Olympics, who's watching ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It's not for me, but I hope it's good for those that like it.

[Docca]

I’m going.

Got tickets for the semi final football in Marseille. 5th August.

We’ve built a holiday around it

[weeksy]

GB's Dujardin given provisional ban and out of Games

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/equestrian/ ... 16ll5z086o

Charlotte Dujardin, Britain's joint-most decorated female Olympian, has been provisionally suspended by equestrian's governing body the FEI.

The dressage star had already pulled out of Paris 2024 after a video emerged which she said showed her "making an error of judgement".

The FEI said it had received footage showing three-time Olympic gold medallist Dujardin "engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare - during a training session conducted at Ms Dujardin's private stable".

A lawyer representing the claimant who filed an official complaint against Dujardin to the FEI said in an accompanying letter seen by the BBC "the video shows Ms Dujardin beating a horse excessively with a whip".

They added: "My client is aware that this complaint could have far-reaching consequences for Ms Dujardin, including disciplinary sanctions. My client had to think long and hard about whether to bring this to your attention this way."

BBC Sport has not seen the video in question.

However the FEI said Dujardin confirmed she was the individual in the video which was "filmed several years ago" and "requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations".

The body initially announced a six-month suspension but later said the ban would "remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation/disciplinary proceedings".

Although the ban remains provisional while the FEI investigates, Dujardin, who has six Olympic medals in total, has said she will "withdraw from all competition while this process takes place".

"What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse," she said in statement.

"I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment."

Both the British Equestrian (BEF) and British Dressage (BD) have also imposed a provisional suspension on Dujardin pending the outcome of the FEI investigation.

In a statement the FEI added it "intends to proceed [its investigation] as swiftly as possible".

"It is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised," said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

"Charlotte [Dujardin] has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognise and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility.

"Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI's commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport."

At the last Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner was disqualified from the Games for appearing to punch a horse.

That incident sparked a major overhaul of the event with the equestrian element replaced by an obstacle course.

Becky Moody and her horse Jagerbomb are Team GB's alternate combination for the dressage.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) said it "will be applying to bring in a reserve athlete under the IOC's Late Athlete Replacement rules".

It added: "The BOA takes animal welfare extremely seriously, and we believe that everyone has a responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of horses."

British Dressage chief executive Jason Brautigam said: "These historic allegations are deeply upsetting for everyone involved in our sport, but we fully support the FEI investigation and will take any appropriate disciplinary action when this process is complete."

British Equestrian chief executive Jim Eyre said the BEF would "fully comply with any [FEI] requests to fulfil their investigation".

He added: "As the guardians of equestrian sport, we must uphold the highest standards of equine welfare – the horse's wellbeing is paramount."

Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, said: "We know that a successful future for horse sport has public trust at the centre of it. The public has to trust that equestrians are caring and are treating their horses with respect, compassion and understanding.

"If that trust is damaged it will damage the sport. This is another massive wake-up call for anyone who thinks this is not important, because it most certainly is."

Who is Charlotte Dujardin?
Dujardin, 39, won team and individual gold medals at the London 2012 Games on Valegro, and the pair went on to win individual gold and team silver four years later in Rio.

On a different horse, Gio, she won two bronzes at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.

Dujardin had been set to compete in both the individual dressage and team event alongside Carl Hester and world champion Lottie Fry, on new horse Imhotep.

She needed a medal of any colour to take the outright lead as most-decorated British female Olympian from now-retired cyclist Dame Laura Kenny.

Speaking to BBC Sport last week, Dujardin said it felt "surreal" to be on the cusp of that achievement and doing so would be "one of the most incredible moments".

Dressage is the oldest equestrian discipline, and sees rider and horse perform a series of movements to music across the gaits of walk, trot and canter.

'Consequences could be huge'
Analysis - Laura Scott, BBC Sport news correspondent

This news was shocking when it broke and caught a lot of people off guard within the British Olympic setup. It will undoubtedly rock the team with the Games just about to start.

When I went to visit Dujardin at her yard in Gloucestershire three weeks ago, she was confident about making history in Paris and told me she wanted to make her young daughter proud. She was considered a gold medal contender both individually and with the team.

Now she won't be at the Games at all. But beyond the impact on Team GB's medal hopes, this story could have major ramifications for the general acceptance of equestrian sport in society. She is one of the faces of British sport and animal welfare is a subject that draws intense scrutiny.

With only three days before the opening ceremony, the timing of this couldn't be worse, and the consequences could be huge.

[Mr Moofo]

^ I think that equestrianism will be under the spotlight on animal treatment. This would appear to be tactical / political from the Dutch team against the UK. But then again, she did it !
I doubt her behaviour was the only time or the only rider

[Taipan]

Dressage is a cruel and unnatural thing to do to a horse. I hope they ban it completely and Dujardin from ever owning a horse again. Anyone that thinks beating a behaviour into an animal is okay shouldn't be around animals.

[Noggin]

Any sport to do with animals can, always has and always will cause some suffering. It's horrific, but when you put competitive people in charge of animals with no voice, the human will always blame the animal and find ways to 'train' it to do what the human wants. In ALL forms of equestrian sports.

I needs control and banning of those who inflict pain/damage/fear on the animals but the control needs to come from within as much as outside - and sadly there are far too many egos involved to stop it fast


I grew up on a farm and riding horses, in my opinion any animal responds better to good treatment than to violence and fear (a little like humans). But not all 'humans' see that or are even close to agreeing

[Mr. Dazzle]

At the very least, they should give the gold medal to the horse.

[weeksy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 294ev3dd5o

Bit of a farce to the football. Both with pitch invasion and the VAR. Personally, i'd have sent Morocco home with 0 points and out of the tournament.

[Count Steer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 294ev3dd5o

Bit of a farce to the football. Both with pitch invasion and the VAR. Personally, i'd have sent Morocco home with 0 points and out of the tournament.

The 'appeared to have levelled in the 16th minute of injury time' kind of sums it up. 16 minutes! It's like 'Fergy time' is compulsory now.

[Dodgy69]

Bring on the track and field.

[Nordboy]

Got back from Paris last night. Took the family there for my daughters 18th b'day.

It's bloody carnage, near the opening ceremony area there are loads of streets blocked off, both to vehicles and pedestrians. Luckily I'd seen something about a 'Pass jeux' so applied for them. Got us into some of the restricted areas and we were wandering close to all the prep areas for tonights ceremony.
I felt like I'd blagged our way in and we were going to be found out and kicked out at any minute!!

It was a bit like the film 28 days later, no cars, peds, very strange.

Anyway, will be watching the opening ceremony now and will be doing the dad thing of pointing out where we'd been just yesterday!!!

And then, i'll no doubt watch as much as the games as i can. No footy (can't stand watching it anymore and one of the the first matches reinforces why) or breakdancing for me though, wtf is that all about?

Just the more mainstream stuff.

EDIT, is it all about to kick off there? just had an alert about the rail network being disrupted?

[Noggin]

A friend who has worked with horses and in various equestrian sports most of her life posted this on FB today. Cruelty is sometimes laziness and whilst she totally agrees that the abuse of horses (any animal) in sports needs to be weeded out, the abuse being aimed at the rider in this instance is pretty awful too. I've not followed it but can imagine the vitriol being directed

(I've seen people I know training their dogs with fear; not just 'being the top dog', but creating a fear in the animal - that, to me, is never the way to treat or train animals)


Anyway - in case anyone is interested, this is what my friend wrote about the horse whipping video (it's quite long so you may bil before the end!!) -

I sit this morning, children happily having breakfast in the tent while my other half catches some extra sleep, seeing more posts about Charlotte Dujardin and the video of her whipping the horse a few years ago.

I haven't said much on the subject, but mainly because I'm finding it really hard to condone the level of vitriol Charlotte is at the sharp end of at the moment, when there is a much bigger picture here.

Is it right to whip a horse the way she did? No.
Are any of us able to truly sit in judgement so harshly? No.

I've seen posts from people who have an obese horse at home, whose life expectancy has been reduced and needing steroid injections to ease pain in joints that would be fine if the horse wasn't habitually overfed.

I've seen posts from people who keep their horses in stables almost 24/7 all year round, not just in the worst of weather, because their horse apparently can't be turned out as it will go mad and hurt itself. Well, maybe that's because it never gets the fucking chance to go and be a horse. This kind of confinement and lack of social interaction as a herd animal would go against basic welfare standards for the species and be illegal in a zoo. Yet, how many can say they ALWAYS put the horses needs first? Those who care find compromises and at least do their best, but it's often not optimal for the horse.

Just last month, a well-known equestrian caused the long-term suffering, cruelty and neglect of a large number of horses and even the deaths of other animals in his care, but the hatred and treatment of Charlotte Dujardin has been much the same.
Is that right?

In a court of law, should a person guilty of whipping a horse be punished the same as a person guilty of killing one? I'm going to say no. One is, with the right actions taken by the individual, forgivable. The other is not, at least for me.

The story I'd like discussed as a result of this is the larger picture of equine welfare for competitive purposes.

It's standard practice to medicate joints to prolong soundness and prolong equine competitive careers. It's such common practice, you'd be hard pushed to find an internationally competitive horse today that doesn't get a little help somehow and kept going for longer than might be possible otherwise.

You know who didn't keep competing a world-beating competitive horse? Charlotte Dujardin and Valegros owners. He had a good few years left in him, and by the standards of many, they could have (could safely say, would have) gone on to smash records that would likely never be broken. Achieve medal hauls the likes we'd never see again. But that horse lives out with a herd, a comfy stable waiting when needed, gets hacked around the quiet country lanes of Newent and Upleadon enjoying a life that a large number of horses at his level never get to enjoy.

Should a person's entire character and all the good they've done be undone for one action?

Charlotte Dujardin has in my mind, undoubtedly saved lives by bucking the trend for top hats and making proper riding helmets cool. She has, along with Carl Hester, shown the world that a horse can compete and win at the very highest levels of competition, but still be a horse, go out in the field with a herd and hack around the lanes, getting the kind of variety and stimulation we should all aim for.

Let's talk about Carl Hester for a moment, because I've seen a few unsavoury things said about him in the last few days as well, and how he must be the one she learned this kind of treatment from.

Well, I had a lesson with Carl Hester once. I couldn't get the horse moving forward enough and I hate kicking horses, as does he, so I asked for a schooling whip to help back up my aids.
He said no.
He elaborated in a way that has stayed with me ever since, and always will. He said,
"If you can't ride dynamically enough to achieve what you want without additional aids, you're not a good enough rider to use them."

He was absolutely right, so no, I don't believe he would ever condone, let alone teach using a whip on a horse the way we saw in that video.

There is still a bigger picture here though.

Why is judging in elite dressage often rewarding the unnatural movement of horses trained in rollkur. I mean genuine, prolonged periods of hyper flexion, not beneficial flexion exercises.
Why is there a rider competing in these Olympics who is under investigation by the FEI for riding a horse who's tack, combined with the method of riding, caused it to have a blue tongue (and not an isolated incident).

Horses are glorious, magnificent, sentient animals that should fear us on sight, but who give us everything they have, whenever we ask. We should be taking what has happened this week to shine a light on the larger issue at hand...that it's become acceptable to use unsavoury methods to train top horses.

To anyone who says it doesn't happen, it does. There will be other top trainers hoping and praying no videos surface of them doing worse than Charlotte Dujardin was seen doing in that video.

For her, life will never be the same again. I won't excuse what she did, her statement reflects her understanding of her actions. The way her sponsors and followers have abandoned her, on top of the professional sanctions placed on her, she is suffering more than enough already and will continue to do so, so whilst I will never condone taking a whip to a horse the way she did, I also don't hold her 100% accountable. The entire industry needs to do better, reward those who do better and make it so the unsavoury methods don't result in anything good.

My hope for Charlotte Dujardin is that she learns a lesson from this, which I have no doubt she will given the treatment she's getting, and that she can come out of the other side of this as a champion of correct training of horses, just as she is a champion of the correct management of them.

And to the rest of us. Let's take some time to reflect on what we do with our own horses. All our animals, and make sure we're not judging others whilst failing in our own management or methods at home.

As for the timing of all of this, well, it's largely irrelevant. A wrong was done to a horse and that is now being rightly addressed. Suspicious? Yes. The most important part of this? No.

Equestrian sport needs to change, but so do the basic standards by which we all should hold ourselves accountable.

Maybe, just maybe, Charlotte Dujardin has done us all a favour and we can all learn from this in ways that improve the lives of all horses, our own included.

Good luck in the Olympics, Team GB. All is not lost and I hope you all get the support you deserve.

[Taipan]

And so it begins...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

Summary
A series of fires has hit French high-speed rail lines, hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Rail company SNCF says it's a "massive attack aimed at paralysing the network"; France's transport minister condemns the "co-ordinated malicious acts"

Some 800,000 customers will be affected with disruption expected all weekend, the rail firm says

One in four Eurostar services between London and Paris will be cancelled until Monday

[Nordboy]

And so it begins...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cxe24vg59lzt

Summary
A series of fires has hit French high-speed rail lines, hours before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Rail company SNCF says it's a "massive attack aimed at paralysing the network"; France's transport minister condemns the "co-ordinated malicious acts"

Some 800,000 customers will be affected with disruption expected all weekend, the rail firm says

One in four Eurostar services between London and Paris will be cancelled until Monday

I got as far as the police and military deployed bit, as if this is because of the attack.

I've been there for 2 days, and there's obviously loads, shit loads of police everywhere. As for the military, they're on general patrol as well, must have walked past dozens of them, all seemingly in groups of 7, fully armed, walking in formation as if they were patrolling in a war zone. Seems a very sensationalist article. I'm very sure the police be on high alert now though. The organising committee have really made their own life difficult though, not having the opening ceremony in a stadium (first time for a OC apparently?).

[Sadlonelygit]

Stop oil/ER pouring gallons of orange dye upstream in the Seine possibly.
I see Macron avoided swimming in La Seine before the games, as he promised!

[Yorick]

Cutting off your finger to spite your nose

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckmg7ngkgjeo

[Dodgy69]

I know northing...but wouldn't be surprised if the horse whipping thing is quite common , training big things to do things, that they don't want to do, things. Maybe anyway.

[KungFooBob]

Cutting off your finger to spite your nose

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckmg7ngkgjeo

Didn't Honda ask John Koshinski (sp?) to do the same thing after an accident in WSBK and he told them where to shove it?

[Mr. Dazzle]

he told them where to shove it?

Before or after removal?

[Noggin]

I know northing...but wouldn't be surprised if the horse whipping thing is quite common , training big things to do things, that they don't want to do, things. Maybe anyway.

It is very very common. Same with any competition that involves humans training animals - very competitive humans quite often don't have the patience to put the time in to train properly so resort to fear.

It's very sad and frustrating. But equally, a lot of owners are cruel without really meaning to be (as in the first bit of my friend's post). So, it's not just competition