People seem to casually and conveniently forget how many medals Canada has won with rented athletes from Jamaica, Nigeria and all over the Carribbean. In fact, next week if you're cheering on Pierre Luders in the two-man bobsled, remember that his brakeman (can't remember his name - Lancelles Brown, or something) had his citizenship rushed through backdoor channels in order to qualify as Canadian for the games. So meh. As for Begg-Smith - here's a kid who has a very successful business that he's not about to give up while he trains for his sport. Canada was inflexible in tailoring an approach, so he went elsewhere. Good for him. The Canadian freestyle team has since said they will loosen the restrictions for training. Frankly, I think Begg-Smith sure showed us. Maybe we can convince him to switch back.
I agree Weedy, good for him. I'm just not so sure about the "bad for Freestyle Canada" part. They both made their choices, and those choices worked out better for Begg-Smith in this instance. Would it work out better, in general, if Freestyle Canada changed their way of doing things? I have no idea. But I don't think that this one case proves the point either way. As I pointed out, the other Mr. Begg-Smith -- who also "benefited" from the extra freedom in Australia -- finished well behind all three Canadians. That doesn't prove anything, either.
mkn, I disagree about the short-track protest. The rules -- as inscrutable as they may be -- are the rules, and the Bulgarian clearly and obviously broke them (I noticed it at the time and at full speed). The short track officials were wrong not to disqualify her, and the COC is right to pursue this to their last appeal. There is nothing unsportsmanlike in insisting that officials follow the rules of the game. Of course they wouldn't be doing it if there weren't two Canadians directly impacted; but somebody else would be.
Maybe we can convince him to switch back. From his interviews at the CBC, I think not. Asked if he thought Canada deserved a share of his medal, he answered, straight faced, "No". And that was all he had to say about Canada.
Here's a good article on the decision to move, from an Australian perspective.
He runs a slimy buisness selling slimy "products", has a slimy history, represents Australia for slimy reasons, and now has a slimy medal in his hand. And whomever he comes close to gets some of that slime rubbed off. This not only undermines the spirit of Olympic competition, but also disgraces his host nation. Hopefully Canada can find some Ukranians who run a Prostitution ring before the next Olympics. Then they'll show that Canuck Wallaby bustard. If I wanted to be disguted by the People on the podium, I'd watch politics.
LIDJ, I have no idea if I agree with that, but I like it.
Some idiot said: the Bulgarian clearly and obviously broke [the rules] Or maybe not. The Canadian protest was dismissed...
