Why I’m over the Olympics
I’ve managed to resist saying anything so far, but I just couldn’t restrain myself any longer. Here’s why I’m totally over the Olympic Games™.
Rampant Commercialism
See that “™â€? I put after “Olympic Gamesâ€?? I didn’t make that up. Read this article, and try and tell me the Olympic spirit is alive and well. A few choice tidbits about the Olympics, and the choss surrounding them:
- “In a bid to protect its lucrative media contracts, the IOC is barring competitors, coaches, and support personnel from writing firsthand accounts of their Olympic experience, on the web or in print, for the duration of the Games. Nor are they allowed to ever post photographs or movies that they’ve taken, including media of themselves, even after the Games are finished. They’ve threatened to disqualify anyone that violates their restrictions and sue them for monetary damages.â€? (From Slashdot)
- The IOC are incredibly zealous at enforcing their ownership of the Olympic “trademark,� having in the past forced a large number of organisations, events and businesses to rename themselves. The IOC maintains they are just ‘protecting the reputation’ of the Olympic games, but the fact remains that they are taking ownership of a several-thousand-year-old part of world history.
- Even related events such as the Paralympics have been under fire for using the name, and the “Gay Olympicsâ€? (yeah, I know…) was forced to change their name to the “Gay Games.â€? (I won’t draw attention to the original Olympic Games.)
Lack of Sportsmanship
“Chariots of Fire,â€? to me, is what the Olympic Spirit is all about. Unfortunately, I’m not seeing a lot of that kind of feeling. It’s more about getting past the doping tests, spending as much as possible on technology to squeeze the extra millisecond, and winning medals for the monetary bonus your country will give you.
If that’s not enough, this study conclusively links GDP to the number of medals a nation will win. Where’s the Olympic spirit? Please note that I’m not anti-competition; the Olympics has always been about being the fastest, or the best; but I think that it’s being taken to ridiculous lengths, at the expense of a lot of other values.
Tension
I don’t want to totally slag the Games. I think it’s incredible that so many countries will forget their differences (mostly) and join together in such a way as to all but completely forget their political agendas—it truly is a global event, and a glimpse of what humanity could be. And it is a good feeling to know that, for instance, New Zealand has the best rowers in the world. I just wish they’d cut all the crap, and just play the Games.
Comment by Angus • Sat 21 Aug 04, 9:00 pm #
What Olympics?
Oh, those Olympics. Yeah, I actually missed the start, and even though we taped it, still haven’t seen the opening ceremony. I probably should watch at least that.
Anyway, so far I’ve seen the last few minutes of the NZ vs. Serbia-Montenegro basketball (at Brent’s urging) and just missed the rowing medal live (but saw it again on the news). I’ve seens spots of other events, but it’s just not grabbing me as much as previous Olympics, due to all the factors you mentioned, the time difference and the fact I’m busy in the daytime. It’s like the World’s Sneakiest Pharmacist competition.
Comment by S.A.M • Sun 22 Aug 04, 4:57 am #
Hey!
I am kind of over the Olympics, but i still like them for what they were and still are to a certain extent. people pitting themselves against each other (and their own bodies) to try to do the best they can.
put aside all the drug cheats and everything, and you will find special olympic moments do exist still, and sportsmanship and camaraderie are still there.
I dont know, call me sentimental (youd be pretty far off the mark there!) but when I hear the National Anthem is played, and see the flag raised I just have a ‘moment’ pride in our Athletes and their achievement, and a true sense of patriotism. :) I know, i know, a cynical type of guy like me going soft over a flag raising. but i dont know! the olympics still does it for me!
Comment by Ruth • Mon 23 Aug 04, 1:09 pm #
What annoys me about the olympics is how everyone says things like “oh, I hope we win a medal” etc when they haven’t done anything to get it. We haven’t really contributed in any way to the NZ athletes (apart from maybe some tax $$) but we expect so much of them and get so snarky when the athletes don’t get anything. It doesn’t really seem right.