Willmark:
Damn Olympics!
Right now coverage is insane here in the US, literally it’s on 5 different channels. BTW I’m not really upset I love the Olympics.
I mean seriously I’m getting nothing done damn it!
wallacer:
It’s the same over here. I wouldn’t mind so much if the whole thing wasn’t just a giant communist propaganda exercise.
Sojourn:
I like the winter Olympics more than the summer Olympics, but still, not bad.
I like archery, but it’s not televised here in Canada 
wallacer:
I have the same problem with boxing. For some reason they’re hardly televising any of it in NZ (most likely because we don’t have a prayer of winning a medal in it ;)).
Obsidian:
Never been much of a fan of the Olympics… Good thing they have footie in it at least!
Warlord:
Do you guys think its weird that Sports like swimming, cycling, running, rowing, etc. all have multiple medals, merely for different distances?
Like, I know different distances need different types of stamina, but really isn’t that the only difference? Especially when you compare it to some other sports like Basketball, Soccer, etc. where they only get one. Don’t you think swimmers and the like cheapen the Gold that these athletes get?
Shouldn’t the other aspects of these sports be also presented, and eligible for medals also. Like a 3 point comp, a Free Throw comp, 1v1 comp, 3v3 comp, etc. (Just to name a few in basketball…)
My girlfriend and her sister used to swim competitively, so I do expect a few of you to jump up and say its completely different, but putting your own bias aside, is it really?
Willmark:
I’m thinking there is a vast difference in swimming 50m then there is in 800m…
If that is the case there should be just one medal awarded for “Running” since after all the only difference between the 100m and the Marathon is 26.2 miles give or take…
To use your comparison the difference is that 3 point shots, free throws, etc are part of the sport mentioned, not individual competitions themselves.
To some up: no. While within the same sport each race requires different abilities rather then simply stamina, and in some cases a different stroke: read butterfly which as you well know is the most physically demanding. A great deal of racing whether, track and field, rowing and swimming is alos mental. Or in the case of relays coordination.
So respectfully, I disagree.
Godbob and his jolly rogers:
it on one channel here yay not much of a fan i just saw the opening because i wanted to see if one of the preformers would muck it up (i’m so evil)
cornixt:
I have mostly US tv, but I get a Canadian channel whhich is showing the Olympics (CBC). It is so Canada-central that they pretty much ignore any competitors that aren’t Canadian. During the opening ceremony they spent so long trying to talk to the Canadian athletes on a mobile phone that 20 other countries went completely unmentioned, as their cameras followed the Canadian team around. The same happens in the events. They concentrate so much on the Canadians, even when they aren’t competing, that they don’t show the other competitors. the only hope of seeing the other countries is if the Canadians get knocked out early! The US coverage may not be perfect (“live” gymnastics being shown 3 hours late) but it is better than that.
I agree that it is odd how there are so many similar swimming events. A good swimmer is always likely to take home 3+ gold
Kyte:
Does anybody know when it’s ending? I’d like to have my regular television scedule back! There are sports channels for people, who want sports 24/7.
Thanks
- Kyte
Sojourn:
I have mostly US tv, but I get a Canadian channel whhich is showing the Olympics (CBC). It is so Canada-central that they pretty much ignore any competitors that aren't Canadian. During the opening ceremony they spent so long trying to talk to the Canadian athletes on a mobile phone that 20 other countries went completely unmentioned, as their cameras followed the Canadian team around. The same happens in the events. They concentrate so much on the Canadians, even when they aren't competing, that they don't show the other competitors. the only hope of seeing the other countries is if the Canadians get knocked out early! The US coverage may not be perfect ("live" gymnastics being shown 3 hours late) but it is better than that.Actually Cornixt, I think that there are a couple reasons for this, and to be honest, all countries usually only televise their own team, as the games are about country pride. CBC is the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, and the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Television Committee, I think it's committee) enforces X% of Canadian Content on the station per broadcast hour (not sure of the requirement specifically). CBC is absolutely 100% no different than NBC which is broadcasting American team (Team Phelps 2008! lol) 24/7.
I agree that it is odd how there are so many similar swimming events. A good swimmer is always likely to take home 3+ gold
cornixt
I must admit, I find your comment a little offputting, suggesting that Canada is "biased" where other stations would not be. Especially considering how humble and modest our nation often is, especially when next to the patriotism that is America. In fact, it's nice to see Canadian athletes receive attention as they have trained as long and as hard for their events as other countries, and I'm proud to watch them. I would rather watch everyone of our athletes lose but beat personal bests than watch coverage of a sport not one Canadian athlete is competing in. Heck, I watched the 10,000m run (seriously people!? 10,000m? well I look like a fat cow) and watched a Geulph resident (about 45 mins from me here) finish waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the pack. He was racing, but they focused on the Ethiopians and Kenyans who were at the front the entire time. Is it wrong though to show me how someone who is representing the country I live in finished? No, I don't think so.
Is it not right to show you're proud of your country and the athletes? We don't televise other city's baseball games... I would never see a Yankees/Mets game televised, or another comparable scenario when both teams are out of our broadcast range. Canadiens v. Tampa? nope. Throw Leafs into the mix, and yes, it'll be on.
PS - Xander has made the comment about multiple swimming events, and I agree to a point. It would be like breaking baseball into a "grounders" medal, "home run" medal, "baserunning" medal, etc. *shrugs* ask him about it. :P
@ Kyte, not sure of the actual date, but usually it's about 2 weeks long, isn't it!? hrm...
Xander:
I think it is important to note that television stations treat the Olympics (rightly so) as a sporting event, not a newscast. You don’t show all sides unbiasedly in a sports broadcast, you cheer for the home team.
al-hashut:
I must say the BBC’s coverage has been top notch. Most events covered regardless of whether Team GB is in them, athough there are updates/compilations of Britains wins/failures.
Though they seem to have flown out every commentator they had available for a free jollie in the Orient on the Licence Fee payer’s tab. Nice work if you can get it
Khan!:
Actually Cornixt, I think that there are a couple reasons for this, and to be honest, all countries usually only televise their own team, as the games are about country pride. CBC is the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, and the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Television Committee, I think it's committee) enforces X% of Canadian Content on the station per broadcast hour (not sure of the requirement specifically). CBC is absolutely 100% no different than NBC which is broadcasting American team (Team Phelps 2008! lol) 24/7. ....Quoted for truth! I wouldn't describe myself as a CBC fanboy by any means, but I'm reasonably certain that the focus on the Canadian team is deliberate (ie they're not making any claim to be covering everyone all the time). And CBC still has quite a substantial amount of coverage on Mr. Phelps, for example - anyone else watch/read about how much he eats in a day?? Goodness gracious!
....Is it not right to show you're proud of your country and the athletes? We don't televise other city's baseball games... I would never see a Yankees/Mets game televised, or another comparable scenario when both teams are out of our broadcast range. Canadiens v. Tampa? nope. Throw Leafs into the mix, and yes, it'll be on.
Sojourn
Additionally, I'm quite pleased that we finally got some medals. Well done Canadian rowers and wrestlers!
But the winter Olympics are better anyway imo :)
Willmark:
...A good swimmer is always likely to take home 3+ goldI take it that you have never competitively swam then...
cornixt
Next: Lastly on the patriot front. Sure its easy to dog pile on the USA. We have a big target on our backs and our patriotism while a bit over the top isn't anything to be ashamed of.
Steering back to OT. Here is another reason why I like the Olympics: The idea of it (and the revival of it). The belief that sport at the Olympics brings out the best in man, a higher idea and even if it is not the reality the dream to try and achieve it. In fact in reference to Sojourns comments some of my favorite Summer Olympic moments have nothing to do with the USA:
John Stephen Ahkwari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a6DX_m87y0
Eric Moussambani
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqi2bT_TqDs
Derek Redmond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zi0_LjHHN4&feature=related
Remember the motto of the Olympics: Citius, Altius, Fortis
Now granted its pretty much a sham that it is being hosted in China, but we can't change that now. The idea of the Olympics: being better then we are, to rise above the cynicism and the naysayers, to be the best that is humanity, that is what the Olympics is.
GRNDL:
Cheers Sojourn, Khan! and Xander
CBC is our national channel and pretty much our only one, so of course its going to be biased toward Canada. Sojourn is right on about the CRTC as well - most Canadians are bombarded with US TV programming and things like the CBC and CRTC make sure that Canada still has a voice. The CRTC in particular is responsible for making sure that there is at least 40% Canadian content on any Canadian broadcast medium, so that we can retain our cultural identity in the face of the massive US culture machine. It is very important to note that most of our TV stations, and particularly the popular ones like CityTV in my area, are saturated with US programming. Most Canadian series and TV shows often only play on channels with low watcher ratings or speciality channels.
re: Back on topic, kind of.
The role of the Olympics, outside of sports, has always been propaganda. If not for a country, then for the cities it takes place in and in a lot of case - the idealogy of those countries as well. The Nazi’s used it back in 1933 (date might be wrong) to showcase the potential of Germany at that time, and more importantly, the so called “flourishing Reich”. Why should China be any different? China is constantly trying to show the rest of the world that they are a prospering nation, in spite of its heinous human rights issues. China is, IMHO, trying to show the rest of the world that they believe in the “human spirit” as much as anyone else - just look at the controversies this has created.
Vanvlak:
Go, Malta! :cheers :h :h
cornixt:
My message got sent before I finished it!...A good swimmer is always likely to take home 3+ goldI take it that you have never competitively swam then...
cornixt
Willmark
I was going to write about how easy it is for one person to dominate because there are so many similar swimming events for all the different styles. There are 12 events under 200m.
CBC: I don't expect Canadian athletes to be ignored, but equally I don't expect them to be the sole focus of every event, which I noticed significantly more than the US coverage.
I think the intent of having China hosting the Olympics was to pressure them into improving their human rights by having the whole world focus on them. It has certainly had the effect of informing people about the atrocities that wouldn't even be on page 20 of a newspaper otherwise.
Hashut’s Blessing:
I can’t be botherewd with the Olympics. Don’t get me wrong, I want England to win loads of Golds (in fact, Rebecca Adlington, 2x Gold medalist for swimming for England, used to swim competitively against an old friend of mine
Xander:
CBC: I don't expect Canadian athletes to be ignored, but equally I don't expect them to be the sole focus of every event, which I noticed significantly more than the US coverage.But the CBC is not an international sports broadcaster. It's a tax-payer fueled channel for (in this case) reporting on the successes and failures of our Olympic team. They also talk about many other countries, but the primary focus (and rightly so) is the home team.
cornixt
To do it any other way would be silly. If you want news instead of sports coverage, I would recommend something like the BBC.