The Olympics: Do You Watch?

[FlightlessDuck]

Other. I will sometimes catch one or two specific things, if I remember when they are on. Like gymnastics, swimming, or ice skating. But I don't remember when the last time it was I watched anything in particular.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I'll watch women's soccer. Other than that, I'll catch what interests me in the moment. I used to watch lots of the events, years ago.

Very disappointed men's soccer won't be playing.

 

[Jennasis]

Heck yeah...and I'll be watching the trials all weekend long this weekend.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yeah, the archer in Barcelona was cool; that's good theatre for you.

I love the opening ceremonies because I love getting a feel for what each host nation values in terms of "impressive spectacle".

The pro/am issue really doesn't bother me much because most of the sports I enjoy watching are really not the ones where there is a true professional cadre of players. In summer, for instance, I really like watching diving.

 

[ChrisFL]

I enjoy watching the opening and closing ceremonies, although winter olympics I usually only watch bobsledding/luge and the ski jump.

I'm still in sheer awe of the Beijing opening ceremonies...I know it cost a fortune, but they did an absolutely incredible job

 

[NYEmomma]

I love watching the Olympics, both summer and winter. Since I watch both, I'm glad they made it every 2 years so it's not as long waiting for an Olympics to roll around again. 4 years used to be a long time to wait.

Same here. I enjoy watching all types of sporting events so I always tune into the Olympics. I do like the summer games slightly better than winter though. Skiing & bobsled/luge are awesome but I'm REALLY not into ice skating.

ETA: I wish they televised more of the rhythmic gymnastics... that's my favorite and there's barely any of it shown (though since NBC became a huge conglomerate and starting to broadcast on its stations + ESPN + MSNBC and god knows what other channels they own, they do show more of the lesser known/popular events).

 

[khertz]

I'm really uninterested in the Winter games...just not anything that grabs me. LOVE the Summer games though! Mostly I enjoy swimming, diving, gymnastics, and beach volleyball. Really enjoyed the '08 games and I'm hoping this year will be just as exciting!

 

[FireDancer]

The only events I go out of my way to watch are all summer events: Track & Field, Triathlon, women's beach volleyball (best uniforms in all of sports), and cycling. I love soccer but Olympic soccer is kind of crap. It is basically a youth tournament with three wildcards.

Other than that I'll throw the games on if I am sitting around with nothing to do but that is pretty rare.

 

[LBIJim]

Years ago (up until 1992 for Summer and 1994 for Winter), I'd watch religiously. Each subsequent Olympics I find myself watching fewer and fewer days. I do like that many more events are now available to watch due to all the cable channels. I like sometimes stumbling upon some of the more obscure events, such as badmitton or the Polish vs. Cuban women's volleyball game.

But now, in general, I watch only when there's nothing more interesting to do, especially the Summer Games.

Jim

 

[Robinrs]

I love the summer games, have been a fanatic since Mark Spitz days!!

Can't relate at all to the winter games, watch them sporadically but the sports are not my thing. Ice skating is about all I'll watch.

I can barely wait for the summer games!

 

[Buckeye Princess]

I watch both...and lots of it. My favorites are the sports that you really only see on tv during the Olympics.

 

[Diznygrl]

I'm a total Olympics junkie. We watch opening and closing, then whenever we are home in between the TV is on. 2 years ago for the winter Olympics I was in the hospital with a gigantic kidney stone and insisting the nurses turn the TV on so I could watch the closing ceremonies.

Hey, I was suffering from a kidney stone during the last Winter Olympics too! Didn't need to be hospitalized though. But I still made sure the Olympics stayed on my tv while I sat there writhing in pain.

I love that they are every two years. Four years is too long to go without some Olympic activity! I prefer Summer over Winter, but I still love them both and pretty much watch nothing else for the two weeks they are on.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I watch both. Not obsessively where I have to see every event, but I do enjoy events in the Winter and Summer games. Summer, I truly love the diving and swimming. Winter, the skiing, luge, and snowboarding hold my attention most. I watch other events, just not as intently.

Oh, and I have to watch the opening and closing ceremonies. Those are a must.