Olympic coverage

[spotty_dog]

These stories give me goosebumps and remind me that there's a wonderful, human, non-corporate side to the Olympics.

You're starting to melt my cold black heart. I was going to gripe about the commercialization of the whole thing. I admire the athletes and wish them the best, but like hell I'm going to pay for cable coverage so the USOC's fervent dedication to their sponsors can be rewarded. Especially not if the announcers are already scrambling for titillation disguised as "human interest" the way y'all describe.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

You're starting to melt my cold black heart. I was going to gripe about the commercialization of the whole thing. I admire the athletes and wish them the best, but like hell I'm going to pay for cable coverage so the USOC's fervent dedication to their sponsors can be rewarded. Especially not if the announcers are already scrambling for titillation disguised as "human interest" the way y'all describe.

I just block out the Coke and McDonald's commercials the way I do in real life and focus on how hard all these people work to get there. I admit, we got cable specifically for the Olympics and plan to pull it afterward.

I'm not a crier normally either, pretty much ever. And I cry at all the human interest pieces (that are actually interesting...not the virginity ones).

I heart you too, niener!

[oceanchild]

I always feel badly that the richer countries that can afford patronage for the athletes win and those from poorer counties don't have a chance, simply because of funding.

I think the funding is a lot more complicated than that, and it's sort of fascinating. Obviously there's tons of corporate sponsorship available to American athletes, but that's a sort of skewed way of determining who's worthy to fund. Many countries pay for their athletes' training.

I really enjoy watching the Olympics. I'm traveling this weekend and will probably miss most of the initial coverage, but I intend to watch as much as possible after that.

[HouseofWool]

I think the funding is a lot more complicated than that, and it's sort of fascinating. Obviously there's tons of corporate sponsorship available to American athletes, but that's a sort of skewed way of determining who's worthy to fund. Many countries pay for their athletes' training.

I really enjoy watching the Olympics. I'm traveling this weekend and will probably miss most of the initial coverage, but I intend to watch as much as possible after that.

I realize it is more complicated than I make it out to be, but in reality, there is a huge variance in what constitutes patronage. Commercial sponsors pour a ton of money into US athletes (Apollo Ono?) and I feel for the guy who's first experience with an Olympic sized pool is and the dang Olympics! That inequality saddens me.

[Cinderella]

Ok. I admit it. I'm a viewer who cries watching the Olympics too. What is it about the purity of heart and dedication that gets me? Especially if they do a compelling human interest story of trial to triumph. Ugh, I'm a sucker for that. Glad to read I'm not alone.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Funding is definitely more complicated than that (but I totally agree with you on the global scale, HoW). My friends on the US Sailing team are unfunded for 3.5 years of the 4 year Olympic cycle. They raise all their own funding to get to international regattas where they have to compete and win to make the team. There's no funding like for swimming and gymnastics to field Pan Am, World Champ, etc. teams. It's not a huge revenue generating sport so I understand that but I do think it's hard when a handful of athletes are making crazy bank (Apollo Ono, Phelps, etc.) and the rest are working PT at Home Depot so they have time to train.

[moonlight]

All I can say is that I feel sorry for Elmo and Barney because they are getting no action around this house for the next couple weeks! I love almost all of the events. I also love catching those random events I've never seen before. Four years ago I knew I hit a new low when I literally watched a solid hour of Olympic Walking. Someone help. I think I have a problem.

[Cinderella]

There is Olympic Walking? I know they're trying to get yoga and pole dancing added.

And here is another highlight from the latest, wonderful ways to waste time on the internet. If you're not sick of the song already this is Michael Phelps and the US Olympic Swim Team performing to the song "Call Me Maybe". It seems cute and worth a watch in honor of "Happy Olympics Day!"

[Curegirl]

I cry describing my love of the Olympics, it's that intense. I do love certain human interest stories. I have vivid memories of some...There was a guy from Equatorial Guinea who swam alone in a heat in the 2000 Olympics because his fellow competitors had false starts. There is no Olympic length pool in his entire country but he was able to swim on a wild card entry. Or there was an American athlete who's father passed away during the opening ceremonies in Barcelona who went on to win a medal. Or a guy from Bosnia (during the conflict) that literally had to practice speed skating in his apartment (he practiced his form) because the rink had been bombed. These stories give me goosebumps and remind me that there's a wonderful, human, non-corporate side to the Olympics.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now...I'm crying again.

LOVE. I love the opening ceremonies because you see the hope and excitement and the years of sacrifice and hardship on their faces and the closing ceremonies always make me cry because it's like, wait, it's over already!?! I'm more of a Winter Olympics fan but find myself getting engrossed in everything eventually.

[moonlight]

Cinderella! That was really cute!

[oceanchild]

Funding is definitely more complicated than that (but I totally agree with you on the global scale, HoW). My friends on the US Sailing team are unfunded for 3.5 years of the 4 year Olympic cycle. They raise all their own funding to get to international regattas where they have to compete and win to make the team. There's no funding like for swimming and gymnastics to field Pan Am, World Champ, etc. teams. It's not a huge revenue generating sport so I understand that but I do think it's hard when a handful of athletes are making crazy bank (Apollo Ono, Phelps, etc.) and the rest are working PT at Home Depot so they have time to train.

Yeah, I think my point is that there's inequality all over the place. (Shocker, right?) We love the idea of who's objectively the best at something, but it's so much more tangled than that.

And just to be clear, none of this in any way deters me from watching or enjoying every minute of the Olympics.

[corn poffi]

I just removed all the orange M&Ms from a gigantic bag so that the remainders represent the Olympic rings (brown and black are close enough, right?). I think I need an intervention.

[Curegirl]

I just removed all the orange M&Ms from a gigantic bag so that the remainders represent the Olympic rings (brown and black are close enough, right?). I think I need an intervention.

CP, that just made my day right there!

[Chrisada]

DH's grandmother went to the Olympics for synchronized swimming for Canada!

[v-girl]

Opening ceremony thoughts? Am I the only one who is bored silly by them? I looked up and some chick out of Mary Poppins was beating a metal drum. WTF? I need more wine.