I’m tired of the coverage of the construction. I’m tired of the politics. I’m tired of the “mist vs. pollution” discussions. I’m tired of the “I’m ready” commercials. I’m tired of the drug testing. The darn thing hasn’t even started, and I can’t wait for it to end.
I don’t want to watch endless heartwarming stories about the obstacles Athlete A has overcome to get to Beijing. I don’t care about Athlete B’s mother who is dying of cancer…or the life-threatening injuries Athlete C had as a toddler. Is that a requirement to be in the Olympics…a troubled past? Does no athlete grow up in a middle-class, intact, functional, healthy family?
I don’t want to see all the cool technology the athletes get to use…the Samsung phones, the training facilities…I don’t care about the outfits for the opening ceremonies, or the lack of outfits for the volleyball team that requires them to play in bras and panties. I don’t care about the Phelps Fan Club amongst little girls.
I can’t possibly be alone in feeling this way…who else just wants it to be done?
I decided months ago that I will not (voluntarily) watch a single minute of Olympic coverage–I hope NBC or whatever network is covering them has abysmal ratings. So I’ve been passing over any stories about it.
I totally share your exhaustion with the election, however.
I’m pretty much only going to watch the shot put (if it’s televised) because my friend Reese Hoffa is in it, and parts of the gymnastics (yes, I’m one of those people who pretty much only watches the gymnastics in the summer Olympics and the figure skating in the winter Olympics).
I’ll admit that I haven’t watched the Olympics for quite some time, but just when is this supposed to air? Do I have time to purchase a new large-screen TV?
Thankfully, the normal British news stories about the actual individals have only just started up, thanks to China giving us so much to be distracted by.
I commented to my Dad the other day that it felt to me as if the Beijing Olympics have been the biggest sports news story since before I was born. It’s been four years since the last Olympics and it feels like fifty. It was probably May when I started saying “Jesus, have they not started already?”
I used to look forward to the Olympics but not these ones. And I even get to watch quality Canadian coverage, where they actually spend most of the time showing sports. Frankly, this time I won’t be bothered.
Yes, I too am ready for them to be over before they’ve begun. However, this year’s no different from any other year. I’ve always hated the Olympics but I’m not really a sports fan to begin with.
Anybody who tries to force me into watching the opening ceremonies will be sorry!
You know Reese Hoffa? That is one fine-looking man…an LJ friend of mine had photos of the US shotputters on his journal the other day and I could definitely deal with being the filling of a Reese Hoffa/Christian Cantwell sandwich.
Hehe. Should I tell him you said that? Hmm… he’s married you know (actually his wedding reception was the first place I ever saw a chocolate fountain in real life. Mmmmm), and his wife was a hammer thrower in college. She could probably kick your ass.
He’s a really nice guy. He can also juggle and can solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute. Here is a pic from my boyfriend’s brother’s wedding rehearsal dinner: that’s him on the left, I’m on the right in the purple shirt. There are more pictures of him* on his website (reesehoffa.com) and he’s going to be on the cover of a SEGA video game based on the Olympics.
*including a picture of him juggling flaming torches at my boyfriend’s parents’ 4th of July party–Olympic foreshadowing???
Instead of the Olympics opening ceremonies, watch Animal Planet’s the Puppy Games Friday at 6 PM.
They’re going to have an international parade of puppies! I expect it to be awesome.
I don’t like all the bullshit stories either, but that’s why they invented TiVo and digital cable. Now I can just fast forward to all the weirdass sports that never get full coverage otherwise, like archery and equestrian dressage.
I intend to try to ignore all things Olympics for the next two and a half weeks. Luckily, I hardly watch TV these days. The online promos on the news sites, though, are going to be really annoying.
I probably will watch some - selected athletics, track cycling - but will try to ignore most of the other events, particularly those which aren’t proper sports at all, like sailing, beach volleyball (despite - or, indeed, because of - the ridiculous dress codes).
The jingoism is far too much for me, too.
There was a tremendous diatribe in my (Catholic) church’s newsletter by the renowned Fr Hilary Crewe last week, denouncing the Olympic movement for even thinking about awarding China the games in the first place.
100% true. I might be a contender for the most oblivious person of the year. I had no idea whatsoever there were any Olympics anytime in the near future. I was confused when I saw the thread title and what it implied. I don’t watch network TV at all and I don’t read sports articles.
