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Why not have the Olympic host supply the same shoes to every participant? The same swim suit to every participant. What's the end?
by RegnisGnaw 2y ago
Why not have the Olympic host supply the same shoes to every participant? The same swim suit to every participant. What's the end?
- hanniabu 2y agoThey really should, that way everyone is competing on equal levels. Less variables means a greater chance the best person wins.
- solardev 2y agoI don't think the Olympics were ever about equal footing or decreasing variables. To really level the playing field you'd have to have a clone army of athletes with the same genes, diet, lifestyle, training, coach, sleep, etc. Equipment is just one variable among dozens, and eventually the rules can change to limit their contribution (like with swimsuits).
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- rhinoman 2y agoOr it would benefit those participants who are best suited to the chosen gear. Taking an extreme example - imagine if we said “everyone must wear size 9 shoes so everybody’s on equal footing”.
- axblount 2y agoI'm not sure how your extreme example is helpful. No one has made a suggestion like that.
- rhinoman 2y agoThe idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. By mandating a specific kind of equipment for all athletes, you'd be benefiting some individuals over others. For example, road bikes have different frame shapes that are suitable depending on your torso length compared to leg length. Of course, the natural next step would be allow some flexibility (different frame size but same material), but you can see how that could be a slippery slope of legislation and lobbying that would end up in a similar situation to where we are today?
- to11mtm 2y agoTBH though... You -should- be able to just mandate Hubs and cranks to get around this. Or make sponsors provide a 'slew' of wheels and cranksets for all their riders (i.e. spares as well) that can get inspected before the race, and are randomly distributed between the riders sponsored. Buuuuut UCI hasn't even figured out doping, so lol
- northwest65 2y agoShould hurdles be made in a range of sizes to be fair on short competitors?
- vintermann 2y ago> The idea is that different equipment is better suited for different individuals. Well yes, but different sports are also better suited for different individuals. It's just making the equipment part of the definition of the sport.
- lmm 2y agoSuggesting everyone should have to use a specific bike is exactly a suggestion like that - bikes have sizes and shapes that are suited to riders of particular body sizes and shapes.
- jaggederest 2y agoEspecially in the context of the original olympics, which were largely conducted nude. The idea that a rich country can field better equipment is absurd.
- Am4TIfIsER0ppos 2y agoYes please!
- rurban 2y agoThat would filter out the US TV market. They would not survive this.
- jaggederest 2y agoProviding standardized equipment? I'm not at all suggesting everyone compete nude, I'm suggesting that circumstances be standardized.
- thesz 2y agoIf you have been training in different gear than is supplied to you by host of the event then you are at disadvantage. Take a look at the variety of weightlifting shoes, as an example of gear for a specific sport.
- Ylpertnodi 2y agoWould you expand that to nutrition, training regime, traing location (altitude), etc? Then limit the amount each country/athlete can spend, make everyone get paid the same by different sponsors?
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- marinmania 2y agoThere was a controversy in curling a few years ago where some curling teams were using new brooms by a new company that had significantly better tech. It was so good it made it unnecessary to have two sweepers. The resolution was to ban it and only allow brooms from certain manufacturers. It seems reasonable that these sports could narrow down the list of approved equipment down to a few approved suppliers every year. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1427-broomgate-a-curling-scandal https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1427-broomgate-a-curl...
- alistairSH 2y agoShoes had a similar issue when Nike released their first modern super-shoe (Vaporfly, IIRC). The track and field body had to limit shoe sole height and the other brands had a lot of catch-up to do. Same for swimming with high tech, low drag, bouyant swimsuits. Again, the international body had to step in and ban some materials/designs to prevent domination by nations that could sink resources into the engineering.
- notatoad 2y agosame thing happens in cycling all the time too. the UCI bans new equipment all the time, and the rules for what is allowed are very strict, to the point where there's a limit on sock height. there is a limited list of frames that can be used in UCI races, including the olympics but rules around the type of equipment you can use, and the race host supplying specific equipment to all riders, is a very different thing.
- altruios 2y agoExternal supplies, clothing, and equipment... that's the end... we aren't going to be matching used muscles to see which brain pulls on them harder. External influences should be minimized within reason.
- scblock 2y agoThis is not a strong argument. In fact it sounds downright reasonable.
- SoftTalker 2y agoHave everyone compete in the nude, like they did originally. Viewership would break records, at least.
- vintermann 2y agoDid you know that the Olympics used to be a strictly amateur competition? You would get disqualified if it turned out you'd taken payment for your sporting activity. So it doesn't sound as crazy to me.