Olympic Excitement

[alfred russel]

I was inspired to look up the luge on wikipedia--apparently there are only 17 artificial tracks in the world, with 1 under construction in Russia. With the exception of the one track in Russia and one under construction (both built recently to help win medals, according to wikipedia), there hasn't been a new facility constructed since 1977 (except to host olympic games). 8 of the current tracks were built to host olympics, and a couple in the former USSR were built with an eye toward winning medals.

There are a bunch of "natural" tracks--I'm not sure what those mean. I would think that "natural" luging would be a lot different than what we see in the olympics, but who knows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bobsleigh,_luge,_and_skeleton_tracks

[MadBurgerMaker]

I was inspired to look up the luge on wikipedia--apparently there are only 17 artificial tracks in the world, with 1 under construction in Russia. With the exception of the one track in Russia and one under construction (both built recently to help win medals, according to wikipedia), there hasn't been a new facility constructed since 1977 (except to host olympic games). 8 of the current tracks were built to host olympics, and a couple in the former USSR were built with an eye toward winning medals.

There are a bunch of "natural" tracks--I'm not sure what those mean. I would think that "natural" luging would be a lot different than what we see in the olympics, but who knows.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bobsleigh,_luge,_and_skeleton_tracks

Theres more than just what's on that list, like this one, for example, in Michigan: http://www.msports.org/

Just an outdoor track at a winter sports complex, and I'd think it's much (much) slower than the shit the dudes fly down in the Olympics, but hey, for $40 they teach you how to luge.  It should probably be on the "natural" list, I guess, but I don't know how they really rate these things either. 

Edit:  This place is on the wiki, and is saying this is a "natural" track ( It looks like an icy sidewalk in some of those):  http://www.negauneeluge.freehomepage.com/  I don't know..the Muskegon one looks more built up than that in the commercial, but still isn't like what you see on TV.

[Strix]

There are a bunch of "natural" tracks--I'm not sure what those mean. I would think that "natural" luging would be a lot different than what we see in the olympics, but who knows.

I am sure that a natural track is one where the ice is created by nature and not kept in place by a refrigeration system i.e. an outdoor skating rink at a park versus in indoor sports complex skating rink.

I would imagine that a non-natural rink would be cleaner and faster than a natural one since it isn't as subjected to the whims of nature.

[alfred russel]

Theres more than just what's on that list, like this one, for example, in Michigan: http://www.msports.org/

Just an outdoor track at a winter sports complex, and I'd think it's much (much) slower than the shit the dudes fly down in the Olympics, but hey, for $40 they teach you how to luge.  It should probably be on the "natural" list, I guess, but I don't know how they really rate these things either. 

Edit:  This place is on the wiki, and is saying this is a "natural" track ( It looks like an icy sidewalk in some of those):  http://www.negauneeluge.freehomepage.com/  I don't know..the Muskegon one looks more built up than that in the commercial, but still isn't like what you see on TV.

Maybe if I retire to Mexico (or some country that will let me naturalize), I'll spend some time at that Michigan track and see if I can qualify for the Olympics as the Mexican 70 year old luger.

I'm still skeptical that these should be Olympic sports while baseball / softball get dropped. But I guess we need more winter sports, or how will we convince people to drop $30 million on opening ceremonies?

[Grey Fox]

Baseball tournament is simply too long.

[The Brain]

Maybe if I retire to Mexico (or some country that will let me naturalize), I'll spend some time at that Michigan track and see if I can qualify for the Olympics as the Mexican 70 year old luger.

Artist's impression:

[dps]

Theres more than just what's on that list, like this one, for example, in Michigan: http://www.msports.org/

Just an outdoor track at a winter sports complex, and I'd think it's much (much) slower than the shit the dudes fly down in the Olympics, but hey, for $40 they teach you how to luge.  It should probably be on the "natural" list, I guess, but I don't know how they really rate these things either. 

Edit:  This place is on the wiki, and is saying this is a "natural" track ( It looks like an icy sidewalk in some of those):  http://www.negauneeluge.freehomepage.com/  I don't know..the Muskegon one looks more built up than that in the commercial, but still isn't like what you see on TV.

Maybe if I retire to Mexico (or some country that will let me naturalize), I'll spend some time at that Michigan track and see if I can qualify for the Olympics as the Mexican 70 year old luger.

I'm still skeptical that these should be Olympic sports while baseball / softball get dropped. But I guess we need more winter sports, or how will we convince people to drop $30 million on opening ceremonies?

I don't doubt the status of bobsledding and the like as "real" sports, but I agree that including them but tossing baseball out of the summer Olympics doesn't make sense.   Though in baseball's case, as I understand it, the problem was that MLB wouldn't agree to release their players for the Olympics.  I can kind of see both sides of that.  Not sure why softball is losing its status as an Olympic sport.

[dps]

Baseball tournament is simply too long.

No longer than basketball, and basketball isn't getting kicked out.

[alfred russel]

I don't doubt the status of bobsledding and the like as "real" sports, but I agree that including them but tossing baseball out of the summer Olympics doesn't make sense.   Though in baseball's case, as I understand it, the problem was that MLB wouldn't agree to release their players for the Olympics.  I can kind of see both sides of that.  Not sure why softball is losing its status as an Olympic sport.

Imagine what would happen if Home Depot refused to release its associates. Half the events would be canceled.

[Strix]

Not sure why softball is losing its status as an Olympic sport.

USA! USA! USA!

USA doesn't lose very often in Softball and the other top spots are usually a given. I think the Olympic Committee wanted to replace it with a more competitive sport.

[sbr]

Has Canada won a gold yet?

[Strix]

Has Canada won a gold yet?

I am sure BB and CC will let us know when it happens within seconds. 

[Grey Fox]

Has Canada won a gold yet?

I am sure BB and CC will let us know when it happens within seconds. 

Eh, I'm here too.

[Grey Fox]

Baseball tournament is simply too long.

No longer than basketball, and basketball isn't getting kicked out.

Because basketball sells tickets for the IOC. Unless baseball can prove they do the same, it won't get in.

[Agelastus]

Not sure why softball is losing its status as an Olympic sport.

USA! USA! USA!

USA doesn't lose very often in Softball and the other top spots are usually a given. I think the Olympic Committee wanted to replace it with a more competitive sport.

The four times it has been an Olympic Sport has resulted in only four nations being in the Gold/Silver/Bronze table, so I see what you mean.