Who's watching the Olympics?

I'm certainly not.

I used to be really keen on the Olympics and loved the whole aspect of nations getting together to compete in a (for the most part) peaceful manner, but these athletes with their egos and drug use has really changed my attitude towards the Olympics. Also, I believe that certain games should also be included, such as chess. The Olympics fails to promote the intellectual aspect of the human body and therefore reinforces our culture's misguided obsession with the phyisical.

 

I don't have any serious beef with the Olympics itself but I get really tired of the American coverage of it on NBC. It's ridiculously US-centric, not that I've anything against the US Team but they put way too much focus on us, and tend to only show events in which we do well. The commentators are practically cheerleaders for our team... a different team or athlete does well, and they may remark "mm that was pretty good" but if we do well they go wild and get as giddy as schoolgirls. It's embarrassing.

As for chess in the Olympics, I don't think it's a good idea, even though I'm a chess fan. The Olympics is just supposed to be about athletics and physicality. I've lapsed some but I used to be really into chess and I remember reading about the debates about this inside the chess world. A number of the bigwigs of the big chess federation FIDE really want chess in the Olympics because they believe it would somehow bring more needed attention or whatever to chess. But the fact is chess simply isn't a spectator sport and won't engage any viewer who doesn't understand the game. It's very hard to glamorize it, and I doubt the Olympics would bring any more glamor to chess than its brought to curling or other obscure sports. Furthermore, in trying to get chess into the Olympics, FIDE's trying to push drug-testing in chess just as it is done for Olympic sports, which is friggin' moronic.

 

gymnastics has always been my favorite olympic sport. I also like to watch the ice skaters and swimmers/divers

 

I used to love the Olympics but NBC does put way too much support to the US. It's great if we win an event but holy jesus they go wild whenever we win. I mean seriously the olympics isn't about "winning" its about uniting all the nations to compete. That's how OLN was with the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong. They had way toooooooo much coverage of Lance Armstrong. It's like , hello, there are other athletes too.

 

i watch them nonstop

 

The only reason I'm watching The Olympics is because of Michael Phelps this guy is fucking hot.

 

The entire idea behind the Olympics use to be AMATEURS competing, doing their best and Nations getting together. The Amateur aspect is forgotten now. People get Wheaties and Nike endorsements before they even compete. Freaking PROFESSIONAL basketball players are Olympians? WTF? They don't get enough playing professionally? This proves it is JUST about winning.

And the gymnasts used to be my favorite, and they all look like steroided up Amazons now. SINCE WHEN did little 90 lbs, 14 year old gymnasts turn into 22 year olds with legs like power lifters? The American and Russian gymnasts are HUGE!

I don't like the whole thing.

 

i don't see what's wrong with it. if they are extraordinary athletes, they should get an award i guess. no big deal for normal people. why challange everything? this is not hurting anyone even there are faults upon some aspects. it's what these people love to do. and i think they get drug tested all the time, so i don't know what you're really talking about.

 

I like the womens beach volley ball...

 

my reasons for watching this were evidently physical. loved the guy's swimming...aaron what's his name was really quite gorgeous.

 

I love the gymnastics part of it. They make all that stuff look so easy. The rest of it doesnt really interest me......the male swimmers are nice to look at though.

 

I'm watching sometimes, but I wanna watch when my friend's daddy will have qualification.. (throwing javelin) I'm his big fan...! So.. Honza, Good Luck!!!

 

I watch some of the games, I mean it beats most of the crap they normally put on.

 

I am watching it from UK and tv shows only english competitors ....... quite boring!!!!!!!!!
Forza Italia!

 

I personally don't really think about the moral side of the olympics, or the reason for it, but if you're bored it's good to watch on tv! and britain just won the men's cylcing... wooooohhh!! (yeah, yeah it's about the winning... so what??)

 

Of course nbc coverage is US-centric! We do live in america, don't we? Belive me, over in russia, they're showing all russian footage. Over in china, they're showing all chinese footage. That's just the way it is. Also, I'm getting tired of people bashing sports and exercise. Just because alot of jocks are dumbasses does'nt mean anyone who exercises are. Anyways, yeah, I've been watching here and there. They never show the good shit though, like weight lifting, sailing, Taekwondo, and archery. It's all aquatics and gymnastics. You would think with all the channels showing it there would be a bit more diversity.

 

No, I don't, accept if a glance up and see the best flag in the world,
ie, the UNION JACK. Then I watch.

 

i watched gymnastics last night....and i liked it..

 

Hey, you guys watching the Olympics. Did anyone else think the caldron they lit in the opening ceremonies and that is still burning looks like a joint? I sure did.

 

A Great, Big Ole LOVELY doobie!