When you watch the olympics you hear over and over again how the games promote unity and cooperation between nations. BUT in the next breath they give the medal count. Somehow that seems the complete antithesis to promoting unity. In my mind keeping a running count of who has more medals promotes an unhealthy competition between nations (as opposed to individual competition).
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08-19-2008, 07:01 PM #1
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Is anyone else annoyed with the olympic medal count?
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08-19-2008, 07:04 PM #2
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The Canadian channel, CBUT, doesn't seem to do that--that's why we watch it!
"My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks
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08-19-2008, 07:13 PM #3
What's next? A half iron?
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That's probably because we aren't winning many medals. LOL...
Originally Posted by salsabike
It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Elliot
My podcast about being a rookie triathlete:Kelownagurl Tris Podcast
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08-19-2008, 07:18 PM #4
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Yeah, but your guy who sprinted at the end of the men's triathlon was fabulous! The silver medalist. We were YELLING! "Come on, come on!"
And I still think that's not the ONLY reason. The coverage is just more even handed all around---all athletes get discussed, etc."My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks
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08-19-2008, 07:45 PM #5
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I'm a bit annoyed the the US coverage seems to be primarily of sports in which the US has a strong contender. There seems to only be limited daytime/evening coverage of events where the US is not expected to do well
You CAN see the other stuff, if you stay up all night, and if you're willing to watch it online in the little tiny window they give you.
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08-20-2008, 04:33 AM #6
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If it was intended to be a truly open competition, then athletes would compete as individuals (or as representatives of multinational corporate sponsors) and not as representatives of nations. When the organizers decided in 1896 that countries and their respective national sport federations would send the athletes, that decided that the modern Olympics would be a competition among nations.
Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
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08-20-2008, 10:31 PM #7
What's next? A half iron?
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Plus we have cute commercials. Originally Posted by salsabike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUnZsXW9SwIt is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Elliot
My podcast about being a rookie triathlete:Kelownagurl Tris Podcast
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08-20-2008, 10:32 PM #8
What's next? A half iron?
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It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Elliot
My podcast about being a rookie triathlete:Kelownagurl Tris Podcast
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08-22-2008, 11:51 AM #9
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That is cute! Originally Posted by kelownagirl
This is the first year I haven't watched the Olympics at all. I am so burned on only showing the medal rounds where the US has a chance. And then only in the "popular" sports. grumble grumble.Beth
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08-20-2008, 02:59 PM #10
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What makes me kind of chuckle is the different ways the medal count is displayed. Here in the US we have the countries ranked by total medals, putting the US on top. Of course, China has way more GOLD medals, although I do think it's worth noting that a lot of these golds came in sports where judging is involved.
I think Canada is also listing the total medal count, because they are higher on the list that way, while Great Britain is ranking by gold medals, which places them higher than total medal count.
The Olympic team structure is set up to promote nationalism, although I think anybody appreciates a transcendent performance no matter what country they come from. And a lot of the sports compete as national teams regularly (unlike cycling that has trade teams).
Imagine, though, if international competitions were about creating the best team, period. I wonder by how much a 4x100 freestyle relay team composed of Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak (both USA), Eamon Sullivan (AUS) and Alain Bernard (FRA) would crush the world record.
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08-20-2008, 04:09 PM #11
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One day, I think we'll accept that we're not the "happenin' place" we used to be... Originally Posted by ilima
If you don't grow where you're planted, you'll never BLOOM - Will Rogers
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08-20-2008, 07:59 PM #12
Ooh, shiny!
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You won't see *every* sport even if you watch all night. The only way to see Taekwondo, at least locally, is to watch online. But -- as far as I know, this is the first Olympics where I can actually view all the matches online. Sure, they still don't bother to provide commentary, but at least I can watch it. That thrills me.
When I heard about the 33 year old gymnast -- and saw her win a silver medal -- well. To me, that is way more amazing than a 41 year old swimmer. But I admit I don't know much about either sport.monique
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08-20-2008, 10:42 PM #13
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I was really happy to see the 33yo 'German' gymnast win the silver. Phenomenal.
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