If I have time, I will watch the opening ceremony with all the pomp, but after that I struggle to stay interested.
Writing this just made me wonder; do you think the Olympic games are promoting unhealthy competition between nations? Are they rigged? Do you think they are a kind of cultural imperialism? Just a moneymaking thing?
It’s funny: I used to get really into the Olympics, many years ago. But more recently, for whatever reason, I just can’t be bothered.
At any rate, to the extent that any competition is healthy, I think Olympic competition is healthy. After all, the whole idea of it was to provide a competitive arena separate from warfare.
I guess you could call me a “casual fan” of the Olympics. I keep up with the major games and watch some of it on TV. If you focus on the individual athletes it’s much more meaningful, IMHO.
I prefer the Winter Olympics. As an ice skater and fond fan of Winter (hope it snows butt deep every year) the Summer olympics doesn’t hold my interest. The diving competition is cool though. That’s about the only thing that interests me.
I forgot about the women’s beach volleyball. That is always fun. Although, the Muslims are really trying to spoil it for me. Supposedly, the Olympic committee no longer requires women’s beach volleyball teams to wear bikinis. But hey, if the Muslim women wanna play wearing burkas, what do I care?
I’ve been watching soccer matches of the hybrid under twenty three age group, where 3 older (professional) players on each team are allowed. This a terrific format to see proven professional stars combining with the new young hungry lions. The experienced players feed to the exact spot for use by the new young virtuouso players in our next soccer generation.
Big, fast, very skillful, and with wide vision. Yep, I confess I like good soccer
Watching sports is not for me. I play them (we won our ball game last night in the last inning) but rarely watch them. Watching tykes play hockey or ball is far more entertaining (hockey parents on the other hand…yikes!)
The Olympics is such an uneven playing field, with some countries’ athletes getting huge funding while others toil with no resources other than their own desire. Not to mention the “suppliments” many, but not all, athletes take. The personality of the games is far too focused on medal counts and shining a spotlight on the victors.
Some countries have evolved to have more money to support their athletes, other countries have evolved to have people with more athletic bodies. Sounds like a fair game to me. Maybe you wish all the athletes to be identical twins from one family (?).
The Olympics is such an uneven playing field, with some countries’ athletes getting huge funding while others toil with no resources other than their own desire. Not to mention the “suppliments” many, but not all, athletes take. The personality of the games is far too focused on medal counts and shining a spotlight on the victors.
I know I’m naive but I can’t help it.
I hear you, but funding doesn’t necessarily make any one nations participants perform better.
Some events like Track and Field, Weight Lifting, Swimming, Boxing can be trained for in the most bare bones ways; and medal counts and spotlight are basically what it’s all about, to be frank. It’s highly doubtful many of the competitors care about sportsmanship, lust for glory is the main motivation.
Sorry, but I have too many other things going on, both personally and politically to use my time with sports. It’s fine to participate, but I’ve never been interested in watching them.
Some countries have evolved to have more money to support their athletes, other countries have evolved to have people with more athletic bodies. Sounds like a fair game to me. Maybe you wish all the athletes to be identical twins from one family (?).
When people compete, things should be fair and even.
My opinion is that taking pills containing substances not allowed by the rules of the game is cheating. And when there is a competition, it is my opinion that if not all of the competitors have access to the same resources, the level playing field isn’t level and the spirit of fair play is lost.
I don’t want genetic clones competing, I want honesty, fair play and a good attitude. My opinion of what’s fair isn’t universal, few opinions are (especially mine).
After trying to watch actual games many years ago with the action constantly being interrupted by this athlete’s mini-bio or that useless trivia piece, I just gave up. Sadly, I couldn’t care less about them these days. :p
Not really. The opening ceremonies are fun to watch, but that’s where it ends for me. I wish the athletes the best and may the best win, but my mind will be on other things.
