Discussion: Da 'lympics

I was thinking last week how natural the triatholon seemed as an olympic sport - combining 3 disciplines that are already well established medal sports. And I though it was odd that this is the *first* time it has actually appeared as a medal event! It is frightening to me that triathalon is just finally making it in...orienteering seems even farther off, given that most people have never even heard of it. The average joe on the street knows what a triathalon is. Triathalons get only marginally more TV coverage than orienteering (marginal being 1 hr/yr as opposed to zero - I'm thinking of the Ironman in particular). Probably the difference is in sheer numbers of people who participate in the sport rather than who watch it on tv.

People shy away from orienteering because they see it as a skill they don't have - and to most a scary one at that, trying not to get lost in the deep dark woods. But nearly everyone has been running, swimming or riding a bike since they were kids. Old dogs, new tricks?

I thought it was pretty neat to see the Triathalon too. But even though it is just finally 'making it' you have to keep in mind that it is still inherently a very televisable event. In other words it makes good TV. The Olympics is driven by money and the money comes with Television. Unfortunately, I don't think O will ever make good TV unless they bastardize the sport beyond recognition. I am thinking primarily of foot-O. Perhaps Park-O has a chance as it develops as a distinct discipline.

Right on. Orienteering *has* been bastardized beyond recognition (by money and television)...its an activity called "adventure racing"

Yeah, at the Hi-Tec Adventure Race in CT a few weeks ago, during the 'orienteering' segment, the teams of 3 had to navigate while all holding onto a 'circle of love' - a rubber ring of some sort. So one team member had to hold the compass (if they had one - it was a 'secret' event and they were not pre-warned to carry compasses) and another got to hold the map. Letting go of the circle was grounds for disqualification.

But for what its worth, it is a legit O-map although I think it is at 1:7500 or 1:5000 scale - more like a Park-O map. Paul Pearson and I did the fieldwork for it a few years back. But the rest of the 'gimmicks? - who needs 'em. Just O!!

Interestingly, one of my trail running buddies whose first exposure to O was at this particular AR event shadowed me on a local green course this past weekend - (I explained concepts and what I was doing while running and he tried to absorb as much map/terrain info as he could at a 10min/km pace). He thought it was a blast and nothing like the O at the Hi-Tec race. He is planning to come to the Blue Hills Traverse in November - an annual goat event in these parts...

The Olympic Triathalon was changed from what I consider a 'normal' triathalon. I was shocked to see drafting on the bike (until the announcer said it was allowed) When I used to do them several years ago, drafting was strictly forbidden on the bike. Maybe it has changed now but I thought it was unfair that others could swim right over me and give me a kick on the way by but I was forced to weave around them without drafting while passing them on the bike. Still was in favor of it, just wished there was some way to apply the no drafting to swimming also.
It is a very different race with drafting allowed since it bunches up the lead pack instead of spreading the field the way no drafting does. Makes it much more interesting (and televisable) but puts a premium on the running leg. I was surprised to see two people attempt a break alone. Not that they tried the break but that they kept at it with just 2 and a very small gap. I expected a lot more break attempts, not so much to get away off the front, but instead to drop dozers off the back, and eventually split the pack in half. I guess since everyone is saving something for the run, they always have enough to close the pack up again.
Not sure if I would like it or not. As a so-so swimmer, I depended on a strong bike to get me back into the race. With those in front drafting in packs I would probably not catch up. On the other hand, if I became a better swimmer, as a [formerly] strong runner maybe I could sit back in the pack on the bike and just wait for the run.