I actually wish they'd take football out of the Olympics. You shouldn't have sports in there that are more important than the Olympics themselves - it risks overshadowing everything else. I couldn't watch the archery today (which I bet on) because local TV was only streaming repeats of yesterday's football games.
And it clashes with real football. Several European leagues are getting started now, and the qualifiers for European football have begun. Players should be training with their clubs, not prancing about in the Olympics.
I am not sure we are watching the same football. Olympic football has different rules and requirements. Which is why the Spanish are not in the Gold medal match, the really good spanish team of the past couple years cannot qualify for the olympics.
(pardon me, I am referring to Mens football here)
wikipedia writes:
...men's U-23 teams to participate. Men's teams are allowed to augment their squad with three players over the age of 23. 504 football players are expected to compete for two sets of gold medals.[1]
each team is an under 23 years old team, which may have some of the Pros, and could have 3, though if training with thier clubs is soooo imporatant It would be my guess that these players are doing so.
I think it only partially clashes with real football, as 0 European teams have made it to the medal round (BTW its Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Mexico).
I dunno maybe I misunderstood your point.
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