IOC to Investigate Chinese Gymnast

[Saxman]

The IOC, responding to pressure and overwhelming evidence, has begun an investigation into Gold Medal gymnast He Kexin, to determine if the Chinese government covered up the fact that she is two years under the minimum qualifying age for Olympic participation.

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I wonder if they're going to be looking into the accusations of unjust favoritism on the part of judges towards the Chinese as well. I've seen a lot of reports indicating many rulings giving China it's insanely disproportionate number of Gold Medals are a bit suspicious as well.

Combined with the fact that China has blatantly ignored its promises to improve on its human rights record as one of its conditions for hosting the games, I think there's a case to outright disqualify them altogether.

[DYNAMITE]

about time 

[Pei]

The IOC won't do anything to upset China - this is just a sop to the media.

[kamilyun]

I've seen a lot of reports indicating many rulings giving China it's insanely disproportionate number of Gold Medals are a bit suspicious as well.

We had 44 golds in 1996 when we hosted it.  They have 46 now.  Considering the investment they've made in their athletes, I don't think it's numerically suspicious.

They've steadily improved since 1996 (16 golds).  2000 = 28, 2004 = 32.

The gymnasts looked like they were 10.  But the #'s on medals look like a wealthy, proud home country dumping money on sports programs.

Edit:  And if you go back to 1984...we had 84 gold medals! 

One number that does look mighty suspicious is East Germany in 1988.  They had about 35 million people to our 180 million, yet beat us by 1 gold (37 to 36) that year. 

[Shamus]

One number that does look mighty suspicious is East Germany in 1988.  They had about 35 million people to our 180 million, yet beat us by 1 gold (37 to 36) that year. 

Thats because their women athletes were men.

shamus

except for Katerina Witt 

[lasersailor184]

I personally think that something should have been done before the competition, not after.


But that would have required the IOC to at least collectively have one set of testicles.

[gwano]

 i think any athlete that doesnt meet the entry qualifications should be disqualified, as well as anyone that violates rules for a particular sport. outside of that, if an athlete is better, they deserve the medal. we cant control the judges opinion.

statistically, china is under performing. They have 1.3 billion poeple to choose from
we have 330 million in the USA. thats a lot more people to choose from.
a high school with 500 people probably wont field a team the same caliber as a high school with 2000 students to choose from.

[Masherbrum]

Thats because their women athletes were men.

shamus

except for Katerina Witt 

Oh my, Katerina.   Now I'd love to have a night with her.   

[Elfie]

Oh my, Katerina.   Now I'd love to have a night with her.   

I'm telling your wife!   

[Masherbrum]

I'm telling your wife!   

She already knows.   

[Saxman]

In unsurprising news, the IOC has dismissed the charges against China after a mere 12-hour investigation.

Are they afraid of the embarrassment that would accompany the admission they'd been had? Or are they turning a blind eye to China's behavior for...other reasons? 

[Curval]

Beaten by a little girl who is too young?   Sounds like a huge whine from countries who lost.

What are lazs' thoughts?

[Elfie]

She already knows.    devil

 

[myelo]

Beaten by a little girl who is too young?   Sounds like a huge whine from countries who lost.

Gymnastics is one of the relatively few sports where small size is an advantage. Strength: weight ratio is critical so everything else being equal, less weight is better. Short height is also an advantage -- better leverage and faster rotations. The biologic reality is that when girls reach a certain age they get taller and start putting on weight ... and it ain't muscle.

As for whining, I couldn't care less who wins. Any competition where you wear makeup and sparkly uniforms isn't a sport in my view, it's an exhibition. Like a circus.

[Elfie]

Beaten by a little girl who is too young?   Sounds like a huge whine from countries who lost.

What are lazs' thoughts?

If she was to young by the standards set by the IOC, then she should not be able to retain any medals she won. Why? Because by participating she was breaking the rules.