| Crazy Scotsman |
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Alex Salmond the Scottish first minister has decided to make athletes run clockwise around the track for the 2014 commonwealth games. He said it was something to do with the independence of a nation and independence of athletics. Any thoughts on this? |
| Mr. Obvious |
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Should also substitute caber toss for weight throw. |
| M. Renton |
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You want to know my thoughts? Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29-LRuuqFT0 Anyway, the runners *shall* be running clockwise--you just have to look at the track from below, rather than from above. |
| SlowFatMaster |
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OK, but which way will the hammer throwers, discus throwers, and rotational shot putters spin? And while on the subject of tossing the caber, why isn't tossing the sheaf also an Olympic, World, and Commonwealth event? |
| M. Renton |
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They'll get to spin whichever way they usually do. Except for those from Oz, New Zealand, South America, and so on--they'll have to spin in the opposite direction. |
| SlowFatMaster |
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OK, but what about Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil? All are: 1) Perennial producers of great throwers 2) On the equator 3) Major point scorers in Commonwealth Games field events Which way (if any) will they spin? Does Bill O'Reilly have a position on this? Will standing (no spin or glide) shot put etc. become popular again? Would competitors wear "throwback" uniforms in these events? |
| SlowFatMaster |
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Sorry, neglected to add Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Kentucky to list. |
| ahre |
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Nice try, pero ¡no cigar! As is well known, most of those countries are not in the Commonwealth, and none produces great throwers with any regularity (i.e. in those countries constipation is a major problem for those in the throwing events). What is less well-known is that even *learning* the throws (except for javelin--for traditional reasons) is actively discouraged in those countries, because of the wayward throws that result when competitors venture north and south of The Line. It's a public-safety issue. And--before anyone even starts--do NOT use Indonesia as an exception. Yes, it's on the equator, it produced BHObama, and (some) people suggest he can go both ways, but a) it's STILL not a Commonwealth country, and b) he's NOT a thrower. Sorry to burst your bubble. |
| SlowFatMaster |
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Wow, you were right about that public safety thing! http://youtu.be/dP0G7F2M7Ck |