Are the Olympics no longer necessary?

[Sandy_M]

My feelings are pretty much like Rescuemom’s on this one. I’ve hardly watched the Winter Olympics, except for some of the figure-skating. Perhaps they ought to crack down on the amateur/professional thing and return the Olympics to Baron Coubertin’s ideal - and let the World Championships in each event be the free-for-all, everyone’s invited, pros and amateurs, event. Fat chance!

In the Equestrian events in particular, I think the World Championships already ARE the more important event. Perhaps they haven’t reached QUITE the cachet of an Olympic medal, but still the WEG are a fairly big deal, on a par with the Olympics, but even including endurance and combined driving. (Yes, I know, endurance is being added to the Olympics, at least as a “demonstration sport.”)

In eventing, in particular, it used to be that the courses for World Championships (WEG) were more difficult than the Olympics, because in the Olympic competition, there was a desire to make it possible for even “lesser” competitors make it around. (Way too embarassing/humiliating if the fellow from Outer Monglia gets eliminated at the 3rd fence, e.g.) Now I believe that is no longer true, because the requirements for even competing have tightened up (much to the good) to prevent those who are out of their depth competing and being hurt.

(Anecdote: At the 19984 L.A. Olympics, I remember sitting at a complex of obstacles, and hearing the loudspeakers tracking one unfortunate competitor (Mexico, I think): He’s over fence once, he’s stopped at fence two, he’s over fence two, he’s stopped at fence three… and so on. Actually, he FINISHED the course, with something like 288+ penalties, never stopping twice at any one fence. I don’t think that could happen now, even at the Olympics.)

[mwalshe]

You know people in other countries watch the Olympics too.

And they show ALL the good athletes on TV, not just their own.

And as for total medal count, I think only America and China keeps track of that anyway. No-one else cares, it’s just a chnace to see really good athletes compete against each other in a sport you might not normally get to see.

They could lose the “silly sports” though, I mean the skeleton thing? Ice dancing? And solo synchronized swimming?

[jr]

I apologize. I was obviously only half listening to the news today. I’m very sorry.

[Natalie]

I absolutely love the Olympics…I’ve been glued to my TV screen nearly every night for the past two weeks, and I’m actually sad that they’re over already.

But aside from that, I really think they do bring the world together, even though that sounds so cliche. Of course somebody’s going to whine about unfairness, but that happens eveywhere. And the medal counts aren’t petty; perhaps a bit unecessary, but certainly not troublesome enough to spoil the games.

And I find it hard to see where you beleive that sportsmanship has been lost. Look at Apolo Ohno. He was taken out by another competitor in his first race and was truly lucky to get silver. Than in his second race, he wins by default. Three days later, he gets disqualified himself, and than sees a team mate lose a relay for the team. And never once did he complain or even show dissapointment. This coming from someone who was expected to come home with a GOLD medal in ALL of his events. Yet he put it down to the workings of his sport and was obviously overjoyed with the medals he did receive. Apolo is just one example; sportsmanship is alive and well.

I’m not trying to start an argument…this is just my opinion. I’ve enjoyed these games more than any other. But perhaps I’m just not cynical enough.

~Natalie
“Throw your heart over the fence and your horse will follow.”

[Heather]

I’m also an Olympic junkie–watched every single night.

I’m a big time skating geek–my heart breaks into a million pieces each time I see footage of Michelle Kwan’s face at the end of the long program, and Todd Eldredge’s after his short. Sarah has been a gracious champion, and a deserving one, but I really wanted to see Michelle on top.

The trick to the games, in terms of horse sports, is that the underdog has always been part of the story and the fun. Eddie the Eagle, the Jamaican Bobsledders, the African swimmers in 2000 who had only learned to swim a few months before–the people who though “hopeless” are there for national pride and to give their people something to look up to. The problem is, an unprepared swimmer finshes last in his race by several minutes. An unprepared rider could potentially kill himself and/or his horse. So we are caught in the middle of the Olympic ideal that says every nation has the equal right to compete, big or small, and the practicallity of horses which are large and dangerous animals in the wrong hands.

I love the Olympics, and still think their medals mean more than those won at the world championships. Does Bob Costas get old? Yes. Do the hyper-extstatic commentators get old? Yes. Bo the Olympics? Never.

Finally, and I think this was alluded to, mathmatically their is some justification for the awarding of the second gold medal. Without the French score, both the ordinals and the scores had the Canadians and Russians tied. If the alternate judge’s score had been used (which was not within the rules–their function is only in case of illness of another judge, not misconduct)then the Canadians got the gold and the RUssians the silver. So, it wasn’t exactly a decision based on totally amorphous “feel good” concepts. The numbers back up the decision.

Yes, there are whiners in sports–anybody find this different from real day to day life? But it doesn’t distract from the truly magical moments in Olympic games, where people rise above their pettiness and become something great.

[dogchushu]

Actually, I’ve had a lot of fun watching the Olympics over the past week. Though I can’t imagine I’d ever spend a night watching skeleton outside of the Olympics, it was kind of neat to see.

I will admit that I don’t have the same kind of admiration of/interest in the competition that I had as a kid 20+ years ago. These days, I guess I’m just more cynical because when someone loses my first thought it “well, that cost them $X million in endorsements.” Maybe the Olympics have changed. Or maybe I’ve just gotten more jaded as I get older.

They’re still fun though.

“I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific.” – Lily Tomlin

[drifting_cloud]

I think the Olympics got really cheesy when they went to the “staggered” format (so we get some Olympics every 2 years). It seems like the Olympics are always going on, or about to take place again soon.

I’m also sick to death of all the sponsorships (“the official ear hair remover of the Salt Lake Olympics!”). I enjoy watching some of the sports, but it seems to be more about the money & commercialism than the sports.

I agree that the proposed boycotts are ridiculous. The countries who are threatening to do this won’t hurt anyone but their athletes. Other countries would probably LOVE for the Russians to stay home! It improves the medal chances for everybody else!

[gwen]

I’d like to see us do ANY of those “silly” sports…i think they look pretty darn hard to me!!!

BARB*

House hunting on Long Island…we’re looking at cardboard boxes…since that’s all we can afford in a nice area…

[Pixie_Dust]

OH, yeah, Scott H. does a great job! He’s so kind & humble.

BGoosewood in Goosewood and therefore TweedleDEE http://hometown.aol.com/bgoosewood/index.html

[Jennasis]

I am a HUGE fan of the Olympics (Summer moreso than Winter). I disagree that there is no need for Olympics anymore. I also disagree with the earlier assesment that the original purpose of the games was for countries to “thumb-their-nose” at their enemies. The Olympics is about sportsmanship, pure and simple.

i do agree that professionals have NO place in the games. It is for the Amateur only.

I always wondered though about some of the sports that are included…Curling (shuffleboard on ice), Trampoline, Skeleton-Luge-Bobsled (competetive sleighriding. Is there and real sport to it?), Biathlon (x-country ski THEN target shooting…and the point is?) And why are some of the sports split into men’s and women’s, and why are there no women at all in some (ski-jumping, aerials). Would a mixed men/women boblsed team be any slower? Why can’t women ski-jump?

The Olympics are an important part of the international athletic scene and will always be. Some countries could never afford to go to “world championships” every year if that’s all there was.

[halfhalt]

the pairs controversy is that apparently in an article in tbe NY times the French judge argues that she was misrepresented to the media - that yes, she had been under pressure, but by the Can delegation not the Russian.

At the time of her “confession” she was never actually interviewed by the media - her statements were conveyed by the ISU president and he never said who was subjecting her to pressure, everyone just assumed it was the Russians because of the ice dancing controversy of previous years…so this story is far from over.

[tle]

But it IS about sportsmanship, etc. It’s the countries and their governments that are getting petty… other than that instant moment of severe disappointment, I haven’t seen or heard of an athlete really tarnishing the games (please let’s forget Nagano and the men’s hockey team… just a bunch of rowdy a$$es).

I have said it before… I completely disagree with the thought of eitehr disbanning the olympic games or taking away the “country” aspect. Perhaps it is how I was raised, but while I do cheer for other teams (ie: the Canadian women DESERVED to win gold after last night’s hockey game), nothing gets me teary-eyed faster than hearing the American anthem and seeing that flag go up top. Athletes are athletes, sure. but there IS still a pride in doing what you can as a representative of your country. At least IMHO and IME.

I also agree… without the Olympics, you’d NEVER catch me watching curling, or Nordic Combined, or skeleton, or much figure skating… or much gymnastics, swimming, etc. Yeah, the “overall medal count” gets a bit petty, but it is interesting to see.

If Dressage is a Symphony… Eventing is Rock & Roll!

Counting down to the next Survivor!! – 7 days

[Coreene]

And when you’re not watching utterly biased American reporters, you get a much nicer feeling. The commentators can make or break the “viewing pleasure” and I have to say that the selection NBC brought out this time around leaves, for me at least, much to be desired.

[Velvet]

They called Michelle “gracious” last night, but the word gracious is part of the meaning of “sportsmanship.” I think maybe everyone looses sight of the fact that atheletes on the Olympic level (and especially professional ones) should all be held accountable for sportsmanlike conduct. If you don’t portray it (Surya Bonaly–the most petty minded figure skating brat after whiny Nancy Kerrigan) you don’t get a medal and you can’t compete at the Olympics. THAT should be the number on disqualifier!

I also agree that having one station have access to the entire Olympics kills it for me. I wish they could divide it up and sell a package of events to different stations and each package has at least one very popular event. The way they are assigned is by lottery. They all pay the same amount, but a drawing is how they get their packages. This system could really benefit the equestrian events!

And having the Olympics every four years and combining winter and summer was great. I also think this new format is ridiculous.

It’s all about ME, ME, ME!!! (The only signature worthy of a real DQ.)

[JustMe123]

I enjoy watching the varied, sometimes obscure sports that you people with snow resort to doing. However, the politics that are rampant during the whole event really ruin it for me.

I think the nebulous “they” that awarded Sale & Pelletier (sp?) the gold really opened a Pandora’s Box. As a hunter rider, you learn pretty fast that sometimes the judges are cheese and sometimes they’re not. Sometimes you win when you don’t deserve it, and sometimes someone else takes home the ribbon you think you earned. THUS IS THE NATURE OF SUBJECTIVE SPORTS! Now everyone who feels like they didn’t get the fair shake - ie, the Russians THIS time - will come back to Sale & Pelletier and expect something. I think that’s unfair.

Geeze, couldn’t they have just thrown out the contested judges’ scores and reconfigured the whole thing? It just seems there HAS to be a better way.

But Sarah last night was just amazing, and I really enjoy Sascha Cohen. They, to me, exemplify what the Olympics are about. Oh yeah, and the hot snowboarders too.

• It’s Just Me -

[halfhalt]

He showed a great deal of class under all circumstances.

I think he also realized that the media had overhyped him - after all, shit happens in short track, and in some events it wasn’t clear why the media had pegged the US to win gold - in the men’s 5K short track relay, for example, Canada had the world record from the last world championships and had much more depth to their team.