So what happened in shuttlecock land?

[Terpe]

At first I thought disgraceful, shameful and cheating.
Then I thought strategy, tactics and winning.

Now I'm not at all sure what this is all about.
The highest olympic authorities in the world of Badminton were apparantly warned a number of times that this group stage methodolgy would lead to chicanery.

So why are they now so surprised?

The fact that what these current top flight players made it so very very obvious what they were doing has caused the current furore.

Now my tongue in cheek questions.

Does it go on unbeknownst to us in other competitions? (world Cup Football?)

How about the cycle road race where team members do deliberately disrupt the rhythm and speed of the chasing peloton in an effort to protect their breakaway team mates? Oh and don't tell me it's a team event, the winner is the winner and gets gold. The remainder of the 'team' get nothing.

How about competition 'seeding' in general? Is that fair sport? or is it all done to provide 'best' finals for the sponsors?

For me an interesting but controversial issue needlessly bought about by stubborn sports officialdom and the desire for glory.

[andy222]

Good point terpe but I wouldnt be very happy if I had seen that and if I would have paid for a ticket.

[lastlid]

At first I thought disgraceful, shameful and cheating.
Then I thought strategy, tactics and winning.

Now I'm not at all sure what this is all about.
The highest olympic authorities in the world of Badminton were apparantly warned a number of times that this group stage methodolgy would lead to chicanery.

So why are they now so surprised?

The fact that what these current top flight players made it so very very obvious what they were doing has caused the current furore.

Now my tongue in cheek questions.

Does it go on unbeknownst to us in other competitions? (world Cup Football?)

How about the cycle road race where team members do deliberately disrupt the rhythm and speed of the chasing peloton in an effort to protect their breakaway team mates? Oh and don't tell me it's a team event, the winner is the winner and gets gold. The remainder of the 'team' get nothing.

How about competition 'seeding' in general? Is that fair sport? or is it all done to provide 'best' finals for the sponsors?

For me an interesting but controversial issue needlessly bought about by stubborn sports officialdom and the desire for glory.

Wasn't it akin to taking the ball to the corner flag to kill time in the last few minutes of a football match?

[Dedworth]

The Chinese coach gave a gushing apology going on about it not being in the "Olympic spirit" probably trying to avoid a bullet in the back of his head for bringing the country into disrepute

[lastlid]

Similar to this? Ben Ainslie on two rivals "ganging up" on him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19102904