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.
Badminton at the Olympics. Losing on purpose :/. Shame rules are setup to make it good to do this, but totally against spirit of Olympics.
— David Groves (@pumplekin) July 31, 2012
Both chinese badminton teams losing on purpose… Great for olympics. Great spirit
— Reezy – Rio (@Reezyduzit247) July 31, 2012
@FarhanaaaOx OH MY GOD. DID YOU WATCH THE BADMINTON?? THE TWO TEAMS WERE LOSING ON PURPOSE! THEY WERE THREATENED WITH DISQUALIFICATION
— Kieran (@KieranBrenton) July 31, 2012
Drama going on with the badminton. Teams losing on purpose so they dot face each other #drama
— Ry (@Ry_Bailey) July 31, 2012
https://twitter.com/elganwilliams/status/230639500995477504
https://twitter.com/Raja_Birring/status/230432461115502592
https://twitter.com/jamesadshead94/status/230441117269762049
https://twitter.com/HawesJason/status/230443501123407872
Need to get off Twitter but the badminton drama from the Olympics is way too engrossing for me to leave, nearly 5 in the morning here
— Sherine Paul (@sherineruth) July 31, 2012
RT @jsoverend: Farcical badminton tonight as teams throw matches as deliberate tactic to get a better draw. total rip off. Chuck em out.
— Kartz (@Lord_Kartz) July 31, 2012
#badminton #london2012 Get them players off they dont deserve to be part of the olympics if there cheating!! its clear to us all watching!
— Nicolle Henry (@Nickyhenry626) July 31, 2012
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It was apparent to all watching, and disappointed spectators at Wembley Arena booed the teams, while chanting “get them off” and “off, off, off.”
My first live #Olympics experience is people throwing a game of badminton #London2012 http://t.co/anvvojHr
— Iain_6 (@Iain_6) August 1, 2012
#badminton is bat shit crazy. Awesome. #london2012 #olympics @ Wembley Arena – Olympics Broadcast Compound http://t.co/pyYDoi2u
— Ollie ‘Stay In’ Drackford (@OllieFD) July 31, 2012
Part 2 of my 1st day at the Olympics… An evening of badminton at Wembley Arena! #london #london2012 #olymp http://t.co/FoI11OVa
— Jacqui (@MissNkechi) July 31, 2012
So the Chinese women's doubles pair at Badminton deliberately lost today to get a better knockout draw. Booed off and rightly so.
— A-T (@at_gooner) July 31, 2012
Footage of today's Olympic badminton match fixing scandal is funny & sad. Image representing your county…and losing on purpose. #brutal
— Joey Kenward (@kenwardskorner) August 1, 2012
https://twitter.com/morrelli189/status/230406003135508480
#WYWS 4 badminton pairs who had already make QFs in big trouble for allegedly losing games on purpose to fix the draw. #CTVOlympics
— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) August 1, 2012
Badminton World Federation members agree, and the teams have been disqualified.
Eight women badminton players disqualified, but not expelled, from Olympics for losing on purpose – http://t.co/H3do3RnF
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) August 1, 2012
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.
This is what I was supposed to be watching today…but what now? #Olympics #badminton #London http://t.co/siEm00DL
— Adrian Yuen (@ADYuen413) August 1, 2012
While Olympic ticket-holders are disappointed and ticked off, Twitter users decide to express their disappointment with some snark.
Olympic badminton players disqualified for losing on purpose? I think the real problem is that badminton is an Olympic sport
— Dom (@myspacedom) August 1, 2012
https://twitter.com/beautyjunkies/status/230676316184268802
https://twitter.com/sarahreeves22/status/230658267150446592
If #badminton begins to trend, it better be followed immediately by #shuttlecock. Its mocked far too infrequently in sporting world.
— Ben Tomes (@coachtomes) August 1, 2012
Gore Vidal would have loved this international badminton scandal.
— Jason Linkins (@dceiver) August 1, 2012
Heh.
Twitchy will monitor the situation and update with any developments.
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