Despite the radio news about protesters and the dense smog, I can’t help being ever so excited about the Olympic Games. This is one example of a time when I wish that we had a TV – perhaps one of those big screen high definition ones… Luckily, however, we can muddle along by watching from the bbc news site. And I spent the better part of this afternoon watching the men’s gymnastics.
This year, the Mind Sport Olympiad is going to be held more-or-less at the same time as Olympics, and while it is not as exciting or prestigious it does have the “advantage” that those of us geeky-games-players in London can take part in it. I am planning to play (read: “be squashed like a bug”) in the Scrabble on Saturday and Azacru the weekend after, and Alain is taking 2 weeks off to play “a lot” which includes some Chess, Chinese Chess, Go, Entropy and lots of Poker!
I agree with you, Bronwen-I love watching and following the Olympics. About a month ago, I finally splurged and got digital TV, along with wireless internet. I have my grandmother’s old television set, which works fine with the U-verse (my city is a test market for AT&T). I go through phases of guilt about the digital TV, but after watching beach volleyball, swimming, and the cycling road race this afternoon, I’m ditching the guilt for good. I enjoy watching most of the sports, and I can record the events I miss while I’m at work. There are so many interesting stories from around the world – for example, the oldest athlete is the 67 yo equestrian from Japan, Hoketsu, competing in dressage. Amazing! I’ll be happy if I can still ride non-competitively at that age.
I’m a huge Olympics fan. Would any NNers like to join my pool? Bragging rights based on medals per head of population…
I’m boycotting this one.
One Finnish offcial delegate, the Finnish documentary filmmmaker Arto Halonen, wasn’t granted access because he had been critical of China.
As products of democratic thought and freedom you have to draw a line somewhere.
And that’s here.
I’m with you on that, Mark.
It seems a shame to boycott the hopes and dreams, not to mention the amazing physical achievements, of the participants…
Krist: Competing at 67 is amazing! I was rather impressed by the 35-year old gymnast from Bulgaria: Yovchev, but he is a spring-chicken in comparison.
Cath: Relating to your blog post – I heard on the radio that this guy, Daniel Johnson had done some work on economic predictors of the medal outcome. On the radio I think that they said that after the appropriate corrections were made, Australia gave the best performance in Athens…
Bronwen: Dara Torres helped her team win silver in the women’s 4 × 100 freestyle relay, and she’s 41. That’s ancient, for a swimmer at that level; she even refers to herself as the “old lady” of the team.
Mark: I respect your decision, and of course you have a valid point about democratic thought. However, from my perspective I can’t see boycotting the Olympics, without applying the boycott to other aspects of my life (which could potentially offend and hurt people I know). And perhaps you do apply the boycott across the board-I just couldn’t do so myself. Too much of a sticky wicket, to use a sports metaphor.
Basically Bronwen, the whole thing is a propaganda exercise. Maybe there’s more coverage of the horrific human rights abuses in Australia because we have a large Chinese population?
And let’s not even talk about whether ‘hopes and dreams’ are what we should be talking about, in the context of 14 year old gymnasts (who get one shot at a medal and then… what?).
@Bronwen
I’m sure the participants can do their amazing achievements somewhere else as well.
Let’s just make an analogy with science:
Should we endorse a scientific study that uses human subjects in an unethical manner because the results will be amazing (and profitable)?
I say no.
Oh yes! Defintely. I’m always up for a bit of illegal himan vivisection…I think we might be stretching the analogy here bit y’know. Did you boycott the Atlanta games too? Or would you now because of GitMo and The Patriot Act? Death row inmates being disproportionaly black and ill-educated? Do you refuse to buy products made in China?
I saw hoorah for the Olympics, and I hope, naively I’m sure, that this might be the start of something in China…perhaps the glare of the international spotlight will combine with the thrill of being on TV, as it were, and we’ll see some changes.
There are indeed other fora for these athletes to compete, but nothing like the world stage of the Olympics. So say good luck to them all, and I wil be watching and loving every minute. Especially when the Mens 4×100m swim team beats the naughty French by 8/100s of a second to claim another Gold.
Ian: The French relay team was indeed rather naughty, in the style of those in the castle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Fetchez la vache!
I really don’t know what individuals choosing not to watch the Olympics will accomplish. I’m not trying to pick a fight here, I genuinely don’t get it. Will lower than expected viewing figures really send a meaningful message to the Chinese government? The games have already started and the sponsorship and advertising dollars are already in. Disappointing viewership will only hurt the next games, in London.
It’s like the people here in Vancouver who are still protesting the Winter Olympics coming here in 2010, vandalising the countdown clock etc. It’s a done deal so why not just try to make the most of it? Maybe by organising peaceful protests about First Nations land rights and healthcare funding for when the games are here?
The time to protest is when the venue is not yet set. I think that writing to the IOC before Beijing was chosen might have done more than just choosing not to watch now. Boycotting all Chinese-made goods – and letting people know why you’re doing it – is also a better way to send your message to the Chinese government in a way that’s actually meaningful to them. But of course that also hurts the Chinese people – who are not synonymous with their government and who are apparently getting behind the games 100%.
There was a big Olympic celebration in Vancouver’s Chinatown yesterday – I would have loved to join in but had to cycle on past on our way to another commitment.
La vache?!
:)
I didn’t watch Atlanta either no. I also don’t go to scientific conferences and meetings in the USA any more.
What I attempt to achieve by not watching is to be true to myself and my moral standards. It’s reason enough. I don’t need approval of other people. I have to live with myself after all. And with other human beings.
Well good for you mate, and I really mean that sincerely. Actually having the courage of one’s convictions is depressingly rare.
I’m generally impartial to sport other than having a mollifying interest in a certain football team here in Glasgow, oh and of course, good sports people generally.
Chew on this
—
My source “Amjit my trusty shopkeeper":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLXyC1cuN3M informed me that Timo Hannay is already gearing up for the 2012 Olympics in London but was unable to disclose the event(s) he’s considering entering for reasons that they could not discuss at this juncture.
Now back to the Games.
I was not aware of this new event until fairly recently.
Whatever next?