Congrats on the Olympics!

[stickyvicky]

I was sooooo busy I got to watch like 5 min of this! But heard lotsa congrats were in order!

Norway #1 with 39 medals? Germany came in second with 31 total medals and 14 gold medals, and Canada finished in third with 29 medals, 11 of which were gold. After a number of historic wins for the United States late in the Games, Team USA finished fourth with 23 total medals, including nine golds!!! Then I think Netherlands after that?

[WalterB]

I didn't watch any of it. Just couldn't get interested this time around.

[stickyvicky]

There did seem to be less interest everywhere, i remember previous years, it was on everywhere you went, restaurants, nail salon, couldn't get away from it... but this year no one seemed to care as much? Seems like every year there is less interest? Do you think th location had anything to do with it? I remember when it was only every 4 years, and it was a HUGE deal! Do you think because it's on every 2 years now that is why?

[WalterB]

The location didn't bother me. In fact, if all that has been said about North Korea actually results in NK coming to their senses and calming down the rhetoric and joining a peaceful and progressive world, I'd say it was all worth it. But, in actual practice, I don't really see that happening.

They want to add basketball. I don't see that as an Olympic sport, either. That will cause my interest to wane even more.

I think, in my case, part of it might be that I like summer events more than winter. I remember when it came to LA. The Torch runner ran right past where I worked, along with all the helicopters and police presence. Then, while watching it on TV, I realized "Gee, that's actually happening about 2 miles from here." But I think generally, I like the Summer Games more.

[PeterL22]

To be honest I hate Olympics - both summer and winter!
It has lost the plot - no real amateur competitors competing just to take part.
The only good bit was the North and South Koreans competing together in the Women's Ice Hockey!
Who remembers Eddie The Eagle - the plasterer from Cheltenham who had a go in 1988 - that's what the Olympics SHOULD be about!

[Redd44]

I enjoy the Olympics very much. What I don't enjoy is the fact that we are at the mercy of the television network which is airing them. Granted, since they were in South Korea, the broadcasts were obviously not live. Why do they have to wait 2 or 3 hours between rounds or runs of an event? If the event isn't live there is no reason why they can't air the entire event at once. Secondly I think the Olympics need to get there shit together and return the competition to what it is meant to be....amateur athletes competing for their countries.

[PeterL22]

I must admit, I'm more tempted to watch the paralympics this winter - the British Flagbearer is a one-legged snowboarder - WTF??

[Connie]

To be honest I hate Olympics - both summer and winter!
It has lost the plot - no real amateur competitors competing just to take part.
The only good bit was the North and South Koreans competing together in the Women's Ice Hockey!
Who remembers Eddie The Eagle - the plasterer from Cheltenham who had a go in 1988 - that's what the Olympics SHOULD be about!

Oh Peter not many of us understand the time and commitment and the lack of funding that most of these athletes go through just to qualify to go to the Olympics.
I can remember when I was training to run in a marathon with Mike. I had to train by myself and at each stage of getting closer to the required distant you start felling like I can do this. None of it comes easy, it is all time away from the family sore legs or even scrapes and scratches from falling over things on your path that you don't even see because you are running in the dark. My knees started to break down because I was so determined to run that I didn't eat enough after working 8 hours ( on cement floors) and then go running for at least 5k on cement pathways. When I was told once (I was at 18k) that I was doing my body more damage then good, and that I MUST stop running I was devastated. Not because I was thinking I was ever going to be going to the Olympics but that I couldn't run along side of my husband and be part of something he enjoys. I ended up with fluid on my knees and so for the next few months every step I took was a reminder of how much damage I did.
I look at all these athletes with a feeling of "they are so lucky " to be able to fulfill there dreams. Some of us aren't that lucky.

[WalterB]

Absolutely, Connie. It tales determination and dedication for these athletes to do what they do, and get as good as they get. I can't say anything because I never put forth the effort. I admire you for giving it a shot. Good for you!

[PeterL22]

To be honest I hate Olympics - both summer and winter!
It has lost the plot - no real amateur competitors competing just to take part.
The only good bit was the North and South Koreans competing together in the Women's Ice Hockey!
Who remembers Eddie The Eagle - the plasterer from Cheltenham who had a go in 1988 - that's what the Olympics SHOULD be about!

Oh Peter not many of us understand the time and commitment and the lack of funding that most of these athletes go through just to qualify to go to the Olympics.
I can remember when I was training to run in a marathon with Mike. I had to train by myself and at each stage of getting closer to the required distant you start felling like I can do this. None of it comes easy, it is all time away from the family sore legs or even scrapes and scratches from falling over things on your path that you don't even see because you are running in the dark. My knees started to break down because I was so determined to run that I didn't eat enough after working 8 hours ( on cement floors) and then go running for at least 5k on cement pathways. When I was told once (I was at 18k) that I was doing my body more damage then good, and that I MUST stop running I was devastated. Not because I was thinking I was ever going to be going to the Olympics but that I couldn't run along side of my husband and be part of something he enjoys. I ended up with fluid on my knees and so for the next few months every step I took was a reminder of how much damage I did.
I look at all these athletes with a feeling of "they are so lucky " to be able to fulfill there dreams. Some of us aren't that lucky.

I suppose Connie, my biggest issue is the Olympics (Summer & Winter - possibly winter to a less extent), isn't about real people striving and trying to achieve their best. It's about PROFESSIONAL athletes who are not only helped by their National Olympic Organisations (even here where very few people ski more than 1 week a year on holiday) and also commercial sponsors. The Summer Olympics are worse where top athletes - from UK Mo Farrah, Bradley Wiggins (what a cheat he is) etc all make a very good living out of it. If it was truly amateur and these guys held down regular jobs (like you & me) I would be more interested. They have even set the qualifying times etc so high that the likes of Eddie Edwards and that ?Nigerian swimmer (?Eric the Eel) can't qualify. Then you add the drugs cheats - the Russians who cheated even when being allowed to compete in South Korea after their nation was banned for persistent organised doping. It is not what the Olympics was meant to be about.