March 4, 2024 • 28 mins
Welcome to a new year of Two Good Sports!
Since they were announced in 2023, the Enhanced Games has divided opinion. The proposed event is set to be the first international sports competition without drug testing. It's backed by wealthy investors and already has athletes keen to compete. And with $1m USD up for grabs for breaking a world record, who can blame them? But will the Enhanced Games threaten the integrity of clean sport?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Here at two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were injurie people, This land was never seated,
always was always will be. Oh hello and welcome to
two Good Sports Sports News told differently.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We're back.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
I'm Georgie Tunney, who guess I'm Abby Delmy, and we
are so pumped to be back, because, my god, it
is a long off season where there was so much news.
The fact that Taylor Swift took over the Super Bowl
and we didn't have a weekly outlet to talk about
it was a crime against humanity.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But we are back, George.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
But the memories that that particular moment in sports culture
gave us, tell me count us in three two one
Viva Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I can't believe we've done that.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
But we are changing things up a little bit this season.
We're not going to go with the headlines. We're just
going to give you something that George and I want
to talk about this week. Yes, and I said to Georgie,
you know what, mate, maybe talking about the Broncos every
week is a bit much.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, but then you did say that they went to Vegas. Yeah,
And I said, tell me, I hear you. But I'm
gonna take it as a comment because the Brisbane Broncos.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
My loves, were in Viva Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
We're trying to do that with the Travis Kelvihills. So
I just don't know if it's coming across. But it
was at the Super Bowls radio time.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
So the relevance, Yeah, the relevance it's there.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Look, the NRL Round one in Viva Las Vegas, there
was four there was only two matches, four teams taking
to the field, the Super Bowl field, and we had
the Brisbane Broncos we love them, up against the Sydney Roosters.
Now Brewsters won that game, not the Broncos. That's okay,
that's okay, room for improvement. The other match was so entertaining.
(01:44):
Manly smashed the Bunnies. It was just like a trifest
I think overall, I am going to give a very
very very solid pass mark for the NRL for this
venture in trying to take the game to America, a
market which yes, is very lucrative, but also has no
idea that there is something called rugby league. It's like
they're playing in Victoria. They think it's rugby union and
(02:06):
it's the major league of rugby, so they've still got
a little bit of work to do when it comes
to brand identity. But at least in all the coverage
that I've seen, Viva Las Vegas and the NRL in
Vegas has dominated all of the headlines, like every single one,
So I think it is overwhelmingly positive.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Little bit of a downer here though.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
This is a story that will still be fleshed out
over the coming weeks. But for those headlines that I've
been talking about, there has been a really negative one
in an alleged racial slur against my Isra Maam the
five eight for the Brisbane Broncos by one of the
roosters players, Spencer Lenu. Now that an investigation is going
to be ongoing with this, but if that happened, and
(02:46):
if that's found to be the case, there.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Needs to be a very very significant suspension.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It seems so sad that an amazing event has been
marred by something this horrendous. Oh it's twenty twenty four,
how are we still here? It's horrific And just see Ezra.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I mean he thinks that there's something in this because
he has pushed ahead with a formal complaint on field.
He's pushed ahead and confirmed after the game that he
wants there to be an investigation, so it will be
investigated and whether or not they find that there is
proof of this, I just think it is the worst
worst look on you know, what was they were hoping
(03:21):
to be this gigantic stage.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And we're not going to repeat the language because it's
the sort of language that does not need any more airtime.
But it is so far beyond what is okay in society,
in football of any code, And should it be found
to have happened, don't let him play for the season
for mine.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, so yeah, I think that that could be something
that they consider one thousand percent. And you're talking about
a player who we do not know if it is
confirmed that this happened. But he's a three time Premiership
player with dependent with Panthers. It was his first game
for the Sydney Roosters. Like this is an experienced player,
so what on earth is happening?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
But other than that, other than that, Viva las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Viva las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Speaking of things that you're talking about in the first round,
my coat AFL. We are on the eve of round zero.
Do not ask my opinion on round zero.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
One thought, what is round zero?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Round zero happens on my son's birthday, so it would
be really ideal if that didn't bloody happen.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
But I do love the concept.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think it's going to be amazing to see Sydney
fans because essentially the AFL have gone, oh, the NRL
have left the car and the driveway and the keys
and the door.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
We're going to take this market for a spin.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
So it is designed to try to engage that in
northern market, which it has been well documented that the
AFL doesn't have the same cut through in the same
way that rugby league a union to a lot of
people that live in Melbourne does not have the same
audience or observation.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You just twitch then, please don't hit me.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Do you think it'll work?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I think so. I think so.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And the early numbers are showing that it's a sellout.
A lot of the games are sold out, especially at
Giants Stadium and Collingwood. You've got the raining premiers taking
on the Giants and you know their history from last
season means it's going to be an incredible game.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
That's not what I want to talk about this week.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I think the major topic across all coades this year
has to be concussion. Yes, we saw this yesterday with
Jimmy Webbs's hit on Dysimpkin, the North Melbourne captain. Is
he going to get somewhere near eight weeks? They're saying
for the concussion that it then resulted and it was
one of those ones where you chose to bump left
the ground and had severe impact and resulted in concussion.
(05:21):
And the AFL is saying, essentially, throw out any precedents
with concussion that you've ever seen in any other season
to decide what weeks it's going to get. It's a
whole new rule book now. And even though the twelve
days will remain the mandatory minimum time from the day
that a player is cancuss that they must remain out
of the game, we've got doctors now saying it's a
(05:43):
month until your brain starts to Actually.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I can only see that twelve days being extended. I
don't know if it happens this season, but it's something
that they are going to want to look at because
this is the biggest issue across sport, across coats.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
And a player angus Brayshaw twenty eight decide, Yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
That happened in the off seat in our off season.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And taking upon himself to get further scans on his
brain and then getting medically ruled out of the game
because of the damage that he'd seen from an incident
in September which no suspension was handed down. And the
AFL rightly so have gone right were they essentially have
the Brashaw Maynard rule. Now where they've gone. We need
to stop that from happening. As soon as you leave
(06:23):
the ground, you've elected to bump and there will be consequences.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, there's no room for contests like this in the game, Like,
there's just none.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
There's absolutely none. It's sickening. It is the biggest advertisement
to not play football.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
And will AFL should they not get this out of
the game see issues at a junior level, because my goodness,
when you watch that, you imagine being Jye Simpkins's mum
and you're like, absolutely not, hypothetically my child not playing
that game unless unless, because it's what we know now. Yeah,
do not watch Concussion with Will Smith if you have
(06:57):
a family member that likes to play high on tag
sport because it's terrifying.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
It is, and it's something that we are going to
see all throughout twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Jell me, look at us. We've started so strongly. Will
we have anything to talk about? Haha? So many things.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
This week's topic. When it happened, I was champing at
the bit so much so that I was like, can
we come back early?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Because we have had full disclosure.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Producer James and I have had messages, non stop messages
from jell Me in the off season being like, guys, guys, guys, guys,
this one, this one, this one, this one, all of
the topics.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
The enhanced games, that's our deep dive, the Olympics on steroids.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I'm about to get emotional and passionate. Hold on George.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
When I get asked why I love sport and doing
what we do, it's a question that comes up quite
often all the time. The first thing that flashes to
mind are iconic moments huddled around the TV while you
just knew the neighbor and the nation were huddled around
THEIRS watching Ozzie's give their all for one golden chance
at glory, the kind of glory that only comes once
every four years, when you're taking on the best in
(08:16):
the world.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
The Olympics, I mean, the Olympics is definitely my first
love affair with sport.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
There's nothing like it.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
That is why I love sport is because I love
to swim growing up. So therefore I loved following the dolphins.
I loved watching what the swimmers could do. Therefore, that
was my gateway into the Olympics and the whole competition
and all of the sports that I could only dream
of being good enough to compete in.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And the icons live forever.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We're talking Kathy, We're talking Thorpy, And if I may
get very personal, we're talking Herbie, grandpa, who won very
rare track gold in nineteen sixty and I'm going to
use I'm going to use his quote to frame our
conversation today because it hits me in the solar plexus.
It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives
(09:01):
people not only to compete, but to improve and to
bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and
inspiration to those lucky.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Enough to witness athletic dedication.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now, who knew that Herbie was such a wordsmith? I
did not know this. I mean you may you have
related to the man, but I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
That he's so bright it actually hurts.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
But this idea of the moral, the spiritual and what
sport needs to inspire is what is so deeply challenged
by a concept that is got wings to the point
where this is going to happen. The enhanced Games, the
modern Olympics, where doping is okay, taking performance enhancing drugs
(09:44):
are encouraged. Take the record, will monitor your health. It's
safe science. But dope yourself to the gills. Direct quote
James Magnuson, former world champion, silver medalist Australian athlete now
thirty two, competed for Australia when he was twenty and said,
I'll have a crack. Do you know why he'll have
a crack? You get one million dollars yep, if you
(10:07):
take down a world record. But is this Georgie bringing
into disrepute everything that we love about the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yes, short answer, Yes, this whole concept makes my absolute
skin crawl. I can't quite sit still talking to you
right now, even thinking about it, because the enhanced Games,
for me, is a concept that has been dreampt up
by venture capitalists, billionaires, the private sector especially.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I'd argue people sitting in their living rooms, Oh, my
brother has sat next to me, going, let them ruin
themselves up and see what happens. If like, honestly, it's
something that people say at a pub going. Imagine when
you watch the Tour de France, everyone's like, well, we
know they all are, yes, just let them go.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But there's something in that that I think is just
so immoral in that. For me, the enhanced Games, this
concept of the picks on steroids, letting everyone do what
they want. You can you can choose to dope, you
can choose not to dope. You can all compete mumongst
yourselves and we'll just see what happens. But for me,
it's essentially the Hunger Games for Big Farmer. Oh yeah, totally,
(11:14):
because it is an exten The wealthy.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Are dangling a carrot and Olympians athletes that are so
grossly underpaid. Yes I'm going I'll do it.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yeah, I'll do it. I'll be the guinea pig.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I'll be the guinea pig to figure out how we
can live forever. That is what this is about, and
that is what I find ethically so wrong.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
So let's take a step back and really describe to
you what these games are going to be and how
they've come into fruition. So if you go to their
very Schmick website, it states backed by the world's top
venture capitalists, the Enhanced Games is the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Of the future.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
When forty four percent of athletes already use performance enhancing drugs.
So that's that did hurt and it's a stat that
came from a survey by WADA.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, didn't like that.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So it's terrifying but also completely believable. When we're talking
about track and field and Olympic sports. It is time
to safely celebrate science and they've boldened this sports can
be safer without drug testing.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I just don't think that they can. Now, this whole
concept of the Enhanced Games is only at the moment
for a certain few sports. So there's five particular categories
that they are encouraging people to compete in, being swimming, athletics,
aquatics really so that would cover diving and swimming.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So it's track and field, swimming and diving. Combat sports.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Yes, they want to be.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Weightlifting again shock me.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
And gymnastics, which I actually think would be incredible, not
how to check it past at all with the doping.
And that's the scary thing too, is we know that
we've got sixteen year olds test positive at the Olympics
where it's not allowed. So what would happen if we
would open the floodgates?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Now? The founder and president.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Is a Melbournian doctor Aaron and he's backed by several
wealthy investors, most notably billionaire Peter Tiel, the founder of PayPal.
So big, big corporation, big dollars are backing this in
and they're saying we've got the money, the athletes will come.
And the reason why they've chosen only five sports is
(13:18):
they argue, no one cares about the other ones, and
it costs billions and billions of taxpayer dollars to build
the infrastructure for events that no one cares about even
in those four years.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Tell that to the hockey roots.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
No, but that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, this is the problem is they are sitting back
and this really struck me in that doctor DeSUS It
said the Olympics is the opera and we are a
rock concert. In that they are stuck and trying to
freeze and replace something that yes, it's classical. Yes, it
has its place, but people are over it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Well.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
See, this is my concern with this, Jell Mey, is
that you know, I may loathe this with every fiber
of my being, but that is because I already love sport,
and I have loved sport my entire life.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
I have loved the Olympics my entire life.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
For people out there who aren't necessarily sports fans, and
they find, you know, some of these events quite tedious,
quite boring. They don't understand the history, they don't even
care about the history. It's the difference between T twenty
and test cricket.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
You know, we've seen that advancement.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
And I do think that the Enhanced Games, it's the
disruptor that the Olympics may actually need.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And it pains me to say that.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It pains me to say it, but it may need
it because sports do need to continue to innovate and
change to draw in new audiences.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
But what does that look like? So you and I
love the games, and by that we mean the Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Let us let us really qualify this.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
And the thing that I've found most difficult in researching
this is and Desuza is everywhere. He's on every podcast
doing very s not shy, but also making deeply valid
points about the way that athletes are remunerated for completing
at an Olympics and the structures around the games that
(15:12):
have meant that people are starting to not care. And
first and foremost, he's saying, athletes that give their whole
soul to end their life to being the fifth best
one hundred meter runner in the world. You're the fifth
fastest person in the world. No one knows who you are.
You get one shot every four years to build your profile.
And your sponsors aren't Nike or Adidas, they're your local
(15:35):
hardware store. And the average Australian Olympian is under the
poverty line. Yes, they're making thirty thousand dollars a year.
So he's saying we want to make very for profit
that we're going to be honest about it. This is
for profit, but we don't need taxpayer dollars. We've got
billionaires funding it. We don't have to build the infrastructure,
(15:55):
and athletes are going to get one hundred thousand dollars
for qualifying.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And this is where I think that it is an
alarm bell for the Olympics, and it's probably something that
they can look at. I mean, we have seen even
most recently, We've talked about it at length on this
very podcast. Are these type of events viable? Who's hosting
the Commonwealth Games? We still don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Or Brisbane were the only city.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
To bid, yeah, for the twenty thirty two Olympics.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
They were the only ones that put their hands up.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
This is what I mean by, you know, the juxtaposition
or the hypocriritical nature of my own feelings about the
Enhanced Games, because I think what they have to say
about sustainability in the sports world and sustainability in major
events is actually quite valid. I think what they have
to say about the remuneration in athletes also is quite valid.
And these are real questions that for me, the IOC
(16:48):
needs to take really seriously. However, why I loathe the
concept so much is because Aaron DeSUS is there being like, oh,
the Enhanced Games will just live in harmony with the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Can both coexist?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
They cannot in my mind because as soon as someone
breaks a world record, that is what they are chasing
in the Enhanced Games, that is what a James Magnuson
would come out of retirement dope himself to the eyeballs
because he's trying to break the fifty meter freestyle world
and he used yeah, he said induced to the gills
if he was, you know, there's a million dollars on
the table, you or him, Yeah, yeah, to break a
(17:23):
world record. And you know, because if that happens, then
you pull into question everything that clean athletes are able
to do. It completely delegitimizes the power of them as
an athlete, the power of them, the power of sport.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The conversation I'm about to have hurts my soul. But
gatlan So, a two time convicted drug cheat, beats Usain
Bolt in his last ever race.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yes, because they're allowed to return.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
And the argument of people that are in the industry
Matt Shervington, is that once you have doped, your body
reaches an aerobic capacity.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
It can't naturally so even.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
If you return, you still have the benefits of it.
You still have the benefits of it. And so we're
talking about the marquee events, the track, the field where
you know doping is happening. So there aren't clean games anyway.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So that's why you're saying that this is why not
like they're just taking advantage of the concept despite there
not being clean games. I think that maybe it is impossible.
Maybe it's impossible. I think that sport in itself, it's
easy impossible to have a level playing field Physiologically, people
are far more gifted than other people. Like, there's no
chance of me becoming an athlete even if I had
(18:35):
all of you know, the I did exactly the same
amount of training as Arionne Tipmus.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I'm just not I'm not built the same. We're not
built the same. I'm not gonna win.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You didn't come out of the womb. You sain Bolt
where you look at him and go, you know what.
I believe he's the Have you seen him in person,
you go, you know what? I do believe you are
the fastest human that has ever been put.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
On the earth exactly.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
But I don't think that that is reason enough to
not try to not try to see what people can
do without you know, doping themselves. I mean, this is
the on their official website for the Enhanced Games. It
says that they're trying to I quote, we want to
see what humans are truly capable of.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You're not.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
You're wanting to see what like a different version of humans.
In my mind, this is a sci fi film. You're
creating a new a new human, and you're trying.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
To see what that's capable of. So also you can
serve the anti aging industry what.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
They have likened it to.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Again, this is doctor Desusa, who is speaking everywhere, said
that AI scared people and it was futuristic and they
were worried about what the impact was. It is here
and the tipping point for that was CHATJP. They are
saying the enhanced games and people taking performance enhancing life
enhancing life extending drugs is coming and the tipping point
(19:55):
is going to be the enhanced Games.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All those people can do whatever they want, just don't
have it be a concept that can compete with the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
The Olympics needs to do something to compete, and I
tell you what, it's not bringing break dancing in as
a sport truly in terms of fighting for relevance.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
You may have no maybe netball, I don't know no,
but crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Break dancing and you can win. So we've already seen
this battle. The Olympics are already realizing it's slipping.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Well they're already making changes to you know, historic events
like long jump. They're toying with changing the idea of
a no takeoff zone right so that you don't be
fouled because a third of the jumpers currently do it,
and people get bored watching the long jump, so they
are trying. They're having these conversations. But I mean, the
head of the International Athletics Body Sebastian co so people
(20:42):
would be moronic to even consider the enhanced games. But
even though because people are talking about it, that worries
me because I do think that that means that some
athletes are like.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Hmm, do you want to consider You can draw parallels
to UFC. When the first concept of UFC came out,
everyone went, what you going to put them in a
cage and they're going to fight for money to entertain everyone.
People will get killed, No one will watch this what
humans For the same reason that people love watching a
(21:14):
pub fight, they watch. You cannot tell me that if
an enhanced game is on YouTube, the view a ship
and the human interest is.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
The weightlifting is going to be insane.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
And the thing that we have skimmed over because it
hurts both of us, is that the argument around all
of this is that it's going to be safer than
the Olympics. The testing is going to be more rigorous.
They're going to test them from head to toe before lerecks,
because in their statement, it's not going to serve our
purpose people dropping dead running the hundred.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Yes, but then I would call into question then yes,
but what about the people that don't even make it
to the games? What about the people who sign up
for all of these fans the medicines and stuff. And
they may already do that anyway, but you're not being
at the moment financially or fiscally encouraged to do this stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
And that's what this concept does.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So I don't believe them that they can have possibly
have an individual's best interests at heart.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
The way that Olympic athletes are being remunerated at the
moment has left a giant void, yes, for something like
this to come in and be attractive, because I don't
think you grow up wanting to cheat to be the
best in the world, or use drugs, which have always
been branded as cheating to our generation. But if someone
(22:36):
offers you something that is so ie a million US dollars,
it starts to become attractive, and that moral compass it
starts to sway, especially if they're not telling you that
it's a moral because forty four percent of athletes admit
to already doing it, so George, that's who admit in
a wider survey.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
So using it hands, it's one in two.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
You are clean. You are going to the starting line
looking going. I'm in the fifty percent. I'm in the
minority here.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
I hope it doesn't happen allegedly it's happening at the
end of the year.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's nothing we can do to stop it.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
There isn't anything we can do to stop it.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
But I hope that no one watches it, even though
full disclosure, I watched the CrossFit Games and that is
always like been very very.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Qua and I love the CrossFit cross fits.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
One yes, people that are juiced up to their eyeballs joking,
I'm sorry, sorry, down off your moral high horse.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
This is different.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
It's dips.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Somehow I can find the difference because in my head
it is far more prestigious. The Olympics, even though I
love the crossfitters, is far more prestigious to be it is, yeah,
but you still.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Love watching people who are altered on the chin up bar.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
But I just like any kind of sport, and that's
why I don't. I don't want this to be a thing.
I don't want people to do it. I agree with
you and that it's a it's a murky, murky murky one.
And I do you think that it raises questions that
I want the Olympic Committee to answer in terms of sustainability, remuneration,
all of that.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
I'll leave you with this. I'll leave you with this
because this is the bit that got me. The statement
that was used was my body, my choice. If I
choose to be in the enhanced Games, isn't that my choice?
Speaker 4 (24:21):
It is your choice.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
If I choose to be paid by pharmaceutical companies who
sponsor me to trial essentially these drugs, is that not
my choice?
Speaker 4 (24:30):
It is your choice. But I just think it can't
be good. There is so much.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
There is a far more sinister under belly to this
concept than even doping in the Olympics, I think, because
it's all for a different purpose. It's trying to serve
a different purpose, which is big farmer coming to your.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Screens in four It is what help us. Oh, it's
fun fact time.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
Yes I've missed our fun facts.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Oh oh I really have.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We've got Olympics themed and we've both brought something different
to the parties.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Highs, loads of big blows.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Blows you go first.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Okay, did you know in the first Olympics, Yes, everyone competed. Ever,
everyone competed naked because it was only blokes and can
you imagine.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
The most home erotic thing that's ever happened? Of course
it really does fit in with the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Can I just say women weren't allowed to compete into
the nineteen hundreds?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
But yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Well on that note, apparently at the Paris Olympics, so
fast forward to wing clothes and mary clothes will be
worn and apparently on the menu bananas people are going
to go on nuts for the bananas.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Three million bananas, three million expected to be consumed in
the village.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
In the village, maybe a few bits around the village
as well, but in the village three million banana's gobble couple.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Well, I just I'm getting my head around that because
I'm thinking I remember Michael Phelps a day on the plate.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
Them he wouldn't need like fifty eight part.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Of me is going that's bullshit, and another part's going.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Actually it was.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Always the ones though, right, you know, when it's like
swimmers in between breaks and whatever, everyone.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Just like chows down on banana because it's like a superfood.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Unless at the Australian Open there was sushi randomly remember that. No,
there was a player that was eating sushi and it
got a bit warm, and I was like, yeah, because
you chat like, why I'm gagging at the thought of
a bit of tuna and avo, why are you eating
sushi or rod labor Anyway, Another fun fact about the
Olympic circling back the six colors that you can see
(26:41):
on the Olympic flag. So the blue, yellow, black, green,
red and white with the background were chosen because every
nation's flag contains at least one of them.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Oh it's a bit lovely.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
So I did not know that's really lovely. Enhanced games wishes,
it was that lovely.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Oh God, that's so nuh. Final fine fact from me
the twenty twenty four Paris Olympics.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I've got Paris on the line. That's my theme is
that the Olympic.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
So the opening ceremony for the Olympics is actually going
to be taking place on the seen so that giant
river that runs through Paris. They're going to put all
the afflets I assume on barges and then just like
sail them on down.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I just think they saw an AFL Grand Final parade
during COVID where they put them down the arrow so
no one could touch them, and they have gone that
looks good, let's do.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
I'm not sure about it. I know that everyone loves
the concept. Well.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Their argument is that will get more people to be
able to see them, because more people will be able
to pack the banks of the sin then will be
able to fit into a stadium, is their argument. But
also after the scenes that we saw on the Beautiful Yarrah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
We'll put it this way, they're circled back, haven't they.
It doesn't happen anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
With the players held hostage and surely.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
The longest kick over the earra but that's about it.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Imagine the sites of just like a boat running into
like a trillion year old bridge on something and it's
just like, oh no, we've stuffed that up. We've stuffed
that up, guys, Team Australia.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But again, two good sports, very open for a partnership
and tour of the Paris Game. So if anyone wants
us to count the three million bananas, we're available.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
May we be a venue. We are fluent in Zilangorage,
so please hit us up ah ah before we get
in trouble. That is it for our first episode.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
That is it, our first episode of two Good Sports.
We are back.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I have loved it.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Tell me what we desperately need to know. How you
feel about the enhanced game so we can solidify how
we feel ourselves. Hit us up on social media, let
us know, and as always, it's
Here at two Good Sports, we would like to acknowledge
the traditional owners of the land on which we record
this podcast. There were injurie people, This land was never seated,
always was always will be. Oh hello and welcome to
two Good Sports Sports News told differently.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
We're back.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
I'm Georgie Tunney, who guess I'm Abby Delmy, and we
are so pumped to be back, because, my god, it
is a long off season where there was so much news.
The fact that Taylor Swift took over the Super Bowl
and we didn't have a weekly outlet to talk about
it was a crime against humanity.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
But we are back, George.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
But the memories that that particular moment in sports culture
gave us, tell me count us in three two one
Viva Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I can't believe we've done that.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
But we are changing things up a little bit this season.
We're not going to go with the headlines. We're just
going to give you something that George and I want
to talk about this week. Yes, and I said to Georgie,
you know what, mate, maybe talking about the Broncos every
week is a bit much.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, but then you did say that they went to Vegas. Yeah,
And I said, tell me, I hear you. But I'm
gonna take it as a comment because the Brisbane Broncos.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
My loves, were in Viva Las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
We're trying to do that with the Travis Kelvihills. So
I just don't know if it's coming across. But it
was at the Super Bowls radio time.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
So the relevance, Yeah, the relevance it's there.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Look, the NRL Round one in Viva Las Vegas, there
was four there was only two matches, four teams taking
to the field, the Super Bowl field, and we had
the Brisbane Broncos we love them, up against the Sydney Roosters.
Now Brewsters won that game, not the Broncos. That's okay,
that's okay, room for improvement. The other match was so entertaining.
(01:44):
Manly smashed the Bunnies. It was just like a trifest
I think overall, I am going to give a very
very very solid pass mark for the NRL for this
venture in trying to take the game to America, a
market which yes, is very lucrative, but also has no
idea that there is something called rugby league. It's like
they're playing in Victoria. They think it's rugby union and
(02:06):
it's the major league of rugby, so they've still got
a little bit of work to do when it comes
to brand identity. But at least in all the coverage
that I've seen, Viva Las Vegas and the NRL in
Vegas has dominated all of the headlines, like every single one,
So I think it is overwhelmingly positive.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
Little bit of a downer here though.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
This is a story that will still be fleshed out
over the coming weeks. But for those headlines that I've
been talking about, there has been a really negative one
in an alleged racial slur against my Isra Maam the
five eight for the Brisbane Broncos by one of the
roosters players, Spencer Lenu. Now that an investigation is going
to be ongoing with this, but if that happened, and
(02:46):
if that's found to be the case, there.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Needs to be a very very significant suspension.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It seems so sad that an amazing event has been
marred by something this horrendous. Oh it's twenty twenty four,
how are we still here? It's horrific And just see Ezra.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
I mean he thinks that there's something in this because
he has pushed ahead with a formal complaint on field.
He's pushed ahead and confirmed after the game that he
wants there to be an investigation, so it will be
investigated and whether or not they find that there is
proof of this, I just think it is the worst
worst look on you know, what was they were hoping
(03:21):
to be this gigantic stage.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
And we're not going to repeat the language because it's
the sort of language that does not need any more airtime.
But it is so far beyond what is okay in society,
in football of any code, And should it be found
to have happened, don't let him play for the season
for mine.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah, so yeah, I think that that could be something
that they consider one thousand percent. And you're talking about
a player who we do not know if it is
confirmed that this happened. But he's a three time Premiership
player with dependent with Panthers. It was his first game
for the Sydney Roosters. Like this is an experienced player,
so what on earth is happening?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
But other than that, other than that, Viva las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Viva las Vegas.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Speaking of things that you're talking about in the first round,
my coat AFL. We are on the eve of round zero.
Do not ask my opinion on round zero.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
One thought, what is round zero?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Round zero happens on my son's birthday, so it would
be really ideal if that didn't bloody happen.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
But I do love the concept.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think it's going to be amazing to see Sydney
fans because essentially the AFL have gone, oh, the NRL
have left the car and the driveway and the keys
and the door.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
We're going to take this market for a spin.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
So it is designed to try to engage that in
northern market, which it has been well documented that the
AFL doesn't have the same cut through in the same
way that rugby league a union to a lot of
people that live in Melbourne does not have the same
audience or observation.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You just twitch then, please don't hit me.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Do you think it'll work?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
I think so. I think so.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And the early numbers are showing that it's a sellout.
A lot of the games are sold out, especially at
Giants Stadium and Collingwood. You've got the raining premiers taking
on the Giants and you know their history from last
season means it's going to be an incredible game.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
That's not what I want to talk about this week.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
I think the major topic across all coades this year
has to be concussion. Yes, we saw this yesterday with
Jimmy Webbs's hit on Dysimpkin, the North Melbourne captain. Is
he going to get somewhere near eight weeks? They're saying
for the concussion that it then resulted and it was
one of those ones where you chose to bump left
the ground and had severe impact and resulted in concussion.
(05:21):
And the AFL is saying, essentially, throw out any precedents
with concussion that you've ever seen in any other season
to decide what weeks it's going to get. It's a
whole new rule book now. And even though the twelve
days will remain the mandatory minimum time from the day
that a player is cancuss that they must remain out
of the game, we've got doctors now saying it's a
(05:43):
month until your brain starts to Actually.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
I can only see that twelve days being extended. I
don't know if it happens this season, but it's something
that they are going to want to look at because
this is the biggest issue across sport, across coats.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
And a player angus Brayshaw twenty eight decide, Yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
That happened in the off seat in our off season.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And taking upon himself to get further scans on his
brain and then getting medically ruled out of the game
because of the damage that he'd seen from an incident
in September which no suspension was handed down. And the
AFL rightly so have gone right were they essentially have
the Brashaw Maynard rule. Now where they've gone. We need
to stop that from happening. As soon as you leave
(06:23):
the ground, you've elected to bump and there will be consequences.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, there's no room for contests like this in the game, Like,
there's just none.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
There's absolutely none. It's sickening. It is the biggest advertisement
to not play football.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
And will AFL should they not get this out of
the game see issues at a junior level, because my goodness,
when you watch that, you imagine being Jye Simpkins's mum
and you're like, absolutely not, hypothetically my child not playing
that game unless unless, because it's what we know now. Yeah,
do not watch Concussion with Will Smith if you have
(06:57):
a family member that likes to play high on tag
sport because it's terrifying.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
It is, and it's something that we are going to
see all throughout twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Jell me, look at us. We've started so strongly. Will
we have anything to talk about? Haha? So many things.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
This week's topic. When it happened, I was champing at
the bit so much so that I was like, can
we come back early?
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Because we have had full disclosure.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Producer James and I have had messages, non stop messages
from jell Me in the off season being like, guys, guys, guys, guys,
this one, this one, this one, this one, all of
the topics.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
The enhanced games, that's our deep dive, the Olympics on steroids.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I'm about to get emotional and passionate. Hold on George.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
When I get asked why I love sport and doing
what we do, it's a question that comes up quite
often all the time. The first thing that flashes to
mind are iconic moments huddled around the TV while you
just knew the neighbor and the nation were huddled around
THEIRS watching Ozzie's give their all for one golden chance
at glory, the kind of glory that only comes once
every four years, when you're taking on the best in
(08:16):
the world.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
The Olympics, I mean, the Olympics is definitely my first
love affair with sport.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
There's nothing like it.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
That is why I love sport is because I love
to swim growing up. So therefore I loved following the dolphins.
I loved watching what the swimmers could do. Therefore, that
was my gateway into the Olympics and the whole competition
and all of the sports that I could only dream
of being good enough to compete in.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And the icons live forever.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
We're talking Kathy, We're talking Thorpy, And if I may
get very personal, we're talking Herbie, grandpa, who won very
rare track gold in nineteen sixty and I'm going to
use I'm going to use his quote to frame our
conversation today because it hits me in the solar plexus.
It is the inspiration of the Olympic Games that drives
(09:01):
people not only to compete, but to improve and to
bring lasting spiritual and moral benefits to the athlete and
inspiration to those lucky.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Enough to witness athletic dedication.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Now, who knew that Herbie was such a wordsmith? I
did not know this. I mean you may you have
related to the man, but I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
That he's so bright it actually hurts.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
But this idea of the moral, the spiritual and what
sport needs to inspire is what is so deeply challenged
by a concept that is got wings to the point
where this is going to happen. The enhanced Games, the
modern Olympics, where doping is okay, taking performance enhancing drugs
(09:44):
are encouraged. Take the record, will monitor your health. It's
safe science. But dope yourself to the gills. Direct quote
James Magnuson, former world champion, silver medalist Australian athlete now
thirty two, competed for Australia when he was twenty and said,
I'll have a crack. Do you know why he'll have
a crack? You get one million dollars yep, if you
(10:07):
take down a world record. But is this Georgie bringing
into disrepute everything that we love about the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Yes, short answer, Yes, this whole concept makes my absolute
skin crawl. I can't quite sit still talking to you
right now, even thinking about it, because the enhanced Games,
for me, is a concept that has been dreampt up
by venture capitalists, billionaires, the private sector especially.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I'd argue people sitting in their living rooms, Oh, my
brother has sat next to me, going, let them ruin
themselves up and see what happens. If like, honestly, it's
something that people say at a pub going. Imagine when
you watch the Tour de France, everyone's like, well, we
know they all are, yes, just let them go.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
But there's something in that that I think is just
so immoral in that. For me, the enhanced Games, this
concept of the picks on steroids, letting everyone do what
they want. You can you can choose to dope, you
can choose not to dope. You can all compete mumongst
yourselves and we'll just see what happens. But for me,
it's essentially the Hunger Games for Big Farmer. Oh yeah, totally,
(11:14):
because it is an exten The wealthy.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
Are dangling a carrot and Olympians athletes that are so
grossly underpaid. Yes I'm going I'll do it.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Yeah, I'll do it. I'll be the guinea pig.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I'll be the guinea pig to figure out how we
can live forever. That is what this is about, and
that is what I find ethically so wrong.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
So let's take a step back and really describe to
you what these games are going to be and how
they've come into fruition. So if you go to their
very Schmick website, it states backed by the world's top
venture capitalists, the Enhanced Games is the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Of the future.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
When forty four percent of athletes already use performance enhancing drugs.
So that's that did hurt and it's a stat that
came from a survey by WADA.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, didn't like that.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So it's terrifying but also completely believable. When we're talking
about track and field and Olympic sports. It is time
to safely celebrate science and they've boldened this sports can
be safer without drug testing.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
I just don't think that they can. Now, this whole
concept of the Enhanced Games is only at the moment
for a certain few sports. So there's five particular categories
that they are encouraging people to compete in, being swimming, athletics,
aquatics really so that would cover diving and swimming.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
So it's track and field, swimming and diving. Combat sports.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Yes, they want to be.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Weightlifting again shock me.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
And gymnastics, which I actually think would be incredible, not
how to check it past at all with the doping.
And that's the scary thing too, is we know that
we've got sixteen year olds test positive at the Olympics
where it's not allowed. So what would happen if we
would open the floodgates?
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Now? The founder and president.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Is a Melbournian doctor Aaron and he's backed by several
wealthy investors, most notably billionaire Peter Tiel, the founder of PayPal.
So big, big corporation, big dollars are backing this in
and they're saying we've got the money, the athletes will come.
And the reason why they've chosen only five sports is
(13:18):
they argue, no one cares about the other ones, and
it costs billions and billions of taxpayer dollars to build
the infrastructure for events that no one cares about even
in those four years.
Speaker 4 (13:31):
Tell that to the hockey roots.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
No, but that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Yeah, this is the problem is they are sitting back
and this really struck me in that doctor DeSUS It
said the Olympics is the opera and we are a
rock concert. In that they are stuck and trying to
freeze and replace something that yes, it's classical. Yes, it
has its place, but people are over it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Well.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
See, this is my concern with this, Jell Mey, is
that you know, I may loathe this with every fiber
of my being, but that is because I already love sport,
and I have loved sport my entire life.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
I have loved the Olympics my entire life.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
For people out there who aren't necessarily sports fans, and
they find, you know, some of these events quite tedious,
quite boring. They don't understand the history, they don't even
care about the history. It's the difference between T twenty
and test cricket.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
You know, we've seen that advancement.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
And I do think that the Enhanced Games, it's the
disruptor that the Olympics may actually need.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And it pains me to say that.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
It pains me to say it, but it may need
it because sports do need to continue to innovate and
change to draw in new audiences.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
But what does that look like? So you and I
love the games, and by that we mean the Olympic Games.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Let us let us really qualify this.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
And the thing that I've found most difficult in researching
this is and Desuza is everywhere. He's on every podcast
doing very s not shy, but also making deeply valid
points about the way that athletes are remunerated for completing
at an Olympics and the structures around the games that
(15:12):
have meant that people are starting to not care. And
first and foremost, he's saying, athletes that give their whole
soul to end their life to being the fifth best
one hundred meter runner in the world. You're the fifth
fastest person in the world. No one knows who you are.
You get one shot every four years to build your profile.
And your sponsors aren't Nike or Adidas, they're your local
(15:35):
hardware store. And the average Australian Olympian is under the
poverty line. Yes, they're making thirty thousand dollars a year.
So he's saying we want to make very for profit
that we're going to be honest about it. This is
for profit, but we don't need taxpayer dollars. We've got
billionaires funding it. We don't have to build the infrastructure,
(15:55):
and athletes are going to get one hundred thousand dollars
for qualifying.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
And this is where I think that it is an
alarm bell for the Olympics, and it's probably something that
they can look at. I mean, we have seen even
most recently, We've talked about it at length on this
very podcast. Are these type of events viable? Who's hosting
the Commonwealth Games? We still don't know.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Or Brisbane were the only city.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
To bid, yeah, for the twenty thirty two Olympics.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
They were the only ones that put their hands up.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
This is what I mean by, you know, the juxtaposition
or the hypocriritical nature of my own feelings about the
Enhanced Games, because I think what they have to say
about sustainability in the sports world and sustainability in major
events is actually quite valid. I think what they have
to say about the remuneration in athletes also is quite valid.
And these are real questions that for me, the IOC
(16:48):
needs to take really seriously. However, why I loathe the
concept so much is because Aaron DeSUS is there being like, oh,
the Enhanced Games will just live in harmony with the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Can both coexist?
Speaker 1 (17:01):
They cannot in my mind because as soon as someone
breaks a world record, that is what they are chasing
in the Enhanced Games, that is what a James Magnuson
would come out of retirement dope himself to the eyeballs
because he's trying to break the fifty meter freestyle world
and he used yeah, he said induced to the gills
if he was, you know, there's a million dollars on
the table, you or him, Yeah, yeah, to break a
(17:23):
world record. And you know, because if that happens, then
you pull into question everything that clean athletes are able
to do. It completely delegitimizes the power of them as
an athlete, the power of them, the power of sport.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
The conversation I'm about to have hurts my soul. But
gatlan So, a two time convicted drug cheat, beats Usain
Bolt in his last ever race.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Yes, because they're allowed to return.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
And the argument of people that are in the industry
Matt Shervington, is that once you have doped, your body
reaches an aerobic capacity.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
It can't naturally so even.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
If you return, you still have the benefits of it.
You still have the benefits of it. And so we're
talking about the marquee events, the track, the field where
you know doping is happening. So there aren't clean games anyway.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So that's why you're saying that this is why not
like they're just taking advantage of the concept despite there
not being clean games. I think that maybe it is impossible.
Maybe it's impossible. I think that sport in itself, it's
easy impossible to have a level playing field Physiologically, people
are far more gifted than other people. Like, there's no
chance of me becoming an athlete even if I had
(18:35):
all of you know, the I did exactly the same
amount of training as Arionne Tipmus.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I'm just not I'm not built the same. We're not
built the same. I'm not gonna win.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You didn't come out of the womb. You sain Bolt
where you look at him and go, you know what.
I believe he's the Have you seen him in person,
you go, you know what? I do believe you are
the fastest human that has ever been put.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
On the earth exactly.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
But I don't think that that is reason enough to
not try to not try to see what people can
do without you know, doping themselves. I mean, this is
the on their official website for the Enhanced Games. It
says that they're trying to I quote, we want to
see what humans are truly capable of.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You're not.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
You're wanting to see what like a different version of humans.
In my mind, this is a sci fi film. You're
creating a new a new human, and you're trying.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
To see what that's capable of. So also you can
serve the anti aging industry what.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
They have likened it to.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Again, this is doctor Desusa, who is speaking everywhere, said
that AI scared people and it was futuristic and they
were worried about what the impact was. It is here
and the tipping point for that was CHATJP. They are
saying the enhanced games and people taking performance enhancing life
enhancing life extending drugs is coming and the tipping point
(19:55):
is going to be the enhanced Games.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All those people can do whatever they want, just don't
have it be a concept that can compete with the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
The Olympics needs to do something to compete, and I
tell you what, it's not bringing break dancing in as
a sport truly in terms of fighting for relevance.
Speaker 4 (20:12):
You may have no maybe netball, I don't know no,
but crazy.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Break dancing and you can win. So we've already seen
this battle. The Olympics are already realizing it's slipping.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Well they're already making changes to you know, historic events
like long jump. They're toying with changing the idea of
a no takeoff zone right so that you don't be
fouled because a third of the jumpers currently do it,
and people get bored watching the long jump, so they
are trying. They're having these conversations. But I mean, the
head of the International Athletics Body Sebastian co so people
(20:42):
would be moronic to even consider the enhanced games. But
even though because people are talking about it, that worries
me because I do think that that means that some
athletes are like.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Hmm, do you want to consider You can draw parallels
to UFC. When the first concept of UFC came out,
everyone went, what you going to put them in a
cage and they're going to fight for money to entertain everyone.
People will get killed, No one will watch this what
humans For the same reason that people love watching a
(21:14):
pub fight, they watch. You cannot tell me that if
an enhanced game is on YouTube, the view a ship
and the human interest is.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
The weightlifting is going to be insane.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
And the thing that we have skimmed over because it
hurts both of us, is that the argument around all
of this is that it's going to be safer than
the Olympics. The testing is going to be more rigorous.
They're going to test them from head to toe before lerecks,
because in their statement, it's not going to serve our
purpose people dropping dead running the hundred.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Yes, but then I would call into question then yes,
but what about the people that don't even make it
to the games? What about the people who sign up
for all of these fans the medicines and stuff. And
they may already do that anyway, but you're not being
at the moment financially or fiscally encouraged to do this stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
And that's what this concept does.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So I don't believe them that they can have possibly
have an individual's best interests at heart.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
The way that Olympic athletes are being remunerated at the
moment has left a giant void, yes, for something like
this to come in and be attractive, because I don't
think you grow up wanting to cheat to be the
best in the world, or use drugs, which have always
been branded as cheating to our generation. But if someone
(22:36):
offers you something that is so ie a million US dollars,
it starts to become attractive, and that moral compass it
starts to sway, especially if they're not telling you that
it's a moral because forty four percent of athletes admit
to already doing it, so George, that's who admit in
a wider survey.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
So using it hands, it's one in two.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
You are clean. You are going to the starting line
looking going. I'm in the fifty percent. I'm in the
minority here.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
I hope it doesn't happen allegedly it's happening at the
end of the year.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There's nothing we can do to stop it.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
There isn't anything we can do to stop it.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
But I hope that no one watches it, even though
full disclosure, I watched the CrossFit Games and that is
always like been very very.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Qua and I love the CrossFit cross fits.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
One yes, people that are juiced up to their eyeballs joking,
I'm sorry, sorry, down off your moral high horse.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
This is different.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
It's dips.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Somehow I can find the difference because in my head
it is far more prestigious. The Olympics, even though I
love the crossfitters, is far more prestigious to be it is, yeah,
but you still.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Love watching people who are altered on the chin up bar.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
But I just like any kind of sport, and that's
why I don't. I don't want this to be a thing.
I don't want people to do it. I agree with
you and that it's a it's a murky, murky murky one.
And I do you think that it raises questions that
I want the Olympic Committee to answer in terms of sustainability, remuneration,
all of that.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
I'll leave you with this. I'll leave you with this
because this is the bit that got me. The statement
that was used was my body, my choice. If I
choose to be in the enhanced Games, isn't that my choice?
Speaker 4 (24:21):
It is your choice.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
If I choose to be paid by pharmaceutical companies who
sponsor me to trial essentially these drugs, is that not
my choice?
Speaker 4 (24:30):
It is your choice. But I just think it can't
be good. There is so much.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
There is a far more sinister under belly to this
concept than even doping in the Olympics, I think, because
it's all for a different purpose. It's trying to serve
a different purpose, which is big farmer coming to your.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Screens in four It is what help us. Oh, it's
fun fact time.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
Yes I've missed our fun facts.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Oh oh I really have.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
We've got Olympics themed and we've both brought something different
to the parties.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Highs, loads of big blows.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
Blows you go first.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Okay, did you know in the first Olympics, Yes, everyone competed. Ever,
everyone competed naked because it was only blokes and can
you imagine.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
The most home erotic thing that's ever happened? Of course
it really does fit in with the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Can I just say women weren't allowed to compete into
the nineteen hundreds?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
But yeah, there you go.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Well on that note, apparently at the Paris Olympics, so
fast forward to wing clothes and mary clothes will be
worn and apparently on the menu bananas people are going
to go on nuts for the bananas.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Three million bananas, three million expected to be consumed in
the village.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
In the village, maybe a few bits around the village
as well, but in the village three million banana's gobble couple.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Well, I just I'm getting my head around that because
I'm thinking I remember Michael Phelps a day on the plate.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
Them he wouldn't need like fifty eight part.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Of me is going that's bullshit, and another part's going.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Actually it was.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Always the ones though, right, you know, when it's like
swimmers in between breaks and whatever, everyone.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Just like chows down on banana because it's like a superfood.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Unless at the Australian Open there was sushi randomly remember that. No,
there was a player that was eating sushi and it
got a bit warm, and I was like, yeah, because
you chat like, why I'm gagging at the thought of
a bit of tuna and avo, why are you eating
sushi or rod labor Anyway, Another fun fact about the
Olympic circling back the six colors that you can see
(26:41):
on the Olympic flag. So the blue, yellow, black, green,
red and white with the background were chosen because every
nation's flag contains at least one of them.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Oh it's a bit lovely.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
So I did not know that's really lovely. Enhanced games wishes,
it was that lovely.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Oh God, that's so nuh. Final fine fact from me
the twenty twenty four Paris Olympics.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
I've got Paris on the line. That's my theme is
that the Olympic.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
So the opening ceremony for the Olympics is actually going
to be taking place on the seen so that giant
river that runs through Paris. They're going to put all
the afflets I assume on barges and then just like
sail them on down.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I just think they saw an AFL Grand Final parade
during COVID where they put them down the arrow so
no one could touch them, and they have gone that
looks good, let's do.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
I'm not sure about it. I know that everyone loves
the concept. Well.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Their argument is that will get more people to be
able to see them, because more people will be able
to pack the banks of the sin then will be
able to fit into a stadium, is their argument. But
also after the scenes that we saw on the Beautiful Yarrah.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
We'll put it this way, they're circled back, haven't they.
It doesn't happen anymore.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
With the players held hostage and surely.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
The longest kick over the earra but that's about it.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Imagine the sites of just like a boat running into
like a trillion year old bridge on something and it's
just like, oh no, we've stuffed that up. We've stuffed
that up, guys, Team Australia.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
But again, two good sports, very open for a partnership
and tour of the Paris Game. So if anyone wants
us to count the three million bananas, we're available.
Speaker 4 (28:13):
May we be a venue. We are fluent in Zilangorage,
so please hit us up ah ah before we get
in trouble. That is it for our first episode.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
That is it, our first episode of two Good Sports.
We are back.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
I have loved it.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Tell me what we desperately need to know. How you
feel about the enhanced game so we can solidify how
we feel ourselves. Hit us up on social media, let
us know, and as always, it's
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