[Alf]

Kick on Mo

[Headie]

Silver for Mo, I'm not surprised tbh

[Alf]

Useless bugger

[Headie]

I had a bet on Chelimo so I wish it was him who beat Mo tbh

[Macie Lightfoot]

****ing NBC is claiming the women's HJ world record could fall tonight these idiots are acting like 2.09m isn't that much higher than 2.01m

[Jack_]

Mo

[Headie]

Nnn the Brits are fumed

Chelimo has become one of my new fave athletes lmao <3

[James]

Originally Posted by Hayden

Nnn the Brits are fumed

Chelimo has become one of my new fave athletes lmao <3

The winner Edris did the Mobot gesture when he crossed the line too.

I think.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by James

The winner Edris did the Mobot gesture when he crossed the line too.

I think.

I like anything like that.

If you can't gloat when you win, then when can you gloat?

[Macie Lightfoot]

"We'll see if she tries to go for the world record" spoiler she won't xx

[Headie]

I'm sad Mo lost but at the same time I'm ok with it? Like the BBC can stop spending an hours worth of coverage each on him and Bolt everytime they have a race on/the day after their races and we can finally see other people get some recognition for their achievements as well as more athletics action

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Hayden

I'm sad Mo lost but at the same time I'm ok with it? Like the BBC can stop spending an hours worth of coverage each on him and Bolt everytime they have a race on/the day after their races and we can finally see other people get some recognition for their achievements as well as more athletics action

Agree they amount of time spent on them is outrageous, not really fair on other
atheletes who work just as hard, sad for Mo he couldn't finish with a gold but like Bolt in the 100 it was a step too far

[Headie]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Agree they amount of time spent on them is outrageous, not really fair on other
atheletes who work just as hard, sad for Mo he couldn't finish with a gold but like Bolt in the 100 it was a step too far

Glad to see others have this opinion too

[Macie Lightfoot]

I feel ya, we don't get that much on Mo but we get a Bolt package pretty much every time there's a meet and I'm ready to move on

[Headie]

This is another reason why I'm NotTooBothered.ginario @ Mo and Bolt retiring, because it invites casuals who know nothing about the sport and have no interest whatsoever other than seeing Mo and Bolt win a medal, and crying when anyone dares challenge the narrative

[Headie]

Originally Posted by Jack_

The thing about the Mo/Usain exposure though is that like it or loathe it they are the big draws in athletics at the moment. The Men's 4x100 peaked at 9.9m last night for example, with the 5,000m at about 8m - that's about 2-3m higher than it's been throughout the rest of the week. While I agree it'd be nice for some other athletes to be recognised for their achievements (indeed on a personal level I like rooting for underdogs and celebrating semi-unexpected victories) it goes without saying that the biggest names (especially in their retirement year) will get the most coverage by the broadcasters, it's just supply and demand.

I get it must be a bit frustrating as a dedicated follower of a sport to have a load of casuals turn up just to support a few household names/watch blue riband events but it's the same across the board (like an England game/WC Final out rating other matches). The big names generate interest which in turn (usually) help fill stadiums, which is why I think there may be a little bit of truth to the WVN conspiracy theories since their departures are going to leave such a big hole in the sport. But I guess it all comes down to whether you prefer niche or mass exposure (and there are benefits to both, I quite enjoy snooker having a niche following), but I'm not really in the position to answer that as I'm not as dedicated as you guys are.

I touched on the whole "it draws in more viewers thing" in another post:

Originally Posted by Hayden

This is another reason why I'm NotTooBothered.ginario @ Mo and Bolt retiring, because it invites casuals who know nothing about the sport and have no interest whatsoever other than seeing Mo and Bolt win a medal, and crying when anyone dares challenge the narrative

At least now there'll be less people chatting **** about stuff they have no idea about, or if the casuals do stay and continue to watch post Mo/Bolt then it encourages them to actually understand the sport a bit better and realise that there are actually other events happening and that the sport as a whole really is incredible even without big names

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Hayden

I touched on the whole "it draws in more viewers thing" in another post:



At least now there'll be less people chatting **** about stuff they have no idea about, or if the casuals do stay and continue to watch post Mo/Bolt then it encourages them to actually understand the sport a bit better and realise that there are actually other events happening and that the sport as a whole really is incredible even without big names

I actually laughed at the Chelimo thing so I see your point, but while there will be a void without them for a while it will undoubtedly be filled at some point and most of the attention will then shift to whoever that may be. Every sport has and needs its big name(s) and big events and unfortunately the price you pay for having good ratings/sponsorship etc is that they'll get a lot of coverage to the detriment of other athletes and events. But from what you've said it sounds like you'd prefer there to be less casuals which is fair enough

Originally Posted by Hayden

Also the 2014 Commonwealth Games showed that you don't need Mo/Bolt/Jess etc to fill a stadium - the crowds were jam-packed almost every session and I think Bolt only ran like two relay races in the last two days of it. It helped boost the profile of other British athletes like Eilidh Doyle, Adam Gemili, Lynsey Sharp, Jazmin Sawyers etc. which is good for the sport.

I can't wait for next year's World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, and the 2022 Commonwealths being in England too

Glasgow 2014 was a whole different ballgame though, it was two years after a hugely successful home Olympics and the appetite was still there for a multi-sport event on British turf. That's why the BBC opted for wall-to-wall coverage again, I don't think they'd ever done that for a Commonwealth Games before? But yeah, IIRC most of the venues were packed because people who missed out on or just missed 2012 in general wanted to get in on the action, I think the same has applied to these Championships too and that's why almost all the sessions have been packed out, but it goes without saying that the most sought after tickets in the ballot last summer were the nights Mo and Bolt were on.

It's not that I'm saying Mo/Bolt/Jess etc are/were the only draws of athletics, of course not, there's a whole range of factors involved (including the post-2012 legacy), it's just that for now they have been ~the names~ and that's why they've received the most coverage. One benefit of GB's victory last night though will hopefully be that people who tuned in to watch Bolt now see the strength and depth of our team and are encouraged to watch in the future.

[Headie]

Alol Lasitskene wins so now we get to see how they handle the medals ceremony re: anthems and flags n stuff

[Macie Lightfoot]

swooning at the German decathletes xx

[Macie Lightfoot]

omg Lasitskene couldn't even hold a flag

[Headie]

Originally Posted by Macie Lightfoot

omg Lasitskene couldn't even hold a flag

Lol I'm SO ready for this medal ceremony

[Macie Lightfoot]

oh fun we finally get some javelin coverage when there are two potential world record destroyers in the field

[Macie Lightfoot]

Beyonce getting some promo with Run the World (Girls) in the 4x1 preview.

Still like the Little Mix promo better when they were getting ready for the 100 final #SALUTE

[Headie]

[Headie]

GB's relay teams remain the same from this morning, can't disagree with that decision either