I'd like to see the opening ceremony. I understand every event will be available in real time this year (online, of course). Under the old, televised model, I never got to see the sports I was interested in. But there was wall-to-wall coverage of skimpy beach volleyball uniforms ;-)
Anyone Looking Forward to Olympics?
Comments ... #
I always get pumped for the olympics. I tend to enjoy the winter games across the board a little more though, but I love watching the summer games too.
And when it's either a) an event I really don't have an interest in, or b) an event that an American is not competing in, I always like rooting for the most obscure country in the event. I can only imagine what it must be like for somebody from a tiny country that carries no real weight in the world to go toe-to-toe with the cream of the crop from a field of world powers, and come away with the gold.
posted by Johio83 on Jul 26, 2012 at 05:27:50 pm # 1 person liked this
We are actually having a little opening ceremony party tomorrow...... :) I will be entertaining by making Bomb pop shots! haha
Not being negative, but to answer honestly, not really looking forward to them. I think that for some reason, I prefer the winter games. Maybe in the summer I am busy with more activities.
Answer: nope. Not at all. Just not my thing.
posted by historymike on Jul 26, 2012 at 05:57:25 pm #
I do like to watch the Olympics. I think the reason I like the winter Olympics is they happen in the dead of winter between football and baseball.
Most of the sports are on live if you get up very early in the morning like 5 a.m. I do not do that anymore since I retired. I miss Channel 9 in Windsor broadcasting the games. You could always count on them for on time reporting without the hype we see in the evening rebroadcast.
My nephew, who is downs syndrome, got to carry the torch in Australia when the games were there. It was a highlight of his life.
Nope. Can't say that I am. Never been a fan - summer or winter.
Not a fan. Between the "barely sports" events like curling, table tennis, etc., plus the sometimes accurate drug testing, it's a joke. More advertisement and exploitation of young people than a real competition.
Looking forward to it. I'm a sucker for both winter and summer. I like some of the less mainstream stuff that you don't see every day. I don't watch for the gymnastics, swimming and basketball, etc.
I am actually looking forward to synchronized swimming, of all things. We recently toured the US Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs and heard about the tremendous demand of the sport--and no, I am not joking.
Can't wait. The fact that most of these athletes have trained their entire life for this moment is pretty compelling. Due to the 4 year break most are past their prime and never have another shot. Ultimate pressure cooker. There is no next year.
posted by MrGlass419 on Jul 26, 2012 at 11:14:31 pm # 1 person liked this
Three words: Women's beach volleyball...
posted by oldhometown on Jul 26, 2012 at 11:32:52 pm # 1 person liked this
Will watch, but the winter Olympics are my favorite.
posted by INeedCoffee on Jul 26, 2012 at 11:46:17 pm #
As long as some of the young people being exploited are sexy females, I will be watching.
Hockey fan I agree and disagree. I am not really a fan of the "professional sports" like basketball and soccer that just seem to be watered down versions of their major league counterpart and don’t seem very competitive. But, I do enjoy the track and field, swimming, triathlons, marathons etc… For many of those athletes that train their entire lives this is the peak of their competitive career. This is that one moment they might actually get a little “fame” and be recognized for being the world’s best long jumper or whatever. Sure, the advertising around it is ridiculous, but I don’t think that waters down the competition.
posted by glasscityguy on Jul 27, 2012 at 08:47:07 am #
hockeyfan posted at 07:33:30 PM on Jul 26, 2012:
Not a fan. Between the "barely sports" events like curling, table tennis, etc., plus the sometimes accurate drug testing, it's a joke. More advertisement and exploitation of young people than a real competition.
Then again, this is aMURica... the country that spends more money on Nascar merchandise than any other sport. So if you want to talk about the popularity of "barely sports"...
posted by Johio83 on Jul 27, 2012 at 08:49:07 am # 2 people liked this
I am always excited when the Olympics come around. I don't hold the athletes up as shining examples of virtue, I just like to watch the competition. Call me crazy.
posted by MoreThanRhetoric on Jul 27, 2012 at 09:59:37 am # 2 people liked this
agreed Johio83.
What I'm really waiting for are the reality tv shows about the athletes. It's already been over commercialized.
I don't tend to watch the Olympics.
Perhaps if there's a big storyline about a specific athlete or sport, I might tune in briefly out of curiosity.
I would prefer it if there were no professionals in any event in the olympics. Pro basketball and hockey players and others that got paid for playing the spot should not be allowed to compete. Yes there is something to be said about the best be allowed but the spirit of the games for me was the best amature young athletes competing on a level field, may the best person win.
posted by Linecrosser on Jul 27, 2012 at 05:49:19 pm #
LC: ding! ding! ding!
That is one of the primary reasons I could care less about the Olympics. It was always intended to be amateur competition. Allowing the pros in was absolute BS IMHO.
As I walked through the den this evening en route to the sunroom to watch my beloved Tigers, my SO and his sister were watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. What an absolute waste of time and $$$. Who really gives a rat's rear end about all the fluff they pile up around the actual athletic competition?
Oh.........wait........I know..........nevermind.
The opening ceremony has been fun to watch. Rowan Atkinson was hilarious (as usual) and the Queen parachuting in was a hoot!
posted by shamrock44 on Jul 27, 2012 at 09:12:39 pm #
Sorry, I don't get excited about "sports" I don't like.
So, the Olympics are in full swing and so are the stories and drama associated with it.
More and more stories are coming out about young kids being sent away to live with other families to train for hours a day. Is this what the olympics are about? The chinese diver who just won gold was sent away to training camp at 6 years old. At 16, she was entered into a government athletic training program. WTF.
Also, one of the gymnasts from the USA teams was sent to Iowa at a young age to live with a family so she could train there.
Maybe I'm missing it, but are the olympics worth that? Most olympic stars have major problems by the time they reach early 20's, or disappear.
Oh, I don't know HF. Take Bruce Jenner (please) for example. He's survived thus far - though his original face lives in a jar somewhere..........talk about cosmetic surgery gone wrong. Sheesh!
posted by Foodie on Aug 01, 2012 at 04:30:39 pm # 1 person liked this
Lol. Bruce Jenner wasn't 16 when he competed either. While he does seem to be the most sane on the tv show, his stretched face that looks like he's trying to join the Kenny Rogers/Burt Reynolds slit eyes club does show he's trying to hang on to days gone by.
I just think of those kids who are affected. That russian skater who was an alcoholic years ago. Even Nadia Comenich(sp) went a little off center. Didn't one US athlete sue her parents too? It's crazy.
Thank goodness the government had hearings to straighten out baseball or it would have been in the crapper too. lol
Foodie posted at 04:30:39 PM on Aug 01, 2012:
Oh, I don't know HF. Take Bruce Jenner (please) for example. He's survived thus far - though his original face lives in a jar somewhere..........talk about cosmetic surgery gone wrong. Sheesh!
It's the influences of those crazy Kardashians. Perhaps he would have allowed himself to age gracefully if not under their spell...
Also, one of the gymnasts from the USA teams was sent to Iowa at a young age to live with a family so she could train there.
That's not terribly unusual. Unless the whole family is able/willing to relocate to accomodate the training, then the kid will stay with another family.
My college boyfriend went to live with another family at times while he was growing up, as part of his competitive hockey training.
It paid off for him though. Not Olympic-wise, but in college scholarships. Which he used to play for a major college hockey program and graduate with honors in electrical engineering.
It's not a bad experience for everyone - we just don't hear as much about the people who successfully live a balanced life after that sort of training. The media and viewing public are more fascinated with the trainwrecks. LOL
Not a bad experience for everyone maybe, but living with another family? Kind of takes the "family" out of family, doesn't it?
I guess it depends on age and reason. Let's face it, at the olympic level is it really a good thing to send these kids off to another family for training?
This was pretty awesome.
posted by toledolen_ on Aug 06, 2012 at 12:29:53 pm #
^ Nice! I'm watching more this year than I ever have before and I really enjoy those moments of respect and dignity. Not all athletes doing it, of course.
SPOILER ALERT
WTOL sent a breaking news text that Erik Kynard (Rogers High graduate) won the silver medal in high jump. Very cool.
Also, one of the gymnasts from the USA teams was sent to Iowa at a young age to live with a family so she could train there.
I get the point you're trying to make, hockeyfan, but Gabby Douglas was just shy of her 15th birthday when she relocated to Iowa. It's not really the same as a six year old being sent away to train.
Can anyone tell me how the US ended up with 2 different women's beach volleyball teams playing for the gold medal? We must have started the competition with 2 separate teams ... there must be something I'm missing.
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