Do the Olympics still have meaning?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Talking about this at work, so I brought the discussion to FOFC.

Do the Olympics still have meaning?

Wide range of answers here in the office....from YES because it's still good TV, to NO because it's no longer about county or amateurism.

What say ye, FOFC?

[PackerFanatic]

I still enjoy them.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Talking about this at work, so I brought the discussion to FOFC.

Do the Olympics still have meaning?

Wide range of answers here in the office....from YES because it's still good TV, to NO because it's no longer about county or amateurism.

What say ye, FOFC?

My county can kick your county's ass!

[BYU 14]

I agree with a lot of the points that could be made about amateurism and in some cases not being as much about country, but it still has meaning IMO.

This showcases athletes in a lot of sports that get little to no exposure most of the time. Athletes that train hard and take their sport seriously and deserve at least a brief time in the limelight to reward all those hours they toil in obscurity.

Regarding the country aspect, I know for some it is now about the endorsements they can get for winning gold, but I believe many still take pride in representing their country and bringing home a medal. I think this is especially true in smaller countries, where Olympic athletes still become national heroes for winning a medal and entire towns/villages will shut down to watch a local athlete compete.

And I also find it good sport and enjoy watching many events I usually don't see much of (Bobsled, Ski jumping/racing, speed skating, etc) Hell two of my favorite moments in sports ever are still the run of the 1976 boxing team and the 1980 miracle on ice. Professionals take some of the patriotic cache out of Hockey now, but I still find Olympic Hockey very exciting.

[Lathum]

I really enjoy it. From the human interest stories to being able to watch obscure sports and pretend I know whats going on, its good TV for me.

[Alan T]

I think they do but different then when we grew up.

Growing up, I remember we always rooted for wins against U.S.S.R or East Germany or the other Eastern Block countries.

Now that same passion doesn't really exist, but I still watch non-stop Olympics when they are on, I just enjoy watching the sports. Most of these sports are on ESPN or other places throughout the year and I could care less about them, but when it is the Olympics, it feels different to me.

[PackerFanatic]

I also think its amazing to think of some of these athletes training for 4+ years JUST for this.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I really enjoy it. From the human interest stories to being able to watch obscure sports and pretend I know whats going on, its good TV for me.

Forgot to add the human interest part to my post. Saw that commercial about the twin sisters, where one gave up her spot to her sister, who was too sick at the trials to compete for a spot. Love that stuff and that got me misty eyed.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Professionals take some of the patriotic cache out of Hockey now, but I still find Olympic Hockey very exciting.

The olympic hockey tournament is one of the greatest sporting events going IMO. Almost every country has some superstar and it is often wide open. Olympic basketball on the other hand is a joke.

One of my favorite memories was in 2010 when it was USA- Canada in the finals, a bunch of us went to this big bar in Seattle, Spitfire Grill on 4th for those os us familiar. The place was packed, probaby 250-350 people and literally split down the middle US and Canada fans. Everyone had an amazing time yelling, cheering, etc.. and fans of both countries really embraced each other and enjoyed the event as a whole. Even though we lost was a great game and one of my all time favorite sports watching experiences.

[molson]

On the one hand it doesn't feel like as big deal, but now with multiple channels covering it, and the ability to watch any event online - maybe it's had a little bit of a resurgence. Like here at FOFC, we're (very generally), beer drinking football fans. Would guys like us have watched much of the winter Olympics in 1988? I think it was more of a prime time family event then, like everybody would watch a little Olympics instead of the Cosby Show or Perfect Strangers for two weeks. Now, I think people may actually get deeper into the sporting aspect, because there's so much access.

And I'm glad the amateurism angle isn't a thing anymore. Some countries have professional sports and some don't. In the Olympic amateur era, we had American teenage basketball and hockey amateurs against the very best U.S.S.R players. It's cleaner and more meaningful to just have everyone send their best. But, I'm not a fan of the practice of granting citizenship to athletes for Olympic purposes (like how most of the Georgian Olympic women's volleyball team are Brazilian.)

[Kodos]

I have trouble caring about sports that I regularly don't care about.

[Johnny93g]

They do in my house, and my friends are excited. I love the olympics, always try to watch as much as i can. Except figure skating, i hate figure skating.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

I also think its amazing to think of some of these athletes training for 4+ years JUST for this.

Some train hard for 4+ years just to have a shot to get to the Olympics...even if they have no shot at even competing for a medal. It is amazing dedication...

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Lathum

The olympic hockey tournament is one of the greatest sporting events going IMO. Almost every country has some superstar and it is often wide open. Olympic basketball on the other hand is a joke.

One of my favorite memories was in 2010 when it was USA- Canada in the finals, a bunch of us went to this big bar in Seattle, Spitfire Grill on 4th for those os us familiar. The place was packed, probaby 250-350 people and literally split down the middle US and Canada fans. Everyone had an amazing time yelling, cheering, etc.. and fans of both countries really embraced each other and enjoyed the event as a whole. Even though we lost was a great game and one of my all time favorite sports watching experiences.

Olympic hockey is so good!!! I don't care who is playing, the level of hockey is top notch. Best players in the world working their ass off, knowing ice time isn't guaranteed, sacrificing for the team. Can't wait!

[ISiddiqui]

Its still good sports. I haven't been an uber-patriot for quite some time, so I don't care if the US wins an event, I just want to see some good competition.

[Thomkal]

I need to qualify my vote. I voted for the No-the amateurism has been stripped away option. But my answer would be the yes, but that the amateurism has been stripped away has caused me to lose some interest in it. In most cases the Olympics used to be the main goal for the majority of athletes "back in the days" to me. Now its almost a sidebar to their professional careers and goals especially with the likes of basketball for example.

It just seemed more "pure" before they let the professional athletes in because it became a win at all costs contest, denying many amateur athletes in the bigger sports from competing in them at all. So I tend to like the smaller sports like curling and that crazy one where they ski around a course and then lay down and shoot at targets.

[claphamsa]

I hate the Olympics and wish they would go away. its a stupid justification to have people play silly sports, and takes away from the seasons of the real sports.

[ISiddiqui]

I'd much rather watch skiing or snowboarding (heck, even curling) than basketball.

[Suicane75]

Nothing means what it used to.

[Young Drachma]

For many sports, it's still the crowning achievement of their careers and there's simply no other showcase that would have the visibility for us to watch a bunch of sports that don't have much value globally other than in this format.

I think the whole purity thing is a scam, but...in the grand scheme of things, I think the exercise is worth it.

[TroyF]

I guess I have never understood the amateurism concerns about them.

When was the Olympics ever about amateurism? When we were sending our college kids to play professionals from other countries? (it's why the miracle on ice is so impressive, our kids beat professionals)

Do we expect a track athlete to throw away all of their earnings potential for 7 years so they can maybe win that one gold in that one Olympics?

And will other countries ever follow this? No. . . I just don't get it.

[molson]

I was reading about the Olympics and the amateur thing on wikipedia to see when that all changed, I guess it was gradual and somewhat in response to the Eastern Bloc countries paying athletes themselves instead of having private leagues, thus preserving the amateurism of their top athletes and giving them a huge advantage over other countries.

But it was also a natural evolution from the original concept of amateur athletics. A proper gentleman would be athletic, good at many sports, but good at lots of other stuff too. It would be considered "cheating" if someone spent all of their time on one specific sport. So the Olympics were intended to be a competition of those gentleman who were not career athletes. Those days are over.

And I really don't want to go back to stuff like this: "Swiss and Austrian skiers boycotted the 1936 Winter Olympics in support of their skiing teachers, who were not allowed to compete because they earned money with their sport and were thus considered professional".

[flere-imsaho]

Agree with Troy & molson on the amateurism thing.

[Critch]

The real Olympics still mean something, the Winter Olympics is still a pile of pointless fluff. Minority sports you only see every 4 years and dancing on ice that shouldnt be classed as a sport. Always been pointless and more so now that it's full of X-Games crap.

Other than the downhill skiing, obviously.

[sterlingice]

I know it's a cop out but: define "meaning". I guess there are individual moments (Jesse Owens) or grudge matches (Miracle on Ice) but it's not like every Olympics for 100 years ever had great significance. We have no current grudge (China's on their way up but not there yet). Perhaps we could see some civil rights event about gay rights but I'm arguably homosexuals have more rights now than African Americans in 1936 and Putin is no Hitler (he may want to be but doesn't have the capacity to do it).

A large enough segment of the population cares for it to be a communal event but pretty much the Super Bowl is the only thing that reaches even half the population in the US in a given year.


SI

[RomaGoth]

I would argue that very few of these athletes are actually amateur anymore. I don't agree with sending NHL players to the games either. As for the games themselves, I really don't pay much attention to any of it to be honest; not even the hockey does much for me anymore since you can see most of the players in any given NHL game. It's just not the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago.

[Ryan S]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

I don't agree with sending NHL players to the games either.

Olympic hockey is the only Olympic sport I have any interest in (summer or winter), but I think I would prefer a regular World Cup of Hockey that does not cause a mid season NHL shutdown.

[Grover]

I love the Winter Games much more than the summer games. Hockey is the best event in the Olympics, summer or winter. And I love Curling, the skiing events are fantastic. They have gotten a little too X-gamey for me, but I still enjoy it greatly.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Nothing means what it used to.

QFT

[JonInMiddleGA]

Like some of the other replies, I feel like I need to qualify my answer.

I went with Yes - 'murica ... but that's more theoretical than anything else at this point since I'm not exactly enamored with us as a country either. Hypothetically speaking that could change & I'd probably return to at least some previous level of nationalistic-based interest. As with most things these days, I usually end up finding myself faintly cheering whomever seems like the least offensive of the various options but at some point that becomes pretty tedious, moreso when most of the events involves sports I couldn't give less of a rat's ass about in the first place.

I'd have probably gone with No if there had been a nationalism related option there I guess (not that one was entirely necessary really).

[Butter]

Curling!

[bhlloy]

Maybe you all got spoiled with being the most successful country every four years? Cheering for Team GB is great as it's in the national psyche to expect to fail miserably and when we don't, it's a huge win!

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Like some of the other replies, I feel like I need to qualify my answer.

I went with Yes - 'murica ... but that's more theoretical than anything else at this point since I'm not exactly enamored with us as a country either. Hypothetically speaking that could change & I'd probably return to at least some previous level of nationalistic-based interest. As with most things these days, I usually end up finding myself faintly cheering whomever seems like the least offensive of the various options but at some point that becomes pretty tedious, moreso when most of the events involves sports I couldn't give less of a rat's ass about in the first place.

I'd have probably gone with No if there had been a nationalism related option there I guess (not that one was entirely necessary really).

I bet you are a lot of fun at parties.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

I bet you are a lot of fun at parties.

I largely avoid them, best I can.

Ironically, or at least coincidentally enough, I'm stuck with at least making an appearance at an SB party this year. That's about as "not my thing" as you're gonna find, but it's one of those virtually obligatory deals (since it's someone that's doing us a major favor in another aspect of life).

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

I bet you are a lot of fun at parties.

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I largely avoid them, best I can.

Ironically, or at least coincidentally enough, I'm stuck with at least making an appearance at an SB party this year. That's about as "not my thing" as you're gonna find, but it's one of those virtually obligatory deals (since it's someone that's doing us a major favor in another aspect of life).

I would actually love to down several adult beverages with Jon, then hope someone riled him up when he was tipsy

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

I would actually love to down several adult beverages with Jon, then hope someone riled him up when he was tipsy

Yeah this is what I was going for as well. Would be good times.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

I would actually love to down several adult beverages with Jon, then hope someone riled him up when he was tipsy

It ain't pretty

Since the thread seems lighthearted enough for a sidetrack to be okay, I'm actually pretty careful about when/where I have one too many. As a standing rule (pretty unusual for me to break too) I'll only do that in small gatherings where I know/trust the vast majority of the room OR publicly IF I have at least 1-2 people from a VERY short list with me (hell, at this point that list might be about one person long).

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

I would argue that very few of these athletes are actually amateur anymore. I don't agree with sending NHL players to the games either. As for the games themselves, I really don't pay much attention to any of it to be honest; not even the hockey does much for me anymore since you can see most of the players in any given NHL game. It's just not the same as it was 20 or 30 years ago.

Again, my question is when were they ever true amateurs? In the 1800's?

Let's remove hockey, basketball and the like from this equation.

The 800 meter runner is devoting themselves full time to winning a gold medal. They are a professional. You don't want that 800 meter runner to devote 100% of themselves to the track and be a true amateur? Want them to work full time, run a little on the weekends and compete in the US nationals while skipping the world circuit? Great. Just understand that other countries aren't going to do that and you can forget your countryman winning anything.

We haven't had true amateurs in our lifetimes unless you count the hockey and basketball kids in the US. Notice I said US, because in other parts of the world their basketball and hockey teams clearly were professionals.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Again, my question is when were they ever true amateurs? In the 1800's?

Well I'm sure there were no amateurs competing in the Olympics before 1896

[cartman]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Well I'm sure there were no amateurs competing in the Olympics before 1896

Those damn Victorians really knew how to work the system.

[AlexB]

I voted 'Yes, go England!' The last Olympics were obviously in London, and it did give the country a big lift and feelgood factor, seeing our athletes doing well on home soil, and our planners not cocking things up! TBH though the highlight for me, other than the 3 golds in half an hour, was the opening ceremony, which like a lot of the country changed me from an apathetic spectator to an invested flag waving fan.

London 2012 made huge difference to the national psyche here, and that in itself, if translated acorss other host nations, makes it worthwhile for me.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by TroyF

Again, my question is when were they ever true amateurs? In the 1800's?

Let's remove hockey, basketball and the like from this equation.

The 800 meter runner is devoting themselves full time to winning a gold medal. They are a professional. You don't want that 800 meter runner to devote 100% of themselves to the track and be a true amateur? Want them to work full time, run a little on the weekends and compete in the US nationals while skipping the world circuit? Great. Just understand that other countries aren't going to do that and you can forget your countryman winning anything.

We haven't had true amateurs in our lifetimes unless you count the hockey and basketball kids in the US. Notice I said US, because in other parts of the world their basketball and hockey teams clearly were professionals.

When I say amateurs, I am referring to people who are not paid for performing. They may do fundraising, they may have endorsements, but they are not actually being paid for their sport.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I really enjoy it. From the human interest stories to being able to watch obscure sports and pretend I know whats going on, its good TV for me.

+1

[cartman]

What other time can you say with a straight face you are a fan of biathletes?

[Suicane75]

I just tried, and I can't even do it now.

[Danny]

My option isn't there. I'd say yes, but definitely less than it used to

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by AlexB

I voted 'Yes, go England!'

They must have renamed the team, I missed that. Or are you just claiming the medals that English athletes actually won?

[stevew]

1.I really don't feel like the Winter Olympics are even close to as important as the Summer ones. Yet they continue to get the hype even though they are the Kid sister.
2. Fuck it, if we're doing this every two years alternating Winter and Summer, at least give me Spring and Fall Olympics in the in-between years. Move Swimming and basketball and some other things like Wrestling to the Fall Olympics. Move stuff like Equestrian and Hockey and Soccer to the Spring Olympics.
(this was a 2 second brief thought, so don't criticize two heavily if soccer is actually a "fall" sport)
3.Basketball should be an olympic winter sport. Put the NBA on hiatus like the NHL, even more ratings gold.
4. When are the important Ice Skating events, I'm totally not joking either.

[stevew]

dola-
Olympic basketball is not a joke anymore. Spain should be loaded for one more cycle and the Canadian team might be something in 6 years.

The bigger problem is that the US/Spain only end up playing 1 game for the gold. I would love for there to be a best of 3 or best of 5.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

They must have renamed the team, I missed that. Or are you just claiming the medals that English athletes actually won?

It was intentional - I'm patriotic about England rather than GB/UK, which just a handy back-up! But it was one of those summers when the likes of Andy Murray was British, unlike in the Australian Open when he was very much Scottish