Sombreuil

It's the angle - it's either before he squares his shoulders into the turn or that damned costume bunching up.

It's bad for the athletes and that's the worst part. It's bad for the spectators at the arena - I'm sure even if we haven't been reading the thread we've seen the angst over travel arrangements on this forum, which are probably a lot worse because of moving about early in the mornings over a public holiday. It's irritating for non American latitude(or do I mean longitude- can never remember) watchers because while I wouldn't have a problem getting up at 1 if that was what local time required and it was best for the competition it annoys me that it's for the benefit of one country's sponsors. You can't blame NBC for throwing money at it, but I do blame the IOC for being greedy enough to take it.

Proof that white shirt/black trousers does not have to be boring.

Thank you @Joey- usual mix of the expected and guesswork - will it raise me up or drop me down- it's done both recently.

So they are admitting that they are being capricious and leaving it at that? Not much one can say.

The IOC moves like a glacier in any event, in this case in the hope that the media attention will be distracted by the next juicy scandal, which it will, and that the athletes will give up in frustration and get on with their lives, which they probably will eventually, as the Olympics will be over and unless they are very determined, it will come to seem pointless.

Oh I'm well aware that the whole timetable has been set so as to make it impossible to argue with the IOC decision, and there's definitely no aspect of any rule of law in this - it's what a lawyer in England would call inequitable, but they're a sports body not a government. They are clearly hoping that any fuss will get buried in the spectacle of the games themselves, and they may well be right. They could have begun this process any time in the last 18 months ( they left the Russians on tenterhooks over Rio, but didn't risk the 'big' games) so the thinking behind it is quite obvious. It just stinks, and if they don't justify their choices I hope it doesn't just go away.

I find the way this whole thing is being handled, with everything being left to the absolute last minute with no time for proper objections or appeal extremely distasteful. I hope when the IOC deliver their list they give grounds for excluding any athletes who appear to have had no doping issues.

I've just marked the times on my diary- everything begins at 1 in the morning- it looks so much worse blocked out like that- 🐼

I can't imagine anyone but the cat will be keeping me company - it will puzzle him even more than the odd morning session of skating on the tv.

I'm going to need triple espressos and the alarm clock given the hour of the morning it will be for me - thank you so much NBC. I'll save the booze and the tranquillisers for possible outcomes.

☕️🍫⏰💊 I think we've covered all eventualities now.

'Fill your knowledge tank'

Wow - didn't expect that!

OT - I wish facemasks were the norm in the UK - I am surrounded by people with colds at the moment - it's only a matter of time.......

Exactly

This is good - softly softly approach, testing the recovering ankle, taking it slowly rather than risking a setback. The timescale is too tight to risk that. 3 years ago he'd have been flinging himself back onto the ice at the first opportunity and pushing through the injury. Even if he hadn't been injured I think he'd have been in stealth mode at this point. That's why TCC is a good environment for him - keeps the media pressure at bay.

Good to see Sota back in competition 🤞🏻

4. More. Weeks. Means.4. More. Weeks. To Get. Back. To. Full. Strength. Be patient.

It's well known that I can't link stuff, but I too hope he has a quick recovery.💐

Greenest Olympics in history ♻️

Kaoris shoulder, Gabby has had pneumonia- we need a thread to track all the injuries and illnesses - or maybe one for healthy competitors would be easier

Puts my blood pressure into overdrive - the only thing that has the same effect is Team Japan on the bloody pommel horse. I will still be up in the small hours watching.

Well I'm useless at this and have no idea how to link stuff. However.... they are on YouTube. The early documentary is posted by mkjgt 353 - it's 2008 and then his name *in kanji along with some other words- it's about 9th in that persons list and has 42k views- the picture is one of his coach holding his head and presumably trying to get something across to him! The really interesting one is posted in several parts by yuyu 8608 titled Kohei Uchimura 1-1 through to 1-4 and it's of a programme called 'Miracle bodies'. * it's not his name - must be the title of the documentary- good job I'm getting my eyes tested next week. I'm procrastinating- there are loads of things I should be doing but I've been watching skating and gymnastics instead