Are the Olympics a thing of the past?

[VaqueroTD]

Or is it because we are currently going through the Winter Olympics?

Just seems like they used to be a bigger deal, both broadcasting and media attention. Wheaties boxes and stars would come out of the Olympics. Now the biggest highlight is how many professional leagues they can figure out how to get into the games.

 

[Nova]

Definitely diminished and for me, and it's not just the winter Olympics.

I think it's a result of streaming.

In the past, it felt like the country all watched together, tuning in to ABC, NBC, or CBS to see whatever event was airing that night. You had to sit through the hype building, you had to sit through the performances from countries you might not care about, just to catch the even + athlete you really wanted to see.

It felt big. It felt important.

Nowadays, you can just watch Madison Chock and Evan Bates kill it at figure skating while you poop at work.

 

[Nova]

Also, the wife and I turn on the olympics for our kids, but finding the "live" action on YouTube TV is actually a little confusing for me.

Tons of menu screens showing me events from the day before, or maybe it's from 10 minutes before. I'm not really sure without a google search.

So we just kind of scan the menu to see what's available-- and again it just doesn't feel that impressive.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The summer Olympics in LA will be huge.

These winter Olympics......not so much.

 

[atlantacowboy]

I like the winter olympics bc it the only time I get to watch Ski jumping, bobsledding, speed skating ect...... I enjoyed the biathalon too which is really cool. These people have a specialized 22 claiber rifle strapped to their back and have to cross country ski for a distance before trying to hit targets. If they miss, they have to do a penalty lap which adds to their total time. Then their are things like curling which I find hilarious yet compelling.

Obviously, the summer games are the bigger draw.

 

[gtb1943]

so much clutter anymore

I used to live and die for both Summer or Winter Olympics. Back in the 70's I watched every big of coverage I could.

Now I barely notice it at all.

I can remember when the Davis Cup was big sporting news. I remember when the Americas Cup was huge. The Olympics WERE massive.

but in this fragmented world we now exist in, nothing is really that big anymore. Not even the Superbowl.

And when such sports last so many days in a row, our attention span is now so short and we are so easily distracted by all the noise and glitter that it simply is too exhausting to pay the attention we once did.

And also, to be blunt, it is now so commercial. It always was to an extent; so many so called Amateurs were not. But it was not so blatant so in your face.

And also the athletes themselves are far too cynical and narcissistic. Once again products of our time.

I remember cheering for Olga Korbut; crying when Janet Lynn tried so hard but could not win. Watching athletes in the so called minor sports who had to have jobs and scratched and clawed to be able to compete and how joyful and happy they were just to be there.

It peaked to me in the 1980 Winter Olympics watching Miracle on Ice.

Not sure exactly when it started to fade; I think watching the Dream Team and the medal ceremony when they used American Flags to cover up the wrong corporate logos. It was a cynical money based gesture not Patriotism.

And I watched it get worse and worse over the years. The way the media began to only concentrate on the athletes that said what the media wanted to hear and deliberately left out all the others it could get away with. The now NAKED commercialism.

Watching Sarah Hughes winning the Gold Medal; watching Tara Lipinski winning the gold medal; those moments got fewer and fewer. The team sports became all pros. No amateurs allowed anymore. Not like there is many of them left anyway.

It was a gradual process for me.

This year I was not aware of the Winter Olympics until something flashed about some mouthy athlete thinking he was so important.

Now I really do not care

 

[Tabascocat]

It has become watered down over the years. There are too many dumb events like surfing, race-walking, skateboarding, monobob, etc. Even flag football is coming. I wish they would keep it simple with the traditional sports. It used to be a real accomplishment to call oneself an olympian, not so much anymore unless it is in a real, big event.

I do love watching curling for some reason…..

 

[csirl]

It has become watered down over the years. There are too many dumb events like surfing, race-walking, skateboarding, monobob, etc. Even flag football is coming. I wish they would keep it simple with the traditional sports. It used to be a real accomplishment to call oneself an olympian, not so much anymore unless it is in a real, big event.

I do love watching curling for some reason…..

+1.

Too many second rate or invented sports added because they "look cool". It devalues the whole event. Winter olympics should concerntrate on the core long standing winter sporrs where the competition is tough and really natters.

 

[Tabascocat]

+1.

Too many second rate or invented sports added because they "look cool". It devalues the whole event. Winter olympics should concerntrate on the core long standing winter sporrs where the competition is tough and really natters.

Another thing that irks me is athletes competing for other countries than their own. Take Eileen Gu for example. She was born and raised in San Francisco and many don’t think she even has dual citizenship. She should be competing for the United States and not China who doesn’t allow dual citizenship.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Another thing that irks me is athletes competing for other countries than their own. Take Eileen Gu for example. She was born and raised in San Francisco and many don’t think she even has dual citizenship. She should be competing for the United States and not China who doesn’t allow dual citizenship.

I agree. And I also think it became watered down when the Cold War ended. Used to be a national pride thing to beat the USSR or East Germany.

 

[RonWashington]

USA vs Canada women’s hockey later this week really would be nice to see the women who work hard at this get the Gold

 

[csirl]

Another thing that irks me is athletes competing for other countries than their own. Take Eileen Gu for example. She was born and raised in San Francisco and many don’t think she even has dual citizenship. She should be competing for the United States and not China who doesn’t allow dual citizenship.

Many countries rely on tbeir diaspora to be competitive in some sports. I dont mind people representing countries they have a genuine link to e.g. parents originally from there. What I don't like is countries who use spurious reasons to give fast track citizenship to athletes with no connection to them.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Glad it's not just me.

To me, it's a combination of adding too many silly x-games type events and NBC's over the top overhyping of everything.

And every ad I see seems more like a Today show episode aimed at housewives than hardcore athletic competition. That's not unusual these days, but the Olympics turns that up to 11.

 

[Hardline]

I love Olympic Hockey .

I lost most of my Olympics excitement when they allowed a man to fight in female boxing

 

[Nova]

I love Olympic Hockey .

I lost most of my Olympics excitement when they allowed a man to fight in female boxing

Olympic hockey is the best.

Although, it just feels like a CAN v USA forgone conclusion this year. It's not, but it just feels that way.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Olympic hockey is the best.

Although, it just feels like a CAN v USA forgone conclusion this year. It's not, but it just feels that way.

I enjoyed watching the first Dream Team and the Hockey Pros. If we're really going to say they are the best as what they do, you have to include everyone. Amateur vs professional is a thing of the past. Probably another reason why the Olympics are outdated. Even college sports pay their athletes now.

 

[Miller]

Women’s hockey today pretty damn fun!

 

[Rockport]

Or is it because we are currently going through the Winter Olympics?

Just seems like they used to be a bigger deal, both broadcasting and media attention. Wheaties boxes and stars would come out of the Olympics. Now the biggest highlight is how many professional leagues they can figure out how to get into the games.

There are a lot of sad people here.

 

[zrinkill]

There are a lot of sad people here.

Says the biggest sad sack on the forum.

 

[Vtwin]

It's like everything else. The NFL included. Produced less about the event itself and more about maximizing exposure which results in appealing to the lowest common denominator.

In other words, it's sold its soul.