| Olympic Games : Your view |
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BBC,
last Updated: Tuesday,
17 August, 2004 However, the start of the
Olympics has been dogged by controversy with sprinting stars Kostas Kenteris and Katerina
Thanou being withdrawn from the Greek team pending an IOC hearing on Wednesday. The two athletes failed to take
a drugs test on Thursday and were then hospitalised after a motorcycle accident. Will the issue of drugs
overshadow the Games? Does the Olympics have a wider role outside the sporting arena? What
sports should be included in the Olympics? Are there any sports you think should be banned
from the games?
The following comments
reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far: When there are a hundred
different competitions within certain sports such as swimming (100m this and that, etc)and
gymnastics, how come golf isn't an Olympic sport? I was a bit surprised that the
Venus sisters, Henman etc were performing at the Olympics - I thought this event was for
amateurs? What about the unknown athletes from smaller countries who possibly do not get
paid for participating - do they stand any chance against these big names? Events like cycling are no
longer about who is the fastest cyclist but more about who has the biggest sponsorship,
and the best, most aerodynamic bike. Everyone should be given the same standard issue
equipment so we can really find out who is the fastest or the best.
My son (9) looks forward to the
Olympics (this is his second that he can remember). So far he wants to Kayak, swim, dive
and weightlift for Team GB. He already kayaks and swims and loves going to the gym. To me
getting children to take up a sport is the greatest incentive the Olympics bring. And who
knows may be the child watching today, getting involved tomorrow, will be a competitor in
2012. The Olympics is a brilliant
event, it is great to see nations joining together to participate in friendly, peaceful
sport. I am disgusted at all the negativity in this debate. For those of you complaining
about missing other TV programs, get a life! Or are you permanently confined to your
armchairs? Reading all these cynical
comments on this forum ranging from complaints about drugs, commercialisation,
"selfish" athletes to rantings on "not a sports fan", "have a
life" etc makes me appreciate the Olympics even more. Someone needs to tell the
people on this forum that the glass is half full regardless of whether you are thirsty or
not. I spent at least two hours on
Saturday night watching the synchronised diving with friends. We checked the scoring rules
on the internet and by the end were all arm chair experts, commenting on synchronisation
and splash factor. Great fun, and a GB medal at the end!
Why baseball? Very few
countries play and the US doesn't even care enough to send a team. To Nick, Tokyo, Japan: the USA
does care enough to send a team. Unfortunately they did not qualify for the olympics
because of a loss in preliminary olympic play. Secondly, how could someone from Japan ask,
"why baseball?" Baseball is huge in Japan. Oh how boring, the Olympics is
upon us again! I pay my TV licence in the hope that I'll get some good programmes to watch
not to be bombarded with sport 24 hours a day! I'm certainly, admittedly not
the greatest lover of sport, but the Olympics are unique, special. Even more so if the
host city provides the viewer, spectator and athlete a good show, and Athens has done just
that. We were all holding our breath but can now safely say, well done Athens. I have gone completely off the
Olympics. The games used to be about amateur athletes, who would strive with little or no
reward, to compete and if possible win. The taking part was as important as the winning.
Nowadays millionaire runners, footballers and tennis players show up just to give their
egos a boost. TV adverts, corporate sponsorship, and product endorsements hit is from
every side. The Americanisation of the competition following the LA and Atlanta games has
corrupted and eroded the Olympic spirit.
The opening ceremony was
amazing. I got really excited watching it on TV. I hope these games go as smooth as
possible because this is where it all began and it's one of the few times when most of the
world get together and compete. However, the biggest challenge I see to the Olympics today
is the way sports has become too much of a business: money and greed has had a negative
effect on the competitive nature of the Olympics which is part of the reason for these
selfish drug cheats. I love watching the Olympics
and have spent a very lazy weekend doing little else but...my one big problem is the
commercial side of the games. I am amazed that people are being told they are not allowed
to wear there own choice of clothes, use camcorders/cameras, drink there own water, use
certain umbrellas, eat certain types of food unless it is provided by one of the
sponsoring companies. This attitude is disgusting and in the heat of Greece people should
not be denied water and shade or have to face paying inflated prices to get these items.
This attitude is ruining the games and no wonder there are so few tickets sold. Being of Greek descent the
opening ceremony was amazing it was the best I have seen and was intelligent with its
symbolism and well staged historical showcase. When I came back here the press was not
exactly positive - that is probably why I do not buy papers. The Olympics brings so many
different people together and I say good luck to all the athletes. I am amazed at the level of
negativity shown on this forum. Just because some sports don't get much coverage apart
from the Olympics doesn't mean they aren't interesting to a lot of people. We aren't all
exclusively fascinated by football you know. And as for complaining about the amount of
coverage, there are thousands of channels out there and the Olympics is only covered by
about a dozen of them. If you don't like the Olympics then for goodness sake change the
channel, watch something else and stop moaning. I love the Olympics. Despite
the poor showmanship by a few so far, I am as excited as ever to watch. My only regret is
not being able to be there. Our coverage in the US is highly lacking this year in my
opinion With all due respect to the
founder Pierre de Coubertin, his successors and our idealistic contemporaries, I find this
perennial attempt to mould the Olympics into the premiere catalyst for international
understanding as overly naive. With so much national prestige that has been put on the
line by participating countries, how can the modern games be filled with any more
cross-national camaraderie than the quest for the World Cup? We should simply enjoy the
Olympics for what they are; the world's greatest sporting event and its best venue for
rewarding individual achievement in sport. Greed and drugs. That sums up
the modern Olymics. Gone are the days of the dedicated amateur. No thanks
Why are people moaning about
professional athletes and commercialism? The original events were just that with athletes
winning far more than a gold medal. Why expect people to devote years and get nothing
back. I am all for the best, not just the best amateurs, competing. The Olympics have become
worthless ever since the fall of the Soviet Union. Yes, it is without a doubt, the
greatest sports show on earth. A large part of it's appeal is that it showcases sports
that would otherwise be ignored. But I'm not convinced that it is such an economic boom,
especially in these times of enormous security costs. Perhaps the Olympics should
return to its earliest ideals. Competitors vie as individuals (cuts down on the jingoism),
a return to the "purer" sports (ensures ten-pin bowling and ballroom dancing
won't get a look in) and have the athletes compete naked (will fill those empty stadiums).
The modern Olympics are
supposed to be an international event of cooperation, a coming together so to speak, and I
pray that the terrorists don't disrupt it as they did at the Olympics in 1972. I have just booked 10 days in
Athens for my family and I during the Olympics and am thoroughly looking forward to it. We
are planning to see cycling, rowing, hockey, athletics amongst other sports and I am sure
my children will remember it for the rest of their lives. We should not be looking
forward, but praying and holding our breaths that this is not used as another staging
ground for terrorist attacks. I have read through the
comments below and have to admit that I am astonished by all the negativity. But then
again in an obese society with rising illness to due poor lifestyles what more should I
expect? I think we need to pay more attention to what we can get out of the Olympics
instead of focusing so heavily on the sponsors. If we all exercised more and spent a
little care on what we ate, we may as a nation have more energy to get off the couch and
understand sport in a greater degree. Besides, it's a celebration - get a life and join
in! It would be nice to think that
one day some wag would organise an "anti-Olympics". The events would include
insincerity, hypocrisy, pomposity, most creative bribe etc etc. That would be worth
watching, and it wouldn't cost billions! I have been guilty of being
cynical about commercialism and drugs in the past. However, watching the opening ceremony
with the pride of the athletes so clearly on display, especially from the small countries
with only a few competitors to their name brought a tear to my eye. Ultimately this is
what the Olympics is all about - a true festival of peace which the world so badly needs
at the moment.
I've never been a big fan of
the Olympics, but I caught a bit of the opening ceremony just before I went out to
celebrate my 20th birthday with my parents, and they told me about watching Zola Budd race
during the 1984 LA Olympics whilst waiting for me to be born. The Olympics are one of
those things, that's a fantastic event that's always there and everybody remembers.
Special things that happened to them during an Olympic games, or where they were when a
particular Olympic moment occurred. The Games are special, and will continue to be so
unless drugs and politics are allowed to spoil it. What a spectacular show. - the
return of the Olympics to their home. People of Greece, be proud of yourselves for what
you have shown to the world. Wish I was able to be glued to
the TV during the Games to really get into the spirit of it. A friend and colleague at
work has timed it to become a father perfectly. His wife gave birth to a son yesterday -
my friend now has the right to 2 weeks paternity leave. Guess what he'll be doing? One of the times I am proud of
being Greek. I have never been so touched before by such an astonishing spectacle which
included a bit of everything: history, sport, laser shows, fireworks and many more. What a bunch of cynics! In the
past century we've had two world wars, but contrast that to the Olympics, this event where
so many countries come together in peace. I'm not a sports fan, but forgive me for feeling
there's still something special we should all be proud of here. The Olympic Games are great if
you like sport. For those of us who don't they bring a feeling of dread as TV schedules
are rewritten and this cheap television takes over. There's not much in it for us
non-sport fans.
Tonight's opening ceremony was
a triumph, embracing the history of civilisation and humanity itself. What a splendid time
to be Greek! The world applauds you! I have no interest in sport
whatsoever. However, even I have to admit that the opening ceremony of Athens 2004 was
viewing for all. Surely a worldwide audience of four billion people can't be wrong? A great event, a beautiful show
and an inspiration for people of all nations to give their best in a fair competition. A
few drug cases do not affect in any way the importance of the Games. Olympics? No thanks! I've got a
life. I've just seen the opening
ceremony and have been captivated by the atmosphere. To all those cynics out there: come
on, it only happens once every four years and almost every nation on our warring planet
was represented and stood side by side in the name of sport. That must say something. Long
live the Olympics!
Corruption, doping,
commercialisation, complaints, complaints. An event is what we make it to be and the
Olympics have the potential of being a universal celebration, a festival of peace and
civilization. Lighten up and enjoy! I am going to be there and do my part in making this
event be how I want it to be. Besides, Athens is a beautiful city and let's face it, the
Greeks are sooooo cool! Too many drug cheats, too much
mindless nationalism, too much hype, too many joke sports, far too much money spent but
most of all too boring. Bring it on! The Olympics are
by far the biggest multi/cross-cultural sports event - bar none. Like it or not, watch it
or not it always has been and always will be a sporting spectacle of team and individual
excellence that has no cultural barriers whatsoever. What a complete and utter waste
of time, money and effort all this is. If all those involved actually did something
productive instead, we could make the world a better place by far. With life being so tough these
days, every day's an Olympic challenge. Waking up is a hurdle, getting to the weekend is a
long jump, rushing on your lunch breaks at work is a 100 meter dash and getting paid is
the gold medal. Are all of you who whinge about
the 'commercialisation' prepared to dig into your pockets and pay for your country's
competitors to attend? No, I didn't think so! I love the Olympics. I don't notice the
adverts; I'm not looking for them! It's a shame about the drug taking but that's life. As
for politics - what about the Olympics held in 1936 - political grandstanding is nothing
new. Just enjoy the events and ignore the rest! I believe that there is an
optimum level of funding for sporting events. Beyond that point any sport is subject to a
business decision process and therefore driven by revenue and profit as oppose to the core
values that were once associated with the Olympic dream.
As a Greek, living abroad, I
think it's about time we all understood and appreciated the efforts Greece has made in
organising something so great. I only wish the foreign press and especially the British
one would stop grumbling about the Games. They did exactly the same thing when the Euro
2004 football championship was won by the Greeks! Isn't it about time some people
abandoned this ...old fashioned nationalistic spirit and started embracing other nations'
efforts in trying to do something positive, for a change? Hopefully the Greek Olympic
games will give everyone this opportunity! The thing I look forward to
most is a performance similar to Eric the Eel in Sydney. I have never cheered so hard as
when Eric finished his 100m for the first time and I think it is performances like these
that make the Olympics great. Not world records. Of course I am, I'm going! I
wanted to go to the Sydney Olympics but couldn't afford it and so am taking the chance to
see the world's greatest sporting event in the country of its origin. It's very satisfying
and enjoyable to see athletics and other events being performed at the highest ability. To
all those grumbling and whinging about the games, I think we should appreciate it as an
opportunity to see young people pushing themselves to be the best they possibly can rather
than the usual doom and gloom stories about juvenile delinquency. The sooner the BBC sets up a
dedicated sports channel and gets this junk off our screens the happier I will be. It's
not just four weeks of the Olympics, it's the endless daily diet of overblown egos
claiming to be sportsmen I can't abide. Consign them all to their own little corner of the
spectrum and let the rest of us get on with life.
I am excited to see Athens. It
looks beautiful there. I also love to watch the athletes from all over the world coming
together in the spirit of athletic competition. It does not matter to me who wins or
loses. I like the personal stories about the athletes overcoming the odds to just be
there. It is a wonderful world event, and is a testament to what human brotherhood can be
about. Not looking forward to the
Olympics at all. It will dominate the television schedules to the detriment of everything
else, to show us people playing pointless games for their own amusement and unfortunately
much personal gain in many cases. I have no objection to people running round in circles
to amuse themselves, but it is as interesting as watching someone play patience. The Olympics is the greatest
sports spectacle in the World, but unfortunately, many of the competitions have little
sporting significance. This ought to be a good opportunity for sports fans to catch a
glimpse at sporting competitions that rarely are granted television time. Alas, most of
the television coverage will be focused on gymnastics and swimming, the sports that are
the proven ratings draw. I doubt that more than 10 seconds of the archery competitions
will be shown.
The Greatest Bore on Earth.
Sports that get no coverage in four years are suddenly Britain's best hope of a medal.
Public interest in these events is minimal & yet we will be swamped with coverage so
that the corporate sponsors get their expensive message across to the maximum number of
viewers. The Olympic spirit has long been drowned in the sea of commercial interests and
professional sport. I find the current Olympics
very boring, watching a load of people running around and trying to evade the doping
tests, very mind-numbing. Can't wait for the future 'gene-therapy Olympics', watching four
legged runners, rubber like gymnasts, and not forgetting the 10 foot 'hulk' weight
lifters, very exciting! After all, if this cheating continues the next step will be the
altering of athlete's genes which is almost undetectable, if you ignore the extra limbs
and even bigger muscles. Another boring sports event.
It's been either football, tennis or golf and entertaining programmes have been put off
the air. Never mind a good chance to get caught up with my books. Much more interesting.
I am looking forward to seeing
all nations come together peacefully. If the Olympics is what it takes to make that happen
then it is worth every cent. I would rather see billions of dollars spent on a positive
legacy than spent on war fighting each other. The actual sports are fine.
What I cannot stand are the endless hours of 'comments' from so-called experts, many of
whom cannot string a coherent sentence together. No, it has become too
commercialised. A definite no. Most of the
events are predictable and boring. Personally I prefer to watch the winter Olympics as
they tend to be far more exciting Yes because I want to see the
US basketball team trounced. Since when do professionals represent the amateur Olympic
ideal? I have this funny feeling
something big is going to happen. There are too many geopolitical events culminating
across the Mediterranean and elsewhere for this event to go on unscathed. The Olympics have become so
commercialized, allowing professional athletes to compete, the almighty dollar destroys
all. The coverage in the US is very biased towards all American athletes instead of being
able to see the best world wide and the coverage is time delayed and edited, therefore
losing its effect. European coverage is wonderful.
No I won't watch! Not
interested because it has become too commercialized and too much corruption from the top
all the way down to the participants. High school runners have more credibility than the
semi-pros. Nothing is like your home. The
Olympics has returned in home. The closing ceremony always
comes as a relief. Not really. The best bit of
athletics was the breaking of the 4 minute mile by Roger Bannister. It's been celebrity
sham ever since! I will definitely watch almost
all the sporting events that will be shown on TV. This will be the only time in about 4
years that much prominence shall be given to the lesser known sports in my part of the
world. I just can not wait. I won't be watching the
Olympics, as it's not the best athletes who win but those with the best chemists. To me ever since I was young
boy the Olympics have always signified strength, determination and the ability to achieve
dreams. Each and every athlete competing has sacrificed much in their lives. We as
spectators at least owe it to them to support their efforts whether they win or lose.
Televising the Olympics is important for the up and coming athletes who have similar
dreams. I wish all athletes success and hope that this is the best Olympics yet. I have no interest in the
Olympics this year. In fact, I dread them. I suspect that while so much attention is paid
to security at the Olympics, the terrorists will look to attack elsewhere, where it might
be easier. Yes, I'll be glued to the
Olympics, as I have been for every one since Mexico City. I'm looking forward to the drama
and learning about new heroes who are currently unknown. I'd like to see the Olympics
expand both in duration and in the number of sports presented, but would drop stage
managed events such as the opening and closing ceremonies, and would prefer to see the
Olympics given to a country than a city. To all those who say that
certain sports have no place in the Olympics, I would say that those competitors have
trained as hard for their events as the bigger names in athletics and swimming have done,
and they deserve their chance in the limelight. I look forward to the 30th of
August, when all this mess will be over and life will finally come back to normal in
Greece. People just can't stand it anymore: money wasted, corruption rampant, tourism at
its historical low and, on top of that, full of police and military around town! For me, the Olympics (and
athletics as a whole) have been undermined by the various doping scandals. You now see an
athlete break a World or Olympic Record and, instead of marvelling at his or her
achievement, wonder if they'd taken something performance enhancing instead. I am excited about the prospect
of the Games taking place in the country they originated. I recently visited Athens and
felt the great excitement of the Greek people and saw the momentous effort they have made
in organising these events. I only wished that the UK press would stop slugging other
countries off and do what they do best: put pressure on our government to build facilities
half as good in the same timescales so our country can also benefit. I am personally looking forward
to the Olympics, and just as a side note, I am amazed at the cynicism I see on this forum.
Life is short, we need to enjoy everything while we can, and if you do not like something,
don't comment on it!
Of course - the greatest show
on earth, despite corporate America's attempt to hijack it in 1996. It's about the only
exposure for many of the so-called "minority" sports, which usually prove to be
the most compelling and captivating of the lot. I'll be watching the Olympic
Games because I'm a big fan of sports in general. If only the men in the world had the
same Olympic spirit! We would be much happier, then. I have no pleasure in watching
a 7$bn game when 1$bn is sufficient to end the hunger in the world. I think I would find it more
enjoyable if every athlete that comes first, second or third were actually tested for
drugs before declaring them the winners. We have already been told to be suspicious of
anyone that sets a new world record. The popcorn has been bought,
the soft drinks are in the fridge, the neighbours have been advised in regard to the
noise. The sofa has been cleaned (at last) so bring on the games as we lazy couch potatoes
get ready for two weeks of action packed fun so each person around the globe can cheer
his/her own country's athlete. I love the Olympics, and I am
an avid softball player who is desperate to watch the softball and baseball games, as I do
not have access to American TV channels. I have never seen a televised game of either
sport played at this sort of level, and it will be fascinating. But the BBC isn't
broadcasting any of the softball of baseball, meaning I will not see any of this
'minority' sport which I love so much. Thanks a bunch.
No I'm not looking forward to
the Olympics. The reason? In the UK at least TV schedulers have totally lost site of the
fact that not everyone is interested in wall-to-wall sport coverage. Have a look at the
proposed BBC coverage elsewhere on this site if you don't believe me. Why is it that we
can't have just live coverage of UK competitors and edited highlights of the rest? True
sport aficionados can and will pay out for digital or satellite coverage - that's their
right! This may be excusable if this
was the only sporting event of the year, but with Euro 2004 (every match shown even if
those matches had nothing to do with England), Wimbledon, Golf, and so on, ad nauseam, the
Olympics is really the final straw. Yes I am looking forward to the
Olympics because the athlete's desire to win, against all odds, inspires me. It reminds me
of my Christian faith. We run a race for a prize too. The race is our life; the prize is
eternal life with God. No man was born a loser. We choose whether to win or lose.
I'm look forward to the
Olympics. I am staying in Athens this summer and the games are a great opportunity for
festivities and celebration. They are also a chance for nations to meet, compete, discover
other countries and make friends from everywhere. I'm looking forward to it
immensely. A breath of fresh air to witness real determination, motivation and spirit from
humans during a time when other humans are behaving so dreadfully. No, because the BBC will cancel
Neighbours for the duration.... I am really looking forward to
the Olympics. It will take my mind off the terrible things that are going on in the world,
if only for a little while. I do think it is the greatest sports show on Earth. I'll be ignoring the Olympics.
Thank god for digital TV and it's sport-free channels. At least this time I won't be
subjected to ego-ridden athletes and their 'achievements'.
I like to watch the opening
ceremonies. The Sydney Olympics marked the first time the Koreans came together under the
same flag. It was a wonderful moment. Also, I remember when there was a swimmer from
Africa who was miles behind the competition and had heart enough to gut it out and finish
his event. Those are the reasons I tune in to the Olympics, not for blind nationalism or
arrogance. It's amazing to see the strength of human spirit, and disappointing to read so
many posts by those who can't see beyond the commercialism and scandal. Those things are
certainly present, but we only perpetrate them by buying into the negative hype. Tune in
for just a minute or two. You might regain your faith. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. At last something more
interesting than football... What makes the Olympics so
special is the golden opportunity they represent for unknown athletes from poor or small
nations to shine on global stage. This is their glorious moment to proudly represent their
country and it's citizens. No amount of negative behaviour from a corrupt few athletes can
ever diminish the significance of Olympics to world-wide audiences and the majority of
honest competing athletes. The opening ceremony and the
closing ceremony will do for me. What goes on in between is just boring. I think the Olympics are great.
This year makes it even better since it is being held in Greece - the home of the
Olympics. The Greek people have done a wonderful job with security and preparing for the
Olympics. I wish the athletes from all countries good luck and hope they enjoy themselves.
No doubt that the continuing
threat of terrorism has certainly put a dampen on the Olympic spirit this year. Precisely
because of the existence of such a threat, the world-wide audiences should make the 2004
Summer Olympics a historical viewing success to send a message to the terrorist elements
that the world population will not be intimidated by their cowardly actions and the
"show will go on". I certainly intend to! I have and will continue to
boycott the Olympics based on the fact that they will not recognise Squash as an official
sport. How then, did synchronised swimming get in? I'll be watching the mountain
biking and canoeing. But like everything in the world it seems that corporations have an
iron grip on the whole competition - I was amazed to read that anyone wearing a logo by
anyone other than an official sponsor won't be allowed into the grounds! What kind of
message is that to give to young sportspeople? Conform or perish... Kamarudin, Malaysia (below) -
I'm offended that you claim that only "western" athletes take drugs. Perhaps you
missed 18 members of the Chinese swimming team failing drugs tests? Drugs are a global
problem, not a western one. Despite the corruption, the
drugs, the rampant commercialism, and political grandstanding, it's one of the few things
in life in which - regardless of race, religion, or politics - the whole world seems to be
able to unify to some extent in a positive and uplifting spirit of universal co-operation.
Which is what they're supposed to be all about. In the current, morbid, global climate
it's what the world definitely needs more of. For that reason alone, I say bring 'em on!
I am looking forward to these
Olympics because for the first time ever I will actually know someone who is competing in
them for Great Britain! He is Simon Mason, the GB hockey goalkeeper, who is my
girlfriend's step brother. So I will definitely be watching and cheering on the hockey!! Good grief, what a lot of kill
joys! It's 'just' sport for sure, but that's no reason to take away from the physical
achievements of all of these athletes. At its best, the Olympics can be about supporting
your team without being jingoistic and celebrating the fact that all people from all walks
of life, from all countries can achieve greatness. Besides that, it's also a great excuse
for an enormous party, so stop being so glass half-empty! Every Olympics in history has
been better than the last, this is the opinion voiced by the IOC president at the end of
every Olympics. That is except Atlanta. Is Athens to become the second Olympics to be
considered worse than the last? Athletes taking drugs and organisers planning the
construction of the venues have attempted to make this so - what a mess! Yes! I love the Olympics,
especially the gymnastics, diving and swimming. We don't often get the chance to watch
these sports on TV, it will make a pleasant change from football and cricket.
Absolutely! The Olympics are a
chance to watch people who compete in a sport they love without earning the wages of
millionaire footballers. Many athletes train day in, day out, with no recognition of their
sport. The Olympics are their chance to show the wider world what they can achieve. I turn to rock n' roll if i
want to watch egotistical, drug using, selfish people; so I've no need for the Olympics. I'm very excited about the
Olympics. This year, at least on American TV, they will be able to broadcast every sport.
It will be a two week marathon of the world' greatest athletes. How can you not look
forward to it? I find it funny that people who
normally care nothing about sports suddenly get all excited because it's The Olympics --
suddenly you are gripped by shot-put, or synchronised swimming or the triple jump. Why??? Definitely looking forward to
the opening and closing ceremonies. Hope that's a spectacular event.
I'm very excited for the
Olympics and I won't let pretentious cynicism spoil it for me. Steroid usage is sad, but
cheating has always happened in competitive events; ancient Greek wrestling referees
carried a whip to deal with biters. I agree that commercialism has diminished the
experience for spectators, however, no commercialism, no televised sports. These Olympics
are the pinnacles of sport. They are the contests to determine which individuals have the
best abilities. FIFA, Basketball, Baseball and even my beloved Football are fun to watch
and play, but compared to the Olympics, they're irrelevant. It will just be another big
advertisement for companies like Coca Cola and McDonalds. Zzz. I always look forward to the
Olympic Games. It's the only opportunity I get here in the US to watch something other
than football, basketball or baseball...speaking of boring. I want to see real athletes
like wrestlers, swimmers, gymnasts and decathletes. I won't be watching the
Olympics like I once did. There are now too many additional "sports" none of
which are worthy of this once great event. The Olympics used to be all about which
man/woman was best...get rid of the pointless sports and the team events and return to the
original events and it may be worth watching. The only thing I look forward
to is seeing an amateur athlete from a relatively poor, developing country put one over on
the biologically engineered "machines" that western countries seem to enter.
Looking at the comments I am so
disappointed that even the Olympics are connected with the present US wars and security. I
am looking forward to these events to get my mind off these things for just a short
period. Sport should bring the world together and should be not involved in politics. To tell the truth, I completely
forgot this was an Olympic year. Shows you how high up they are on my agenda! The Olympics are just like any
other sporting event - blown way out of proportion. They are just as relevant in today's
society as video games. People play, have fun, and that's it. They mean nothing else. I'm afraid I find 90% of events
extremely boring and see the Games as quite overrated and a waste of money. No! Many people around here
where I am do not care about the Olympics. I don't care either. We are just watching our
baseball, soon football, and all soccer. I can't wait until the FIFA World Cup 2006. It is no more the greatest
sports show on earth because practically all the western athletes are cheating by taking
illegal drugs which are difficult to detect in order to boost their physical strength.
They are more concerned about monetary gain after the games are over in order to take
advantage of the lucrative sponsorship waiting for them from big sporting corporations. The Olympics used to be about
dedicated athletes, doing their best. Its now all about big ego's, cheating, and its whole
structure is corrupt. What a complete waste of time and money. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To me getting children to
take up a sport is the greatest incentive the Olympics bring 
