Multi's inclusion into Golden League

[Jnathletics]

I've posted this on the IAAF forum without any response. Was wondering if any of you liked the idea?

The IAAF always seems to ignore the Dec/Hept athletes. They are never included in the Grand Prix events. (Why can't there be a three or four event catagory in the GL million?)

I was wondering if anyone thinks the idea of including the multi's in the GL was a good idea? 2006 would be perfect as there isn't a major championship for all the countries that year and it might draw a lot of competitors.

My suggest was 3 or 4 events per meet. Make it so there is always 1 race, jump and throw at each meet and all events must be competed at least once during the GL season. I think the final meet should be four events with the 1500 as the closing event.

[mike renfro]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

IAAF has a kinda/sorta league for multis, the World Combined Events Challenge. The meets included are Desenzano del Garde, Gotzis, Arles, Ratingen, Talence and WC/OG. There is prize money (not huge). Some of the non Golden League GP meets have held tri- or quad- events, but it seems that they are training exercises. Not much participation and not particularly good marks (from a multi view). I don't think it will fly at the GL level. At the two Zurich GP meets I have attended, the filler between elite events has been locals and age group contests.

[Jnathletics]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

I know they have the World Combined Events Challenge and I've heard of a few semi-multi events. But don't you think the participation would increase with the prize money GL meets award. Also, I'm not talking about every year. Those years without WC or Oly would be perfect. The multi's might be more willing to compete more often since there is no all or nothing meet for them. Although, I would love to see it during WC years so fans could see the multi's more often.

I guess that's what I don't understand about the multi's. I would think more brief competitions would be beneficial for their preparations for the big events.

[dl]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

I'm not saying that multis don't deserve some sort of bigger-payday series, but IMHO they shouldn't be a part of the Golden League if the the competitions don't actually occur in the Golden League meets. Not a good way to market the GL.

[gh]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

Having seen far too many fakey "triathlons" or the like over the years, even with studs like Bruce Jenner and Dan O'Brien in their time, I can only hope that nobody ever embraces this idea. Sounds good on paper, but doesn't play well. And in the context of the GL meet directors trying to put on high-level affairs in a relatively tight timeframe, adding three events where people arent' performing at a true world-class level doesn't make for good theater.

[Jnathletics]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

>Having seen far too many fakey "triathlons" or the like over the years, even with studs like Bruce Jenner and Dan O'Brien in their time, I can only hope that nobody ever embraces this idea. Sounds good on paper, but doesn't play well. And in the context of the GL meet directors trying to put on high-level affairs in a relatively tight timeframe, adding three events where people arent' performing at a true world-class level doesn't make for good theater.<

How are the greatest athletes in the world competing not world-class level?

As for timing, the events except for the HJ & PV should be able to fit into any time schedule. Heck, they do a full decathlon in 100 minutes.

I don't see why anyone would not want to watch some of the greatest athletes compete against each other. Those Jenner and O'Brien events were PR, they never had good competition. With prize money at stake, it should produce some good competition.

[det]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

Why are decathlons such lousy spectator events? Aslo, is there a timetable for the decathlon to replace the heptathlon for women?

[gh]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

Important distinction: I never said decathlons were lousy spectator events. Indeed a well-staged decathlon, with an announcer like Frank Zarnowski who understands the event and its mathematics, is a joy. Putting a partial decathlon in the middle of an elite GL meet is another matter.

The poster before you asked how world-class decathletes weren't performing at world-class level. Obviously, the distinction I was making is that the individual performance aren't the same. And audiences don't appreciate the distinction.

If the Weltklasse crowd watches--as it did this year--a 100 that goes 9.93, 9.94, 10.06, 10.07, when the decathletes run--as they did in Athens--10.44 and slower, they don't seem particularly world class.

The suggestion was also that the decathletes do part of the 10-eventer at each stop. If everybody were of the same quality in every even that would be great, but strengths vary. So if you had the first 8 from Athens, their 100s would range from 10.44 to 10.97. There would be almost a meter's differenc in the LJ marks. The difference in the shot marks would be about 2m. How does the public get any pleasure out of that?

The decathlon must be taken as a whole to be appreciated. A great decathlon is fabulous drama. A great "mini-decathlon" does not (and cannot) exist.

[Jnathletics]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

>>The poster before you asked how world-class decathletes weren't performing at world-class level. Obviously, the distinction I was making is that the individual performance aren't the same. And audiences don't appreciate the distinction.<<

If the audience can't apprectiate the distinction at GL, how can they appreciate the distinction in a full Decathlon? Since, all the fans at the GL are knowledgeable fans, how do they not get the distinction?

>>The suggestion was also that the decathletes do part of the 10-eventer at each stop. If everybody were of the same quality in every even that would be great, but strengths vary. .... How does the public get any pleasure out of that?<<

My suggestion would be each meet would be a separate event. Scoring the day and walk away a winner. The winner, like the other events, would then have to win all six meets. Sure some might have an advantage if the events aren't varied enough, but as long as the events equal out it could be pretty exciting. Plus, they might PB more with the lesser work load. Adding their excitement off to the crowd.

>>The decathlon must be taken as a whole to be appreciated. A great decathlon is fabulous drama. A great "mini-decathlon" does not (and cannot) exist.<<

On one hand you say it's fabulous but on the other it provides no pleasure? I believe if it's covered right it would provide a new awareness of the multi's and appreciation. I've always been more impressed by the athlete that did many events well vs. those that won one.

[gh]

Re: Multi's inclusion into Golden League

<<If the audience can't apprectiate the distinction at GL, how
>can they appreciate the distinction in a full Decathlon? >>

Because in a full decathlon you see 10.50 marks against 10.60 marks. In the setting of a GL meet you see in the same session a 9.90 and a 10.50.

<<Since, all the fans at
the GL are knowledgeable fans, how do they not get the distinction?>>

But GL fans--thankfully--are not all knowledgeable. I( the sport had to rely on knowledgeable fans, average attendance would be 12. (hyperbole, but I hope ou get my point)