Reply #19: I enjoy the Olympics [View All]

mostly because I enjoy individual sports like track & field and gymnastics. So I get to indulge that every four years.

I think international activities like the Olympics are important for international good will and community, even if they come off imperfectly.

Whatever the diplomatic fallout from this time around, I really hope they don't punish the athaletes by cancelling the games. For so many of them, it's a one shot deal.

I think it's already happended and continues to that China won't get its PR Gold Star out of it. Whatever they decide to do, they now know that people all over the world, everyday people, not just governments and heads of state they can get pissy with, don't approve of their actions on the world stage. They have the choice of either moderating, or closing off again. We'll see which they choose to do in the months and years ahead.

I do deplore that the games have become soo BIG. That the host nations now have to pony up so much money to pour into new facilities. You shouldn't have to run up a deficit that will take a generation to pay off just to host the games. And I agree it's a disincentive for poorer nations to want to try to host.

I like the idea of the C-Span like coverage. With the american coverage there is way too much face time for the hosts/spokesmodels, and not nearly enough of the competitions. I want to see it live. We all have Tivo or something like it now, no reason to delay coverage to prime time.