Twitter was abuzz yesterday early evening, as Olympics spectators started tweeting madly. This time, it wasn’t about #NBCFail. It was about Olympic spirit fail. Several badminton teams were clearly throwing games on purpose.
https://twitter.com/elganwilliams/status/230639500995477504
https://twitter.com/jamesadshead94/status/230441117269762049
It was apparent to all watching, and disappointed spectators at Wembley Arena booed the teams, while chanting “get them off” and “off, off, off.”
Badminton World Federation members agree, and the teams have been disqualified.
More from Reuters:
“The pairs have been charged … with ‘not using one’s best efforts to win a match’ and ‘conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport’,” the federation said in a statement.
The players involved in Tuesday’s matches were China’s world champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang, Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari and two South Korean pairs – Jung Kyung-eun and Kim Ha-na, and Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min Jung.
Spectators at the Wembley Arena shouted abuse and jeered at the players amid farcical scenes as the teams deliberately sprayed shots and duffed serves into the net to concede points.
According to The New York Times, all four pairs (one from China, two from South Korea and one from Indonesia) have been disqualified. South Korea and Indonesia have appealed the decision. Their coaches are pointing fingers at China, using the good, old “they started it” excuse.
The four teams were scheduled to play today, throwing the schedule into turmoil.
While Olympic ticket-holders are disappointed and ticked off, Twitter users decide to express their disappointment with some snark.
Heh.
Twitchy will monitor the situation and update with any developments.
