Category: ethics

U.S. Olympic TV coverage

… here are the biggest takeaways from the #RespectHerGame report:

  • Women got more overall coverage: Athletes in women’s sports received a staggering 59.1% of screen time in primetime Olympic coverage.
  • But men overwhelmingly control their stories: Men make up 82% of live Olympic commentators.
  • Men’s sports is still viewed as the default: Athletes in men’s sports are referred to as “male [athlete|sport]” just two percent of the time, while athletes in women’s sports are given the “female” qualifier 13.6% of the time.
  • Women are more exposed and sexualized than their male counterparts: Athletes in women’s sports wear revealing outfits in competition more than their male counterparts (69.9% compared to 53.5%), and are 10 times more likely to be objectified by camera angles (5.7% compared with 0.6%).
  • Women are still infantilized: Athletes in women’s sports are seven times more likely to be referred to using gender diminutive language (such as “girl” or “lady” or “chick”) as their counterpart in men’s sports. …

For women at the Olympics, more coverage doesn’t equal respectful coverage

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Apparatus Finals 1-touch warm-up

FIG:

Following several comments and requests made by gymnasts during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the EC unanimously agreed that athletes taking part in the Apparatus finals in Artistic Gymnastics must have the opportunity to warm up on the apparatus on the field of play, as already allowed in the All-Around and Team competitions.

The right to have a one-touch warm-up will come into force as soon as the amendment to the Technical Regulations is approved by the FIG Council. …

Official news from the Executive Committee – August 2021

FIG should improve Vault landing mats

Does anyone have statistics on this?

I feel certain we are seeing more severe injuries on Vault landings, on average, than on any other apparatus.

I’d recommend FIG require a mat more like the safer one used by Trampoline sports on double-mini.

Eurotramp Double-Minitramp landing mat

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

coach – be more like “Ted Lasso”

Season 2 is on Apple TV+.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/jojoligs14/status/1418937080336560137

talking about the ‘gymternet’

Fans are Fanatics.

We once had to rely on “mainstream media” to cover Gymnastics.

A few TV channels. International Gymnast magazine.

Sports Illustrated … every 4 years.

The situation for fans (and coaches) is much better today.

YOU and anyone online can post your own opinions the sport at no cost. And you might find an audience.

I recall when non-gymnast Spencer Barnes launched The Balance Beam Situation.

Instantly it was my #1 source of information on NCAA Gymnastics.

On the down side, every #hater, #troll and #bully can get online, as well.

Check an AP (mainstream media) article:

The ‘gymternet’: gymnastics’ devoted, sometimes toxic fans

GymCastic’s Jessica O’Beirne interviews Mandy Mohamed in Tokyo

gymnasts commiserate with Simone

Mental blocks are common in Gymnastics.

Simone’s could not have popped up at a worse time.

The one upside of all this publicity is preventing future injuries.

Every gymnast will remember the time the G.O.A.T. withdrew from the Olympics rather than risk getting lost in the air.

Gaar Adams , for example, trained at the Gym that produced the Hamm brothers:

… I tried to push myself past a “twisties” block at the end of one practice in September 2001.

Lost in the air, I fell on my neck and required spinal surgery, a halo brace and four months in a hospital bed.

A shade away from quadriplegia at the age of 13, my dreams of pursuing collegiate and elite gymnastics were over. …

The twisties: My gymnastics career may not have ended in hospital if I’d had a role model like Simone Biles

I’ve seen over a dozen similar stories recounted over recent days.

Victoria Moors, for example.

If it can happen to Simone, it can happen to anyone.

Xiao deducted 0.3 for not saluting

On his last apparatus, Xiao failed to salute the judges after his Horizontal Bar dismount, incurring a 0.3 penalty.

The deduction did not change his medal standing.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Not as bad as Manrique Larduet 2015.

One of the very first things young kids learn about competition is how to “present” and “salute”.

Respect for the judges

Simone withdrew from AA

Jade Carey will step in as 1st reserve for USA.

Tripartite athletes at the Olympics

Every 4 years we have to remind fans that one of the goals of the Olympics is expanding participation to smaller and less developed nations.

They know the concept of China (population 1.4 billion) competing against Cayman Islands (population 71,000) is absurd.

The Olympic Games Tripartite Commission — for Tokyo — added over 100 athletes from about 90 nations in 33 sports.

In the past we’ve had gymnasts from nations including Panama, Yemen, New Zealand, etc.

Having Raegan Rutty represent in Tokyo is a BIG DEAL for the Cayman Islands. Cheering athletes like Raegan is one of the things I like best about the Olympics.

If you want to watch the BEST of the BEST in the world, the Olympics is not the right competition. Worlds has far more top gymnasts.

Luciana Alvarado for #BLM

Luciana made a statement on social justice as part of her choreography.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/BNCNews/status/1419631924595802120