What do the Olympics mean to you?

[The Nth Doctor]

I've been thinking a lot about this in the past week. A large part about the Olympics is the competition, the glory, the fame, breaking records, and all of that jazz.

However, for me, I think the most important aspect of the Olympics (as it is for any sport in general) is sportsmanship. One of the highlights I enjoy is looking out for acts of sportsmanship and seeing how both the winner and the loser greet each other at the end of a race, game, match, face off, or whatever.

I've already seen several wonderful acts sportsmanship. Dara Torres noticing a fellow swimmer with a torn suit and requesting the race to be delayed so that swimmer could change suits. Runners in the Women's Marathon sharing water bottles and sponges. Swimmers hugging and congratulating others even though they didn't win (either Gold or at all). I know there are others, but those are the ones that stick out the most in my mind thus far.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Same here ... good sportsmanship. Also, teamwork as well as individual achievement. It's not about the politics or the countries. It's about the athletes.

 

[cultcross]

I love it when people who don't expect it win things. I know that's harsh on the people who are really good and hence win lots, but I love the faces on people when they don't expect to win and do, like Rebecca Adlington in her first race - she looked so shocked, it was sweet, compared to the crass showboating of some athletes who expect to win.

 

[tomalak301]

An opportunity to see that this world isn't heading for hell in a handbasket. I mean we get so much bad news about governments going to war with one another over the silliest of issues and then you get to see the olympics and the examples you mentioned and stuff like Johnson and Luikin congratulating or consoling other competitors like I saw last night. I look at what is going on with the olympics, and maybe a lot of it is hidden by the media, but I feel a lot of that other stuff is genuine and I think that's really cool.

 

[Dream]

Watching people whine about Michael Phelps.

But seriously I like watching the reactions of the athletics that win regardless of which country they are from.

 

[Roger Wilco]

However, for me, I think the most important aspect of the Olympics (as it is for any sport in general) is sportsmanship. One of the highlights I enjoy is looking out for acts of sportsmanship and seeing how both the winner and the loser greet each other at the end of a race, game, match, face off, or whatever.

Bah, there's usually too much money at stake for the athletes to get sportsmanship in their way. Sure it happens occasionally, but imo that hasn't been the point of the Olympic Games for a long time; "participation is everything" couldn't be an emptier slogan.

For me it's about watching the athletes who are the best in their sports give everything to beat each other and entertain the viewers by raising the bar for what's possible in a certain sport.

 

[WillsBabe]

I was only thinking about this myself earlier today. I enjoy watching the medal ceremonies and the winners' obvious emotion and pride at representing their countires, but really they don't mean that much to me. The ideals of higher, stronger, faster aren't necessarily ones that resonate with me. I do, on the other hand, think that the way the Games bring people of many nations together, whether they are warring neighbours or distant enemies, can only be a good thing

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Olympics are the only time I briefly become interested in sports. They're fun to watch but I forget them quickly.

Watching people whine about Michael Phelps.

That too.

But don't athletes behave well, congratulate each other, etc, in all the other sports events they compete in? I thought the Olympics is just one stop on a never-ending circuit for these people.

 

[Garak]

BRIBERY. BLATANT, DIRTY BRIBERY.

The winter olympics are kick ass though.

 

[gblews]

However, for me, I think the most important aspect of the Olympics (as it is for any sport in general) is sportsmanship.

Absolutely agree. Its the reason I can't get too worked up over underage gymnasts or lip synching during opening ceremonies.

I care who wins but not enough to feel bitter if the ones I really care about, don't. When the Olympics were here in L.A. in '84, I had the privilege of attending a day of Track and Field. That was one of the most magical times in this city and one of the truly memorable events in my life.

 

[Super Grover]

It means that everyone at work is going to be batshit crazy.

 

[Gryffindorian]

To be fair, I think the Olympics, despite the ideals of harmony and cooperation that the games wish to promote, are far from perfect. There will always be politics, favoritism, and incompetence (especially among the judges).

Performance-wise, Nastia Liukin should've won that FREAKIN' gold medal for the Uneven Bars, but she was tied with China last night. Guess who ended up getting the gold? The Chinese gymnast, not that she wasn't great. There's something screwy about their scoring system that really throws off the spectators.

 

[tomalak301]

I've had a problem with the Judging for these olympics. The scoring might be better than what it was before, but it's still far from perfect. You'd think in this age of technology, the whole concept of judging would be obsolete and it would all be done via computer? I guess we're not that far ahead yet.

 

[cultcross]

I've had a problem with the Judging for these olympics. The scoring might be better than what it was before, but it's still far from perfect. You'd think in this age of technology, the whole concept of judging would be obsolete and it would all be done via computer? I guess we're not that far ahead yet.

How would a computer judge the aesthetics of a gymnastics routine?

Boxing, however, I agree - someone should have invented a decent computer scoring system by now.

I don't think the judging has been particularly off in the gymnastics, sure the Chinese have won a lot, but a) they always do and b) they have home team advantage here anyway. That's coming from a country that's doing generally crap in judged events.

 

[tomalak301]

I've had a problem with the Judging for these olympics. The scoring might be better than what it was before, but it's still far from perfect. You'd think in this age of technology, the whole concept of judging would be obsolete and it would all be done via computer? I guess we're not that far ahead yet.

How would a computer judge the aesthetics of a gymnastics routine?

I'm asking that same question regarding the human judges.

 

[cultcross]

I've had a problem with the Judging for these olympics. The scoring might be better than what it was before, but it's still far from perfect. You'd think in this age of technology, the whole concept of judging would be obsolete and it would all be done via computer? I guess we're not that far ahead yet.

How would a computer judge the aesthetics of a gymnastics routine?

I'm asking that same question regarding the human judges.

touché

 

[JM1776]

Enjoying sports until that moment I never knew existed.

The judging in gymnastics has been scandalously bad, and biased towards the Chinese.

 

[T.R]

I just can't get into the olympics. I'm always glad to hear of someone like Phelps carrying home the golds, but I just can't sit down and watch them.

 

[Jack Bauer]

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. All the drama associated with that is entertaining and touching. Seeing people compete with honor and dignity.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Sportsmanship, courage and honour of representing their country. Seeing the world together.

I loved seeing Togo win their first medal.