I believe that the Georgian government was looking to have their team come home from the games. I think that would be another tragedy for the athletes from georgia.

I think the worst part is that there are some residents of the state of Georgia (USA) who are currently sitting in their bomb shelters wondering why the "Rooskies" decided to attack them and not California....

Come on, even the dumbest redneck knows that although both Georgia and California used to be Soviet Republics, Georgia has since become a pro-western democracy. That's why the Russians are invading Georgia, not California.

That is not all of it Tom. It is a tragedy for all who live there, all the soldiers and all the families touched by this. The olympics is about peaceful competition, both in history and symbolism. No nation at war should be allowed to participate in a celebration of peace in my opinion. None!
Unfortunately the modern games is about the IOC and money instead so it will not happen.

(I see the further tragedy for the athletes from the countries of Georgia, Russia and soon maybe Ukraine also of course. They already have increased pressure on them, and angst. Latest I heard was the georgians wanting to go home, but the IOC convinced them to stay)

If that were truly the case (no country at war could/should compete) then the competition would be greatly limited. The U.S. would be out and any other country that had any type of military presence in a location with some conflict could be construed as at "war". What about countries battling terroism they would be considered at "war" within its own borders.

Not to open any controversy or hijack the thread (please don't go off on this tangent), conflicts of all kinds are always going on how do we distinguish who to leave out and who stays?

I'm sure if you checked with the average "Joes" in any country they wouldn't be fighting at all. The old saying (at least here) of "get rid of all the politicians and the world would be a better place"... well we'd just get new politicians. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Heck, I'm rambling... probably have no clue as to what I'm trying to say. Lets all go sailing.

Clayton

Perhaps denying participation at the olympic games to countries at war would make politicians think twice and help form public opinion. Would that be so bad? I take it you would not like it if the USA was refused entry and perhaps ask why? Perhaps you would even raise a stink about it when your athletes had their dreams broken? I know I would if Norway was refused entry.
Looking into the history of the games, this was one of the ideas behind at least the modern games.

We can discuss the foreign and domestic policy of the USA, but that was not the point. I mentioned Russia and Georgia as they are both part of Europe.

Certainly potential for another thread here.

Rolf,

You seem to be making the argument that the war in Georgia is less important than the Olympics.

1980 and 1984 show that nations (including Norway) are quite willing to boycott the Olympics to make a political point. To think that they'd put participation in the Olympics over national security concerns is hard to reconcile with that.

I am sorry, but I dont see how what I have said can be read like that? I am saying that my opinion is that nations at war should not be allowed to participate in the olympic games. That dont mean that the games are more important than the tragedy of war.
I dont say Norway is any better than others, we are not. We are even worse than many others in certain areas.

Rolf,

I'm sure you didn't mean to give off that impression.

But bemoaning the damage done by this war to the sanctity of the Olympics, and hoping that the threat of being kicked out of the Olympics would deter future wars, seems to trivalize war and aggrandize the Olympics.

Sorry for the threadjack.

It is one more reason to not go to war certainly, but my focus is the olympics not the national decision makers, if that makes sense.

Wasn't USSR at war with Afghanistan for over 10 years? It would have been nice if they were banned from Olympics, but I guess the USA was supporting the rebels, so would that have tossed US out during that period as well?

I guess this could spiral until only the Swiss would be allowed to compete....

Will Russia attack Georgia on the ground? I'm sure they've already decided what to do, but I think that will send a significant statement to the other satellite regions. USA will be pressured to stay out using Iran - if US hints at further involvement in Georgia, the AK-47s and Pantsyr-S1s start magically appearing in Iran by the truckload

Please if you guys want to discuss wars please start a new thread ok?
The whole countries-at-war-are-not-welcome idea sounds great but somewhat naive (while we are at it can we also ban countries who approve of whaling, ).
Anyway, I do think it is very unfortunate that the Kiwi team isn't going though, I had a chat with them somewhere in May and they where very keen on going.

Back on-topic:
Just read a Dutch press release on the new sail and have done a rough translation, seems like it is still making waves <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />:

On Monday, August-11 the revolutionary Tornado-sailing of Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) was finally approved for the Olympic Games.
That means that the Dutch upwind gennaker may be used during the Olympic regatta in Qingdao.
In doing so, Booth and Nieuwenhuis have an advantage up to 11 knots of wind, especially upwind.

"It can go on", said Pim Nieuwenhuis after returning from a training session with the US team.
We have the stamps, so the gennaker is now officially approved by the officials.
Booth adds: I now bike from the boat park, where the Argentinians are also working with such a sail.
Espinola and Lange won bronze in Athens and are formidable opponents.
They work with North Sails, which has also designed the sail for the Italians and British teams.
The Italians are already measured, but the Argentinians have not.
Who knows, maybe there will be more upwind gennakers. These are interesting Games.
Booth is not afraid of this latest development: They are very late, so I wish them a lot of luck.
Diana Bogaards | 11-08-08

You are right as of today.

However, as automation increases and our species works less, sports and other leisure activities are gaining real importance.

Being kicked out from the Olympics is not that important yet, but being kicked out from the soccer world's could trigger revolutions or make a difference during elections in many countries, including some rather important ones. Also, some governments (usually those in need of political support) offer money prizes for each olympic medal won, so politicians believe the games are not irrelevant.

If you think about it, sports come from being completely irrelevant 150 years ago, so the trend is clearly towards the scenario Rolf depicted.

I know that the sail has been approved for use, but I still am not sure that they chose to measure it in as the sail they will use. I think they have, but others have not yet. The USA team does not measure in until the 12th so we will see what they do. Darren & Glenn built one but chose not to use it.

Darren and Glenn measure in on the 13th and will make the decision then. Word is they first began work on a code zero for the games 18 months ago...... So I am sure they are also very prepared. They have also built a heaver duty spinnaker pole for use with the code zero, then protested out the us of the pelican stricker on the poles of NED and USA.

Talking about it doesn't mean they worked on it...

I talked about doing the Vendee Globe once but I sure as hell didn't o anything about it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mitch has caught the fleet out here in a big way, good on him for thinking outside the box.

Re-read the press release.

They discussed it with Fletch 18 months ago.....and Ashby soon built one. Dose "soon built one" refer to 18 months ago or soon built one when Booth pulled everybodies pants down.



http://www.sail-world.com/USA/index.cfm?...amp;tickerCID=0

Anybody know what sail the US measured in today....... Code Zero????

Square top main and self-tacking jib guaranteed, but no news that I can find on the spin/C0 choice. Don't hype the hype machine going like van Booth

I got this from Sailing World . com this morning.