EDT)}}

== Dressage ==

Seriously, don't add it back without a really good reason. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:56, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:Seriously, I gave two really good reasons--it is elitist, and the average sports fan has no idea how it works. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:00, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::That doesn't make it a "joke". [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:12, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Sure it does. It looks silly, and they take themselves far too seriously. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:17, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Alright, you win. Disparage the athletes all you want. I have a lot more respect for them than you. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:19, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::Hey, don't blame me, it's the Conservapedia way, from Peyton Manning to Lebron James to dressage to atheistic Britain. This is what this website does. Why do you expect differently? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:25, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::::I have taught my children to think for themselves, and not be little lemmings. Do you think I would do any different? I say what I mean, and what I feel. Try it sometime. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
I agree with you. I just get a kick out of pushing on the implications of ASchlafly's "insights." The conflict between the logic of those "insights" and any notion of consistency is really compelling to me. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:41, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Petty, petty, petty. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 19:44, 12 August 2012 (EDT)
:Amusing, more like. Been doing it since the place opened. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 19:45, 12 August 2012 (EDT)

Dressage

2012-08-12T23:43:25Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is an ancient sport in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by the Greek general Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>

As well as being a discipline in its own right, Dressage also forms part of equestrian eventing, along with cross-country and show jumping.

Conservapedia lists dressage among the [[joke sports]].

[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Dressage

2012-08-12T23:42:59Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is an ancient sport in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by the Greek general Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>

As well as being a discipline in its own right, Dressage also forms part of equestrian eventing, along with cross-country and show jumping.

Conservapedia lists dressage as one of the [[joke sports]].

[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Gymnastics

2012-08-12T23:41:55Z

RayM:

'''Gymnastics''' refers to a set of physical exercises and is also a competitive
[[sport]]. It typically includes various [[exercise]]s such as tumbling, acrobatics, handstands, and other rythmic and strength related movements and walking and jumping on a balance beam and use of bars, rings and other specialized apparatus to perform various manouvers that display strength, balance, and agility. Gymnastics is an Official sport of the [[Olympic Games|Olympics]].

Some forms of the sport, notably rhythmic gymnastics, are [[joke sports]].

==References==

*http://www.gymnasticsrevolution.com/GymInteractive-Index.htm

[[Category:Sports]]

Joke sports

2012-08-12T23:41:06Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that some people consider to be poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events.

The [[lamestream media]] publicize joke sport winners more than world records set in real sports, which distorts the legitimacy of the [[Olympics]]. Also, the format used for at least one of the joke sports below (badminton) resulted in an expulsion of several teams from the 2012 Summer Olympics which caused embarrassment to the entire Olympics.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*[[Dressage]]
*Rhythmic [[gymnastics]]
*Olympic [[soccer]]<ref>The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes rules on players regarding the Olympic Games over the age of participants. This has the effect of prohibiting the best (usually professional) players in the world from competing. The age limit is currently 23 and under. FIFA is trying to lower it to 21 and under; however, the International Olympic Committee is not planning to comply with proposed rules.</ref>
*Synchronized [[swimming]]
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"??? However, in swimming relays, strategy is an important component. Placement of the fastest and slowest swimmers in the order is important. Also, precise timing is required as well - the swimmer completing his/her turn must touch the wall before the following swimmer can leave the starting block.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table tennis]]
*[[woman|Women's]] [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]

== Comments ==

<references/>

Dressage

2012-08-12T23:27:05Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is a [[joke sport]] in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by the Greek general Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>

As well as being a discipline in its own right, Dressage also forms part of equestrian eventing, along with cross-country and show jumping.

[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Soccer

2012-08-12T23:26:33Z

RayM:

[[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]]
'''Soccer''' is a popular sport played with a round ball propelled mainly by kicks from a player's foot.
In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a restricted area. The goal of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; each goal gives that team a point and the team with the most points at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner.
Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol'').

When played at the [[Olympics]], soccer is a [[joke sport]].

==Origins==

The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "Association Football", <ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London'' </ref>. Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules.

==Rules of the Game==
[[Image:Soccer pitch.gif|right|thumb|300px|left|Dimensions of a soccer pitch]]
The game is played between two teams of 11 players (10 out-field players and one goalkeeper each). In official play, there are two 45 [[minute]] halves separated by a break known as half-time which according to the rules of the game must last less than 20 minutes. Unlike most sports, the clock does not always stop when the ball is not in play. When the ball is knocked out of bounds or a penalty is committed, the clock runs continuously. If a player is injured then the [[referee]] makes up that lost time by adding minutes onto the end of the half. This is known as [[stoppage]] or injury time. If both scores are even at the end of regulation time, the game is usually declared a draw. However, in knockout cup games, there is often an additional period of play consisting of two 15-minute halves. In some competitions, the first goal in this period (golden goal) wins the game. If the scores are still level, the result is decided with a [[penalty shootout]]. The set of rules used in soccer are called the [[Laws of the Game]].

The game is played on a [[grass]] (or artificial grass) pitch with dimensions 90-120 m (100-130 yards) in length and 45-90 m (50-100 yards) in width.
<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf FIFA Laws of the Game 2006] ''Official FIFA website''</ref>
A goal is scored when the ball is propelled into the opposition net. The side scoring the most goals is the winner. Infringements include playing the ball with any part of the body other than the feet or head; pushing or blocking an opposing player and stepping outside the playing area while the ball is in play.

Accuracy in kicking is very important to make sure that one can kick the ball around opponents, manage it in tight spaces, and make long passes to other players in better positions. Expert players have trained to kick from a variety of angles, both forward and back and to the side, and also to use their chests and heads to maneuver a high-flying ball.

==Soccer Around the World==
[[Image:800px-Soccer goalkeeper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Goalkeeper leaping to make a save]]
It is the most popular [[team sport]] in the world, described by the legendary Brazilian player, [[Pele]], as "The Beautiful Game". Its governing body is [[FIFA]] (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). In most countries it is the most popular sport or at least among the most popular (the [[United States]] being a notable exception). Though it is often not a high-scoring game, its popularity comes from the often dramatic saves from goalkeepers and incredible shots from skilled players in attempts to score a goal. In the United States soccer was associated with communism during the Thirties, as several communist organizations used soccer in an attempt to recruit recent European immigrants to their cause.

Every four years there is an international competition known as the [[World Cup]], where countries send their best players to compete for the title of best national soccer team. Every four years in Europe there is the European Championship in June and July when the leagues finish which is a 16 team competition for members of UEFA, the European governing body. Each other continent also has a competition, such as the African Nations Cup, which is every two years in January.

Many soccer fans are extremely passionate about their favorite teams, traveling to other countries to support them. Several countries have had problems controlling over-excited fans, with the crowd sometimes spilling onto the pitch, fighting with themselves, disliked referees and even players. [[England]] once had a poor reputation from its soccer [[hooligan]]s who got into drunken fistfights with fans of other teams. This situation has largely changed, with much better behavior at English football matches and considerably increased violence in several other countries, especially [[Italy]].

In most European countries each large town will have at least one football team who play in leagues, which last August to May in most of Europe but March to October in others. Unlike most American sports, the top teams in each league go up a league to be replaced by the last teams in the league above. The top teams in the top division of each European country enter the UEFA Champions League, a league and knockout competition played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the season.

==Great Players==

* [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time.
* [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper.
* [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball.
* [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest.
* [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever center halves.
* [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals.
* [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional.
* [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery.
* [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest.
* [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, retired shortly after the World Cup final match between France and [[Italy]] in 2006.
* [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]].
* [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]].

==A note on terminology==

{{football meaning}} In many other languages, a [[phonics|phonetic]] equivalent to the English word "football," such as the Portuguese word "futbol" is used to denote the sport.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer]]

Joke sports

2012-08-12T23:25:45Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that some people consider to be poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events.

The [[lamestream media]] publicize joke sport winners more than world records set in real sports, which distorts the legitimacy of the [[Olympics]]. Also, the format used for at least one of the joke sports below (badminton) resulted in an expulsion of several teams from the 2012 Summer Olympics which caused embarrassment to the entire Olympics.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*[[Dressage]]
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Olympic [[soccer]]<ref>The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes rules on players regarding the Olympic Games over the age of participants. This has the effect of prohibiting the best (usually professional) players in the world from competing. The age limit is currently 23 and under. FIFA is trying to lower it to 21 and under; however, the International Olympic Committee is not planning to comply with proposed rules.</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"??? However, in swimming relays, strategy is an important component. Placement of the fastest and slowest swimmers in the order is important. Also, precise timing is required as well - the swimmer completing his/her turn must touch the wall before the following swimmer can leave the starting block.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table tennis]]
*[[woman|Women's]] [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]

== Comments ==

<references/>

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T20:01:58Z

RayM: /* A thought */

== Female version of sports ==

Hi, long time reader but new editor as I wanted to give something back to the project. I was just wondering why Women's boxing is the only female specific sport listed. To be consistent surely sports such as women's weightlifting, wrestling and some of the athletics events what require pure strength (shot-put, hammer etc) should be included. What do more experience members think of including these?
Can I also suggest the 20km walk race?

:The other female sports you list seem more legitimate than women's boxing. Women's boxing appears to be particularly artificial - how often are there schoolyard boxing matches between girls?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:55, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::It happened often enough where I grew up, but I probably came from a tougher neighborhood than you. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 20:02, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:::I doubt they boxed as boys and men do. I have never, ever heard of that happening, and the small town I grew up in had plenty of fistfights.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 20:15, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::::You must have lived a particularly sheltered life then Andy!! --[[User:DamianJohn|DamianJohn]] 20:54, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

How often on your schoolyard did you see fencing matches? Or two first graders break out into a clean-and-jerk competition? Or archery? Or the down-hill slalom? Or the pentathlon? Or sailing? I think it's fair to say that if you are an Olympics athlete, you probably focused on it outside of the schoolyard. 
On a personal side note, as a person who was in both track relays and swimming relays; swimming relay exchanges are much harder. You have to time it such that you enter the water at the exact same time that the person in front of you touches. In track, it's just wait for "Go", then run; wait for "Hit", then put your arm back. Close hand, run some more. But I'm just some guy on the internet; you probably shouldn't take my word for it. But if we are going to have this footnote, could we add some citation at least giving a reputable opinion that track is harder than swimming? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 21:34, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'll second that comment: swimming relays are difficult to get right, and easy to blow. Disqualifications are common at the high school level, and not unheard of in college swimming because of the split-second timing required by all but the first swimmer in the relay.--[[User:Bwebster|Bwebster]] 00:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

::But I don't think difficulty is the test. Lots of silly new televised competitions are difficult, but are not legitimate sports.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::So swimming relays are illegitimate because of the absence of a baton. That is your argument? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==criteria?==
I'm wondering what our actual criteria are for inclusion on this list. I, for one, don't think that Swimming relays, BMX, or beach volleyball are "joke" sports, unless we want to include golf as a joke sport, sailing as a joke sport (please don't do this. the sailing fan in me would be sad). In fact, it seems to me that even dressage requires more athleticism than, say, prone rifle shooting. I realize that people higher up the pecking order on this site than me may have something invested in this article, so I won't make edits until there's a clarified set of criteria for this article.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 20:46, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:You raise excellent points. What is the criteria for separating the legitimate from the joke sports, or for including an event in the Olympics? Why isn't golf an Olympic sport?

:I've added "underlying purpose" to the sport as a criterion. More insights are welcome.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:13, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::What is the underlying purpose of any sport? [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:26, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

[http://rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/golf Golf will return to the Olympics in 2016]. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:18, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
[http://www.olympic.org/content/sports/all-sports/golf/equipment-and-history/?tab=history It was also contested at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympic Games]. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 01:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

I think this entire article is in violation of Conservapedia Commandments #1 ("Everything you post must be true and verifiable") and #5 ("Do not post personal opinion on an encyclopedia entry"). [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:With regards to our Fifth Commandment, I agree. Perhaps an administrator would like to move this page to the Essay pseudonamespace. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 11:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::"Citius, Altius, Fortius" would be a good stating point for the criteria I think - sports that do not have an element of the Olympic motto would need a good reason to not be on this list, although most team sports would not satisfy this test [[User:AlanA|AlanA]] 11:49, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::I think that a good test is that there shouldn't already be another, similar sport with a stronger tradition and more credibility. That would exclude recent additions like beach volleyball.
::::Related to this, it's chiefly the multiplicity of similar events that undermine swimming's credibility, so "one event testing one set of athletic abilities" might be a good way to phrase it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:07, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I agree with AlanA and CPalmer, but there is a difference between saying a sport should be excluded from the Olympics and saying that it is a "joke sport". [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 14:28, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Dressage ==

I wonder if the editor who listed dressage as a joke sport is aware of the history behind the sport? It developed over centuries of military training and tactics for the cavalry, when horse and rider needed to move in harmony with each other during battle. Just because it has become a rich man's sport in today's society does not erase its meaningful history - it certainly wasn't a "joke" to thousands of cavalrymen. [http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] by Dr. Thomas Ritter. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 00:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm going to remove it from the list, until someone can come up with a realistic reason it should be on here. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Because, for all intents and purposes, there's very little difference between dressage and Crufts, and I don't see many dog events at the Olympics?--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:41, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I said a logical reason, thanks. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Technically you said a realistic reason. Dressage is about training between man and beast so said beast will do what you command, this is the same as some of the events at Crufts. There's no racing as a test of speed or rider's abilities. On that level I can't see any difference.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:46, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::Racing or speed are not necessary components in a competition. As for not testing the rider's skill? Seriously, you're being absolutely ridiculous. The whole event is about showing the rider's skill in directing the horse through its movements. While I haven't participated in dressage myself, I have been around horses and riders enough to know that including dressage on this page is the joke created by a bunch of envious, armchair quarterbacks. If you can't do the activity, then don't open your mouth to criticize. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Just because it's hard to do doesn't make it a serious sport. Ballet is hard to do. So is playing the 'cello. Neither of those are sports. Just because it has a long history doesn't make it a serious sport. It is an elitist activity that the average sports fan cares nothing about. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:02, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Alright, go ahead. Disparage these athletes all you want. I have my doubts that any editor who has contributed to this page could compete in any of these "joke sports" on an Olympic level. It sounds like sour grapes to me. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:That's a sore loser's argument. Do you limit your opinions to those things you can do at an elite level? That would mean not having preferences about most things in the world, unless you are so gifted that you can compose poetry, play jazz piano, paint, sculpt, figure skate, design a building and cook at the level of the best in the world. Which none of us can. Just because a person can't do something doesn't mean they can't have an informed opinion about it. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::I have yet to see an "informed opinion" on any of the sports listed on this page. What I see is a bunch of editors who think it's fun to disparage hard-working athletes for their own amusement. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Welcome to Conservapedia. It's what ASchlafly does. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 11:00, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Why do you add to it if you don't agree with the premise? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:06, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Greco-Roman wrestling ==

I removed Greco-Roman wrestling from the list. All wrestling styles have their particular rules, but that doesn't make them not a real sport. Saying it artifically prohibits the match is like saying hurdles is not a real sport since it hinders running. If anything, the role of throws requires more strength to compete properly. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 10:14, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:I agree - Graeco-Roman wrestling requires strength, technique and flexibility, as well as guile, and is one of the purest sports contested at the Olympics. Some people do like to joke about wrestling, but that in itself doesn't make it a joke sport.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 10:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::However, compare it to freestyle wrestling, also an Olympic Sport, but with far fewer restrictions on how athletes can show their abilities at that particular skill to their best, and it does come across as a joke sport.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 11:12, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::You could say them same about boxing and freestyle (or folkstyle for that matter). If I was allowed to punch my opponent, I would have been a much better wrestler in high school. But not being able to punch them doesn't make it a joke. Just a different sport. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:50, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Table tennis ==

Have you actually watched any of the table tennis matches? The skills required to compete in this event - the quickness, agility, perspicacity - are at least equal to those in regular tennis. [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== This article is too negative and unnecessary ==

This article is too negative. For example, while there are martial art systems (or self-defense systems) which are better than taekwondo when it comes to self-defense[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwV3KZKcq4k][http://hammerprinciple.com/martialarts/items/karate/aikido], it can get you into great shape - especially if the twaekwondo center has a weight room. When I was involved in taekwondo, I enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Plus, when I was playing racketball without googles (which I should not have done), using a block I learned in taekwondo, I stopped a ball from hitting my face inches before it was about to hit me. :) The only potential downside I see to twaekwondo is that full contact sparring could potential cause brain damage as many medical doctors are against boxing for example and boxers can become "punch drunk".[http://digitaljournal.com/article/264678][http://www.justanswer.com/medical/2j5r4-does-sparring-mixed-martial-arts-muay-thai-specifically.html]

Although there are less toxic forms of keeping pools clean than chlorine[http://news.discovery.com/human/chlorinated-pools-swimming-cancer.html], swimming is great exercise and there is nothing wrong with the backstroke or relay races.

Soccer is great and inexpensive way to exercise and it probably keeps more people in shape than any sport in the world due to its popularity in the world.

There is no public outcry to remove these sports from the Olympics. Women enjoy synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics for example.

I think this article is a wet blanket and a sour grapes way of minimizing others achievements.[[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 10:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm not sure ASchlafly will agree with you. It was his idea, after all, and fits in with his basic orientation towards focusing on finding negative outcomes. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:59, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:We agree on this, [[User:Conservative]]. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:08, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::User:Conservative, I recommend using Firefox to make your posts. It has a spell-check facilility, which would help you spot typos such as the amusing "twaekwondo".
::Other than that, how could a "joke sports" article not be negative? Perhaps by talking up the humor content of the sports involved???
::Thirdly, you are right that there is nothing wrong with relay races, but swimming relays are not proper relays, as has been explained above. Backstroke ''is'' absurd - it's slower than crawl and more tiring than breast stroke, so what's the point of it, unless you're scared to put your face in the water?--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::Actually, people are wrong when they state swimming relays are not proper relays - there is strategy involved (fastest swimmer first, last? where to place the slowest swimmer?), and precise timing is needed during the exchange. As for the backstroke being absurd - how about testing the athlete's endurance? Not everything needs to be flashy and fast in order to be a competition. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:17, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Sharon, This is already being discussed above, at the end of the section headed "Female version of sports". Your post would be better off up there, where more informed people than I will see and respond to it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:48, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
CPalmer, I typed out taekwondo correctly 1 out 3 times. :). Secondly, Firefox does not have taekwondo in its spellcheck dictionary. :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::CPalmer, as far as the backstroke, one of the principles of good exercise is working out all your muscles. Also, if the backstroke is more tiring than a breastroke as you say, that is a good indication it is giving someone a good workout. Given your approval of this article, I can only assume you may be a cranky old man who calls the police on kids making too much noise bouncing their basketballs!!! I rest my case that this article is a wet blanket article!!!! [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I do not doubt backstroke's utility as a workout for lane-blocking old granddads, but a good workout does not necessarily make a good sport. Olympic toe-touching, for instance, or exercise biking, would certainly be seen as joke sports, were they to be added to the program.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:44, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==swimming medleys==
I removed swimming medleys. The author of that particular edit was wondering what the track comparison would be, and the answer there is the pentathlon, heptathlon, decathlon, etc.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:05, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Not really. Multi-event athletics competitions require the athlete to do multiple different things, without specifying how. Swimming medleys, by contrast, require the swimmer to do the ''same'' thing in four different ways. If the decathlon included 100m running, 100m walking, 100m backwards running and 100m rolling then your argument would stand up better.
:I would support a swimming pentathlon that included short, medium and long-distance swims, plus springboard and platform diving, but that would require more genuine versatility than is possessed by most if not all competitive swimmers as far as I know.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::So I gotta ask, CPalmer, what sports do ''you'' play? how many of those might be considered "joke" sports. I know people who swim competitively, one in the backstroke, which you disparage, two in medleys. They're no joke. Because I need to go to work in about ten minutes, I'm not going to get into any kind of edit war here, I just wish you'd stop being so bitter and accept that people can have amazing sporting achievement EVEN IN EVENTS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. Isn't that amazing? --[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:21, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I am not saying that a gold medal in backstroke isn't an impressive achievement. I'm saying that it shouldn't be an Olympic event because it's a silly stroke for competitive purposes.
:::I don't play any sports competitively, but I play recreational football, tennis and darts. I do not think that darts should be an Olympic sport, however.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::By the way, you knowing people who compete in these events does not in itself stop them from being joke events. If you mean that "they're no joke" because your friends take them extremely seriously, please consider the possibility that to others, that may make them more and not less absurd.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I think I can see where you're coming from. I still disagree, but if you're using those criteria, then shouldn't you also include breast-stroke and butterfly? They're both less efficient than freestyle/crawl. Breast at least has some use apart from a competition environment, but butterfly seems totally useless. If you want those particular criteria, then please be consistent with them.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::I agree about butterfly, and breast stroke, and walking races on dry land. For Olympic purposes, I think 100m, 200m, 400m and a longer distance, plus relays, for men and women, would be a sensible swimming program - say 12 gold medals in all, so far more than are available for archery or horse riding.
::::::Breast stroke has a case for inclusion, but the trouble is that the breast stroke performed competitively bears little resemblance to the steady, effort-conserving stroke that is so useful in real life.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Quite honestly, the purpose behind sports is not to entertain the spectators, or to make money for the sponsors, or to worry about how you as an athlete will appear to others. The point behind sports when you're an athlete is to challenge yourself to do as well as you possibly can, and if you're on a team, to aid and push your teammates to do their best as well. The purpose behind sports as a spectator is to camaraderie, and enjoyment. Today's society has lost sight of the meaning of sportsmanship, and I hate to say this, but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 12:51, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:'but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed." ASchlafly would call that "nitpicking" a "conservative insight." Why do you expect otherwise from this site? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 13:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Why do you, and others, push the point when you don't agree with it? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Backstroke Not an inefficient, silly stroke ==

A common and important part of swimming training is lifesaving and a version of the backstroke is used for lifesaving.[http://lifesaving.org.uk/swimming/training/Swim-strokes/backstroke.html]

Inefficiency can depend on context. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 13:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Thanks, Conservative. I'd given up arguing about it. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== A thought ==

It seems to me like this is not really an encyclopedic entry. Could we make this an Essay, so it can still be thought about and debated, but we don't dilute the true encyclopedic entries? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:[[Atheism and bestiality|"The]] [[Psychology,_obesity,_religiosity_and_atheism|true]] [[Agnosticism,_obesity_and_self-esteem|encyclopedic]] [[Sports_performance:_Religious_faith_vs._atheism|entries"?]] [[User:RayM|RayM]] 16:01, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T20:01:46Z

RayM: /* A thought */

== Female version of sports ==

Hi, long time reader but new editor as I wanted to give something back to the project. I was just wondering why Women's boxing is the only female specific sport listed. To be consistent surely sports such as women's weightlifting, wrestling and some of the athletics events what require pure strength (shot-put, hammer etc) should be included. What do more experience members think of including these?
Can I also suggest the 20km walk race?

:The other female sports you list seem more legitimate than women's boxing. Women's boxing appears to be particularly artificial - how often are there schoolyard boxing matches between girls?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:55, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::It happened often enough where I grew up, but I probably came from a tougher neighborhood than you. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 20:02, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:::I doubt they boxed as boys and men do. I have never, ever heard of that happening, and the small town I grew up in had plenty of fistfights.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 20:15, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::::You must have lived a particularly sheltered life then Andy!! --[[User:DamianJohn|DamianJohn]] 20:54, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

How often on your schoolyard did you see fencing matches? Or two first graders break out into a clean-and-jerk competition? Or archery? Or the down-hill slalom? Or the pentathlon? Or sailing? I think it's fair to say that if you are an Olympics athlete, you probably focused on it outside of the schoolyard. 
On a personal side note, as a person who was in both track relays and swimming relays; swimming relay exchanges are much harder. You have to time it such that you enter the water at the exact same time that the person in front of you touches. In track, it's just wait for "Go", then run; wait for "Hit", then put your arm back. Close hand, run some more. But I'm just some guy on the internet; you probably shouldn't take my word for it. But if we are going to have this footnote, could we add some citation at least giving a reputable opinion that track is harder than swimming? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 21:34, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'll second that comment: swimming relays are difficult to get right, and easy to blow. Disqualifications are common at the high school level, and not unheard of in college swimming because of the split-second timing required by all but the first swimmer in the relay.--[[User:Bwebster|Bwebster]] 00:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

::But I don't think difficulty is the test. Lots of silly new televised competitions are difficult, but are not legitimate sports.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::So swimming relays are illegitimate because of the absence of a baton. That is your argument? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==criteria?==
I'm wondering what our actual criteria are for inclusion on this list. I, for one, don't think that Swimming relays, BMX, or beach volleyball are "joke" sports, unless we want to include golf as a joke sport, sailing as a joke sport (please don't do this. the sailing fan in me would be sad). In fact, it seems to me that even dressage requires more athleticism than, say, prone rifle shooting. I realize that people higher up the pecking order on this site than me may have something invested in this article, so I won't make edits until there's a clarified set of criteria for this article.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 20:46, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:You raise excellent points. What is the criteria for separating the legitimate from the joke sports, or for including an event in the Olympics? Why isn't golf an Olympic sport?

:I've added "underlying purpose" to the sport as a criterion. More insights are welcome.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:13, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::What is the underlying purpose of any sport? [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:26, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

[http://rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/golf Golf will return to the Olympics in 2016]. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:18, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
[http://www.olympic.org/content/sports/all-sports/golf/equipment-and-history/?tab=history It was also contested at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympic Games]. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 01:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

I think this entire article is in violation of Conservapedia Commandments #1 ("Everything you post must be true and verifiable") and #5 ("Do not post personal opinion on an encyclopedia entry"). [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:With regards to our Fifth Commandment, I agree. Perhaps an administrator would like to move this page to the Essay pseudonamespace. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 11:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::"Citius, Altius, Fortius" would be a good stating point for the criteria I think - sports that do not have an element of the Olympic motto would need a good reason to not be on this list, although most team sports would not satisfy this test [[User:AlanA|AlanA]] 11:49, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::I think that a good test is that there shouldn't already be another, similar sport with a stronger tradition and more credibility. That would exclude recent additions like beach volleyball.
::::Related to this, it's chiefly the multiplicity of similar events that undermine swimming's credibility, so "one event testing one set of athletic abilities" might be a good way to phrase it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:07, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I agree with AlanA and CPalmer, but there is a difference between saying a sport should be excluded from the Olympics and saying that it is a "joke sport". [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 14:28, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Dressage ==

I wonder if the editor who listed dressage as a joke sport is aware of the history behind the sport? It developed over centuries of military training and tactics for the cavalry, when horse and rider needed to move in harmony with each other during battle. Just because it has become a rich man's sport in today's society does not erase its meaningful history - it certainly wasn't a "joke" to thousands of cavalrymen. [http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] by Dr. Thomas Ritter. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 00:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm going to remove it from the list, until someone can come up with a realistic reason it should be on here. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Because, for all intents and purposes, there's very little difference between dressage and Crufts, and I don't see many dog events at the Olympics?--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:41, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I said a logical reason, thanks. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Technically you said a realistic reason. Dressage is about training between man and beast so said beast will do what you command, this is the same as some of the events at Crufts. There's no racing as a test of speed or rider's abilities. On that level I can't see any difference.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:46, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::Racing or speed are not necessary components in a competition. As for not testing the rider's skill? Seriously, you're being absolutely ridiculous. The whole event is about showing the rider's skill in directing the horse through its movements. While I haven't participated in dressage myself, I have been around horses and riders enough to know that including dressage on this page is the joke created by a bunch of envious, armchair quarterbacks. If you can't do the activity, then don't open your mouth to criticize. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Just because it's hard to do doesn't make it a serious sport. Ballet is hard to do. So is playing the 'cello. Neither of those are sports. Just because it has a long history doesn't make it a serious sport. It is an elitist activity that the average sports fan cares nothing about. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:02, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Alright, go ahead. Disparage these athletes all you want. I have my doubts that any editor who has contributed to this page could compete in any of these "joke sports" on an Olympic level. It sounds like sour grapes to me. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:That's a sore loser's argument. Do you limit your opinions to those things you can do at an elite level? That would mean not having preferences about most things in the world, unless you are so gifted that you can compose poetry, play jazz piano, paint, sculpt, figure skate, design a building and cook at the level of the best in the world. Which none of us can. Just because a person can't do something doesn't mean they can't have an informed opinion about it. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::I have yet to see an "informed opinion" on any of the sports listed on this page. What I see is a bunch of editors who think it's fun to disparage hard-working athletes for their own amusement. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Welcome to Conservapedia. It's what ASchlafly does. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 11:00, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Why do you add to it if you don't agree with the premise? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:06, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Greco-Roman wrestling ==

I removed Greco-Roman wrestling from the list. All wrestling styles have their particular rules, but that doesn't make them not a real sport. Saying it artifically prohibits the match is like saying hurdles is not a real sport since it hinders running. If anything, the role of throws requires more strength to compete properly. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 10:14, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:I agree - Graeco-Roman wrestling requires strength, technique and flexibility, as well as guile, and is one of the purest sports contested at the Olympics. Some people do like to joke about wrestling, but that in itself doesn't make it a joke sport.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 10:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::However, compare it to freestyle wrestling, also an Olympic Sport, but with far fewer restrictions on how athletes can show their abilities at that particular skill to their best, and it does come across as a joke sport.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 11:12, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::You could say them same about boxing and freestyle (or folkstyle for that matter). If I was allowed to punch my opponent, I would have been a much better wrestler in high school. But not being able to punch them doesn't make it a joke. Just a different sport. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:50, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Table tennis ==

Have you actually watched any of the table tennis matches? The skills required to compete in this event - the quickness, agility, perspicacity - are at least equal to those in regular tennis. [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== This article is too negative and unnecessary ==

This article is too negative. For example, while there are martial art systems (or self-defense systems) which are better than taekwondo when it comes to self-defense[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwV3KZKcq4k][http://hammerprinciple.com/martialarts/items/karate/aikido], it can get you into great shape - especially if the twaekwondo center has a weight room. When I was involved in taekwondo, I enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Plus, when I was playing racketball without googles (which I should not have done), using a block I learned in taekwondo, I stopped a ball from hitting my face inches before it was about to hit me. :) The only potential downside I see to twaekwondo is that full contact sparring could potential cause brain damage as many medical doctors are against boxing for example and boxers can become "punch drunk".[http://digitaljournal.com/article/264678][http://www.justanswer.com/medical/2j5r4-does-sparring-mixed-martial-arts-muay-thai-specifically.html]

Although there are less toxic forms of keeping pools clean than chlorine[http://news.discovery.com/human/chlorinated-pools-swimming-cancer.html], swimming is great exercise and there is nothing wrong with the backstroke or relay races.

Soccer is great and inexpensive way to exercise and it probably keeps more people in shape than any sport in the world due to its popularity in the world.

There is no public outcry to remove these sports from the Olympics. Women enjoy synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics for example.

I think this article is a wet blanket and a sour grapes way of minimizing others achievements.[[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 10:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm not sure ASchlafly will agree with you. It was his idea, after all, and fits in with his basic orientation towards focusing on finding negative outcomes. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:59, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:We agree on this, [[User:Conservative]]. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:08, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::User:Conservative, I recommend using Firefox to make your posts. It has a spell-check facilility, which would help you spot typos such as the amusing "twaekwondo".
::Other than that, how could a "joke sports" article not be negative? Perhaps by talking up the humor content of the sports involved???
::Thirdly, you are right that there is nothing wrong with relay races, but swimming relays are not proper relays, as has been explained above. Backstroke ''is'' absurd - it's slower than crawl and more tiring than breast stroke, so what's the point of it, unless you're scared to put your face in the water?--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::Actually, people are wrong when they state swimming relays are not proper relays - there is strategy involved (fastest swimmer first, last? where to place the slowest swimmer?), and precise timing is needed during the exchange. As for the backstroke being absurd - how about testing the athlete's endurance? Not everything needs to be flashy and fast in order to be a competition. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:17, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Sharon, This is already being discussed above, at the end of the section headed "Female version of sports". Your post would be better off up there, where more informed people than I will see and respond to it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:48, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
CPalmer, I typed out taekwondo correctly 1 out 3 times. :). Secondly, Firefox does not have taekwondo in its spellcheck dictionary. :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::CPalmer, as far as the backstroke, one of the principles of good exercise is working out all your muscles. Also, if the backstroke is more tiring than a breastroke as you say, that is a good indication it is giving someone a good workout. Given your approval of this article, I can only assume you may be a cranky old man who calls the police on kids making too much noise bouncing their basketballs!!! I rest my case that this article is a wet blanket article!!!! [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I do not doubt backstroke's utility as a workout for lane-blocking old granddads, but a good workout does not necessarily make a good sport. Olympic toe-touching, for instance, or exercise biking, would certainly be seen as joke sports, were they to be added to the program.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:44, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==swimming medleys==
I removed swimming medleys. The author of that particular edit was wondering what the track comparison would be, and the answer there is the pentathlon, heptathlon, decathlon, etc.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:05, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Not really. Multi-event athletics competitions require the athlete to do multiple different things, without specifying how. Swimming medleys, by contrast, require the swimmer to do the ''same'' thing in four different ways. If the decathlon included 100m running, 100m walking, 100m backwards running and 100m rolling then your argument would stand up better.
:I would support a swimming pentathlon that included short, medium and long-distance swims, plus springboard and platform diving, but that would require more genuine versatility than is possessed by most if not all competitive swimmers as far as I know.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::So I gotta ask, CPalmer, what sports do ''you'' play? how many of those might be considered "joke" sports. I know people who swim competitively, one in the backstroke, which you disparage, two in medleys. They're no joke. Because I need to go to work in about ten minutes, I'm not going to get into any kind of edit war here, I just wish you'd stop being so bitter and accept that people can have amazing sporting achievement EVEN IN EVENTS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. Isn't that amazing? --[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:21, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I am not saying that a gold medal in backstroke isn't an impressive achievement. I'm saying that it shouldn't be an Olympic event because it's a silly stroke for competitive purposes.
:::I don't play any sports competitively, but I play recreational football, tennis and darts. I do not think that darts should be an Olympic sport, however.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::By the way, you knowing people who compete in these events does not in itself stop them from being joke events. If you mean that "they're no joke" because your friends take them extremely seriously, please consider the possibility that to others, that may make them more and not less absurd.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I think I can see where you're coming from. I still disagree, but if you're using those criteria, then shouldn't you also include breast-stroke and butterfly? They're both less efficient than freestyle/crawl. Breast at least has some use apart from a competition environment, but butterfly seems totally useless. If you want those particular criteria, then please be consistent with them.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::I agree about butterfly, and breast stroke, and walking races on dry land. For Olympic purposes, I think 100m, 200m, 400m and a longer distance, plus relays, for men and women, would be a sensible swimming program - say 12 gold medals in all, so far more than are available for archery or horse riding.
::::::Breast stroke has a case for inclusion, but the trouble is that the breast stroke performed competitively bears little resemblance to the steady, effort-conserving stroke that is so useful in real life.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Quite honestly, the purpose behind sports is not to entertain the spectators, or to make money for the sponsors, or to worry about how you as an athlete will appear to others. The point behind sports when you're an athlete is to challenge yourself to do as well as you possibly can, and if you're on a team, to aid and push your teammates to do their best as well. The purpose behind sports as a spectator is to camaraderie, and enjoyment. Today's society has lost sight of the meaning of sportsmanship, and I hate to say this, but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 12:51, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:'but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed." ASchlafly would call that "nitpicking" a "conservative insight." Why do you expect otherwise from this site? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 13:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Why do you, and others, push the point when you don't agree with it? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Backstroke Not an inefficient, silly stroke ==

A common and important part of swimming training is lifesaving and a version of the backstroke is used for lifesaving.[http://lifesaving.org.uk/swimming/training/Swim-strokes/backstroke.html]

Inefficiency can depend on context. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 13:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Thanks, Conservative. I'd given up arguing about it. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 14:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== A thought ==

It seems to me like this is not really an encyclopedic entry. Could we make this an Essay, so it can still be thought about and debated, but we don't dilute the true encyclopedic entries? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 15:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:[Atheism and bestiality|"The]] [[Psychology,_obesity,_religiosity_and_atheism|true]] [[Agnosticism,_obesity_and_self-esteem|encyclopedic]] [[Sports_performance:_Religious_faith_vs._atheism|entries"?]] [[User:RayM|RayM]] 16:01, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Joke sports

2012-08-10T19:53:37Z

RayM: Undo revision 999594 by RayM (talk)

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won one gold in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Olympic [[soccer]]<ref>The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes rules on players regarding the Olympic Games over the age of participants. This has the effect of prohibiting the best (usually professional) players in the world from competing. The age limit is currently 23 and under. FIFA is trying to lower it to 21 and under; however, the International Olympic Committee is not planning to comply with proposed rules.</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"??? However, in swimming relays, strategy is an important component. Placement of the fastest and slowest swimmers in the order is important. Also, precise timing is required as well - the swimmer completing his/her turn must touch the wall before the following swimmer can leave the starting block.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table tennis]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]

== Comments ==

<references/>

Joke sports

2012-08-10T19:53:22Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won one gold in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach [[volleyball]]
*BMX cycling
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Olympic [[soccer]]<ref>The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes rules on players regarding the Olympic Games over the age of participants. This has the effect of prohibiting the best (usually professional) players in the world from competing. The age limit is currently 23 and under. FIFA is trying to lower it to 21 and under; however, the International Olympic Committee is not planning to comply with proposed rules.</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"??? However, in swimming relays, strategy is an important component. Placement of the fastest and slowest swimmers in the order is important. Also, precise timing is required as well - the swimmer completing his/her turn must touch the wall before the following swimmer can leave the starting block.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table tennis]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]

== Comments ==

<references/>

Joke sports

2012-08-10T19:53:03Z

RayM:

Joke sports

2012-08-10T19:52:50Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won one gold in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Olympic [[soccer]]<ref>The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) imposes rules on players regarding the Olympic Games over the age of participants. This has the effect of prohibiting the best (usually professional) players in the world from competing. The age limit is currently 23 and under. FIFA is trying to lower it to 21 and under; however, the International Olympic Committee is not planning to comply with proposed rules.</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"??? However, in swimming relays, strategy is an important component. Placement of the fastest and slowest swimmers in the order is important. Also, precise timing is required as well - the swimmer completing his/her turn must touch the wall before the following swimmer can leave the starting block.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]

== Comments ==

<references/>

David Barton

2012-08-10T19:39:01Z

RayM: /* The Jefferson Lies pulled by its publisher */

'''David Barton''' is known for reminding [[American]] audiences that the words "separation of [[church]] and [[state]]" do not appear in the [[United States]] [[Constitution]].<ref>http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch1s9.html</ref> He has spent decades studying documents, letters, and transcripts of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, and personally owns a library of tens of thousands of original writings from the Founding Era, and his organization, Wallbuilders,<ref>http://www.wallbuilders.com/</ref> distributes historical, legal, and statistical information to educate interested citizens through books, videos, and public speaking events.

== ''Original Intent'' And Other Works ==

One of David Barton's popular [[book]]s is ''Original Intent''.<ref>http://www.nccs.net/original_intent.html</ref> In this compelling compendium of organic utterances, Barton lays out the quotes of [[men]] and [[women]] who lived and breathed during the Founding Era of American History. The reader is acquainted with quotes from [[letter]]s, [[speech]]es, and the ''Congressional Record''. Also documented are some [[Court]] decisions which, Barton is convinced, have contributed to the eroding of [[First Amendment]] rights, including the removal of [[prayer]] in [[public school]]s. Barton's books and videos are primarily the presentation and juxtaposition of names and quotes of men who were there when the Constitution and [[Bill of Rights]] of the United States of America were written. Much effort has been made to discredit his work, and those who have read Barton's books and listened to his videos will understand why.

A theme of ''Original Intent'' would be Barton's view that the rights of American [[citizen]]s are "God-given." If people can be convinced that faith in God is not foundational to our American government and way of life, then God-given rights are no longer protected but given and taken at will by the government itself. As ''The [[Declaration of Independence]]'' penned by [[Thomas Jefferson]] intones:

''"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their [[Creator]] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, [[Liberty ]]and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, [[Government]]s are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . ."''<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm</ref>

According to Barton, the framers of the ''United States Constitution'' <ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html</ref> sweated and prayed together over the workings of that great document which has served the longest-lived government in the history of the world, and yet today young Americans - at sporting events and at graduation ceremonies - are summarily denied their Constitutional right to corporate, public prayer. Textbooks are cleansed of historical references to religion as a part of our nation's foundation, and any books in public schools that include those references are characterized as "controversial." These are issues to which David Barton speaks and which he documents in his books, videos, and lectures.

==''The Jefferson Lies'' pulled by its publisher==

In August 2012, Thomas Nelson Publishing pulled Barton's book on [[Thomas Jefferson]], saying it has “lost confidence in the book’s details.” <ref>[http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/19840]</ref> The book argued that much of the [[United States Constitution]] was drawn from biblical sources. However, the pulling of the book came after [[NPR]] "looked up every citation Barton said was from the Bible, but not one of them checked out." <ref>http://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/157754542/the-most-influential-evangelist-youve-never-heard-of</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, David}}
[[Category:Authors]]

David Barton

2012-08-10T19:34:16Z

RayM:

'''David Barton''' is known for reminding [[American]] audiences that the words "separation of [[church]] and [[state]]" do not appear in the [[United States]] [[Constitution]].<ref>http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch1s9.html</ref> He has spent decades studying documents, letters, and transcripts of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, and personally owns a library of tens of thousands of original writings from the Founding Era, and his organization, Wallbuilders,<ref>http://www.wallbuilders.com/</ref> distributes historical, legal, and statistical information to educate interested citizens through books, videos, and public speaking events.

== ''Original Intent'' And Other Works ==

One of David Barton's popular [[book]]s is ''Original Intent''.<ref>http://www.nccs.net/original_intent.html</ref> In this compelling compendium of organic utterances, Barton lays out the quotes of [[men]] and [[women]] who lived and breathed during the Founding Era of American History. The reader is acquainted with quotes from [[letter]]s, [[speech]]es, and the ''Congressional Record''. Also documented are some [[Court]] decisions which, Barton is convinced, have contributed to the eroding of [[First Amendment]] rights, including the removal of [[prayer]] in [[public school]]s. Barton's books and videos are primarily the presentation and juxtaposition of names and quotes of men who were there when the Constitution and [[Bill of Rights]] of the United States of America were written. Much effort has been made to discredit his work, and those who have read Barton's books and listened to his videos will understand why.

A theme of ''Original Intent'' would be Barton's view that the rights of American [[citizen]]s are "God-given." If people can be convinced that faith in God is not foundational to our American government and way of life, then God-given rights are no longer protected but given and taken at will by the government itself. As ''The [[Declaration of Independence]]'' penned by [[Thomas Jefferson]] intones:

''"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their [[Creator]] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, [[Liberty ]]and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, [[Government]]s are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . ."''<ref>http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm</ref>

According to Barton, the framers of the ''United States Constitution'' <ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html</ref> sweated and prayed together over the workings of that great document which has served the longest-lived government in the history of the world, and yet today young Americans - at sporting events and at graduation ceremonies - are summarily denied their Constitutional right to corporate, public prayer. Textbooks are cleansed of historical references to religion as a part of our nation's foundation, and any books in public schools that include those references are characterized as "controversial." These are issues to which David Barton speaks and which he documents in his books, videos, and lectures.

==''The Jefferson Lies'' pulled by its publisher==

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, David}}
[[Category:Authors]]

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T17:16:41Z

RayM: /* swimming medleys */

== Female version of sports ==

Hi, long time reader but new editor as I wanted to give something back to the project. I was just wondering why Women's boxing is the only female specific sport listed. To be consistent surely sports such as women's weightlifting, wrestling and some of the athletics events what require pure strength (shot-put, hammer etc) should be included. What do more experience members think of including these?
Can I also suggest the 20km walk race?

:The other female sports you list seem more legitimate than women's boxing. Women's boxing appears to be particularly artificial - how often are there schoolyard boxing matches between girls?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:55, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::It happened often enough where I grew up, but I probably came from a tougher neighborhood than you. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 20:02, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:::I doubt they boxed as boys and men do. I have never, ever heard of that happening, and the small town I grew up in had plenty of fistfights.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 20:15, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
::::You must have lived a particularly sheltered life then Andy!! --[[User:DamianJohn|DamianJohn]] 20:54, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

How often on your schoolyard did you see fencing matches? Or two first graders break out into a clean-and-jerk competition? Or archery? Or the down-hill slalom? Or the pentathlon? Or sailing? I think it's fair to say that if you are an Olympics athlete, you probably focused on it outside of the schoolyard. 
On a personal side note, as a person who was in both track relays and swimming relays; swimming relay exchanges are much harder. You have to time it such that you enter the water at the exact same time that the person in front of you touches. In track, it's just wait for "Go", then run; wait for "Hit", then put your arm back. Close hand, run some more. But I'm just some guy on the internet; you probably shouldn't take my word for it. But if we are going to have this footnote, could we add some citation at least giving a reputable opinion that track is harder than swimming? [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 21:34, 9 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'll second that comment: swimming relays are difficult to get right, and easy to blow. Disqualifications are common at the high school level, and not unheard of in college swimming because of the split-second timing required by all but the first swimmer in the relay.--[[User:Bwebster|Bwebster]] 00:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

::But I don't think difficulty is the test. Lots of silly new televised competitions are difficult, but are not legitimate sports.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::So swimming relays are illegitimate because of the absence of a baton. That is your argument? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==criteria?==
I'm wondering what our actual criteria are for inclusion on this list. I, for one, don't think that Swimming relays, BMX, or beach volleyball are "joke" sports, unless we want to include golf as a joke sport, sailing as a joke sport (please don't do this. the sailing fan in me would be sad). In fact, it seems to me that even dressage requires more athleticism than, say, prone rifle shooting. I realize that people higher up the pecking order on this site than me may have something invested in this article, so I won't make edits until there's a clarified set of criteria for this article.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 20:46, 9 August 2012 (EDT)

:You raise excellent points. What is the criteria for separating the legitimate from the joke sports, or for including an event in the Olympics? Why isn't golf an Olympic sport?

:I've added "underlying purpose" to the sport as a criterion. More insights are welcome.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 00:13, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::What is the underlying purpose of any sport? [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:26, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

[http://rio2016.com/en/the-games/olympic/sports/golf Golf will return to the Olympics in 2016]. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 00:18, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
[http://www.olympic.org/content/sports/all-sports/golf/equipment-and-history/?tab=history It was also contested at the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympic Games]. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 01:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

I think this entire article is in violation of Conservapedia Commandments #1 ("Everything you post must be true and verifiable") and #5 ("Do not post personal opinion on an encyclopedia entry"). [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:32, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:With regards to our Fifth Commandment, I agree. Perhaps an administrator would like to move this page to the Essay pseudonamespace. [[User:GregG|GregG]] 11:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::"Citius, Altius, Fortius" would be a good stating point for the criteria I think - sports that do not have an element of the Olympic motto would need a good reason to not be on this list, although most team sports would not satisfy this test [[User:AlanA|AlanA]] 11:49, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::I think that a good test is that there shouldn't already be another, similar sport with a stronger tradition and more credibility. That would exclude recent additions like beach volleyball.
::::Related to this, it's chiefly the multiplicity of similar events that undermine swimming's credibility, so "one event testing one set of athletic abilities" might be a good way to phrase it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:07, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Dressage ==

I wonder if the editor who listed dressage as a joke sport is aware of the history behind the sport? It developed over centuries of military training and tactics for the cavalry, when horse and rider needed to move in harmony with each other during battle. Just because it has become a rich man's sport in today's society does not erase its meaningful history - it certainly wasn't a "joke" to thousands of cavalrymen. [http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] by Dr. Thomas Ritter. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 00:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm going to remove it from the list, until someone can come up with a realistic reason it should be on here. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:35, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::Because, for all intents and purposes, there's very little difference between dressage and Crufts, and I don't see many dog events at the Olympics?--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:41, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I said a logical reason, thanks. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Technically you said a realistic reason. Dressage is about training between man and beast so said beast will do what you command, this is the same as some of the events at Crufts. There's no racing as a test of speed or rider's abilities. On that level I can't see any difference.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 09:46, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::Racing or speed are not necessary components in a competition. As for not testing the rider's skill? Seriously, you're being absolutely ridiculous. The whole event is about showing the rider's skill in directing the horse through its movements. While I haven't participated in dressage myself, I have been around horses and riders enough to know that including dressage on this page is the joke created by a bunch of envious, armchair quarterbacks. If you can't do the activity, then don't open your mouth to criticize. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 09:54, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Just because it's hard to do doesn't make it a serious sport. Ballet is hard to do. So is playing the 'cello. Neither of those are sports. Just because it has a long history doesn't make it a serious sport. It is an elitist activity that the average sports fan cares nothing about. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:02, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Alright, go ahead. Disparage these athletes all you want. I have my doubts that any editor who has contributed to this page could compete in any of these "joke sports" on an Olympic level. It sounds like sour grapes to me. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:That's a sore loser's argument. Do you limit your opinions to those things you can do at an elite level? That would mean not having preferences about most things in the world, unless you are so gifted that you can compose poetry, play jazz piano, paint, sculpt, figure skate, design a building and cook at the level of the best in the world. Which none of us can. Just because a person can't do something doesn't mean they can't have an informed opinion about it. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:23, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::I have yet to see an "informed opinion" on any of the sports listed on this page. What I see is a bunch of editors who think it's fun to disparage hard-working athletes for their own amusement. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 10:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::Welcome to Conservapedia. It's what ASchlafly does. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 11:00, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Why do you add to it if you don't agree with the premise? [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:06, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Greco-Roman wrestling ==

I removed Greco-Roman wrestling from the list. All wrestling styles have their particular rules, but that doesn't make them not a real sport. Saying it artifically prohibits the match is like saying hurdles is not a real sport since it hinders running. If anything, the role of throws requires more strength to compete properly. [[User:PaulRP|PaulRP]] 10:14, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:I agree - Graeco-Roman wrestling requires strength, technique and flexibility, as well as guile, and is one of the purest sports contested at the Olympics. Some people do like to joke about wrestling, but that in itself doesn't make it a joke sport.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 10:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::However, compare it to freestyle wrestling, also an Olympic Sport, but with far fewer restrictions on how athletes can show their abilities at that particular skill to their best, and it does come across as a joke sport.--[[User:CGrande|CGrande]] 11:12, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== Table tennis ==

Have you actually watched any of the table tennis matches? The skills required to compete in this event - the quickness, agility, perspicacity - are at least equal to those in regular tennis. [[User:CasparRH|CasparRH]] 10:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

== This article is too negative and unnecessary ==

This article is too negative. For example, while there are martial art systems (or self-defense systems) which are better than taekwondo when it comes to self-defense[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwV3KZKcq4k][http://hammerprinciple.com/martialarts/items/karate/aikido], it can get you into great shape - especially if the twaekwondo center has a weight room. When I was involved in taekwondo, I enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Plus, when I was playing racketball without googles (which I should not have done), using a block I learned in taekwondo, I stopped a ball from hitting my face inches before it was about to hit me. :) The only potential downside I see to twaekwondo is that full contact sparring could potential cause brain damage as many medical doctors are against boxing for example and boxers can become "punch drunk".[http://digitaljournal.com/article/264678][http://www.justanswer.com/medical/2j5r4-does-sparring-mixed-martial-arts-muay-thai-specifically.html]

Although there are less toxic forms of keeping pools clean than chlorine[http://news.discovery.com/human/chlorinated-pools-swimming-cancer.html], swimming is great exercise and there is nothing wrong with the backstroke or relay races.

Soccer is great and inexpensive way to exercise and it probably keeps more people in shape than any sport in the world due to its popularity in the world.

There is no public outcry to remove these sports from the Olympics. Women enjoy synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics for example.

I think this article is a wet blanket and a sour grapes way of minimizing others achievements.[[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 10:55, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:I'm not sure ASchlafly will agree with you. It was his idea, after all, and fits in with his basic orientation towards focusing on finding negative outcomes. [[User:RayM|RayM]] 10:59, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:We agree on this, [[User:Conservative]]. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:08, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::User:Conservative, I recommend using Firefox to make your posts. It has a spell-check facilility, which would help you spot typos such as the amusing "twaekwondo".
::Other than that, how could a "joke sports" article not be negative? Perhaps by talking up the humor content of the sports involved???
::Thirdly, you are right that there is nothing wrong with relay races, but swimming relays are not proper relays, as has been explained above. Backstroke ''is'' absurd - it's slower than crawl and more tiring than breast stroke, so what's the point of it, unless you're scared to put your face in the water?--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:::Actually, people are wrong when they state swimming relays are not proper relays - there is strategy involved (fastest swimmer first, last? where to place the slowest swimmer?), and precise timing is needed during the exchange. As for the backstroke being absurd - how about testing the athlete's endurance? Not everything needs to be flashy and fast in order to be a competition. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 11:17, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::Sharon, This is already being discussed above, at the end of the section headed "Female version of sports". Your post would be better off up there, where more informed people than I will see and respond to it.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:48, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
CPalmer, I typed out taekwondo correctly 1 out 3 times. :). Secondly, Firefox does not have taekwondo in its spellcheck dictionary. :) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:22, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::CPalmer, as far as the backstroke, one of the principles of good exercise is working out all your muscles. Also, if the backstroke is more tiring than a breastroke as you say, that is a good indication it is giving someone a good workout. Given your approval of this article, I can only assume you may be a cranky old man who calls the police on kids making too much noise bouncing their basketballs!!! I rest my case that this article is a wet blanket article!!!! [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 11:31, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I do not doubt backstroke's utility as a workout for lane-blocking old granddads, but a good workout does not necessarily make a good sport. Olympic toe-touching, for instance, or exercise biking, would certainly be seen as joke sports, were they to be added to the program.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 11:44, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

==swimming medleys==
I removed swimming medleys. The author of that particular edit was wondering what the track comparison would be, and the answer there is the pentathlon, heptathlon, decathlon, etc.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:05, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

:Not really. Multi-event athletics competitions require the athlete to do multiple different things, without specifying how. Swimming medleys, by contrast, require the swimmer to do the ''same'' thing in four different ways. If the decathlon included 100m running, 100m walking, 100m backwards running and 100m rolling then your argument would stand up better.
:I would support a swimming pentathlon that included short, medium and long-distance swims, plus springboard and platform diving, but that would require more genuine versatility than is possessed by most if not all competitive swimmers as far as I know.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:10, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::So I gotta ask, CPalmer, what sports do ''you'' play? how many of those might be considered "joke" sports. I know people who swim competitively, one in the backstroke, which you disparage, two in medleys. They're no joke. Because I need to go to work in about ten minutes, I'm not going to get into any kind of edit war here, I just wish you'd stop being so bitter and accept that people can have amazing sporting achievement EVEN IN EVENTS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. Isn't that amazing? --[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:21, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::I am not saying that a gold medal in backstroke isn't an impressive achievement. I'm saying that it shouldn't be an Olympic event because it's a silly stroke for competitive purposes.
:::I don't play any sports competitively, but I play recreational football, tennis and darts. I do not think that darts should be an Olympic sport, however.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:27, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::By the way, you knowing people who compete in these events does not in itself stop them from being joke events. If you mean that "they're no joke" because your friends take them extremely seriously, please consider the possibility that to others, that may make them more and not less absurd.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:29, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:::::I think I can see where you're coming from. I still disagree, but if you're using those criteria, then shouldn't you also include breast-stroke and butterfly? They're both less efficient than freestyle/crawl. Breast at least has some use apart from a competition environment, but butterfly seems totally useless. If you want those particular criteria, then please be consistent with them.--[[User:DTSavage|DTSavage]] 12:34, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
::::::I agree about butterfly, and breast stroke, and walking races on dry land. For Olympic purposes, I think 100m, 200m, 400m and a longer distance, plus relays, for men and women, would be a sensible swimming program - say 12 gold medals in all, so far more than are available for archery or horse riding.
::::::Breast stroke has a case for inclusion, but the trouble is that the breast stroke performed competitively bears little resemblance to the steady, effort-conserving stroke that is so useful in real life.--[[User:CPalmer|CPalmer]] 12:43, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
Quite honestly, the purpose behind sports is not to entertain the spectators, or to make money for the sponsors, or to worry about how you as an athlete will appear to others. The point behind sports when you're an athlete is to challenge yourself to do as well as you possibly can, and if you're on a team, to aid and push your teammates to do their best as well. The purpose behind sports as a spectator is to camaraderie, and enjoyment. Today's society has lost sight of the meaning of sportsmanship, and I hate to say this, but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed. [[User:SharonW|SharonW]] 12:51, 10 August 2012 (EDT)
:'but this page proves it by nitpicking and complaining about the sports listed." ASchlafly would call that "nitpicking" a "conservative insight." Why do you expect otherwise from this site? [[User:RayM|RayM]] 13:16, 10 August 2012 (EDT)

Weightlifting

2012-08-10T15:31:14Z

RayM:

[[Image:Clean%26jerk.jpg|thumb|220px|An athlete pauses in between the two phases of the clean and jerk event.]]

'''Weightlifting''' has been an [[Olympic]] [[sport]] since the first modern games in [[Athens]] in 1896<ref>http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=WL</ref>. Athletes compete to see who can lift the heaviest weights (in the form of a metal bar with heavy weights on each end). Both men and women compete, and there are several weight divisions for each gender.

Olympic weightlifting has two events:
* '''[[Snatch]]''', where the bar must be lifted above the head in one continuous motion.
* '''Clean and jerk''', where the bar is first lifted to just beneath the chin, and then lifted above the head after a short pause.

Participants compete in both disciplines (with the weights being increased in a similar way to the raising of the bar in a [[athletics|high jump]] competition), and add their best scores in each. The man or woman with the highest combined total is the winner<ref>http://www.iwf.net/</ref>.

The world record for weightlifting in the men's super-heavyweight division is 472kg (over 1000lb), set at the Olympic Games in [[Sydney]] in 2000<ref>http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/records/results_uk.asp</ref>. This is about as heavy as two fully-grown male [[lions]]<ref>http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=59</ref>.

Countries who usually perform well in weightlifting include [[China]] and many [[Eastern Europe]]an and former [[Soviet]] states.

When performed by women, it is a [[joke sport]].

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Sports]]

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T15:00:13Z

RayM: /* Dressage */

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T14:59:27Z

RayM: /* This article is too negative */

2012 Summer Olympics

2012-08-10T14:57:30Z

RayM: /* Political Questions Being Resolved by the Games */

The '''2012 Summer Olympic Games''', officially known as the '''Games of the XXX Olympiad''' and informally as '''London 2012''', is occurring in [[London]] from July 27 through August 12.<ref>This makes London the first city to host the Games three times - the previous occasions being in 1908 and 1948.</ref> '''''During the Modern Olympic Games, the pagan origins of the Olympics have been replaced by [[faith]]-based achievement by the participating athletes'''''.

== 2012 Olympics - Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ==

See also: [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ]]

''The Sports Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>

An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance. First, athletes may identify with religious beliefs for direction and humility. Second, athletes may turn to religion to gain a sense of optimism and security, benefiting from such beliefs following a disappointing athletic performance. Third, religion can be used for emotional and psychological support in stressful circumstances like the uncertainty of athletic competition, which can cause athletes an overwhelming amount of anxiety. Religious beliefs can offer the internal strength to persevere through the stress. Fourth, religion “provides a cognitive framework conducive to the relief of anxiety associated with competition” (Storch et al., 2001, p. 347). This framework allows relief from fear and anxiety on the basis of the athlete’s understanding (i.e., belief) that a supreme being is in complete control of the situation. For example, athletes may rely on religious faith to place a poor athletic performance in perspective...

Religion can be an important aspect in athletes’ lives and may serve a protective function against psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors such as substance use or aggression (Storch, Roberti, Bravata, & Storch, 2004). Viewers of sporting events can frequently observe athletes pointing to the sky, engaging in team prayer on the court or field, and glorifying God following athletic competitions.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}

=== Atheism and sports performance ===

Besides lacking the aforementioned benefits that religion bestows on athletes, atheists have higher rates of depression and suicide than the religious (see: [[Atheism and mental health]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]]). This suggests that atheism is a detriment to sports performance.

=== 2012 Olympics: faith vs. atheism ===

A number of Christian athletes have thanked God for their 2012 Olympic medals (see below). To date, no Olympic athlete at the 2012 Olympic games has credited atheism with providing them enhanced sport performance.

== Political Questions Being Resolved by the Games ==

Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees are participating.<ref>Independent Olympic Athletes from [[South Sudan]], who does not yet have a National Olympic Committee, and the former Netherlands Antilles, who no longer has a National Olympic Committee due to their dissolution, will also compete under the Olympic Flag.</ref>

Sports contests having the greatest political interest are (note especially the growing list of lack of [[public schools]] for the gold medalists below):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Sport
!Political issue
!Answer
|-
|Multiple
|How many athletes will do the equivalent of [[Tebowing]] after a victory? American Meb Keflezighi, who won the silver medal in the marathon in 2004, typically gives glory to [[God]] with the sign of the [[Cross]] after finishing a race.<ref>http://www.letsrun.com/2009/nycmen1101.php</ref>
|After winning the all-around women's gymnastic title, Gabby Douglas tweeted, "Let all that I am praise the [[Lord|LORD]]; may I never forget the good things he does for me."

Missy Franklin, who ranks second behind Michael Phelps (he's won 4 gold in 2012, 18 in career) with three gold medals at the 2012 games, thanked [[God]] as one of her first comments after winning.

Ethiopian Tiki Gelana remarkably overcame a mid-race fall to win the women's marathon, after thinking "thank God" at the beginning of the race for the rain because she grew up running in rainy weather - but the [[lamestream media]] reported her quote with a small "g" for "God".<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/rain-queen-gelana-wins-soggy-maratho-175353459--spt.html</ref>

Soccer players in the United Arab Emirates team kneeled towards Mecca when they scored a goal. They did not advance to the quarterfinals. Mohamed Farah (GB) gave thanks to Allah by kneeling towards Mecca after he won the 10000 metres track race.

Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius noted that he thanks God "Because He is the reason for my success and the one that takes me from strength to strength."[http://assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12060047.htm]
|-
|Multiple
|Will almost no athletes from [[public school]] sports programs win any gold medals, despite how public schools spend more than $500 billion annually to teach and train [[American]]s?
|The [[lamestream media]] state that Missy Franklin, the star swimmer, is a high school student, but fail to mention that she attends ''[[Catholic]]'' school rather than [[public school]].

'''American 2012 Olympic gold medal winners (as of 8/1/2012)'''
*Private: Missy Franklin ([[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] high school)<ref> Franklin's swimming has been with a swim club</ref>, Katie Ledecky (Catholic high school)
*[[Homeschooled]]: Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney
*College or adult: Michael Phelps,<ref>Phelps' swimming has been with a private swim club.</ref> Dana Vollmer, Vincent Hancock, Conor Dwyer, Kristin Armstrong, Nathan Adrian, Allison Schmitt, Shannon Vreeland, Kim Rhode, Ryan Lochte, Matt Grevers, Aly Raisman, Ricky Berens, Jamie Lynn Gray, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Serena Williams.
*[[Public school]]: Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber won a group gold medal as part of the team led by [[homeschooled]] Gabby Douglas
|-
|Multiple
|How many athletes will be unfairly expelled based on [[liberal]] [[censorship]] of their [[free speech]]?
|One athlete -- Greek triple-jumper Voula Papachristou -- was expelled from the Greek National team by her own country's Olympic committee '''''before it officially opened''''' based on a one-sentence joke about immigration, even though she apologized. The joke in question was this from her Twitter: "With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!" It should be noted that Papachristou apologized for the tweet.

In addition to the Greek Olympic Committee's decision on Papachristou, the IOC's own twitter-use policy has been criticized for hindering free speech. The policy, which is claimed to protect the IOC's commercial rights, goes as far as to prevent athletes from "reporting on events". According to The Globe and Mail, even a tweet such as "Won our games against China, USA. Next up, the Brazilians," could get an athlete expelled from the Games without notice. As of yet, no athletes have been expelled by the IOC for this [[social media]] [[censorship]] policy.

Lolo Jones, a pro-[[abstinence]] [[American]] hurdler, is being criticized by the [[lamestream media]] for sending out a pro-[[Second Amendment]] tweet.

The [[liberal]] thought police expelled a Swiss soccer player for tweeting that South Koreans are "retards."<ref>[[http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/07/another-racist-twitter-scandal-gets-another-olympic-athlete-boot/55197/] </ref>
|-
|Opening Ceremonies
|Will [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]] David Beckham be selected to light the Olympic cauldron?
|Beckham was not selected as the final torchbearer. He was, however, a passenger on the speedboat that carried the torch up the River Thames. He assisted in the hand-off of the torch to Sir Steve Redgrave, one of Britain's greatest Olympians. Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, stated, "He [Beckham] will be more than an ambassador given what he has done, the commitment he has given and the amount of time he has spent with us in London on this project. He was not only alongside us when we won [the right to host the Olympics], he was alongside us when we threw our hats in the ring."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9388462/London-2012-Olympics-David-Beckham-will-be-more-than-an-ambassador-at-the-Games.html London 2012 Olympics: David Beckham will be 'more than an ambassador' at the Games] telegraph.co.uk, July 10, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref>
|-
|Multiple
|will [[atheist]] nations underachieve in team sports?
|In women's soccer, France defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals but lost to Japan in the semifinals. They lost to Canada in the bronze medal game.

On the men's side, Great Britain won their group with 2 wins and a draw. They lost to South Korea in the quarterfinals.

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.

In women's basketball, France won Group B with a 5-0 record, while Australia finished 4-1 in the same group. Great Britain is 0-5. France and Australia won their quarterfinals. France will face Russia in the semifinals while Australia will face the United States.

In women's handball, Great Britain finished 0-5-0 and France is 4-0-1 (W-L-D). France lost to Montenegro the quarterfinals. Handball is almost unknown in GB, with only a dozen or so clubs, in stark contrast to most other countries in Western Europe.

In men's basketball, Great Britain finished 1-4 in the group stage and was eliminated. Australia finished 3-2, fourth in their group, and lost to the USA in the quarterfinals. France finished 4-1 and will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Basketball is a minor sport in GB, much less played than in continental Europe, and GB would have considered themselves lucky if they had won a match.

In men's volleyball, Great Britain finished 0-5 and Australia finished 2-3. Neither advanced to the quarterfinals. Volleyball is very much a minor sport in GB. They only had a volleyball team in the Olympics because they were host nation and they did not expect to win any of their matches.
|-
|Multiple
|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?
|China, an officially atheist and communist country, leads the standings with 36 gold medals. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes, China has fewer total medals than the United States (83-78), and only one more gold medals (36-35). About half of the American medals came in the obscure sport of swimming, which allowed the US to artificially increase its medal take. Despite having a population only one-fifth of that of the US, increasingly atheistic Great Britain has more than half as many gold medals, and more than half as many medals overall as the US, and ranks third overall. Great Britain did not win its first gold medal until Day 5 (August 1), because few of the medal competitions in which GB is strong (rowing, cycling, canoeing especially) were competed for until that day. In the 2008 Olympics, Great Britain won 47 total medals, which they will probably surpass. The last few Olympic Games have seen hosts surpass their totals from the previous games by 20-30%. Care should therefore be taken when looking at the British total.

The host factor would not affect Australia's and France's totals. Australia has 27 medals, but only six gold medals. France has 28 medals, of which 8 are gold. In 2008, Australia won 46 medals and France won 41. Australia won 14 golds that year, a total that they are unlikely to surpass at this point.
|-
|wrestling
|have [[feminist]] [[Title IX quotas]] destroyed the [[U.S.]] team?
|TBA
|-
|men's basketball
|will selfless play by outspoken [[Christian]] [[Kevin Durant]] overcome ball-hogging by [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]]s [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[LeBron James]] on [[USA Basketball]]?
|The USA will face Argentina in their semifinal. They are undefeated so far, but had a close matchup against Lithuania.
|-
|men's tennis
|will one of the [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|Greatest Conservative Sports Stars]] -- such as Novak Djokovic -- win the gold medal? Will [[Andy Murray]] of atheistic Britain underperform?
|Both players advanced to the semifinals, where Murray defeated Djokovic in straight sets. Murray defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland for the gold in straight sets, while Djokovic underperformed and lost to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the bronze medal match. Murray then went on to play in mixed doubles match that same day and medalled silver with Laura Robson, losing to the heavily favoured Mirnyi and Azarenka.
|-
|8-month pregnant athlete
|Will the [[lamestream media]] report on Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi of Malaysia, who is competing while being 8 months pregnant, or does that send too [[pro-life]] of a message?
|Taibi was eliminated from the Olympics on the first day of official competition after finishing in 34th place. Few articles mentioned her prior to her elimination; there was more publicity about her after her defeat.<ref>[http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/07/28/pregnant-shooter%E2%80%99s-olympics-end-after-34th-place-finish-in-qualifying/ Pregnant shooter’s Olympics end after 34th-place finish in qualifying] sfgate.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/shooting/story/Pregnant-Malaysian-shooter-does-baby-proud-at-London-Olympics-072812 Pregnant shooter does baby proud] foxsports.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/shooting/story/2012-07-28/pregnant-shooter-nur-suryani-mohd-taibi-malaysia-misses-final/56551354/1 Pregnant shooter misses final, treasures experience] usatoday.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-pregnant-shooting London 2012: 'Be quiet, mummy's shooting,' says pregnant competitor] guardian.co.uk, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref> The New York Times ran an article on the athlete on 16 July 2012,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/sports/olympics/17iht-oly17.html?_r=1] </ref> The Guardian <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-pregnant-shooting]</ref> and ESPN <ref>[http://www.espnstar.com/olympics/shooting/news/detail/item832224/Nur-Suryani-off-target-in-London/]</ref> both reported on her results in the competition.
|-
|women's soccer
|ranked #1 and won the gold in the last two Olympics, most recently with a foreign coach. Now that this [[U.S.]] team is [[politically correct]], will it underachieve?<ref>A foreigner, reportedly a lesbian, was selected as the head coach of the already champion American Olympic women's soccer team in 2007, and in the following year that team repeated its gold medal-winning performance of 2004. Aren't there American, although perhaps not politically correct, soccer coaches good enough to run the Olympic team?</ref> Major rivals will be Japan, Brazil and France.
|Politcal correctness triumphed as the foreign-born reportedly lesbian coach of the U.S. team led them to repeat their previous gold medal performance.
|-
|Gun events
|Will the [[lamestream media]] downplay the gun events because they want to continue to push [[gun control]]?
|Great Britain shooter Peter Wilson's gold medal success in the double-trap clay pigeon event was widely reported and celebrated in the British media, despite Britain being strong in favor of gun control. The victory of South Korean air pistol shooter Jin in winning the first gold medal of the games was reported in most GB media. Coverage is similar to other sports with modest national following. See the entry above on the Malaysian shooter for an exception to this lack of coverage.
|-
|Openly [[homosexual]] athletes
|Will the [[liberal media]] overpromote [[homosexual]] athletes, far beyond their achievements?
|Several months before the games, ''Sports Illustrated'' ran a feature article entitled "The Transgender Athlete", which included significant overage of a transgender female-to-male shotputter attempting to qualify for the United States women's Olympic team. However, she failed to qualify at the US Olympic Trials, and as such has not received coverage during the actual Olympics.
|-
|Multiple
|Will countries that have implemented same-sex marriage underperform? (See below for a more lengthy explanation)
|Too early to tell. Listed below are the country's medal totals for the last Olympics prior to implementing same sex-marriage (which can be seen as a fair proxy for their totals this year), along with actual totals for this year so far. Denmark, Canada, and Sweden have already overperformed, while the Netherlands and Spain are clearly underperforming. For the others, it's too early to tell.
: Argentina - 6 in 2008, 1 in 2012
: Belgium - 5 in 2000, 3 in 2012
: Canada - 12 in 2004, 15 in 2012
: Denmark - 7 in 2008, 9 in 2012
: Iceland - 1 in 2008, 0 in 2012
: Netherlands - 25 in 2000, 16 in 2012
: Norway - 6 in 2004, 3 in 2012
: Portugal - 2 in 2008, 1 in 2012
: South Africa - 6 in 2004, 5 in 2012
: Spain - 19 in 2004, 9 in 2012
: Sweden - 5 in 2008, 7 in 2012
: Total - 94 expected, 69 actual

|-
|Men's Handball
|Will heavy underdogs [[Tunisia]] overperform in Group A? Group A should perhaps be dubbed the "Group of Left", since the other five teams are Sweden, Iceland, and Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal, and increasingly atheistic Great Britain and France.
|Tunisia went 2-3 in the group stage, becoming just the second African team ever to advance to the quarterfinals. They will face Croatia, the winner of Group B.
|-
|[[Joke sports]]
|Will underperforming countries pad their medal totals by excelling in non-serious sports like [[badminton]] and many varieties of [[swimming]]?
|The United States has won 10 gold medals in joke sports; atheistic Great Britain has won one.
|-
|}

(add more)

== Nations that have implemented [[same-sex marriage]] ==

===[[Argentina]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Argentina's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 1 || 3 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 3 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 1 || 2 || 2 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 0 || 2 || 1 || 3
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 2 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 2 || 0 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 2 || 0 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| July 22, 2010 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total || 17 || 23 || 26 || 66
|}

===[[Belgium]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Belgium's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 5 || 5 || 5 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 1 || 5 || 2 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp (host) || 14 || 11 || 11 || 36
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 3 || 7 || 3 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 2 || 2 || 0 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 2 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 0 || 1 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 2 || 2 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| January 30, 2003 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 1 || 0 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 37 !! 51 !! 51 !! 139
|}

===[[Canada]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Canada's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| ''1896 Athens'' || colspan=4|''did not compete''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || 4 || 1 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 3 || 3 || 10 || 16
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 3 || 2 || 3 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 3 || 3 || 3 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 0 || 3 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 4 || 4 || 7 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 2 || 5 || 8 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 1 || 3 || 5 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 1 || 2 || 0 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 1 || 2 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 1 || 3 || 1 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal (host) || 0 || 5 || 6 || 11
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || colspan=4|''did not compete''
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 10 || 18 || 16 || 44
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 3 || 2 || 5 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 7 || 4 || 7 || 18
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 3 || 11 || 8 || 22
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 3 || 3 || 8 || 14
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 3 || 6 || 3 || 12
|-
|align=left| July 20, 2005 || colspan=4|''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 3 || 9 || 6 || 18
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
!| Total || 58 || 94 || 108 || 260
|}

===[[Denmark]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Denmark's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || 1 || 2 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 1 || 3 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 1 || 6 || 5 || 12
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 3 || 9 || 1 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 2 || 5 || 2 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 3 || 1 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 5 || 7 || 8 || 20
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 1 || 2 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 2 || 3 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 1 || 4 || 3 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 1 || 0 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 2 || 1 || 2 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 2 || 1 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 1 || 1 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 4 || 1 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 2 || 3 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 2 || 0 || 6 || 8
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| June 15, 2012 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 41 !! 63 !! 66 !! 170
|}

===[[Iceland]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Iceland's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 0 ||1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| June 27, 2010 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 4
|}

===[[Netherlands]]<ref>Although part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, [[Aruba]] competes separately at the Olympic Games. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Aruba, although marriages performed in the European mainland Netherlands are recognized per the Kingdom's requirements. Additionally, the territories of Curacao and Sint Maarten, who will compete as "Independent Olympic Athletes" under the Olympic Flag following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles and the loss of recognition of their Olympic Committee, have the same regulations as Aruba with regards to same-sex marriage. Since citizens of these territories are also Dutch citizens, they are also eligible to compete for Team Netherlands. Therefore, they may have won some of the Dutch medals. In all three territories, the population is heavily Catholic and there is large opposition to same-sex marriage in spite of the Kingdom's requirements. When Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba opted to integrate fully with the Netherlands as part of the dissolution, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a law that will make same sex-marriage legal in those territories effective in October 2012. However, this law was strongly opposed by locals. Athletes from those three territories were permitted to compete as Independent Olympic Athletes as well. However, of the four IOAs at the Olympics, three are from Curacao and one is a marathoner from South Sudan, which does not yet have a national Olympic Committee.</ref>===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+The Netherland's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 0 || 1 || 3 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 0 || 0 || 3 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 4 || 2 || 5 || 11
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 4 || 1 || 5 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam (host) || 6 || 9 || 4 || 19
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 2 || 5 || 0 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 6 || 4 || 7 || 17
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 5 || 2 || 9 || 16
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 0 || 5 || 0 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 4 || 4 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 3 || 1 || 1 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 5 || 2 || 6 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 2 || 2 || 5 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 2 || 6 || 7 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 4 || 5 || 10 || 19
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 12 || 9 || 4 || 25
|-
|align=left| April 1, 2001 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 4 || 9 || 9 || 22
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 7 || 5 || 4 || 16
|-
|align=left| 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 71 !! 79 !! 96 !! 246
|}

===[[Norway]]===
===[[Portugal]]===
===[[South Africa]]===
===[[Spain]]===
===[[Sweden]]===

Underachievement by nations allowing same sex marriage will be particularly evident.<ref>In the [[United States]], 6 out of 50 states permit same-sex marriage (Washington, D.C. also permits same-sex marriage), and 8 additional states permit civil unions. Two states (including Washington, which had previously recognized civil unions) have declared same-sex marriage legal, but implementation is postponed until after voter referendums on the laws in November 2012. Additionally, in [[Mexico]], same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City, a federal district roughly equivalent to Washington, DC, as well as in the state of Quintana Roo. </ref>

== Nations that are increasingly [[atheist]]ic ==

*[[Britain]]
*[[France]]
*[[Australia]]<ref> Since the 2001 Australians have increasingly answered "no religion" in the official census. The growing numbers of those answering "no religion" has coincided with fewer people self-identifying as Christian: [http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/636F496B2B943F12CA2573D200109DA9?opendocument Year Book Australia, 2008]</ref>

Underachievement by atheistic nations will be particularly evident in the '''''team''''' sports, where spiritual motivation is usually non-existent. Expect the atheistic nations to underachieve most notably in soccer, where teamwork is paramount.

Also, since Great Britain is the host nation, it may receive a boost in performance in spite of its increasingly atheistic nature. One should be careful to account for this when comparing Britain's performance this year to that in previous Olympic Games.

== Winners ==

=== Individual Events ===

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Athlete
!Achievement
!Religion, or Atheist?
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|}

=== Team Events ===

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Event
!Country
!Religious Category
|-
|Women's 4x100m Freestyle (Swimming)
|Australia
|Increasingly Atheistic
|-
|Men's Team Archery
|Italy
|Christian
|-
|Women's Team Archery
|South Korea
|Atheistic
|-
|Men's 4x100m Freestyle (Swimming)
|France
|Increasingly Atheistic
|-
|Women's Synchronized 3m Springboard (Diving)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|Men's Synchronized 10m Platform (Diving)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|Men's Artistic Team All-round (Gymnastics)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|}

==Expected Medals==

Many factors contribute to a country's success in the Olympics (e.g., population, proximity to host country, culture), and [[Gross Domestic Product]] cannot be used as a fair proxy, due to low (per capita) GDP China comfortably coming first in the 2008 Olympics and Russia ranking third. Below is how the Olympic medals would be awarded if each country earned medals in proportion to their GDP, which vastly overestimates the United States' performance.

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Country
!Expected Medals
|-
|Afghanistan
|0.2
|-
|Albania
|0.2
|-
|Andorra
|0.1
|-
|Antigua and Barbuda
|0
|-
|Angola
|1.2
|-
|Algeria
|2.3
|-
|Argentina
|5.3
|-
|Armenia
|0.1
|-
|Aruba
|0
|-
|Australia
|16.2
|-
|Austria
|5.4
|-
|Azerbaijan
|0.7
|-
|Bahamas
|0.1
|-
|Bangladesh
|1.4
|-
|Barbados
|0
|-
|Burundi
|0
|-
|Belgium
|6.7
|-
|Belize
|0
|-
|Benin
|0.1
|-
|Bermuda
|0.1
|-
|Bhutan
|0
|-
|Bolivia
|0.3
|-
|Bosnia-Herzegovina
|0.2
|-
|Bahrain
|0.3
|-
|Botswana
|0.2
|-
|Belarus
|0.8
|-
|Brazil
|29.9
|-
|Virgin Islands
|0
|-
|Bulgaria
|0.7
|-
|Burkina Faso
|0.1
|-
|Cameroon
|0.3
|-
|Cambodia
|0.2
|-
|Canada
|22.6
|-
|Cayman Islands
|0
|-
|Central African Republic
|0
|-
|Chad
|0.1
|-
|Chile
|3
|-
|China
|98.8
|-
|Taiwan
|7.2
|-
|Colombia
|4.1
|-
|Comoros
|0
|-
|Cape Verde
|0
|-
|Congo
|0.2
|-
|Cook Islands
|0
|-
|Costa Rica
|0.5
|-
|Cote-d´lvoire
|0.3
|-
|Croatia
|0.9
|-
|Cuba
|0.9
|-
|Cyprus
|0.4
|-
|Czech Republic
|2.8
|-
|Denmark
|4.4
|-
|Djibouti
|0
|-
|Dominica
|0
|-
|Dominican Republic
|0.7
|-
|Ecuador
|0.8
|-
|Egypt
|3.1
|-
|El Salvador
|0.3
|-
|Equatorial Guinea
|0.2
|-
|Eritrea
|0
|-
|Estonia
|0.3
|-
|Ethiopia
|0.4
|-
|Fiji
|0
|-
|Finland
|3.4
|-
|France
|39.8
|-
|Gabon
|0.2
|-
|Gambia
|0
|-
|Germany
|47
|-
|Ghana
|0.4
|-
|United Kingdom
|32.4
|-
|Guinea-Bissau
|0
|-
|Georgia
|0.2
|-
|Greece
|4.3
|-
|Grenada
|0
|-
|Guam
|0
|-
|Guatemala
|0.6
|-
|Guinea
|0.1
|-
|Guyana
|0
|-
|Haiti
|0.1
|-
|Honduras
|0.2
|-
|Hong Kong
|3.2
|-
|Hungary
|1.8
|-
|Iceland
|0.2
|-
|India
|24.7
|-
|Indonesia
|10.1
|-
|Iran
|4.7
|-
|Iraq
|1.2
|-
|Ireland
|3
|-
|Italy
|29.5
|-
|Israel
|3.1
|-
|Jamaica
|0.2
|-
|Japan
|78.2
|-
|Jordan
|0.4
|-
|Kazakhstan
|2.3
|-
|Kyrgyzstan
|0.1
|-
|Kenya
|0.4
|-
|South Korea
|14.8
|-
|North Korea
|0.4
|-
|Kuwait
|2
|-
|Laos
|0.1
|-
|Latvia
|0.4
|-
|Saint Lucia
|0
|-
|Lebanon
|0.5
|-
|Lesotho
|0
|-
|Libya
|0.9
|-
|Lichtenstein
|0.1
|-
|Luxembourg
|0.8
|-
|Macedonia
|0.1
|-
|Madagascar
|0.1
|-
|Malawi
|0.1
|-
|Malaysia
|3.3
|-
|Moldova
|0.1
|-
|Marshall Islands
|0
|-
|Maldives
|0
|-
|Malta
|0.1
|-
|Mali
|0.1
|-
|Mauritania
|0.2
|-
|Mauritius
|0.1
|-
|Mexico
|16.2
|-
|Micronesia
|0
|-
|Monaco
|0.1
|-
|Montenegro
|0.1
|-
|Mongolia
|0.1
|-
|Morocco
|1.3
|-
|Mozambique
|0.1
|-
|Myanmar
|0.7
|-
|Namibia
|0.2
|-
|Nepal
|0.2
|-
|Netherlands
|11.2
|-
|New Zealand
|1.8
|-
|Nicaragua
|0.1
|-
|Niger
|0.1
|-
|Niger
|0.1
|-
|Norway
|5.9
|-
|Oman
|0.7
|-
|Pakistan
|2.4
|-
|Palau
|0
|-
|Panama
|0.4
|-
|Papua New Guinea
|0.1
|-
|Paraguay
|0.3
|-
|Peru
|2.3
|-
|Philippines
|2.9
|-
|Poland
|6.7
|-
|Portugal
|3.3
|-
|Puerto Rico
|1.4
|-
|Qatar
|1.4
|-
|Romania
|2.3
|-
|Rwanda
|0.1
|-
|Saint Lucia
|0
|-
|Saint Kitts and Nevis
|0
|-
|Samoa
|0
|-
|San Marino
|0
|-
|Saudi Arabia
|6.2
|-
|Seychelles
|0
|-
|Sierra Leone
|0
|-
|Senegal
|0.2
|-
|Slovenia
|0.7
|-
|Solomon Islands
|0
|-
|South Africa
|5.2
|-
|Sri Lanka
|0.7
|-
|Slovakia
|1.3
|-
|Swaziland
|0.1
|-
|Serbia
|0.6
|-
|Singapore
|3
|-
|Spain
|20.2
|-
|Sudan
|0.9
|-
|Suriname
|0
|-
|Syria
|0.8
|-
|Sweden
|6.6
|-
|Switzerland
|7.6
|-
|Tanzania
|0.3
|-
|Tonga
|0
|-
|Thailand
|4.6
|-
|Togo
|0
|-
|Trinidad and Tobago
|0.3
|-
|Tajikistan
|0.1
|-
|Timor-Leste
|0
|-
|Turkmenistan
|0.3
|-
|Tunisia
|0.6
|-
|Turkey
|10.5
|-
|Tuvalu
|0
|-
|Uganda
|0.2
|-
|Ukraine
|2
|-
|United Arab Emirates
|4.3
|-
|United States
|209
|-
|Uruguay
|0.6
|-
|Uzbekistan
|0.6
|-
|Vanuatu
|0
|-
|Venezuela
|5.6
|-
|Vietnam
|1.5
|-
|Yemen
|0.4
|-
|Zambia
|0.2
|-
|Zimbabwe
|0.1
|-
|}

== Commemoration ==

The 2012 games mark the 40th anniversary of 11 [[Israeli]] Olympic team members taken hostage and killed by [[Palestinian]] [[terrorist]] group Black September. The Internal Olympic Committee has been urged to offer a commemorative moment of silence for the athletes at the opening ceremony. The IOC has rejected the moment of silence or any mention of the tragic event so as not to upset [[Muslim]] countries. <ref>[http://www.eju.org/news/world/ioc-refuses-request-memorial-munich-victims IOC refuses request for a memorial to Munich victims, EJU News, may 22, 2012]</ref> Sportscaster Bob Costas says NBC will honor the Munich 11 despite IOC’s refusal to allow it. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2012/07/21/bob-costas-says-he-will-observe-moment-of-silence-for-victims-of-1972-munich-massacre-during-live-broadcast-of-london-olympics-opening-ceremony-despite-iocs-refusal-to-allow-it/ Bob Costas Says He Will Observe Moment of Silence For Victims of 1972 Munich Massacre, WeaselZippers, July 21, 2012]</ref>

== NBC Coverage ==

Scorn for Comcast's [[NBC]] coverage of the Olympic games hit America coast to coast. Viewers have taken to the internet with the trend #NBCfail for days now. The groans began at the opening ceremony when [[American]] viewers were denied the tribute to British victims of [[Islamic]] terrorism. As the games moved forward, live events were interrupted or had already finished, replaced with commercials and NBC commentators talking about the athletes. It has been reported the Comcast spent $1 billion for the rights to televise the 2012 Olympics.

== See also ==

*[http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/ Schedule and Results]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Olympics]]

2012 Summer Olympics

2012-08-10T14:56:24Z

RayM: /* Political Questions Being Resolved by the Games */

The '''2012 Summer Olympic Games''', officially known as the '''Games of the XXX Olympiad''' and informally as '''London 2012''', is occurring in [[London]] from July 27 through August 12.<ref>This makes London the first city to host the Games three times - the previous occasions being in 1908 and 1948.</ref> '''''During the Modern Olympic Games, the pagan origins of the Olympics have been replaced by [[faith]]-based achievement by the participating athletes'''''.

== 2012 Olympics - Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ==

See also: [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ]]

''The Sports Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>

An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance. First, athletes may identify with religious beliefs for direction and humility. Second, athletes may turn to religion to gain a sense of optimism and security, benefiting from such beliefs following a disappointing athletic performance. Third, religion can be used for emotional and psychological support in stressful circumstances like the uncertainty of athletic competition, which can cause athletes an overwhelming amount of anxiety. Religious beliefs can offer the internal strength to persevere through the stress. Fourth, religion “provides a cognitive framework conducive to the relief of anxiety associated with competition” (Storch et al., 2001, p. 347). This framework allows relief from fear and anxiety on the basis of the athlete’s understanding (i.e., belief) that a supreme being is in complete control of the situation. For example, athletes may rely on religious faith to place a poor athletic performance in perspective...

Religion can be an important aspect in athletes’ lives and may serve a protective function against psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors such as substance use or aggression (Storch, Roberti, Bravata, & Storch, 2004). Viewers of sporting events can frequently observe athletes pointing to the sky, engaging in team prayer on the court or field, and glorifying God following athletic competitions.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}

=== Atheism and sports performance ===

Besides lacking the aforementioned benefits that religion bestows on athletes, atheists have higher rates of depression and suicide than the religious (see: [[Atheism and mental health]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]]). This suggests that atheism is a detriment to sports performance.

=== 2012 Olympics: faith vs. atheism ===

A number of Christian athletes have thanked God for their 2012 Olympic medals (see below). To date, no Olympic athlete at the 2012 Olympic games has credited atheism with providing them enhanced sport performance.

== Political Questions Being Resolved by the Games ==

Athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees are participating.<ref>Independent Olympic Athletes from [[South Sudan]], who does not yet have a National Olympic Committee, and the former Netherlands Antilles, who no longer has a National Olympic Committee due to their dissolution, will also compete under the Olympic Flag.</ref>

Sports contests having the greatest political interest are (note especially the growing list of lack of [[public schools]] for the gold medalists below):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Sport
!Political issue
!Answer
|-
|Multiple
|How many athletes will do the equivalent of [[Tebowing]] after a victory? American Meb Keflezighi, who won the silver medal in the marathon in 2004, typically gives glory to [[God]] with the sign of the [[Cross]] after finishing a race.<ref>http://www.letsrun.com/2009/nycmen1101.php</ref>
|After winning the all-around women's gymnastic title, Gabby Douglas tweeted, "Let all that I am praise the [[Lord|LORD]]; may I never forget the good things he does for me."

Missy Franklin, who ranks second behind Michael Phelps (he's won 4 gold in 2012, 18 in career) with three gold medals at the 2012 games, thanked [[God]] as one of her first comments after winning.

Ethiopian Tiki Gelana remarkably overcame a mid-race fall to win the women's marathon, after thinking "thank God" at the beginning of the race for the rain because she grew up running in rainy weather - but the [[lamestream media]] reported her quote with a small "g" for "God".<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/rain-queen-gelana-wins-soggy-maratho-175353459--spt.html</ref>

Soccer players in the United Arab Emirates team kneeled towards Mecca when they scored a goal. They did not advance to the quarterfinals. Mohamed Farah (GB) gave thanks to Allah by kneeling towards Mecca after he won the 10000 metres track race.

Double-amputee runner Oscar Pistorius noted that he thanks God "Because He is the reason for my success and the one that takes me from strength to strength."[http://assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12060047.htm]
|-
|Multiple
|Will almost no athletes from [[public school]] sports programs win any gold medals, despite how public schools spend more than $500 billion annually to teach and train [[American]]s?
|The [[lamestream media]] state that Missy Franklin, the star swimmer, is a high school student, but fail to mention that she attends ''[[Catholic]]'' school rather than [[public school]].

'''American 2012 Olympic gold medal winners (as of 8/1/2012)'''
*Private: Missy Franklin ([[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] high school)<ref> Franklin's swimming has been with a swim club</ref>, Katie Ledecky (Catholic high school)
*[[Homeschooled]]: Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney
*College or adult: Michael Phelps,<ref>Phelps' swimming has been with a private swim club.</ref> Dana Vollmer, Vincent Hancock, Conor Dwyer, Kristin Armstrong, Nathan Adrian, Allison Schmitt, Shannon Vreeland, Kim Rhode, Ryan Lochte, Matt Grevers, Aly Raisman, Ricky Berens, Jamie Lynn Gray, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Serena Williams.
*[[Public school]]: Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber won a group gold medal as part of the team led by [[homeschooled]] Gabby Douglas
|-
|Multiple
|How many athletes will be unfairly expelled based on [[liberal]] [[censorship]] of their [[free speech]]?
|One athlete -- Greek triple-jumper Voula Papachristou -- was expelled from the Greek National team by her own country's Olympic committee '''''before it officially opened''''' based on a one-sentence joke about immigration, even though she apologized. The joke in question was this from her Twitter: "With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!" It should be noted that Papachristou apologized for the tweet.

In addition to the Greek Olympic Committee's decision on Papachristou, the IOC's own twitter-use policy has been criticized for hindering free speech. The policy, which is claimed to protect the IOC's commercial rights, goes as far as to prevent athletes from "reporting on events". According to The Globe and Mail, even a tweet such as "Won our games against China, USA. Next up, the Brazilians," could get an athlete expelled from the Games without notice. As of yet, no athletes have been expelled by the IOC for this [[social media]] [[censorship]] policy.

Lolo Jones, a pro-[[abstinence]] [[American]] hurdler, is being criticized by the [[lamestream media]] for sending out a pro-[[Second Amendment]] tweet.

The [[liberal]] thought police expelled a Swiss soccer player for tweeting that South Koreans are "retards."<ref>[[http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/07/another-racist-twitter-scandal-gets-another-olympic-athlete-boot/55197/] </ref>
|-
|Opening Ceremonies
|Will [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]] David Beckham be selected to light the Olympic cauldron?
|Beckham was not selected as the final torchbearer. He was, however, a passenger on the speedboat that carried the torch up the River Thames. He assisted in the hand-off of the torch to Sir Steve Redgrave, one of Britain's greatest Olympians. Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, stated, "He [Beckham] will be more than an ambassador given what he has done, the commitment he has given and the amount of time he has spent with us in London on this project. He was not only alongside us when we won [the right to host the Olympics], he was alongside us when we threw our hats in the ring."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9388462/London-2012-Olympics-David-Beckham-will-be-more-than-an-ambassador-at-the-Games.html London 2012 Olympics: David Beckham will be 'more than an ambassador' at the Games] telegraph.co.uk, July 10, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref>
|-
|Multiple
|will [[atheist]] nations underachieve in team sports?
|In women's soccer, France defeated Sweden in the quarterfinals but lost to Japan in the semifinals. They lost to Canada in the bronze medal game.

On the men's side, Great Britain won their group with 2 wins and a draw. They lost to South Korea in the quarterfinals.

Australia failed to qualify for either soccer event. This was their first time attempting to qualify out of the Asian Zone instead of the significantly weaker Oceanic Zone, so this may have been a factor. They will, however, send teams in most other team sports, since they qualify from the Oceanic Zone in those.

In women's basketball, France won Group B with a 5-0 record, while Australia finished 4-1 in the same group. Great Britain is 0-5. France and Australia won their quarterfinals. France will face Russia in the semifinals while Australia will face the United States.

In women's handball, Great Britain finished 0-5-0 and France is 4-0-1 (W-L-D). France lost to Montenegro the quarterfinals. Handball is almost unknown in GB, with only a dozen or so clubs, in stark contrast to most other countries in Western Europe.

In men's basketball, Great Britain finished 1-4 in the group stage and was eliminated. Australia finished 3-2, fourth in their group, and lost to the USA in the quarterfinals. France finished 4-1 and will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Basketball is a minor sport in GB, much less played than in continental Europe, and GB would have considered themselves lucky if they had won a match.

In men's volleyball, Great Britain finished 0-5 and Australia finished 2-3. Neither advanced to the quarterfinals. Volleyball is very much a minor sport in GB. They only had a volleyball team in the Olympics because they were host nation and they did not expect to win any of their matches.
|-
|Multiple
|Similarly, will atheist nations underachieve in general?
|China, an officially atheist and communist country, leads the standings with 36 gold medals. Despite having more than three times the population of the United States and despite having a national program designed to produce champion athletes, China has fewer total medals than the United States (83-78), and only one more gold medals (36-35). About half of the American medals came in the obscure sport of swimming, which allowed the US to artificially increase its medal take. Despite having a population only one-fifth of that of the US, increasingly atheistic Great Britain has more than half as many gold medals, and more than half as many medals overall as the US, and ranks third overall. Great Britain did not win its first gold medal until Day 5 (August 1), because few of the medal competitions in which GB is strong (rowing, cycling, canoeing especially) were competed for until that day. In the 2008 Olympics, Great Britain won 47 total medals, which they will probably surpass. The last few Olympic Games have seen hosts surpass their totals from the previous games by 20-30%. Care should therefore be taken when looking at the British total.

The host factor would not affect Australia's and France's totals. Australia has 27 medals, but only six gold medals. France has 28 medals, of which 8 are gold. In 2008, Australia won 46 medals and France won 41. Australia won 14 golds that year, a total that they are unlikely to surpass at this point.
|-
|wrestling
|have [[feminist]] [[Title IX quotas]] destroyed the [[U.S.]] team?
|TBA
|-
|men's basketball
|will selfless play by outspoken [[Christian]] [[Kevin Durant]] overcome ball-hogging by [[Overrated Sports Stars|Overrated Sports Star]]s [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[LeBron James]] on [[USA Basketball]]?
|The USA will face Argentina in their semifinal. They are undefeated so far, but had a close matchup against Lithuania.
|-
|men's tennis
|will one of the [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|Greatest Conservative Sports Stars]] -- such as Novak Djokovic -- win the gold medal? Will [[Andy Murray]] of atheistic Britain underperform?
|Both players advanced to the semifinals, where Murray defeated Djokovic in straight sets. Murray defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland for the gold in straight sets, while Djokovic underperformed and lost to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the bronze medal match. Murray then went on to play in mixed doubles match that same day and medalled silver with Laura Robson, losing to the heavily favoured Mirnyi and Azarenka.
|-
|8-month pregnant athlete
|Will the [[lamestream media]] report on Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi of Malaysia, who is competing while being 8 months pregnant, or does that send too [[pro-life]] of a message?
|Taibi was eliminated from the Olympics on the first day of official competition after finishing in 34th place. Few articles mentioned her prior to her elimination; there was more publicity about her after her defeat.<ref>[http://blog.sfgate.com/olympics/2012/07/28/pregnant-shooter%E2%80%99s-olympics-end-after-34th-place-finish-in-qualifying/ Pregnant shooter’s Olympics end after 34th-place finish in qualifying] sfgate.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/shooting/story/Pregnant-Malaysian-shooter-does-baby-proud-at-London-Olympics-072812 Pregnant shooter does baby proud] foxsports.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/shooting/story/2012-07-28/pregnant-shooter-nur-suryani-mohd-taibi-malaysia-misses-final/56551354/1 Pregnant shooter misses final, treasures experience] usatoday.com, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-pregnant-shooting London 2012: 'Be quiet, mummy's shooting,' says pregnant competitor] guardian.co.uk, July 28, 2012, retrieved July 28, 2012</ref> The New York Times ran an article on the athlete on 16 July 2012,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/sports/olympics/17iht-oly17.html?_r=1] </ref> The Guardian <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/28/london-2012-pregnant-shooting]</ref> and ESPN <ref>[http://www.espnstar.com/olympics/shooting/news/detail/item832224/Nur-Suryani-off-target-in-London/]</ref> both reported on her results in the competition.
|-
|women's soccer
|ranked #1 and won the gold in the last two Olympics, most recently with a foreign coach. Now that this [[U.S.]] team is [[politically correct]], will it underachieve?<ref>A foreigner, reportedly a lesbian, was selected as the head coach of the already champion American Olympic women's soccer team in 2007, and in the following year that team repeated its gold medal-winning performance of 2004. Aren't there American, although perhaps not politically correct, soccer coaches good enough to run the Olympic team?</ref> Major rivals will be Japan, Brazil and France.
|Politcal correctness triumphed as the foreign-born reportedly lesbian coach of the U.S. team led them to repeat their previous gold medal performance.
|-
|Gun events
|Will the [[lamestream media]] downplay the gun events because they want to continue to push [[gun control]]?
|Great Britain shooter Peter Wilson's gold medal success in the double-trap clay pigeon event was widely reported and celebrated in the British media, despite Britain being strong in favor of gun control. The victory of South Korean air pistol shooter Jin in winning the first gold medal of the games was reported in most GB media. Coverage is similar to other sports with modest national following. See the entry above on the Malaysian shooter for an exception to this lack of coverage.
|-
|Openly [[homosexual]] athletes
|Will the [[liberal media]] overpromote [[homosexual]] athletes, far beyond their achievements?
|Several months before the games, ''Sports Illustrated'' ran a feature article entitled "The Transgender Athlete", which included significant overage of a transgender female-to-male shotputter attempting to qualify for the United States women's Olympic team. However, she failed to qualify at the US Olympic Trials, and as such has not received coverage during the actual Olympics.
|-
|Multiple
|Will countries that have implemented same-sex marriage underperform? (See below for a more lengthy explanation)
|Too early to tell. Listed below are the country's medal totals for the last Olympics prior to implementing same sex-marriage (which can be seen as a fair proxy for their totals this year), along with actual totals for this year so far. Denmark, Canada, and Sweden have already overperformed, while the Netherlands and Spain are clearly underperforming. For the others, it's too early to tell.
: Argentina - 6 in 2008, 1 in 2012
: Belgium - 5 in 2000, 3 in 2012
: Canada - 12 in 2004, 15 in 2012
: Denmark - 7 in 2008, 9 in 2012
: Iceland - 1 in 2008, 0 in 2012
: Netherlands - 25 in 2000, 16 in 2012
: Norway - 6 in 2004, 3 in 2012
: Portugal - 2 in 2008, 1 in 2012
: South Africa - 6 in 2004, 5 in 2012
: Spain - 19 in 2004, 9 in 2012
: Sweden - 5 in 2008, 7 in 2012
: Total - 94 expected, 69 actual

|-
|Men's Handball
|Will heavy underdogs [[Tunisia]] overperform in Group A? Group A should perhaps be dubbed the "Group of Left", since the other five teams are Sweden, Iceland, and Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal, and increasingly atheistic Great Britain and France.
|Tunisia went 2-3 in the group stage, becoming just the second African team ever to advance to the quarterfinals. They will face Croatia, the winner of Group B.
|[[Joke sports]]
|Will underperforming countries pad their medal totals by excelling in non-serious sports like [[badminton]] and many varieties of [[swimming]]?
|The United States has won 10 gold medals in joke sports; atheistic Great Britain has won one.
|-
|}

(add more)

== Nations that have implemented [[same-sex marriage]] ==

===[[Argentina]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Argentina's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 1 || 3 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 3 || 1 || 0 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 1 || 2 || 2 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 0 || 2 || 1 || 3
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 2 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 2 || 0 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 2 || 0 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| July 22, 2010 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total || 17 || 23 || 26 || 66
|}

===[[Belgium]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Belgium's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 5 || 5 || 5 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 1 || 5 || 2 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp (host) || 14 || 11 || 11 || 36
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 3 || 7 || 3 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 2 || 2 || 0 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 2 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 0 || 1 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 2 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 2 || 2 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| January 30, 2003 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 1 || 0 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 37 !! 51 !! 51 !! 139
|}

===[[Canada]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Canada's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| ''1896 Athens'' || colspan=4|''did not compete''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || 4 || 1 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 3 || 3 || 10 || 16
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 3 || 2 || 3 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 3 || 3 || 3 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 0 || 3 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 4 || 4 || 7 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 2 || 5 || 8 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 1 || 3 || 5 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 1 || 2 || 0 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 1 || 2 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 1 || 3 || 1 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal (host) || 0 || 5 || 6 || 11
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || colspan=4|''did not compete''
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 10 || 18 || 16 || 44
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 3 || 2 || 5 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 7 || 4 || 7 || 18
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 3 || 11 || 8 || 22
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 3 || 3 || 8 || 14
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 3 || 6 || 3 || 12
|-
|align=left| July 20, 2005 || colspan=4|''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 3 || 9 || 6 || 18
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
!| Total || 58 || 94 || 108 || 260
|}

===[[Denmark]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Denmark's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || 1 || 2 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 1 || 3 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 1 || 6 || 5 || 12
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 3 || 9 || 1 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 2 || 5 || 2 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || 3 || 1 || 2 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 5 || 7 || 8 || 20
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 1 || 2 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 2 || 3 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 1 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 1 || 4 || 3 || 8
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 1 || 0 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 2 || 1 || 2 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 2 || 1 || 1 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 1 || 1 || 4 || 6
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 4 || 1 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 2 || 3 || 1 || 6
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 2 || 0 || 6 || 8
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 2 || 2 || 3 || 7
|-
|align=left| June 15, 2012 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 41 !! 63 !! 66 !! 170
|}

===[[Iceland]]===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+Iceland's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || colspan=4| ''Did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm || 0 ||1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left| June 27, 2010 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 4
|}

===[[Netherlands]]<ref>Although part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, [[Aruba]] competes separately at the Olympic Games. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Aruba, although marriages performed in the European mainland Netherlands are recognized per the Kingdom's requirements. Additionally, the territories of Curacao and Sint Maarten, who will compete as "Independent Olympic Athletes" under the Olympic Flag following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles and the loss of recognition of their Olympic Committee, have the same regulations as Aruba with regards to same-sex marriage. Since citizens of these territories are also Dutch citizens, they are also eligible to compete for Team Netherlands. Therefore, they may have won some of the Dutch medals. In all three territories, the population is heavily Catholic and there is large opposition to same-sex marriage in spite of the Kingdom's requirements. When Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba opted to integrate fully with the Netherlands as part of the dissolution, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a law that will make same sex-marriage legal in those territories effective in October 2012. However, this law was strongly opposed by locals. Athletes from those three territories were permitted to compete as Independent Olympic Athletes as well. However, of the four IOAs at the Olympics, three are from Curacao and one is a marathoner from South Sudan, which does not yet have a national Olympic Committee.</ref>===

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1"
|+The Netherland's Olympic medals in the Summer Games
|-
! scope="col" | Year and location
! scope="col" | Gold
! scope="col" | Silver
! scope="col" | Bronze
! scope="col" | Total
|- ||- |-
|align=left| 1896 Athens || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1900 Paris || 0 || 1 || 3 || 4
|-
|align=left| 1904 St. Louis || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1908 London || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
|align=left| 1912 Stockholm || 0 || 0 || 3 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1920 Antwerp || 4 || 2 || 5 || 11
|-
|align=left| 1924 Paris || 4 || 1 || 5 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1928 Amsterdam (host) || 6 || 9 || 4 || 19
|-
|align=left| 1932 Los Angeles || 2 || 5 || 0 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1936 Berlin || 6 || 4 || 7 || 17
|-
|align=left| 1948 London || 5 || 2 || 9 || 16
|-
|align=left| 1952 Helsinki || 0 || 5 || 0 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1956 Stockholm/Melbourne || colspan=4| ''did not participate''
|-
|align=left| 1960 Rome || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1964 Tokyo || 2 || 4 || 4 || 10
|-
|align=left| 1968 Mexico City || 3 || 3 || 1 || 7
|-
|align=left| 1972 Munich || 3 || 1 || 1 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1976 Montreal || 0 || 2 || 3 || 5
|-
|align=left| 1980 Moscow || 0 || 1 || 2 || 3
|-
|align=left| 1984 Los Angeles || 5 || 2 || 6 || 13
|-
|align=left| 1988 Seoul || 2 || 2 || 5 || 9
|-
|align=left| 1992 Barcelona || 2 || 6 || 7 || 15
|-
|align=left| 1996 Atlanta || 4 || 5 || 10 || 19
|-
|align=left| 2000 Sydney || 12 || 9 || 4 || 25
|-
|align=left| April 1, 2001 || colspan=4| ''Same-sex marriage legalized''
|-
|align=left| 2004 Athens || 4 || 9 || 9 || 22
|-
|align=left| 2008 Beijing || 7 || 5 || 4 || 16
|-
|align=left| 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London || ? || ? || ? || ?
|-
! Total !! 71 !! 79 !! 96 !! 246
|}

===[[Norway]]===
===[[Portugal]]===
===[[South Africa]]===
===[[Spain]]===
===[[Sweden]]===

Underachievement by nations allowing same sex marriage will be particularly evident.<ref>In the [[United States]], 6 out of 50 states permit same-sex marriage (Washington, D.C. also permits same-sex marriage), and 8 additional states permit civil unions. Two states (including Washington, which had previously recognized civil unions) have declared same-sex marriage legal, but implementation is postponed until after voter referendums on the laws in November 2012. Additionally, in [[Mexico]], same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City, a federal district roughly equivalent to Washington, DC, as well as in the state of Quintana Roo. </ref>

== Nations that are increasingly [[atheist]]ic ==

*[[Britain]]
*[[France]]
*[[Australia]]<ref> Since the 2001 Australians have increasingly answered "no religion" in the official census. The growing numbers of those answering "no religion" has coincided with fewer people self-identifying as Christian: [http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/636F496B2B943F12CA2573D200109DA9?opendocument Year Book Australia, 2008]</ref>

Underachievement by atheistic nations will be particularly evident in the '''''team''''' sports, where spiritual motivation is usually non-existent. Expect the atheistic nations to underachieve most notably in soccer, where teamwork is paramount.

Also, since Great Britain is the host nation, it may receive a boost in performance in spite of its increasingly atheistic nature. One should be careful to account for this when comparing Britain's performance this year to that in previous Olympic Games.

== Winners ==

=== Individual Events ===

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Athlete
!Achievement
!Religion, or Atheist?
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|}

=== Team Events ===

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Event
!Country
!Religious Category
|-
|Women's 4x100m Freestyle (Swimming)
|Australia
|Increasingly Atheistic
|-
|Men's Team Archery
|Italy
|Christian
|-
|Women's Team Archery
|South Korea
|Atheistic
|-
|Men's 4x100m Freestyle (Swimming)
|France
|Increasingly Atheistic
|-
|Women's Synchronized 3m Springboard (Diving)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|Men's Synchronized 10m Platform (Diving)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|Men's Artistic Team All-round (Gymnastics)
|China
|Buddhist
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|}

==Expected Medals==

Many factors contribute to a country's success in the Olympics (e.g., population, proximity to host country, culture), and [[Gross Domestic Product]] cannot be used as a fair proxy, due to low (per capita) GDP China comfortably coming first in the 2008 Olympics and Russia ranking third. Below is how the Olympic medals would be awarded if each country earned medals in proportion to their GDP, which vastly overestimates the United States' performance.

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!Country
!Expected Medals
|-
|Afghanistan
|0.2
|-
|Albania
|0.2
|-
|Andorra
|0.1
|-
|Antigua and Barbuda
|0
|-
|Angola
|1.2
|-
|Algeria
|2.3
|-
|Argentina
|5.3
|-
|Armenia
|0.1
|-
|Aruba
|0
|-
|Australia
|16.2
|-
|Austria
|5.4
|-
|Azerbaijan
|0.7
|-
|Bahamas
|0.1
|-
|Bangladesh
|1.4
|-
|Barbados
|0
|-
|Burundi
|0
|-
|Belgium
|6.7
|-
|Belize
|0
|-
|Benin
|0.1
|-
|Bermuda
|0.1
|-
|Bhutan
|0
|-
|Bolivia
|0.3
|-
|Bosnia-Herzegovina
|0.2
|-
|Bahrain
|0.3
|-
|Botswana
|0.2
|-
|Belarus
|0.8
|-
|Brazil
|29.9
|-
|Virgin Islands
|0
|-
|Bulgaria
|0.7
|-
|Burkina Faso
|0.1
|-
|Cameroon
|0.3
|-
|Cambodia
|0.2
|-
|Canada
|22.6
|-
|Cayman Islands
|0
|-
|Central African Republic
|0
|-
|Chad
|0.1
|-
|Chile
|3
|-
|China
|98.8
|-
|Taiwan
|7.2
|-
|Colombia
|4.1
|-
|Comoros
|0
|-
|Cape Verde
|0
|-
|Congo
|0.2
|-
|Cook Islands
|0
|-
|Costa Rica
|0.5
|-
|Cote-d´lvoire
|0.3
|-
|Croatia
|0.9
|-
|Cuba
|0.9
|-
|Cyprus
|0.4
|-
|Czech Republic
|2.8
|-
|Denmark
|4.4
|-
|Djibouti
|0
|-
|Dominica
|0
|-
|Dominican Republic
|0.7
|-
|Ecuador
|0.8
|-
|Egypt
|3.1
|-
|El Salvador
|0.3
|-
|Equatorial Guinea
|0.2
|-
|Eritrea
|0
|-
|Estonia
|0.3
|-
|Ethiopia
|0.4
|-
|Fiji
|0
|-
|Finland
|3.4
|-
|France
|39.8
|-
|Gabon
|0.2
|-
|Gambia
|0
|-
|Germany
|47
|-
|Ghana
|0.4
|-
|United Kingdom
|32.4
|-
|Guinea-Bissau
|0
|-
|Georgia
|0.2
|-
|Greece
|4.3
|-
|Grenada
|0
|-
|Guam
|0
|-
|Guatemala
|0.6
|-
|Guinea
|0.1
|-
|Guyana
|0
|-
|Haiti
|0.1
|-
|Honduras
|0.2
|-
|Hong Kong
|3.2
|-
|Hungary
|1.8
|-
|Iceland
|0.2
|-
|India
|24.7
|-
|Indonesia
|10.1
|-
|Iran
|4.7
|-
|Iraq
|1.2
|-
|Ireland
|3
|-
|Italy
|29.5
|-
|Israel
|3.1
|-
|Jamaica
|0.2
|-
|Japan
|78.2
|-
|Jordan
|0.4
|-
|Kazakhstan
|2.3
|-
|Kyrgyzstan
|0.1
|-
|Kenya
|0.4
|-
|South Korea
|14.8
|-
|North Korea
|0.4
|-
|Kuwait
|2
|-
|Laos
|0.1
|-
|Latvia
|0.4
|-
|Saint Lucia
|0
|-
|Lebanon
|0.5
|-
|Lesotho
|0
|-
|Libya
|0.9
|-
|Lichtenstein
|0.1
|-
|Luxembourg
|0.8
|-
|Macedonia
|0.1
|-
|Madagascar
|0.1
|-
|Malawi
|0.1
|-
|Malaysia
|3.3
|-
|Moldova
|0.1
|-
|Marshall Islands
|0
|-
|Maldives
|0
|-
|Malta
|0.1
|-
|Mali
|0.1
|-
|Mauritania
|0.2
|-
|Mauritius
|0.1
|-
|Mexico
|16.2
|-
|Micronesia
|0
|-
|Monaco
|0.1
|-
|Montenegro
|0.1
|-
|Mongolia
|0.1
|-
|Morocco
|1.3
|-
|Mozambique
|0.1
|-
|Myanmar
|0.7
|-
|Namibia
|0.2
|-
|Nepal
|0.2
|-
|Netherlands
|11.2
|-
|New Zealand
|1.8
|-
|Nicaragua
|0.1
|-
|Niger
|0.1
|-
|Niger
|0.1
|-
|Norway
|5.9
|-
|Oman
|0.7
|-
|Pakistan
|2.4
|-
|Palau
|0
|-
|Panama
|0.4
|-
|Papua New Guinea
|0.1
|-
|Paraguay
|0.3
|-
|Peru
|2.3
|-
|Philippines
|2.9
|-
|Poland
|6.7
|-
|Portugal
|3.3
|-
|Puerto Rico
|1.4
|-
|Qatar
|1.4
|-
|Romania
|2.3
|-
|Rwanda
|0.1
|-
|Saint Lucia
|0
|-
|Saint Kitts and Nevis
|0
|-
|Samoa
|0
|-
|San Marino
|0
|-
|Saudi Arabia
|6.2
|-
|Seychelles
|0
|-
|Sierra Leone
|0
|-
|Senegal
|0.2
|-
|Slovenia
|0.7
|-
|Solomon Islands
|0
|-
|South Africa
|5.2
|-
|Sri Lanka
|0.7
|-
|Slovakia
|1.3
|-
|Swaziland
|0.1
|-
|Serbia
|0.6
|-
|Singapore
|3
|-
|Spain
|20.2
|-
|Sudan
|0.9
|-
|Suriname
|0
|-
|Syria
|0.8
|-
|Sweden
|6.6
|-
|Switzerland
|7.6
|-
|Tanzania
|0.3
|-
|Tonga
|0
|-
|Thailand
|4.6
|-
|Togo
|0
|-
|Trinidad and Tobago
|0.3
|-
|Tajikistan
|0.1
|-
|Timor-Leste
|0
|-
|Turkmenistan
|0.3
|-
|Tunisia
|0.6
|-
|Turkey
|10.5
|-
|Tuvalu
|0
|-
|Uganda
|0.2
|-
|Ukraine
|2
|-
|United Arab Emirates
|4.3
|-
|United States
|209
|-
|Uruguay
|0.6
|-
|Uzbekistan
|0.6
|-
|Vanuatu
|0
|-
|Venezuela
|5.6
|-
|Vietnam
|1.5
|-
|Yemen
|0.4
|-
|Zambia
|0.2
|-
|Zimbabwe
|0.1
|-
|}

== Commemoration ==

The 2012 games mark the 40th anniversary of 11 [[Israeli]] Olympic team members taken hostage and killed by [[Palestinian]] [[terrorist]] group Black September. The Internal Olympic Committee has been urged to offer a commemorative moment of silence for the athletes at the opening ceremony. The IOC has rejected the moment of silence or any mention of the tragic event so as not to upset [[Muslim]] countries. <ref>[http://www.eju.org/news/world/ioc-refuses-request-memorial-munich-victims IOC refuses request for a memorial to Munich victims, EJU News, may 22, 2012]</ref> Sportscaster Bob Costas says NBC will honor the Munich 11 despite IOC’s refusal to allow it. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2012/07/21/bob-costas-says-he-will-observe-moment-of-silence-for-victims-of-1972-munich-massacre-during-live-broadcast-of-london-olympics-opening-ceremony-despite-iocs-refusal-to-allow-it/ Bob Costas Says He Will Observe Moment of Silence For Victims of 1972 Munich Massacre, WeaselZippers, July 21, 2012]</ref>

== NBC Coverage ==

Scorn for Comcast's [[NBC]] coverage of the Olympic games hit America coast to coast. Viewers have taken to the internet with the trend #NBCfail for days now. The groans began at the opening ceremony when [[American]] viewers were denied the tribute to British victims of [[Islamic]] terrorism. As the games moved forward, live events were interrupted or had already finished, replaced with commercials and NBC commentators talking about the athletes. It has been reported the Comcast spent $1 billion for the rights to televise the 2012 Olympics.

== See also ==

*[http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/ Schedule and Results]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Olympics]]

User talk:RayM

2012-08-10T14:41:07Z

RayM:

User talk:RayM

2012-08-10T14:25:18Z

RayM: @ Sharon.

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T14:23:12Z

RayM:

User talk:RayM

2012-08-10T14:17:51Z

RayM:

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T14:02:26Z

RayM: /* Dressage */

User talk:RayM

2012-08-10T14:00:07Z

RayM: /* Dressage */

Soccer

2012-08-10T13:50:12Z

RayM:

[[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]]
'''Soccer''' is a popular [[joke sport]] played with a round ball propelled mainly by kicks from a player's foot.
In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a restricted area. The goal of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; each goal gives that team a point and the team with the most points at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner.
Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol'').

==Origins==

The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "Association Football", <ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London'' </ref>. Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules.

==Rules of the Game==
[[Image:Soccer pitch.gif|right|thumb|300px|left|Dimensions of a soccer pitch]]
The game is played between two teams of 11 players (10 out-field players and one goalkeeper each). In official play, there are two 45 [[minute]] halves separated by a break known as half-time which according to the rules of the game must last less than 20 minutes. Unlike most sports, the clock does not always stop when the ball is not in play. When the ball is knocked out of bounds or a penalty is committed, the clock runs continuously. If a player is injured then the [[referee]] makes up that lost time by adding minutes onto the end of the half. This is known as [[stoppage]] or injury time. If both scores are even at the end of regulation time, the game is usually declared a draw. However, in knockout cup games, there is often an additional period of play consisting of two 15-minute halves. In some competitions, the first goal in this period (golden goal) wins the game. If the scores are still level, the result is decided with a [[penalty shootout]]. The set of rules used in soccer are called the [[Laws of the Game]].

The game is played on a [[grass]] (or artificial grass) pitch with dimensions 90-120 m (100-130 yards) in length and 45-90 m (50-100 yards) in width.
<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf FIFA Laws of the Game 2006] ''Official FIFA website''</ref>
A goal is scored when the ball is propelled into the opposition net. The side scoring the most goals is the winner. Infringements include playing the ball with any part of the body other than the feet or head; pushing or blocking an opposing player and stepping outside the playing area while the ball is in play.

Accuracy in kicking is very important to make sure that one can kick the ball around opponents, manage it in tight spaces, and make long passes to other players in better positions. Expert players have trained to kick from a variety of angles, both forward and back and to the side, and also to use their chests and heads to maneuver a high-flying ball.

==Soccer Around the World==
[[Image:800px-Soccer goalkeeper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Goalkeeper leaping to make a save]]
It is the most popular [[team sport]] in the world, described by the legendary Brazilian player, [[Pele]], as "The Beautiful Game". Its governing body is [[FIFA]] (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). In most countries it is the most popular sport or at least among the most popular (the [[United States]] being a notable exception). Though it is often not a high-scoring game, its popularity comes from the often dramatic saves from goalkeepers and incredible shots from skilled players in attempts to score a goal. In the United States soccer was associated with communism during the Thirties, as several communist organizations used soccer in an attempt to recruit recent European immigrants to their cause.

Every four years there is an international competition known as the [[World Cup]], where countries send their best players to compete for the title of best national soccer team. Every four years in Europe there is the European Championship in June and July when the leagues finish which is a 16 team competition for members of UEFA, the European governing body. Each other continent also has a competition, such as the African Nations Cup, which is every two years in January.

Many soccer fans are extremely passionate about their favorite teams, traveling to other countries to support them. Several countries have had problems controlling over-excited fans, with the crowd sometimes spilling onto the pitch, fighting with themselves, disliked referees and even players. [[England]] once had a poor reputation from its soccer [[hooligan]]s who got into drunken fistfights with fans of other teams. This situation has largely changed, with much better behavior at English football matches and considerably increased violence in several other countries, especially [[Italy]].

In most European countries each large town will have at least one football team who play in leagues, which last August to May in most of Europe but March to October in others. Unlike most American sports, the top teams in each league go up a league to be replaced by the last teams in the league above. The top teams in the top division of each European country enter the UEFA Champions League, a league and knockout competition played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the season.

==Great Players==

* [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time.
* [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper.
* [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball.
* [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest.
* [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever center halves.
* [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals.
* [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional.
* [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery.
* [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest.
* [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, retired shortly after the World Cup final match between France and [[Italy]] in 2006.
* [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]].
* [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]].

==A note on terminology==

{{football meaning}} In many other languages, a [[phonics|phonetic]] equivalent to the English word "football," such as the Portuguese word "futbol" is used to denote the sport.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer]]

Joke sports

2012-08-10T13:49:54Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won three golds in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*Diving<ref>Essentially nothing more than dropping into water</ref>
*[[Dressage]] <ref> Elitist, has no meaning to the average sports fan. </ref>
*Greco-Roman [[Wrestling]]<ref>Has nothing to do with Greece, or Rome, and is so artificially restricted it barely has anything to do with wrestling</ref>
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*[[Soccer]]<ref>Olympic rules prohibit the best players in the world from competing</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"???</ref>
*Backstroke races<ref>An inefficient, silly stroke comparable to foot races for hopping or running backwards.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*[[Taekwondo]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]
*Women's artistic gymnastics<ref>Participants don't compete on the rings or pommel horse, unlike the men</ref>

== Comments ==

<references/>

Swimming

2012-08-10T13:48:52Z

RayM:

'''Swimming''' refers to any combination of bodily movements employed by [[animals]] as a means of propelling themselves through [[water]]. [[Humans]] can learn to swim, although water is not their natural habitat. [[Fish]], marine [[mammals]], and other aquatic creatures swim by instinct as their primary means of locomotion.

Swimming is an [[Olympic]] sport. American [[Michael Phelps]] is probably considered to be the best swimmer to have ever lived, having won 18 gold medals. Some also cite this record to claim that Phelps is the greatest ever Olympian in any sport, but they ignore the fact that swimming has a disproportionate number of gold medals available, awarded for seemingly endless permutations of strokes, distances and relay races that make multiple medals an inevitability for the top competitors. Some Olympians with a strong claim to be greater than Phelps are [[Carl Lewis]], [[Steve Redgrave]], [[Chris Hoy]], [[Ben Ainslie]], [[Bradley Wiggins]] and [[Daley Thompson]].

Many forms of competitive swimming, including medleys, the relay, the backstroke and synchronized swimming are [[joke sports]].

[[category:Sports]]

Joke sports

2012-08-10T13:47:51Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won three golds in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*Diving<ref>Essentially nothing more than dropping into water</ref>
*[[Dressage]] <ref> Elitist, has no meaning to the average sports fan. </ref>
*Greco-Roman [[Wrestling]]<ref>Has nothing to do with Greece, or Rome, and is so artificially restricted it barely has anything to do with wrestling</ref>
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Soccer<ref>Olympic rules prohibit the best players in the world from competing</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*[[Swimming]] relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"???</ref>
*Backstroke races<ref>An inefficient, silly stroke comparable to foot races for hopping or running backwards.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*[[Taekwondo]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]
*Women's artistic gymnastics<ref>Participants don't compete on the rings or pommel horse, unlike the men</ref>

== Comments ==

<references/>

Joke sports

2012-08-10T13:46:54Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won three golds in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach volleyball
*BMX cycling
*Diving<ref>Essentially nothing more than dropping into water</ref>
*[[Dressage]] <ref> Elitist, has no meaning to the average sports fan. </ref>
*Greco-Roman [[Wrestling]]<ref>Has nothing to do with Greece, or Rome, and is so artificially restricted it barely has anything to do with wrestling</ref>
*Rhythmic gymnastics
*Soccer<ref>Olympic rules prohibit the best players in the world from competing</ref>
*Synchronized swimming
*Swimming relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"???</ref>
*Backstroke races<ref>An inefficient, silly stroke comparable to foot races for hopping or running backwards.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*[[Taekwondo]]
*Women's [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]]
*Women's artistic gymnastics<ref>Participants don't compete on the rings or pommel horse, unlike the men</ref>

== Comments ==

<references/>

Joke sports

2012-08-10T13:43:31Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement with a underlying purpose to the event. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events. During those games, atheistic [[Great Britain]] won three golds in the joke sports; the United States won ten joke sport gold medals.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach Volleyball
*BMX Cycling
*Diving<ref>Essentially nothing more than dropping into water</ref>
*[[Dressage]] <ref> Elitist, has no meaning to the average sports fan. </ref>
*Greco-Roman Wrestling<ref>Has nothing to do with Greece, or Rome, and is so artificially restricted it barely has anything to do with wrestling</ref>
*Rhythmic Gymnastics
*Soccer<ref>Olympic rules prohibit the best players in the world from competing</ref>
*Synchronized Swimming
*Swimming relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays. Would anyone want a long jump or pole vault "relay"???</ref>
*Backstroke races<ref>An inefficient, silly stroke comparable to foot races for hopping or running backwards.</ref>
*Swimming medleys<ref>It is hard even to imagine how preposterous a land-based equivalent of this might look. Yet swimmers award and receive gold medals for them without raising a single eyebrow.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*[[Taekwondo]]
*Women's [[Boxing]] and [[Wrestling]]
*Women's Artistic Gymnastics<ref>Participants don't compete on the rings or pommel horse, unlike the men</ref>

== Comments ==

<references/>

Dressage

2012-08-10T13:41:59Z

RayM: Sharon, you may not like this, and I may even agree with you, but it is now a Conservapedia fact that dressage is a joke sport.

'''Dressage''' is an ancient sport in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by the Greek general Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>

As well as being a discipline in its own right, Dressage also forms part of equestrian eventing, along with cross-country and show jumping.

It is a [[joke sport]].

[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Joke sports

2012-08-10T13:01:31Z

RayM:

Dressage

2012-08-10T04:46:06Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is a [[joke sports|joke sport]] dating to Antiquity in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by a Greek general named Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Dressage

2012-08-10T04:39:20Z

RayM: I'm truly sorry, Sharon, but for the sake of consistency--as far as Conservapedia is concerned, it is a joke sport, no matter how ancient it is.

'''Dressage''' is a [[joke sports|joke sport]] in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Its origins lie in the military training of the cavalry for battle. One of the first treatises on the subject was by a Greek general named Xenophon (430 – 354 BC), who based his writings on the works of an earlier author.<ref>[http://www.artisticdressage.com/articles/history1.html A Brief Outline of the History of Dressage] artisticdressage.com, Dr. Thomas Ritter, originally published in ''Topline Ink'' Magazine, copyright 2008, retrieved August 10, 2012</ref> Dressage has been featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T04:35:58Z

RayM: /* Female version of sports */

Talk:Joke sports

2012-08-10T04:18:11Z

RayM: /* criteria? */

Dressage

2012-08-10T01:57:53Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is a [[joke sports|joke sport]] in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Dressage has featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. Rafalca competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
<references/>

Boxing

2012-08-10T01:22:54Z

RayM:

[[Image:Muhammad Ali.jpg|thumb|]]
''On the antiChristian uprising in China in 1900, see [[Boxer Rebellion]].''

'''Boxing''' is an [[Olympic]] arena [[sport]] where two opponents hit each other (usually wearing red gloves). Boxing is perhaps the most challenging sport of all. A boxer requires a unique blend of speed, strength, and endurance. In addition to these qualities, he must stand up to the punishment inflicted by an equally matched opponent. To withstand the inevitable pain and fatigue, the boxer must possess a mind that is as tough as his body. Boxing is still very popular, possibly having roots in ancient Greek styles of boxing, although with certain and clearly defined roots in the bare-knuckle fights in England in the early-modern era, being given modern rules in the 19th century by the Marquess of Queensbury.

When women participate in it, boxing is a [[joke sports|joke sport]].

==Methods==
Right-handed boxers usually fight from an orthodox stance. This means putting the left foot slightly ahead of the right with both feet spread apart and the weight of the body evenly distributed on both. This position enables the boxer to move quickly in any direction. The left arm is partly extended to the front. The right arm is held close to the body to guard the [[stomach]] and [[jaw]]. Left-handed boxers stand with the right foot and right arm forward. The chief points of attack are the tip of the jaw, the spot just below the [[ear]], and the midsection of the body. A solid punch delivered to one of these points often results in a knockout. A good offense is usually built around the four recognized classes of punches jab, straight blow, hook or cross, and uppercut. The jab is a sharp, light punch delivered by straightening out the bent arm, usually the left arm in a typical stance. The jab can be used effectively to harass an opponent and to keep him off-balance. A cross, a straight punch with the right, may carry the weight of the body behind it and will result in a knockout if it is landed in a vital spot, and is usually preceded by a jab, a combination often referred to as a "one-two". The hook, either left or right, is a blow with the arm held at or near a right angle, powered by the quick, strong rotation of the back and core muscles, aimed to slip by the opponent's guard in a circular fashion. The uppercut is a blow directed upward, usually aimed at the jaw or the midsection. When delivered with full power either punch can be a knockout blow - although knockouts are technically achievable with jabs, as well as the typical power punches, the hook, uppercut, and cross. The defense may also may be built around several basic maneuvers. Blocking is parrying with the glove, forearm, elbow, or shoulder to deflect the opponent's punches. Slipping, which depends upon fast footwork, consists of stepping aside and making the rival miss. Another trick is to roll with the punch that is, to soften the effect of a blow by moving in the direction it is aimed - confusingly named, since a boxer may also perform a "shoulder roll", a roll of the shoulder that does not involve taking a blow, but intercepting with a circular motion of the shoulder inward when the punch is entering. Ducking is bobbing down so that the blow goes over the head. Clinching, when done legally, ties up the opponent's arms and gives the boxer an opportunity to rest, although this is looked down upon and discouraged. Other maneuvers, offensive and defensive, are also useful to a boxer. Feinting is bluffing with one hand preparatory to delivering a blow with the other. Leading is opening an attack, usually with a left jab. Countering is throwing a hard punch at the opponent at the exact moment he leads off.

== See also ==

*[[Muhammad Ali]]
*[[Wrestling]]

[[Category:boxing]]
[[Category: Martial Arts]]

Judo

2012-08-10T01:22:41Z

RayM:

'''Judo''' (柔道, "Gentle way") is a [[Japanese]] martial art developed in 1882 by [[Jigoro Kano]].

It originated from the many different schools of [[jujutsu]], specifically Tenjin Shinyo-ryu and Kito-ryu, and specializes in throws. Practioners of judo are called judoka.

When women participate in it, judo is a [[joke sports|joke sport]].

==Principles==
Judo teaches the use of leverage, quick movements, and breaking balance (崩し, ''kuzushi'') in order to throw an opponent. Another point is using one's physical and mental power efficiently.

==Techniques==
Judo techniques are divided into throws (投げ技, ''nage-waza''), grappling techniques (固技, ''katame-waza''), and striking techniques (当て身技, ''atemi-waza''). Also crucial is learning to fall safely (受身, ''ukemi'').

''Nage-waza'' are divided into standing techniques (立ち技, ''tachi-waza''), and sacrifice techniques (捨身技, ''sutemi-waza''). ''Tachi-waza'' are divided into hand techniques (手技, ''te-waza''), hip techniques (腰技, ''koshi-waza''), and leg techniques (足技, ''ashi-waza''). ''Sutemi-waza'' are divided into supine sacrifice techniques (真捨身技, ''ma-sutemi-waza'') and side sacrifice techniques (橫捨身技, ''yoko-sutemi-waza'').

''Katame-waza'' are divided into pinning techiques (押込技, ''Osae-komi-waza''), choking techniques (絞技, ''Shime-waza''), and joint locks (関節技, ''kansetsu-waza'')

''Atemi-waza'' include punches, kicks, knee strikes, finger strikes, and elbow strikes. ''Atemi-waza'' are only practiced in kata, not free practice, since they could result in serious injury, unconsciousness, or death.

==Forms of practice==
Judo is practiced in either free practice (乱取り, ''randori''), or kata (prearranged forms).

In randori, any throw can be performed (except a few dangerous throws), and grappling techniques are also performed, except ''shime-waza''. Also exempt from randori include ''atemi-waza'', for the reasons described above.

Katas consist of ''Randori-no-kata'' (free exercise katas), which is divided into ''Nage-no-kata'' (Throwing kata), and ''Katame-no-kata'' (Grappling kata), ''Kime-no-kata'' (Decisive kata), ''Kodokan Goshin Jutsu'' (Kodokan self- defense kata), ''Ju-no-kata'' (Gentle kata), ''Itsutsu-no-kata'' (The Five Katas), and ''Koshiki-no-kata'' (Kata of Antiquity). There is also ''Seiryoku-zenyo-kokumin-taiiku'' (Maximum-Efficiency National Physical Education), which is used by judoka to train outside the dojo.

==Resuscitation techniques==
Sometimes, a judoka is choked into unconsciousness during randori or competition, and resuscitation techniques (活法, ''kappo'') are used to resume their breathing. Kappo are not unlike [[CPR]], but do not involve mouth-to-mouth techniques.

==Kodokan==
The Kodokan, founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, is located in [[Tokyo]], Japan. This is the international judo center. The Kodokan publishes a monthly magazine titled ''Judo'', that Kodokan members subscribe to. Members pay a monthly fee, and international students can enroll.

== See also ==

*[[Aikido]]
*[[Tae Kwon Do]]
*[[Karate]]

==External links==
*[http://www.judoinfo.com/ Judo Info]

[[Category: Sports]]
[[Category:Martial Arts]]
[[Category: Judo]]

Wrestling

2012-08-10T01:22:20Z

RayM:

'''Wrestling''' is an amateur sport, popular in high school, college and the [[Olympics]], which consists of opponents of similar weight attempting to obtain control of each other and pinning the opposition to the ground.

This extremely athletic sport is not to be confused with "professional wrestling," which is staged entertainment.

When women participate in it, wrestling is a [[joke sports|joke sport]].

[[Category:Wrestling]]

Fencing

2012-08-10T01:21:57Z

RayM:

[[Image:Fencing.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fencing]]
'''Fencing''' is an [[olympics|Olympic]] sport, derived from the practice of dueling with swords. One-touch epee fencing is also one of the disciplines of the modern [[pentathlon]].

It is governed by the FIE (Federation Internationale D'Escrime).

when women participate in it, fencing is a [[joke sports|joke sport]].

==Weapons==

Three classes of weapons are included in modern fencing, each with its own rules of play:

*Foil
: The foil is the smallest and usually the lightest of the three weapons. It has a rectangular blade and a small guard, and is usually (though not always) held with an orthopedic 'pistol grip.' Foil bouts are governed by right-of-way rules, which essentially have the feners 'take turns' attacking. Touches are scored with the point of the weapon, and are only valid when registered on the opponent's torso. In electrically-scored foil, this target area is covered by a conductive lamé to facilitate scoring of on-target and off-target hits.

*Epee
: The epee has a larger guard than the foil, and is generally heaver than either a foil or a sabre. Epees can be used with either orthopedic or French grips. In epee, touches can be made only with the point, and the entire body of the opponent is considered valid target. Epee bouts tend to be slower than those in foil or sabre due to the lack of right-of-way considerations.

*Sabre
: Sabre is the only weapon in which touches can be scored with any part of the blade. The game is fast-paced and, like foil, considers right-of-way. The target area is the body from the waist upwards, including the mask.

==Competition==

A fencing bout is usually decided at five or 15 touches, depending on the round and competition, though in veterans' competition (for older fencers) the longer bouts end at 10 touches. Bouts occur on a narrow strip, or piste, that is 14 meters long. Electrical scoring systems, which vary by weapon, are used in most modern fencing practice and competition.

==Equipment==

Fencers are generally required to wear the following equipment in competition:
* a long-sleeved fencing jacket, preferably with a croissard, and which has a double layer of material in the weapon arm;
* an underarm protector, which is worn beneath the jacket and provides an extra layer of protection to the torso;
* for female fencers, a chest protector, usually plastic, to protect the breasts from impact. Some male fencers also wear chest protectors;
* knickers, short pants similar to baseball pants, which are required to extend at least four inches above the bottom of the jacket and which are usually secured with suspenders;
* a mask, to protect the head. Traditionally, fencing masks have a metal mesh front through which the fencer can see; some modern masks have a clear window so that spectators can see the athlete's face. In electric sabre, the mask must be conductive;
* a glove, to protect the weapon hand. Most fencers do not wear gloves on their non-weapon hand;
* in electric foil and sabre, a conductive lamé, which covers the target area and allows for electric scoring.
* socks, which may be of any color, which extend to the bottoms of the knickers.

Body and mask cords, as well as electric weapons, are also required for electrically-scored competition.

==External links==
*[http://www.usfencing.org/usfa/content/category/7/325/80/ US Fencing] Further information, club listings
*[http://www.fie.ch/Welcome.aspx Federation Internationale D'Escrime (English)] International governing body of sport fencing

[[Category:Sports]]

Boxing

2012-08-10T01:21:40Z

RayM:

[[Image:Muhammad Ali.jpg|thumb|]]
''On the antiChristian uprising in China in 1900, see [[Boxer Rebellion]].''

'''Boxing''' is an [[Olympic]] arena [[sport]] where two opponents hit each other (usually wearing red gloves). Boxing is perhaps the most challenging sport of all. A boxer requires a unique blend of speed, strength, and endurance. In addition to these qualities, he must stand up to the punishment inflicted by an equally matched opponent. To withstand the inevitable pain and fatigue, the boxer must possess a mind that is as tough as his body. Boxing is still very popular, possibly having roots in ancient Greek styles of boxing, although with certain and clearly defined roots in the bare-knuckle fights in England in the early-modern era, being given modern rules in the 19th century by the Marquess of Queensbury.

when women participate in it, boxing is a [[joke sports|joke sport]].

==Methods==
Right-handed boxers usually fight from an orthodox stance. This means putting the left foot slightly ahead of the right with both feet spread apart and the weight of the body evenly distributed on both. This position enables the boxer to move quickly in any direction. The left arm is partly extended to the front. The right arm is held close to the body to guard the [[stomach]] and [[jaw]]. Left-handed boxers stand with the right foot and right arm forward. The chief points of attack are the tip of the jaw, the spot just below the [[ear]], and the midsection of the body. A solid punch delivered to one of these points often results in a knockout. A good offense is usually built around the four recognized classes of punches jab, straight blow, hook or cross, and uppercut. The jab is a sharp, light punch delivered by straightening out the bent arm, usually the left arm in a typical stance. The jab can be used effectively to harass an opponent and to keep him off-balance. A cross, a straight punch with the right, may carry the weight of the body behind it and will result in a knockout if it is landed in a vital spot, and is usually preceded by a jab, a combination often referred to as a "one-two". The hook, either left or right, is a blow with the arm held at or near a right angle, powered by the quick, strong rotation of the back and core muscles, aimed to slip by the opponent's guard in a circular fashion. The uppercut is a blow directed upward, usually aimed at the jaw or the midsection. When delivered with full power either punch can be a knockout blow - although knockouts are technically achievable with jabs, as well as the typical power punches, the hook, uppercut, and cross. The defense may also may be built around several basic maneuvers. Blocking is parrying with the glove, forearm, elbow, or shoulder to deflect the opponent's punches. Slipping, which depends upon fast footwork, consists of stepping aside and making the rival miss. Another trick is to roll with the punch that is, to soften the effect of a blow by moving in the direction it is aimed - confusingly named, since a boxer may also perform a "shoulder roll", a roll of the shoulder that does not involve taking a blow, but intercepting with a circular motion of the shoulder inward when the punch is entering. Ducking is bobbing down so that the blow goes over the head. Clinching, when done legally, ties up the opponent's arms and gives the boxer an opportunity to rest, although this is looked down upon and discouraged. Other maneuvers, offensive and defensive, are also useful to a boxer. Feinting is bluffing with one hand preparatory to delivering a blow with the other. Leading is opening an attack, usually with a left jab. Countering is throwing a hard punch at the opponent at the exact moment he leads off.

== See also ==

*[[Muhammad Ali]]
*[[Wrestling]]

[[Category:boxing]]
[[Category: Martial Arts]]

Dressage

2012-08-10T01:20:49Z

RayM:

'''Dressage''' is a [[joke sports|joke sport]] in which [[horse]]s move and maneuvre in response to the commands of the rider. Dressage has featured in the [[Olympic Games]] since 1928.

[[Mitt_Romney|Mitt Romney's]] wife Ann Romney owns the German-born dressage horse Rafalca. She competed in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] with rider Jan Ebeling, but failed to reach the individual medal round.

[[Great Britain]] padded its medal total with two gold medals in the individual and team events in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. Despite positive responses by the British public regarding all medal successes, dressage has had difficulty in winning over the public. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19180865</ref>
[[category:Sports]]
[[category:Dictionary]]

===References===
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Table tennis

2012-08-10T01:19:23Z

RayM:

'''Table tennis''' is a [[joke sports|joke sport]] similar to [[tennis]] and played on a flat table divided into two equal "courts" by a net fixed across its width at the middle. The object is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent’s half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly. The lightweight, hollow, celluloid ball is hit back and forth across the net by small rackets or paddles. The game is popular all over the world. In most countries, it is a highly organized, competitive sport, particularly in [[China]] and [[Japan]]. In the [[United States]] it is commonly referred to as "Ping Pong",[http://www.nbcolympics.com/tabletennis/] however, this is a genericized trademark from 1901.

President [[Richard Nixon]] used "Ping Pong Diplomacy" with China in the 1970s, where players of both nations would compete.

[[Category:Sports]]

Joke sports

2012-08-10T01:18:48Z

RayM:

'''Joke sports''' are games that are poor substitutes for strenuous athletic endeavors that bring out the best in human achievement. The inclusion of many joke sports in the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] detracts from the serious events.

Examples of joke sports include:

*[[Badminton]]
*Beach Volleyball
*BMX Cycling
*[[Dressage]]
*Rhythmic Gymnastics
*Synchronized Swimming
*Swimming relays<ref>In running relays, there is a baton that must be artfully passed during the race. No such baton passing exists for the silly swimming relays.</ref>
*[[Table_tennis|Table Tennis]]
*Women's [[Boxing]], [[Fencing]], [[Wrestling]], and [[Judo]].

== Comments ==

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