The only time every four years I can actually enjoy watching sports.
What do the Olympics mean to you?
- Thread starter The Nth Doctor
- Start date
Every two years I spend 16 days in front of my TV, watching hours and hours of sports I normally care nothing at all about.
Part of the reason is that I don't care for the pro sports... it's not the same when you know the players look at it as just another day on the job instead of a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something special.
Another part of the reason is events like the triathlon and cycling, that take place outdoors and get the athletes out of the stadium. We as viewers get to see places we normally don't get to see -- for me, the most spectacular thing about these Olympics was seeing the men's cycling race go through the Great Wall. The scenery and the Great Wall itself are truly breathtaking. And I didn't care who won the race.
And I will confess... I enjoy watching the men's gymnastics.
Of course I was cheering for Canada, but was just as happy to see the other teams do well, and be a little disappointed for the athletes who splatted on their faces and/or backsides.
One of the special events I watched was the show jumping. Normally I don't care anything at all for horse-related sports. I'm just not into horses at all. But seeing the Canadians compete in those nail-biting final events and having the gold and silver come down to tie-breakers was really something. And I couldn't help thinking of my late grandmother, who would have enjoyed seeing this so much... in a way, I felt I was watching it for her.
The Olympics also means learning interesting tidbits of information about other countries that just flabbergast me. For instance, during the rhythmic gymnastics final, I heard that the East European countries get the kids involved in that sport from the age of 4 or 5... and they "play" it in the schoolyards and streets the same way that Canadian kids would casually play street hockey. My first thought was, "That's weird." But I guess they'd find street hockey equally weird.
No doubt there are other interesting things we can all learn from each other during these Games.
Part of the reason is that I don't care for the pro sports... it's not the same when you know the players look at it as just another day on the job instead of a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something special.
Another part of the reason is events like the triathlon and cycling, that take place outdoors and get the athletes out of the stadium. We as viewers get to see places we normally don't get to see -- for me, the most spectacular thing about these Olympics was seeing the men's cycling race go through the Great Wall. The scenery and the Great Wall itself are truly breathtaking. And I didn't care who won the race.
And I will confess... I enjoy watching the men's gymnastics.
Of course I was cheering for Canada, but was just as happy to see the other teams do well, and be a little disappointed for the athletes who splatted on their faces and/or backsides.One of the special events I watched was the show jumping. Normally I don't care anything at all for horse-related sports. I'm just not into horses at all. But seeing the Canadians compete in those nail-biting final events and having the gold and silver come down to tie-breakers was really something. And I couldn't help thinking of my late grandmother, who would have enjoyed seeing this so much... in a way, I felt I was watching it for her.
The Olympics also means learning interesting tidbits of information about other countries that just flabbergast me. For instance, during the rhythmic gymnastics final, I heard that the East European countries get the kids involved in that sport from the age of 4 or 5... and they "play" it in the schoolyards and streets the same way that Canadian kids would casually play street hockey. My first thought was, "That's weird." But I guess they'd find street hockey equally weird.
No doubt there are other interesting things we can all learn from each other during these Games.
A 2 weeks men's basketball tournament. 
To me it represents the noble idea of friendly, peaceful international competition, the beauty of the human form when it performs at peak efficiencies, and the best kind of battle, one where there are no casualties.
I'm an Olympics groupie, I cry at the opening and closing ceremonies and when athletes succeed or fail. It takes them so much to get there it's quite overwhelming.
I'm an Olympics groupie, I cry at the opening and closing ceremonies and when athletes succeed or fail. It takes them so much to get there it's quite overwhelming.
I really wish more Volleyball was shown in America. I loved watching that match with the US and Brazil last night.
I missed this thread, or else I would have posted comment here from the general Oly thread into this thread.
