As if the world doesn't hate the US enough as it is. (Page 4)

The swimmers care. That's the point. This impacts the athletes.

Swim competitions have a rhythm to them. Prelims in the morning, rest/eat during middle of day, get psyched up for finals at night. It's a ritual. And the NBC dickheads just fugged up the ritual of swimming, big time.

 isn't there some obscure cable network that shows everything live anyways?  It could be taped, tivo'ed, whatever. 

It will be interesting to see how NBC pans this one out, they usually do a boring job of drawing it all out .....

that's just IMO.  I can't remember a swim meet where I had to wake up and swim the finals the next morning!  It was all done in ONE DAY.   Even the State events.  

I'm already PO'ed that Monday night football is on ESPN and poor folks like us dont' ahve cable....

The start was at noon in Athens... I heard the athletes were pissed.  Nothing like afternoon summer heat to run a marathon in. 

I haven't read this whole thread, but I just did read something that says that they also changed rowing for the British and diving for the Australians.

Not just us, folks.

Friggin aussies and poms, always pushing people around with their crumpets and vegemite.  I hate them (except for La Rakusillian )

here ya go.  FREE HDTV.  LImited, but free.    But you still need a new tv. 

Here's some reaction to the IOC decision (from swiminfo.com). It's not entirely negative, but it is by and large negative. Most of the positive reposnses, not surprisingly are from Americans, but not all of the American responses are positive. And, as I alluded to in the title of the thread, there's a good bit of anti-American sentiment.

Do you Americans really understand how the world sees you when you orchestrate the abysmal decisions? You lot are the pits.Rob, Australia  

It is to be expected that swimming USA would support this decision. Typically American, they think the whole world revolves around them. Just as it has with Iraq, they are now prepared to 'blow up the schedule' just so the sport can be 'showcased on prime time (USA) TV' to quote Chuck [Wielgus]. For Chuck to say we have two years notice is meaningless. How many real opportunities will our swimmers have to get used to the new format? Probably only one Long Course! Their home selection trials! 2007 Worlds will not be changed. I realize we live in a commercial world, but this decision confirms what athletes and coaches have been saying about sports administration for years. It is not about the athlete. It is about money. It is not about sport. It is about money. I can see one positive though. The sponsors and freebies who usually spend all night partying and leave thousands of seats empty every morning hopefully will turn up each morning and we will have a full house! It will be great TV if the stands are empty! What can we do about it? Will the athletes cope? They always do and save the [expletive] of the administrators. Greg, United Arab Emirates

This is an abomination of good sportsmanship. All other countries are able to hold Olympics and keep to the recognized schedule of evening finals. The public from other countries are being considered less worthy than those of America. I don't like the media dictating how competitions should be run. Helen, Australia

Shame! Shame! Shame! to IOC and FINA making a decision based on commercial interests and not those of the athletes or for the good of the sport. Easily see who runs the Olympics. Lyn, Australia

Actually, my feelings are mixed. That television commercial needs obviously were the deciding factor and not the athletes needs is disturbing. However, the fact that this is announced two years in advance should give swimmers worldwide, the opportunity to hopefully participate in some national or international competition with the same time frame schedule for the Olympics as part of the athletes training. This should help in keeping the "playing field level"' Mike, United States

Well, once again the Stars and Stripes are conducting the band with the big bucks. Are the Olympics run by the IOC or Uncle Sam? As our Australian swim team is a group of elite and professional athletes, we know that they will overcome this adversity and once again do Australia proud. Go Australia. Sharon, Australia

I have to agree with Alan Thompson's comment. What gets me cranky is that this was done purely for the money....not for what is good for the sport. Shelly, United States

So you people are shocked that the IOC has made a decision based upon money? It's time to grow up and realize that the IOC is a business, with real expenses and income statements. Have they bent over to accomodate NBC? They sure have. NBC has paid billions of dollars to air the event. Does this benefit the American viewing public? It sure does. Are the athletes being asked to change their schedules? You bet. Remember, this IS a business and the IOC is taking care of their bottom line. Without the dollars created by the American television networks they would not have the money to continue. Don't be mad at the USA that our television networks pay so much for the rights to cover this event. Remember it is an open market and other networks from other countries have the opportunity to bid for the coverage. Some of you may say that your countries do not have the dollars it takes to win the bids. This may be true but that is not the fault of the USA or the IOC. That is no reason to bash the USA. We should all be happy that swimming has become a premium sport...one that viewers actually want to watch. Does this mean we have to make sacrifices? Sure it does, but remember people, that is life and this is the big time.Jeff, United States

Not at all. It's basically the online version of SwimmingWorld magazine, not a forum. The responses I posted are just e-mails sent to the publisher.

OK...I'm takin' your Roo away and making you ride a Huffy. 

OK, had to go look at swiminfo.com.  First, they've got their head up their a$$ referring to "Polo-Diving-Syncro" under one tab.  Polo and diving, maybe.  Polo and syncro together?  swimmers.....

Second, it seems the Canadians won't be whining about morning meets if they lose:

 Pierre Lafontaine, Swimming Canada CEO/National Coach:
Swimming Canada is not necessarily enthused with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to host the swimming finals in the morning during the 2008 Beijing Championships however now that we have confirmation, we can move forward with the preparation of our athletes.

As a team, we are taking all measures to adapt to this new environment. With 93 weeks, 651 days left before the start of the 2008 Olympic Games, we will continue to follow the plan set out since the IOC's mention of changing the swimming schedule to morning finals. In order to ensure that our athletes are 100 percent ready to face the World, we will continue to bring our best coaches together as well as experts in other fields to make certain that we have the best mechanisms in place for our athletes' preparation. We have approached specialists from other sports that compete in morning finals such as our National rowing program and have gained great insight on how they train.

Also, this change in schedule is a great opportunity for all athletes in the country to understand that swimming fast despite the time of day, is a must in this competitive world of swimming. In the end, I believe that the best swimmers will conquer whether or not they swim finals in the morning or at night.

Look at it this way, Phelps can go out and get drunk and drive at night like any normal 23 year old.......

Word. That's what I'm talking about.