Reasons why I can't get into the Olympics anymore

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

don't you find biathlon to be somewhat militaristic?

No. Something can have a military-related origin without being militaristic.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

No. Something can have a military-related origin without being militaristic.

I suppose. Like archery. I don't like the guns, though, but I do NOT want to veer off into politics here. I just keep thinking of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War where a lot of men died doing what we spectate as a sport now. And what we may witness again if the Russians invade Ukraine.

[Déjà Bru]

If you are watching the Olympics, I am sure that you have seen this Visa commercial. The word that comes to my mind is "nightmare" and while I don't have the visceral reactions that these two people do, they both use the same word.

Does Anyone Get This Visa Olympic Commercial?
"What does this have to do with the Olympics? What does this have to do with a credit card? And OH MY GOD WHY WOULD ANYONE THINK A MILLION SKIERS ON A RUN IS FUN???? This looks like a nightmare scenario, not something we’d all enjoy."

Olympic Commercial Is Nightmare Fuel For Skiers & Snowboarders
"Are we supposed to enjoy the thought of the slopes being so crowded that you can’t even make a turn without close-lining a little girl learning how to pizza?! I mean, what the hell was VISA thinking?"

What's absurd about this commercial, aside from the ridiculously packed ski slope? Let's see: the reckless skiers zooming past the slow ones; the mixture of inappropriate sliding vehicles, from kayak to inner tube to bobled; the dog on skis; the daredevils doing acrobatic tricks in the midst of the mob; and, at one point, staring in the face of a madman.

I was thinking, yeah, this is what it will look like a couple of hundred years from now with population growth and way too much money in circulation. "Gotta have everything, gotta do everything, gotta spend lotsa money . . . using my VISA card, of course."

I don't even ski, and yet this ad is like a nightmare to me. If I saw this situation for real, I'd stay in the ski lodge and have a hot toddy. Even so, I'd be worried about the maniac crashing through the window.

[jumpSeat]

That's a good point about the Winter War. I was just thinking about the possible origin of the biathlon the other day, and I honestly never made the connection. But now that I've read these last few posts, it's starting to make sense. Glad I stopped by, and cheers for sharing your thoughts!

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by jumpSeat

That's a good point about the Winter War. I was just thinking about the possible origin of the biathlon the other day, and I honestly never made the connection. But now that I've read these last few posts, it's starting to make sense. Glad I stopped by, and cheers for sharing your thoughts!

Yeah, but I think too much.

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Yeah, but I think too much.

I'm glad you realize that!

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Yes, I don't want to be a weenie, and I appreciate the athleticism of the sport, but don't you find biathlon to be somewhat militaristic?

I suppose it is. However, while I don't particularly find biathlon to be compelling tv (though I do watch a bit of it as part of random Olympic viewing), if they added a tank competition, where they roll over things and blow things up - with elements of skill and strategy involved, of course - I'd watch

[Will_L]

I did biathlon long ago in college. It was fun but watching it on tv? No thanks, ski+ski+ski+bang+bang+bang=snore, snore, snore some more. ;-)

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

TBH I find snowboarding far, far more enjoyable to watch than the biathlon. YMMV I guess...

I'm shocked they even televised Biathlon. NBC avoided showing any shooting events for the summer games.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

If you are watching the Olympics, I am sure that you have seen this Visa commercial. The word that comes to my mind is "nightmare" and while I don't have the visceral reactions that these two people do, they both use the same word. ...

Because of your post, I paid attention to the commercial for the first time and, yes, it looks like a nightmare. I mean, the message is supposed to be uplifting, but the scenario doesn't look like fun at all, and the cinematography (is that the right word for a commercial?) seems kinda dark & dull; a weird contrast to what's supposed to be a nice message.

[rudel.dietrich]

Even without NHL players, I still fully plan on watching the hockey.
We have been enjoying the women's hockey so far. Even though every game the Swiss women have played looks like a DIII teams vs a full on pro team.
The women's side looks to be less competitive than the men's side (going off past results for the men) It looks to be Canada as overwhelming favorites, then behind them the USA, then way behind those two, the rest of the field. I don't even know who is bronze medal favorites. Sweden? Finland? No clue

I am excited for the men's tournament.

I also greatly enjoy curling. Don't think I would watch it as a seasonal sport, but every 2/4 years as a Olympic or World Championship sport, I do enjoy it as a lot.

Sadly, that is about it. I just can't find myself enjoying sports where the outcome is decided by judges.
The judges (when not corrupt) at experts in their sport, but I am not. I appreciate the skill behind the sport, but I can't really find myself being able to pick between different athletes performances unless they make an obvious mistake like falling down.

Now I do understand the irony of that, I am a fan of both boxing and MMA.
Both judged sports (unless a knockout/finish happens) and everyone knows how many problems boxing has with judging.
But I have watched boxing for such a long time, I can watch it and most of the time say 'that person won the round' and score it in my head.
Often I am mostly with the judges (unless it's just one of those horribly judged bouts)
I am getting to that point with MMA (and MMA has a higher rate of finishes)

I do not enjoy the Olympics as must as I did when I was a kid. But I do still find myself grabbed my certain events.
Last summer with the Tokyo games I watched more basketball than I care to admit, much of the track and field,
I watched a lot of the football. The 3 vs 3 basketball was new and a lot of fun.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

I also greatly enjoy curling. Don't think I would watch it as a seasonal sport, but every 2/4 years as a Olympic or World Championship sport, I do enjoy it as a lot.

Sadly, that is about it. I just can't find myself enjoying sports where the outcome is decided by judges.

I, too, enjoy curling... I think that perhaps the most exciting of any of the sports - new or traditional - is snowboard cross. No judging, just side-by-side (by-side-by-side) racing down a challenging course. No style points... I guess that's why I like pretty much all of the Alpine skiing events. Even though they are not racing side-by-side, it's all about fastest down the hill, nothing more.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by thehef

I, too, enjoy curling... I think that perhaps the most exciting of any of the sports - new or traditional - is snowboard cross. No judging, just side-by-side (by-side-by-side) racing down a challenging course. No style points... I guess that's why I like pretty much all of the Alpine skiing events. Even though they are not racing side-by-side, it's all about fastest down the hill, nothing more.

Yes, I'm watching that now. Pretty wild. Just saw one guy take a spill and take out another guy. First guy, no crying for him; he took a turn too sharp. Second guy, though, I feel sorry for; Olympic dreams dashed by a fallen body. They may have to make an adjustment for this unless it is considered a fair part of the luck.

[jumpSeat]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Even without NHL players, I still fully plan on watching the hockey...

I am excited for the men's tournament.

Can't say I was feeling it since the NHL pulled out, but I did happen to catch a highlight that caught my eye. Funny how a bone-crunching hit can fuel the excitement, and this one delivered big time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZPBsRHvmVo

[Reed]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Yes, I don't want to be a weenie, and I appreciate the athleticism of the sport, but don't you find biathlon to be somewhat militaristic?

Biathlon began as "an exercise for Norwegians as alternative training for the military. Norwegian skiing regiments organized military skiing contests in the 18th century, divided into four classes: shooting at mark while skiing at top speed, downhill race among trees, downhill race on big hills without falling, and a long race on flat ground while carrying a rifle and military pack."

After all, “Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the Olympic Truce resolution two years before every Games, unanimously calling for all hostilities to cease during the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world in the cause of peace.”

Just curious, how do you feel about boxing or wrestling and maybe a couple other sports? Don’t get me wrong, I think there are to many Olympic sports and if this one went away, it wouldn’t bother me because I don’t watch it.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Reed

Just curious, how do you feel about boxing or wrestling and maybe a couple other sports? Don’t get me wrong, I think there are to many Olympic sports and if this one went away, it wouldn’t bother me because I don’t watch it.

Since you asked, I think boxing (and even worse, mixed martial arts), are barbaric in that the intention is to actually physically injure your opponent. On the other hand, I find wrestling to be benign and much more of a sport than boxing or MMA.

So, to go back to what cephasjames said earlier, he is right; you can have a sport that had its origins in militaristic activities without itself being militaristic (or barbaric). Plenty of examples come to mind; we have already mentioned biathlon and archery. Fencing is another. There are Olympic judo/karate/taekwondo now, but they are based on points, not broken bones.

So while the rifles in biathlon make me uncomfortable, I recognize it as a sport. Where it crosses the line for me is when the object is to hurt your opponent. Boxing and MMA are in that basket and, frankly, football (American) and rugby are not far behind.

"Sport" is how it's defined, of course. Gladiator combat to the death was considered a sport at time. We'll see it again someday.

[Westheim]

All they need, locked into their cage while the crowd is screaming, are a mace and a morningstar and the games can go to the next level...

Nope, I prefer sports where players fight imaginary things like the Mendoza line!

[pilight]

The pommel horse in gymnastics has military origins. Technically the marathon does too.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by pilight

The pommel horse in gymnastics has military origins.

Challenge: Define and elaborate.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Challenge: Define and elaborate.

A modern pommel horse routine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWLOo6pPnqE


The pommel horse was originally developed in Macedonia under Alexander the Great for soldiers to practice quickly mounting and dismounting their horses. In that capacity it was later added to the Ancient Olympics.