Questions about the Olympic Games. This tag may also be combined with a tag for the specific olympic sport in question.
21
votes
3answers
3k views
Why do Michael Phelps and some other swimmers wear two caps?
Just now I saw Michael Phelps competing in the 400m Medley heats (London Olympics 2012). After he finished the race, I saw him take off two caps. I can imagine that a swimmer uses one, but what is the ...
20
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is drafting allowed on the bike in an Olympic triathlon and not otherwise?
The Olympic (or International) distance triathlon is 1500m swim, 40K bike, 10K run.
Yet when run as the qualifier or at the Olympics, this is draft legal. Where as all tris of that distance I have ...
14
votes
1answer
4k views
How does a sport become an Olympic Sport?
How does a sport transition into the Olympics? What are the qualifications? Is there a process?
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Why do Olympic soccer teams need to be U-23?
Why do Olympic soccer teams need to be under the age of 23?
Are there any exceptions about age restriction?
Are there any differences between men and women?
10
votes
1answer
987 views
What was the motivation behind the removal of wrestling from the Olympics?
I wonder why wrestling was removed from the Olympics without any public discussion. I do not follow wrestling on a regular basis but considering that it has been one of the oldest sports in the world ...
8
votes
1answer
226 views
Cheating in the Olympics
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa won the gold medal and set a world record in the 100m breaststroke at London 2012, but has since admitted to cheating after the Austrialian swim team accused him ...
8
votes
2answers
110 views
Which Olympic sport was the first to have a women's counterpart?
The original Olympics, in Greece, were male-only insofar as the participants, per my research. Modern Olympics, obviously, have men's and women's competitions. However, given that most Western nations ...
7
votes
1answer
302 views
Has the Olympic host nation ever been changed after it was announced
The stability of Brazil makes me wonder what will happen in 2016 if Brazil is not in a position to play host to the games. Has this ever happened before? Are there contingency plans for such an ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
What happens if there is a tie during an olympic race?
Recently during the USA Track and Field Olympic trials, there was a tie for third place between Allyson Felix and Jenebah Tarmoh. It appears that there was previously no tiebreaker rule in place for ...
7
votes
1answer
142 views
Derivation of variables in the heptathlon point system equations
The point system equations for the heptathlon are listed at the following question - Heptathlon point system calculation
My question is how did the founders of this scoring system come up with the ...
6
votes
1answer
720 views
Heptathlon point system calculation
Are there equations that are used to calculate the scores (as in diving and such)?
If so, what are these equations?
And if not, please state how the points are calculated.
6
votes
1answer
3k views
On the scoring system for synchronised diving
Whilst watching the current London Olympics I noticed that out of the 10 scores shown for each dive in synchronised diving, a few a crossed out each time.
Why are a few of the scores always crossed ...
4
votes
2answers
239 views
What are side shields on ballistic eyewear seen in recent Olympics shooting?
Please, notice the side shields at this goggles (image taken from Olympics video which can be found here, shown @ 2:48).
There were multiple such things shown during that contest and they ...
4
votes
3answers
271 views
Timekeeping before modern technology
During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Michael Phelps won his 7th gold medal of that Olympics by defeating Milorad Čavić by 0.01 seconds. However, there was controversy that Čavić finished ...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Disqualification due to unmotivated play/intentional losing
Yesterday I read about the latest "scandal" at the Olympic games in London, that 8 players (4 pairs) have been disqualified from the Womens' badminton championship due to "not using one's best efforts ...
4
votes
1answer
261 views
What do the cards in table tennis mean?
I saw in an Olympics table tennis match a Chinese athlete being given a red card. I think she lost the point but I'm not too sure.
So why would would some receive a red/yellow card in table tennis ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Differences between NBA and European/FIBA/Olympic basketball rules
I recall about zone defense and travelling being major differences but I'm sure there are more small differences.
3
votes
1answer
212 views
In the London 2012 Olympic Football, what players will receive medals?
When the football teams that finish in the medal ranking positions (winners, runners up, and 3rd place playoff winners) are awarded the medals, which players will receive medals?
Will it be all squad ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
How are the locations of the Olympics determined?
In 2014, the Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia. In 2016, the Summer Olympics will be held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
There are candidate cities that submit bids to host the Olympics. In ...
3
votes
1answer
177 views
What are the reasons that cricket is not included in the Olympics? [closed]
I found online that it was last played in the 1900 Olympics. It hasn't been played since. What are the reasons that cricket is no longer included as an Olympic sport?
2
votes
1answer
186 views
What is the point of olympic archery?
I know that this question sounds like trolling, but I promise that it is not.
I'm a beginning traditional archer, and I'm wondering what the point of olympic archery is. As far as I can tell, it's ...
2
votes
1answer
196 views
Gymnastics Scoring
In scoring routines in gymnastics, there is "theoretically no limit to the score a gymnast can achieve." However, the highest score judges can award for the execution of a routine is 10. Furthermore, ...
1
vote
1answer
341 views
Why did a swimmer wear a swim cap with someone else's name?
Yesterday, in the 200m freestyle qualifying heat, Nimrod Shapira Bar-On (from Israel) wore a swim cap with another person's name.
Why?
0
votes
0answers
421 views
How much money USA would award the men's basketball team if USA team won gold? [closed]
I was shock when i beginning to participate in US training as a athelete while glancing at the gold medal monetary reward, that is 20,000 USD per gold medal. So how much will the atheletes on the ...
-2
votes
1answer
114 views
Team sports in olympics
What are the team sports that have been added in the Olympics?
When was football added to the Olympics?
What team sport will be added in Olympics 2016?
Who will decide [when Cricket will be ...
