Semicharmed

We probably all know about the controversy over the gymnastics tie-breaking rules (Nastia Liukin and He Kexin tie for Gold, but Nastia wins in Silver) currently being used by the Olympic Committee, right?

If the FIG/IOC were to change the rules to one of the following, which do you think would be best and why?

1) Keep the current method:

The highest and lowest of of 6 judges scores are thrown out. The remaining 4 are averaged. If they still tie then the 3 lowest of those 4 score are averaged and the lowest average of those 3 is the winner.

Explained in more detail here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/olympics/2008/08/...

2) Have a tie-breaking "new" routine. The two tied gymnasts perform the same routine adding one new element or trick, and the judges base the winner on those performances.

3) Have the two tied gymnasts perform a routine of basics. Each one performs only the basic required elements. The scores are then based on the best of the basics so to speak.

My opinion is either 2 or 3 (both of which I thought up). I think I prefer choice #3 because it seems in this day and age, the girls are into their "tricks" and nailing them, but sometimes "miss" basic elements. Getting back to basics seems a bit more challenging to me as the girls seem to lose some of those skills while trying to perfect the "tricks".

So, if you could choose, which would it be? Or do you have a better idea?

Earlier I asked if opinions of the Chinese communist government changed because of how China hosted the Olympics and the show they put on. Most answers basically replied, no. Reasons were that communism is just that and China is still the same China in their eyes.

If China did all this to "look good" to the rest of the world, why would they take a 20 billion dollar gamble?

It has been opined by some that China needed to be the best host the Olympics ever had and perform this extravagant show to become respected on the world stage.

Did your opinion of China, their Communist Regime, change because of their ability to host a great show?

(I am not talking about the citizens of China. I am talking about the Chinese Government & Officials.)

It seems on here everyone keeps talking about Summer 2008 in Beijing and then Summer 2012 London. Hardly anyone mentions the Winter Olympics coming in 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Am I the only one who watches both Winter & Summer Olympics with equal enjoyment and excitement? Why are Winter Olympics never mentioned?

Just curious.

Here is a link to the 2010 Olympics logo:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/04/23...

Personally, I love it! The Inukshuk represents safe journeys, friendship and always finding your way home. I can think of no better representation of the Olympic Games. To read more about the Inukshuk history go here:

http://www.sulis.net/inukshuk.htm

So what do you think of the 2010 Logo?

I know that cities around the world bid for the chance to host the games. Toronto lost out to Beijing for Summer 2008. Vancouver, British Columbia won the bid for Winter 2010 over Andorra la Vella, Harbin, Jaca and Sarajevo. London, Madrid, New York, Moscow and Paris were all vying for Summer 2012, and London won.

But what are the IOC's deciding factors?

I received a reminder alert from nbc.com that the all-around final is at 11 PM tonight, but cannot find any confirmation online. I just turned on NBC (was watching Washington Redskins get the a** kicked by Carolina) and I have heard nothing about Rhythmic Gymnastics yet.

Thanks for your help.

It must be tremendously difficult to train for and perfect each of the ten events in the decathlon, which are: 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1,500-meter runs; the 110-meter high hurdles; the discus and javelin throws; the shot put; the pole vault; the high jump; and the long jump.

Would you consider Bryan Clay (2008 Beijing Gold Medalist) worlds best athlete?

(See Clay's bio: http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=148/bi...

Bryan Clay also participates in the voluntary drug screening program that Michael Phelps is participating in. WTG Team USA for your hard work and good values.

My hubby and I have seen the video replay on the internet and news. Matos blatantly kicked a person in the face unprovoked except by anger of a taekwondo "bad call". In my book, that qualifies as an assault.

What do you think? Should Matos be charged with assault against the referee? Could the referee press charges in China as one could here in the US?

Carl Schumann from Germany competed in the 1896 Olympics in Athens in 4 sports. Gymnastics, greco-roman wrestling, athletics (long jump, shot put, and triple jump) and weightlifting. He won 4 gold medals, 3 in gymnastics and 1 in a greco-roman wrestling upset. He is in the Olympics Hall of Fame. See: http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/halloffa...

It is said Olympians train for years to participate in one event. This guy must have been training forever! Amazing.

Are there any more Olympians in history that have competed in more than one sport at the same Olympics?

"Cuba’s Angel Matos deliberately kicked a referee square in the face after he was disqualified in a bronze-medal match....Matos’ coach was unapologetic...“He was too strict,” Leudis Gonzalez said."

Story here: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/taekwondo...

Should Matos be banned for life or just the next Olympics?

With the numerous judging controversies there have been in Taekwondo this Olympics, do you think there needs to be a revamp of procedures?

Just a note to all the anti-Americans out there: At least the Americans didn't resort to violence when they lost or felt cheated by the judging.

I think China spent crazy amounts of money to pull off the opening ceremony, but it was one heck of a show and I was glad to get to see it.

That said, does London plan to try and "outdo" China? Could London put on a better performance? (These questions are not intended to offend anyone, I am just curious.)

What does everybody think?

Thanks.

This is not about the disqualifications that occurred or may occur, but about the actual athlete that is vaulted into a winning slot due to the disqualification.

Hypothetical:

Out of winners 1, 2, & 3, #2 gets disqualified. So #3 moves to #2's spot and #4 moves to #3's spot. How do you feel if you are #3 and #4? Do you feel like you really won? Or do you feel like your medal is fake?

I ask because I saw a runner in this position earlier on tv and he said something to the effect that it wasn't a "real win, but [he'd] take it".

The USA is about 17 Gold Medals behind the Chinese. Are there enough events and gold medals left to be awarded that the USA could actually catch up to China? Or is that no longer a possibility?

I know this topic keeps appearing, but with this new information, I am curious as to what everyone else thinks now.

It seems the IOC now agrees that there should be an investigation by the Gymnastics Federation into the ages of the Chinese gymnasts.

On-line today: "IOC asks for investigation of China’s gymnasts" http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastic...

What do you think about the IOC asking for an investigation now?

Do you think this should have been done when discrepancies were discovered? Or do you think it's just too late and it should be left alone?

If an investigation were to conclude the gymnasts were underage, do you think they should have their medals stripped? Or do you think the Chinese gymnasts should be able to keep them?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I missed it and my DVR was out of room to record NBC's airing of the gala tonight. Does anyone have a link to where I can watch it online?

Thanks.

I am a 36 year old mother of 3, no known allergies to anything other than Ibuprofen. I have lived in the same home for 6 years. Same pets, kids and husband. We have not recently changed laundry detergent or soaps, shampoos, etc. I use moisturizer every day, so I really doubt my skin is dry.

All of sudden this evening, I had a sneezing fit which continued for over an hour. My skin (arms, thighs, back, neck, hips and stomach) suddenly became extremely itchy and red. There are no visible bumps or bites. I applied lotion thinking my skin was dry, but this didn't help. I then took a shower and applied a different lotion for itchy, extra dry skin. The shower and lotion temporarily helped, but as I am typing this, it's beginning to itch something fierce again. I am not scratching and the redness is not going away.

Can you suddenly become allergic to something you have always eaten or something you have had for over 5 years? Does this sound like an allergy or do you think this is just extremely dry skin?

Thanks for your help.

I figured that all the people in China's Opening Ceremony worked extremely hard to pull off the show that they did, but I didn't really think about it. I read an article (cited below) that said among other things:

People worked 16 hours a day, every day, rehearsing. They lived for three months at a restricted army camp on the outskirts of Beijing.

A a 26-year-old dancer may be permanently paralyzed from the waist down from a fall. People often suffered heat stroke and other injuries.

Students were kept on their feet for an almost 51-hour rehearsal with little food and rest to coordinate performances with multimedia effects.

"We had only two meals for the entire time. There was almost no time to sleep, even less time for toilet breaks,” Cheng (20) said.

Read full story and let me know what you think. Thanks.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-chin...