Olympic Shooting

[bobbob]

From todays Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympi ... coach.html

[Blackstuff]

The more medals the better (although preferably from the pistol team!)

[saddler]

The more medals the better (although preferably from the pistol team!)

...I take the opposite view:

If the Team GB shooters do well, then the powers that be will say that the good results are proof positive that the current training regime and restrictions are working and therefore don't need changing.

If we get soundly thrashed by every ex-Soviet satellite state, for example Kazakhstan (I DO so hope that the wrong anthem is on the CD player...), using shot out rusty Baikals they found in a shed , then questions WILL be asked.

The ONLY way the Olympic Shooting Team can gain any credence would be for them all to stand down on the day of the opening ceremony....either that or pepper Lord Coe with rock-salt every time the C unit is within range!!

[Blackstuff]

...I take the opposite view:

If the Team GB shooters do well, then the powers that be will say that the good results are proof positive that the current training regime and restrictions are working and therefore don't need changing.

That is a definite possibility, and i was going to add it as the Devil's advocat position.

If we get soundly thrashed by every ex-Soviet satellite state, for example Kazakhstan (I DO so hope that the wrong anthem is on the CD player...), using shot out rusty Baikals they found in a shed , then questions WILL be asked.

Was there any kind of discussion either way after the Bejing games though?

The ONLY way the Olympic Shooting Team can gain any credence would be for them all to stand down on the day of the opening ceremony....either that or pepper Lord Coe with rock-salt every time the C unit is within range!!

That would be my preferred stand point, but it's very easy for us to say when it's not our sporting careers that would be ruined by doing so, although i'm sure all the praise from the shooting community would go someway to ease that

[rox]

The ONLY way the Olympic Shooting Team can gain any credence would be for them all to stand down on the day of the opening ceremony....either that or pepper Lord Coe with rock-salt every time the C unit is within range!!

That would be my preferred stand point, but it's very easy for us to say when it's not our sporting careers that would be ruined by doing so, although i'm sure all the praise from the shooting community would go someway to ease that

Different reasons, but we very nearly had a walkout at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but after some emotional representations at a meeting of competitors it was felt that it could potentially harm the sport for the future, so we just bit our tongues and carried on.

..

[saddler]

Not sure what "careers" the Team GB Shooters have ahead of them?

They're at the back of the queue for firms seeking product endorsments - given that the athletes get the first take at that pot of gold

Standing up to be counted would give them more credence - and IF they wanted a shooting career then they are in the wrong country.
They'd earn a very comfortable living on the pro-circuit in the USA

The Beijing games being over there were off the radar as far as the average Brit man in the street was concerned....now that the Games are over here, being heralded as the best thing to happen to London since Wren built that pointy church after some bloke left the oven on - then the spotlight IS on results = esp. as half the country are going to be paying for it for the next 20 years!

NO LEGACY for the sport = no support FROM the sportsmen concerned

[Gaz]

The ONLY way the Olympic Shooting Team can gain any credence would be for them all to stand down on the day of the opening ceremony....either that or pepper Lord Coe with rock-salt every time the C unit is within range!!

That would be my preferred stand point, but it's very easy for us to say when it's not our sporting careers that would be ruined by doing so, although i'm sure all the praise from the shooting community would go someway to ease that

Different reasons, but we very nearly had a walkout at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, but after some emotional representations at a meeting of competitors it was felt that it could potentially harm the sport for the future, so we just bit our tongues and carried on.

..

What happened?

[rox]

What happened?

Essentially, the electronic target system didn't work.

It 'sort of' worked, but as long as it didn't get too hot (but it was 40°C by 10 am, 45°-50° by midday). And it was ok if you didn't shoot at it from too far away (but the CG course follows the Queen's course, so up to 1000 yards). The organisers basically denied there was an issue, refused to provide their 'calibration data', refused to allow us to see the backing targets (after our first visit, which revealed extreme inaccuracies). Basically, it became a farce, and two years' dedication to full-time total training were rendered pointless. What's worse: this was all known after the test event 5 months before the games. Actions to resolve: Sweet F.A.

..