Winter Games

Koel Dasgupta

 Commercial Aspects And World Wide Popularity

The term winter games or sports refers to those that take place on snow and ice. There is a keen competition around these games and the Winter Olympics are held every four years.

    The winter games have undergone significant changes since their inception. Since when the Television has emerged as a global media for communication, the most popular games whatever it be summer or winter, has promotioned into a high profile status. The income system from this games are also interestingly noticiable.Via the sale of broadcast of advertising, the games are now a source of income for the broadcasting and telecasting media. There is an vice-versa economical relation between games and the media.

     But if we concentrate only on winter games,the promotion is not only spared by the media but also by the athletic competitions,like Olympic. Now one more important point is that,the winter games use to claim the superiority of the political systems of any nation. One more noticiable point is that, the first international multi-sport event for winter sports was the Nordic games or Nordic combined held in Sweden in 1901.It was organized by General Victor Gustaf Balck. Balck was a charter member of international Olympic committee.Nordic games were held again in 1903 and 1905 and then every fourth year thereafter until 1926.

TYPES OF POPULAR WINTER GAMES:

1)      Alpine skiing

2)      Nordiac skiing

3)      Biathlon

4)      Bobsleigh

5)      Curling

6)      Figure skating

7)      Freestyle skiing

8)      Ice Hockey

9)      Luge

10)  Short Track speed skating

11)  Ski Jumping

12)  Snow Boarding

13)  Speed Skating

14)  Sled Racing

15)  Toboggan

      16) Cross Country skiing

Difference between Alpine Skiing or Racing and Nordiac Skiing

      a)     Alpine Racing or skiing is about speed and technique.

But the Nordiac is more about stamina.

b)     The two games use different equipments.

c)      Alpine skiing’s equipments are wider and heavier.

But the Nordiac’s are comparatively lighter.

d)     The boots used in Alpine skies with safety bindings

Nordiac boots are like trainers and the heel lifts free with each stride.

Alpine skiing:

     It is a downhill racing.Skiers take the fastest line down a set route,taking off into the air where necessary.In slaloms,skiers weave in and out of pairs of flags or’gates’ both are decided on time.

Record:

 Alpine skiing is a popular ski game,which is popular in many of the countries like Austria, Switzerland, USA, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Newzealand, Russia, Australia, France and so on.

      Alpine ski attains the FIS Alpine world ski championship,and Alpine skiing world cup.The highest gold medel receiver nation in Alpine ski is Austria.The number is 31.

Nordiac Skiing:

    Nordiac skies have no sleep slopes or sharp turns. Range of this game is from 5 to

50 km(3to 30 miles). Skiers starts at 30 second intervels. Placings are decided on time.

There are relays, combined events and the Biathlon which includes shooting at targets.

Biathlon:

       Biathlon is consist of a race in which perticipents ski around a cross-country track.The total distance is broken up by either two or four shooting rounds.Half in prone position,and the other half standing.

       

        For each shooting round the biathlete must hit five targets.The biathlets carries a small bore rifle which weights at least 3.5 kg.The ski length is 4 centimetres less than the height of the skiers.The competitors may be single or in relay teams.

Record:

Biathlon was appeared in Olympic games on the year 1928 with it’s event-Military patrol.The highest gold receiver in biathlon is the country Germany.The number is 16.

 Bobsleigh:

         Bobsleigh or Bob sled is a kind of sled car racing competition.Two or four teams make timed runs by sliding down narrow,twisting,banked,iced tracks in a powered sled.

        In a four, the two middle men help to guide the bob by shifting their weights on turns. A break man uses the break only for correcting skids or for stoping. Bobsleigh is proportionally a new winter games.

Record:

It’s debut was on a formal competition in 1884 at St.Moritz.The first Bobsleigh club was formed in 1897. It5 was first appeared in Olympic games in the year 1924. But at that time it was named as skeleton sled. Switzerland and Germany have been the most successful Bobsleighing nations measured by overall success in European world, Worldcup and Olympic championships. The highest number of gold medel in Bobsleigh is of Germany, ie, 10, in the Olympic record.

Cross country skiing:

            In this game the players propel or push forward themselves across snow covered terrain using skies and poles.It is popular in Northern Europe,Canada and Alaska.Skiing can also be done in indoor ski tunnels.Cross-country skiing is Familier with Nordic skiing.The combination of Crooss-country skiing and ski jumping called Nordic combined.

Record:         

 Cross-country skiing started it’s journey in fennoscandian countries in pre-historic times.Now-a-days the countries like Norway,Sweden,Finland,Estonia and Latvia also regularly plays Cross-country skiing.As we were saying about Cross-country skiing of Norway,then it is noticeable that Norway is the highest gold medalist of Winter Olympic until the last.The number is 31.This game was introduced in the Winter Olympic in 1924.

Curling:

      In this game the players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area.Two teams each of four players,take turns.Each team has eight stones.

      Curling is a game invented in late medieval Scotland in February 1541.The word curling was first appeared in print in 1620 in Perth.It was a poem written by Henry Adamson.Curling is also known as ‘the roaring game’.

       The Curling sheet is an flat area of ice, 146 to 150 feet in length and 14.5 to 16.5 feet in width.

       The world curling federation has defined that the weight of Curling stone will be of 38 to 44 pounds.Except these the other eqipments are Curling broom or brush and Curling shoes.

Figure skating:

    Figure skating is mainly a blended performance of spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on the ice.It may be played by individuals or pairs or groups. Figure skater’s main equipment is their shoes which is called ‘toe pickers’ or ‘toe rakes’. Their wearing is leggings or tight fitting flexible pants, short skirts.

       It takes place on an indoor ice rink. There are four events:

1)      Men’s singles

2)      Women’s singles

3)      Mixed pairs

4)      Ice dancing

Long-Track speed skating usually takes place outdoors and skatters race against the clock. And the short-track is held indoors with climination heats.

Record:

The International skating union was founded in 1892.But the World war 2 effected on this game.After that again the figure skating started newly with various skaters from United states and Canada.Figure skating is not gymnastic, but most of the skaters show their physical attributes as like a gymnasts.

Freestyle skiing:

   The parts of freestyle skiing are-

Aerial skiing- Which is the 2-4 meter jumps into a platform of wood or snow covered long area.An aerialists can jump upto 6 meters in air.

Mogul skiing- It is also a skiing event but not in plains rather in a number of different bumps. Except above two, other two are skiballet and ski cross.

Record:

     This game was first introduced on 1960s or early 1970s, when it was known as ‘hot dogging’. Bob Burns is the pioneer, in the year 1965.International ski federation(FIS) recognized freestyle as a sport in 1979.

Ice Hockey:

    Ice Hockey is a team game played on ice.In it players use sticks to direct a puck into the opposite team’s goal. It is the official National winter sport of Canada.

         The equipments of Ice Hockey are helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, athletic cup, shin pads, skates and neck protector. Ice Hockey is appearing as a winter game in Olympic since 1920.

        Ice Hockey is played Six-a-side with substitute allowed at any time. There are three 20 minutes periods. Players serve time penalties for foul play.

Record:

    Ice Hockey have evolved from stick and ball gamesplayeed outdoors in Canada in the 19^th century. In 1799 William Pierre Le Cocq in a letter written in Cheshire Buckinghamshire, England provides the earliest known to World Hockey. Womens also play Ice Hockey. There have been nine IIHF World Women Championships.

     The equipments of Ice Hockey are helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, athletic cup, shin pads, skates and neck protector. Ice Hockey is appearing as a winter game in Olympic since 1920.

Luge:

    Luge is a small sled game consisting of one or two person. Lugers can reach speed of 140 km per hour. Tony Benshoof of United states made a Guinness World Record at a speed of 139.9 km per hour.

    Luge originated in St Moritz, Switzerland in the mid 19^th century. Germany, Italy, Austria, Soviet Union, United States, Latvia are the luge playing nations.

Short track speed skating:

      In this competition,multiple skaters skate on an oval ice track of 111.12m.The rink itself is 60m by 30m.It is completely same as an International sized Hockey rink.

      This game is a reputed winter Olympic game from the year 1932. In 1967 the International Skating Union adopted it.Some notable skaters are-

1)      Ahn Hyun Soo – South korea.

2)      Marc Gagnon   - Canada

3)      Apolo Anton Ohno – United states

4)      Steven Brad bury – Australia

5)      Toshinobu Kawai – Japan   etc.

6)      Sonj Henie  - USA

       Record:

   As per the 2010 Olympic record the highest gold goes to the nation South Korea in short track speed skating. 

Ski Jumping:

   In this event,skiers go down by a ramp,jump and attend to land the farthest down on the hill below. It performed on snow. There are three types of competition consisting of ski jumping. Normal hill competition, Large hill competition,Sky-flying competition.The sky jumping is originated from Morgedal, Norway.

    On 26^th May, 2006 The International Ski Federation decided to allow women to ski jump at the 2009 Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec. Ski jumping was played by Competitors in winter Olympic games freo 1924 to 1956.

Snow Boarding:

     This game usually played in a snow covered slope. The rider’s feet get attached with a snowboard.Snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in U.S.A in 1960. It become an Olympic game in the year 1998.

      Modern snowboarding is inspired by fastening two skies together.The toy was made by Sherman Poppen an engineer in Muskegon,Michigan.

      Dimitrije Milovich, Jake Burton Carpenter, Tom Sims, Mike Olsonare the pioneers of snowboarding.

     United States, Canada, Germany, Finland, Italy, Slovakia, Sweden those are the nations Plays snowboard.

Speed Skating:

     Speed skating is a competitive form of Ice-Skating. In which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates.

     Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, marathon speed skating.

     The root of speed skating is on Scandalvania, Northern Europe and Netherlands. There the natives used to attach bones on their shoes and used to travel on frozen river or lakes.

Record:

     The first official World Champion in speed-skating is Jaap Eden. It has been continuing as a winter game of Olympic from the year 1924. With the latest update of the year 2010 Olympic games, the highest gold medalist nation is United States. The number is 29.

Sled Racing:

   Any snowy slope is a site for Sled Racing, but for major competitions, special steep, twisty runs are made from Ice and snow. The art is to shift the body weight to make the sled go the fastest way down, letting gravity do the work. Riders go one at a time, and the winner is the one with the lowest total time from up to four runs.

Toboggan:

   The skeleton Toboggan is so-called because it has no structure above the runners. The rider lies face down, uses toe pieces for breaking and steers by shifting weight. The only major competitions are on the Cresta Run at St. Moritz in Switzerland.

WINTER OLYMPIC

The Winter Olympic games are multi-sport event held every four years. The first winter Olympic was held in Chamonix, France in 1924.After 1936 the game was interrepted by World War II. But after 1948 still now it is carring out.These games are totally consisted of the events which we have mentioned above.So Olympic has a great impact in promoting these winter games.

So here is a brief discussion about the winter games.

Drugs and Sports

Geral information:-When you exercise, your nervous system is naturally aroused. Yours stimulated nervous system boosts production of hormones, including adrenaline (epinephrine).These hormones increase the amount of blood your heart pumps, resulting in more blood for muscles and a release of sugar (glucose)from the liver and of fatty acids from body fat to serve as fuel for the muscles. These effects are important to anyone who is exercising. The increased blood flow ensures that the muscles receive a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients and potentially toxic waste products produced by the accelerated metabolism are more quickly removed.                                                                                  

At times, athletes have used drugs or other substances in abnormal quantities with the sole intention of improving performance in an artificial, unfair manner, such risky practices are called “doping”. In some cases, a medical disorder is treated with banned drugs that may also boost on athlete’s performance in competition in an artificial or unfair manner. These practices not only give the athletes an unfair advantage but also can threaten his or her death.                                                                          

SYMPATHOMIMETIC  AMINES:-Some professional & world-class athletes have admitted  using sympathomimetic amines, a class of stimulant drugs that mimic the natural effects of a stimulated sympathetic nervous system .These drugs can increase alertness and physical endurance as well as postpone the onset of fatigue; they have banned by most athletic organizations including the international Olympic committee. 

PSYCHOMOTOR STIMULANT DRUGS:-        Athletes also have been disqualified for using psychomotor stimulant drugs. The most common street name for these drugs is speed. Other slang names include bennies, dexies, greenies and pep pills. The effects of psychomotor stimulants are not unlike those of sympathomimetic amines. They increase heart rate, respiration and blood pressure and generally heighten the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. These drugs also affect the brain.

BETA-2AGONISTS:-These medications often are used in the treatment of asthma & other respiratory ailments. Like ephedrine, they can have stimulant properties. Currently they are banned when taken orally, but their use is permitted in aerosol or inhalant forms. 

                                                                            

NARCOTIC ANALGESICS:-They also may increase the pain threshold so than an athlete may fail to recognize injury, leading to more serious injury .These drugs have been banned by the international Olympic committee.

                                   

ANABOLIC STEROIDS:-Anabolic steroids have several legitimate medical uses. They are used to treat skeletal and growth disorders and certain types of anemia to off set the negative effect of irradiation and chemotherapy. Other undesirable effects associated with abuse of anabolic steroids include an increased thinning of hair or hair that falls out and acne. Another concern is the effect that drug has on behavior, which may result in increased aggressiveness.  

                                            

BETA BLOCKERS:-These are drugs commonly used in cardiovascular disease to lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate .Beta blockers also block stimulatory responses. Thus, they have been used in sports such as shooting to steady the trigger finger and relax the nerves. This use is considered doping, and therefore these drugs have been banned.

                                                                                            

GROWTH HORMONE:-Use of this hormone is considered doping by the US Olympic-committee-andis-therefore

prohibited.                                                               

DIURETICS:-Diuretics increase the elimination of fluid from the body as urine .The use of diuretics can affect the balance of such minerals as potassium and sodium in the body and can result among other things, in heart arrhythmias and even death.                                                                                                                

BLOOD DOPING:-Blood doping is the intravenous administration of red blood cells or related blood products for reasons other than a medical need .The risk of receiving blood from another doner includes the development of allergic reactions, viral hepatitis and AIDS .The practice of blood doping also is banned by the international Olympic committee.

                                                                                     

CORTICOSTEROIDS:-The use of corticosteroids is banned by the international Olympic committee if the drugs are taken by mouth or injected  into a muscle or a vein .Corticosteroids can be used topically(in the ear, eye or skin)in local or intra-particular injections such as for bursitis, or in inhalation therapy for disorders such as asthma . 

           

DANGERS AND RISKS:-The abuse of anabolic steroids and other drugs is often front page news. The problem is international in scope, involving professional and amateur athletes who participate in a wide range of sports.

                                                         

This elevated level of consciousness of the problem has led to more drug testing. The result is that today there are two important reasons for an athlete not to get his or her “competitive edge” from anabolic steroids or other medications. First, these drugs can put your future as an athlete at risk because of the bans and penalties now meted out for offenders’ .second, and even more important, these drugs might put your health at risk.

Sledging in World Cricket

SOURAV SARKAR

  

   Sledging is a term used in cricket to describe the practice whereby some players seek to gain an advantage by abusive or verbally intimidating the opposing batsman. The purpose is to try to weaken the opponent batsmen concentration, thereby causing him to make mistakes or under perform. It can be effective because the batsman stands within hearing range of the bowler and certain close fielders; and vice-versa.

   

     There is debate in the cricketing world as to whether this constitutes poor sportsmanship or good-humoured banter. Sledging is often mistaken for exploitation, and whilst comments aimed as sledges do sometimes cross the line into personal abuse, this is not usually the case. Sledging is usually simply an often humorous, sometimes insulting attempt at distraction. Former Australian captain Steve Waugh referred to the practice as 'mental disintegration'.

ORIGIN:

    

     According to Ian Chappell, the use of "sledging" as a term originated at Adelaide Oval in either the 1963-1964 or 1964-1965 Sheffield Shield competition. Chappell claims that a cricketer who swore in the presence of a woman was said to have reacted to an incident "like a sledgehammer".

 

     According to the BBC’s Pat Murphy: “My understanding is that it came from the mid-sixties and a guy called Graham Corling, who used to open the bowling for New South Wales and Australia… apparently the suggestion was that this guy’s wife was [having an affair] with another team-mate, and when he came into bat [the fielding team] started singing When a Man Loves A Woman, the old Percy Sledge number.”

      

WG GRACE:

     Former English batsman William Gilbert Grace who was one of England's best batsmen of the 19th century.  On one occasion having been clean bowled, he stated: "The wind's strong today, umpire." The umpire replied: "Yes, mind your hat on the way to the pavilion”.

MERV HUGHES:   

     Sledging is common at most levels of the game in Australia, but one Australian with a particular reputation for sledging was former fast bowler Merv Hughes. His threatening and aggressive bowling style was often accompanied by a mixture of humorous witticisms, and vitriolic abuse. On occasions he crossed the line from sledging to insulting. However there are numerous occasions of classic sledges delivered by Hughes.

     On one such occasion, Hughes was bowling to Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad, who informed the heavy bowler he looked like "a fat bus conductor". The very next ball, Hughes bowled Miandad, screaming "tickets please!" as he ran to celebrate with team mates.

HARBHAJAN - SYMONDS INCIDENT (2007-2008): 

     Sledging came into the media spotlight during the 2007-08 Indian tour of Australia when Harbhajan Singh was accused of suspected racial abuse towards Andrew Symonds. The allegation was not proved and a proposed three-match ban on Harbhajan was lifted. He was instead charged with a Level 2.8 offence  to which he pleaded at fault and was fined 50 per cent of his match fees, although the Appeals Commissioner later noted that had he been aware of Harbajan's prior record, a one-Test ban would have been issued. Symonds admitted that it was he who started the abuse between the two players by using hateful language.

Top most “Mirthful” Sledging incidents inng World Cricket

The argument adjoining the Sydney Test match between India and Australia once again brought “Sledging” into publicity. Sledging has become a part of world cricket and almost every team is doing that type of mirthful publicity in world cricket.But each and every persons know that sledging and whispering funny and interesting. But at other times, they just turn hideous.

As follow top most mirthful sledging incident:

Ø  Rodney Marsh (Australia) and Ian Botham (England)

Rodney Marsh to Ian Botham in an Ashes match: “So how’s your wife and my kids?” Ian Botham’s reply – “The wife’s fine. The kids are retarded !

Ø  Javed Miandad (Pakistan) and Merv Hughes (Australia)

Javed Miandad called Hughes a fat bus conductor during a match. A few balls later, Hughes dismissed Miandad. “Tickets please,” said Huges.

Ø  Glenn McGrath (Ausrtralia) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies)

McGrath to Ramnaresh Sarwan: “So what does Brian Lara’s di*k taste like?”Sarwan: “I don’t know. Ask your wife.

McGrath : “If you ever F**king mention my wife again, I’ll F**king rip your F**ing throat out.”

Ø  Douglas Jardine (England) and Bill Woodfull (Australia)

England player Jardine complained that one of the Australian players called him a bastard. Australian captain Bill Woodfull call to his team, points to Jardine and asked “Which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?”

Ø  Mark Waugh (Australia) and Adam Parore (New Zealand)

Mark Waugh standing, Adam Parore played & missed the first ball. Mark – “Ohh, I remember you from a couple years ago in Australia. You were shit then, you’re •••••••

Parore- “Yeah, that’s me & when I was there you were going out with that old, ugly slut & now I hear you’ve married her. You dumb ••••”.

Ø  Steve Waugh (Australia) and Parthiv Patel (India)

When Steve standing with bat on pitch, Parthiv said, “Come on, just one more of the famous slog-sweeps before you finish” Steve-”Respect Me…for when i made my test debut You were still in your nappies”.

Ø  Glen McGrath (Australia) and Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe)

 Glenn McGrath was bowling to 11 number batsman of Zimbabwe  Eddo Brandes – who was just missing ball again and again. McGrath upset, went to him and said: “Why are you so fat?”suddenly, Brandes replied, “Because every time I make love to your wife, she gives me a biscuit.”