[Bill Hicks]

Is it me or do the beebs Olympic commentators keep making schoolboy mistakes concerning athletes names, positions etc.
I would expect better from them.
Bring back Coleman, at least his gaffs were funny.

[neilios]

Sometimes they're babbling that much its hard to tell what event it is in the pool...
The mrs has taken a disliking to hazel irvine....she' s making a voodoo doll as we speak....

All pretty enjoyable so far....

[imightbewrong]

Best commentary: when one of the smaller countrys came out during the parade, the deep and amazing fact from the BBC, to give you a picture of both the country, and its sport in the wider context of the olympics was: "this is the only country with only one vowel in their name"

[SimonH]

I wanted to hurt Trevor Nelson in the face...with fire ... Repeatedly.

[Calpolaholic]

Its been terrible in general. Less so the commentary but the presenters and anchors have been out their depth. Very much a case of style over substance. Last night they had McEnroe, Holmes and Johnson on the highlights show to discuss the mens road race. It was embarrassing and I think also for them. The coverage of the mens Road race was also pretty poor. I switched to Eurosport as soon as they had coverage. They could identify riders, tell you how far ahead a break was - all in stark contrast to the three weeks TdF coverage on Eurosport.

The BBC has been verging on tabloid for some time now and I think they have finally succumbed to a much lower standard of journalism. It is clear that the highly paid presenters havent bothered to really do any research into many of the events and show their ignorance by asking stupid questions. I do exempt the likes of Clare Balding who always demonstrates a good empathy and knowledge of the sports she covers. The twatt Linekar on the other hand should be banished to one of his Brothers tacky spanish bars for the rest of this Olympics.

[krish]

Originally Posted by imightbewrong

Best commentary: when one of the smaller countrys came out during the parade, the deep and amazing fact from the BBC, to give you a picture of both the country, and its sport in the wider context of the olympics was: "this is the only country with only one vowel in their name"

was it one of these?
- Chad, Egypt, Cypress, Kyrgystan

[dc8900]

Originally Posted by SimonH

I wanted to hurt Trevor Nelson in the face...with fire ... Repeatedly.

Whoever made the decision to hire him for commentary deserves to be publicly flogged, Nelson might good on Radio 1Xtra Urban Beatz (or whatever it's bloody called) but he was crap and out of his depth

[hufartd]

The quality of commentary probably has something to do with covering up to 24 live streams at once .
There is no chance to polish up a long highlights programme that we all watch.
I reckon their doing a reasonable job giving the scale of the event and the fact that they are not controlling the Tv feed its done by the IOC .

[Deadringers]

Originally Posted by Calpolaholic

Its been terrible in general. Less so the commentary but the presenters and anchors have been out their depth. Very much a case of style over substance. Last night they had McEnroe, Holmes and Johnson on the highlights show to discuss the mens road race. It was embarrassing and I think also for them. The coverage of the mens Road race was also pretty poor. I switched to Eurosport as soon as they had coverage. They could identify riders, tell you how far ahead a break was - all in stark contrast to the three weeks TdF coverage on Eurosport.

The BBC has been verging on tabloid for some time now and I think they have finally succumbed to a much lower standard of journalism. It is clear that the highly paid presenters havent bothered to really do any research into many of the events and show their ignorance by asking stupid questions. I do exempt the likes of Clare Balding who always demonstrates a good empathy and knowledge of the sports she covers. The twatt Linekar on the other hand should be banished to one of his Brothers tacky spanish bars for the rest of this Olympics.

Oh the road race coverage was dreadful.

We were at box hill and there was a giant screen that we watched it on after the 9th lap.

must have been a few thousand people there and everyone was just laughing and watching in disbelief at the quality of the commentary.

Didn't know who the riders were, what country they were - just awful.

As you said the Tour de France coverage is just fantastic. they know who it is, history and background info on that person, best performances, the time gaps etc etc.

BBC was just crap

[shahedz]

The worst commentary so far , hasn't been during the sports but the actual ceremony. Trevor Nelson was terrible. Who's great idea was it to be put him forward?

[GBDG1]

I've only found the swimming any good so far. The two lads who do that seem to have a bit of banter and a few laughs. You can't just describe what is going on, we can see that X athlete has just done Y. You need to discuss background, context, interesting facts and have a bit of a laugh too.

This was worst during the mens road race. If you watch the TDF coverage then they only spend about 50% of the time discussing the race, the rest is interesting background info. The race lasts 6 hours, and only gets interesting in the final hour. There is no need to describe rider X moving to the front of the pelaton 20km in.

[imightbewrong]

Originally Posted by krish

was it one of these?
- Chad, Egypt, Cypress, Kyrgystan

Kyrgystan - I think it was actaully 'the longest with only one vowel'

I feel like I'm actually *in* Kyrgystan knowing that.

[Jamezinho]

Originally Posted by imightbewrong

Best commentary: when one of the smaller countrys came out during the parade, the deep and amazing fact from the BBC, to give you a picture of both the country, and its sport in the wider context of the olympics was: "this is the only country with only one vowel in their name"

Kyrgyzstan. Although as Krish said, it's not the only one (Cyprus, Egypt, Chad).

[Jamezinho]

Another error during the opening ceremony as the athletes were presented....

According to Hazel Irvine, Brazilian footballer 'Hulk' plays for Mexico.

[bosque]

Originally Posted by Jamezinho

Another error during the opening ceremony as the athletes were presented....

According the Hazel Irvine, Brazilian footballer 'Hulk' plays for Mexico.

As Gary Lineker has expained, the Olympics coverage is from a pool of broadcasters across the world so maybe Hazel Irvine is one of those foreign broadcasters.

[dc8900]

Originally Posted by bosque

As Gary Lineker has expained, the Olympics coverage is from a pool of broadcasters across the world so maybe Hazel Irvine is one of those foreign broadcasters.

Although in this case she isn't, as she is British and has longed worked for the BBC as a sports presenter

[pandemic]

A little off topic. Any ideas why there is no live scoring during boxing matches, in past olympics the point were always on show?

[bosque]

Originally Posted by dc8900

Although in this case she isn't, as she is British and has longed worked for the BBC as a sports presenter

Oh right, I thought she might be Chinese or something, with a name like that.

[Mr Incredible]

One commentator commented on someone wearing a wrist strap (I think bike race) as he recently had broken his scapula. If you're going to get all medical, at least get the name right: scaphoid. Scapula is your shoulder blade.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by bosque

As Gary Lineker has expained, the Olympics coverage is from a pool of broadcasters across the world so maybe Hazel Irvine is one of those foreign broadcasters.

Originally Posted by dc8900

Although in this case she isn't, as she is British and has longed worked for the BBC as a sports presenter

Bloody hell bosque, first time BBC viewer? She used to be on Grandstand, that is how far her association with the beeb stretches. Putting that aside, Scotland ain't independent yet! Voice not a giveaway?

[krish]

Oh dear ...

bosque, looks like you'll need to deploy smilies next time

[dc8900]

Originally Posted by bosque

Oh right, I thought she might be Chinese or something, with a name like that.

Unless I'm missing something, Hazel Irvine (which AFAIK is a very Scottish surname) doesn't sound particularly Chinese to me

[krish]

Oh boy
Now I'm not sure who's kidding who ... I think it's both kidding each other without smilies

[neilios]

Originally Posted by bosque

As Gary Lineker has expained, the Olympics coverage is from a pool of broadcasters across the world so maybe Hazel Irvine is one of those foreign broadcasters.

Classic.........

[Jamezinho]

Originally Posted by krish

Oh boy
Now I'm not sure who's kidding who ... I think it's both kidding each other without smilies

Same here. I wish I hadn't said anything now.

[Toasty]

Watching the womens cycling yesterday and the commentators were referring to 'he' throughout the race, most off putting, especially when flicking through channels. I was sometimes not certain I had got back to the right race until ladies was mentioned again.

[Mr_Wistles]

Originally Posted by Calpolaholic

The BBC has been verging on tabloid for some time now and I think they have finally succumbed to a much lower standard of journalism. It is clear that the highly paid presenters havent bothered to really do any research into many of the events and show their ignorance by asking stupid questions.

I have been saying that for years. Last week on the main news website they sent a reporter and a camera team to interview a 3 year old who can climb a door frame!

[Dony]

I watched some of the boxing yesterday and most of the commentators should take heed of Jim Neeley.
They were short fights that he could easily have commented on using the "Say what you see" method deployed by most of the others I've watched so far.
But Jim had obviously done his research into every fighter and made it much more enjoyable to watch.

[IanW1977]

Too much money spent on Hansen et Al.

Motd is dumbed down so much the bbc have lost their knowledge base asv they show barely any sports now.

You would have thought thus the bbc commentators would have plenty of time to research.

And why for example is the bbc relying on external broadcasters for example information on the road race.

maybe they overstretched themselves offering coverage on 25 odd channels

[Deadringers]

For the road race they should have gotten the ITV4 boys in who know their stuff inside and out.

Would have been fantastic then