Month: April 2020

Could the 2020 Olympics be cancelled?

On GymCastic #419 Spencer said he predicts the 2020 Olympics will be cancelled if the announced dates in 2021 are not possible.

That rings true to me.

The additional cost of the current postponement is  billion$. 

I doubt those paying the extra would be willing to do it yet again.

“I don’t think anyone would be able to say if it is going to be possible to get it under control by next July or not,” Tokyo organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto said, speaking through an interpreter at a news conference conducted remotely.

”We’re certainly are not in a position to give you a clear answer.”

Tokyo Olympic CEO hints games could be in doubt even in 2021

NCAA gymnasts are under compensated

On GymCastic #419 Jessica interviewed sports economist Dr. David Berri from Southern Utah University, the Flippin’ Birds.

It’s been by far the best insight into the business of American College Sports I’ve ever encountered.

Gymnasts are under compensated for their contribution. Top College coaches overpaid for what they bring to the University. 

I highly recommend you listen to that episode. The interview is late in the podcast.

Berri has spent the last two decades researching sports and economics, while publishing works on a variety of topics including the evaluation of players and coaches, competitive balance, the drafting of players, labor disputes, the NCAA, and gender issues in sports.

Dr. Berri was the lead author of “The Wages of Wins and Stumbling on Wins” and recently published “Sports Economics“, a textbook from Macmillan Publishers.

In the past, he has written on the subject of sports economics for a number of popular media outlets, including the New York Times, the Atlantic.com, Time.com, and Vice Sports. Currently, Dr. Berri is writing for Forbes.com.

FIG Olympics qualification decisions

Yesterday FIG announced what they plan to do in light of the 2020 Olympics being delayed to 2021.

Spencer’s posted the most thoughtful reaction I’ve seen so far:

FIG GONNA FIG: THE 2021 OLYMPICS DECISIONS

  • 2017-2020 code of points will remain in force until the end of 2021.

 

  • Athletes who turn senior in 2021 WILL be eligible to qualify for and compete in the Olympics.

Spencer is OK with that decision. Kyle Shewfelt, for example, disagrees.

For example, 2019 Junior World all-around champion Viktoria Listunova is now eligible.

  • Weirdly, FIG is going to use the Baku World Cup 2020 preliminary rankings for points, since the Final was cancelled.

 

  • Copenhagen Worlds 2021 will be held as scheduled.

computer video analysis

Rutgers University Women’s Gymnastics Team demonstrated in early March for some researchers.

Looks cool.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Handstand T-shirt challenge

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Thanks Mary.

If that’s too easy, try the #handstandpantschallenge.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

AND — if that’s too easy — try Katelyn’s challenge.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

John Prine was a gymnast. R.I.P.

Many of my generation were big fans of John Prime.

The singer songwriter died April 7, 2020 of complications caused by COVID-19.

Age-73.

Prine competed for Proviso East High School in the Chicago suburbs. Chicago was well known for excellent Pommels in that era.

“… it was gymnastics that got me through high school!”  

John Prine

Via NCAA MEN’S GYMNASTICS ALUMNI.

 

1992 Olympian Cristina Bontaș

A Romanian superstar, Cristina today is coach at World Class Gymnastics in Canada.

Click PLAY or watch a charming mini-feature on YouTube.

Thanks Elizabeth.

training Pommel at home

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.