Sunday, February 9, 2014

Some Olympic Thoughts

After being plagued by one negative story after another, I’m relieved that the 2014 Winter Olympics got off to a relatively good start on Friday. 

First there was the Russian anti-gay laws that sparked controversy.  I can’t even imagine the kind of fear and sadness the athletes felt after that news broke.  The media was all over it, rightly so, but I was a bit worried that it would be the bigger story over the Games, the athletes, themselves. So far so good though, even after two IOC officials asked world leaders to be respectful of the Games’ diverse participants.  This Canadian commercial was released the night before the games started, poking fun at Russia’s silly laws.  It makes me giggle… 

Shortly after the anti-gay concern, there were threats made against the families of the Olympic athletes.  Some turned out to be a hoax, but again, I would imagine that would rattle an athlete or two.  Sochi has piled on the security (like they do at all the Games).

Unfinished sleeping quarters, yellow water, stray dogs, and surveillance has led the news in the last few days.  One athlete almost fell down the elevator shaft of an unfinished elevator and another had to break out of the bathroom – my favorite story thus far.  Whatever the logistical problems have been Sochi isn’t the first Olympic Games that have had them. 

As with most of our media coverage, we are hounded with negative stories (even minute details), but this year’s pre-Olympic coverage seemed to find the negative much more than the norm.  I wonder if the Games being in Russia and the underlying tone of distaste for Putin comes into play with the media coverage.  Interestingly enough, since the games started yesterday the problems seem to have been pushed aside for more favorable Games’ news…like the actual events and athletes.  Imagine that!

As I’ve mentioned in the past, the television coverage irritates me when the Games are across the world.  The time difference makes watching anything before the results are announced on the news difficult.  The color commentary they show also heavily outweighs the actual events shown.  I just want to watch them compete already.  I’ve been watching the coverage for about two hours now and have only seen two snowboarders go and two ice dancer couples go – waiting for the US couple to go so I can get to bed. 

I am loving the graphics/logos at this years Games.  The prints, patterns, the colors!  Wow!  They’ve taken traditional Russian designs and put a modern spin on them. 

Are you watching?

14 comments:

  1. I'm finding it very hard to get a good run at any one sport. I catch a bit and then there seems to be a hiatus then I cannot seem to find the follow-on bit. Plus things seem to be going at an amazing clip.
    If ever you needed to explain cognitive dissonance the true joy of watching amazing sports-people while gleefully hoping they will use their chin/nose/backside as a brake will do it.

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    1. Ha, yes, so many of the winter sports are very much that way aren't they. More so than the summer I think. I found it interesting that many of the competitors are just coming off the X Games, which is saying something I think.
      Yes, I don't like that hiatus business one bit either. I guess if you want to get an overall feel for the day, the coverage is great, but it'd be nice to see a resemblance of an event from start to finish. It's probably hard with the number of events and athletes. Last night in the ice skating only the top 3 were shown...again a nice overview but not a true representation of the event.
      I look forward to the hockey tournament which starts later this week, but the live games are at 4am and tv coverage is while I'm at work. :(

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    2. In fairness to the summer games there is something life-affirming when a horse throws out the anchors before an huge oxer and physics takes over sending the passenger somersaulting into the crossbars.
      Ice hockey eh.

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    3. Hmmmm, I don't know if I'd call it life affirming - life flashing before your eyes maybe. :)

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    4. Tiz if you aren't the one being tossed. :-D

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    5. Heh heh, yah, that makes a world of difference, doesn't it. I cringe when I watch someone do that, that muscle memory thing. Not to say that the falling doesn't add to the excitement of watching, but it still makes me gasp...watching anyone take a bad fall, in any sport.

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  2. DD1 does not have a TV so I am only able to keep up with the headlines. I am not as taken with them as I use to be. I am enjoying the CA weather and Mr BC went home to snow.

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    1. Oh, I like the Mr.'s back to the snow idea. I'm sure you are enjoying the weather. I am not...it's forecasted to be back in the 80s again later this week. Blah...

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  3. I'm watching the Olympics...while doing other things. I enjoy the games, but so much talk...ugh!

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    1. Yes! I agree. The commentators don't stop talking, ever! I haven't been able to just sit and watch them, even if I had the time I'd be so irritated not ever knowing how they finish. I'm too impatient to wait hours for them to come back to the event I was watching. It's a lot of work to watch the Olympics isn't it. :)

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  4. we haven't had the chance to catch a single minute of the games this time.

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  5. Loved that video clip!! Too funny :)
    As for coverage...all you have to do is leave the country to get coverage...Canada was good...New Zealand was better...3 channels and no commercials!

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  6. I am not watching. I did see the opening game sweaters thought and all I could think was that I would totally wear one of those to an Ugly Sweater Party! : )

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