Do a LOT of people REALLY pay attention to the Olympics?

[napi21]

The media keeps saying that both candidates will announce their VP pics before the Olympics because so many people will be interested in the sports and not politics. I personally don't pay much attention to the Olympics. My sport if Pro Football, and even then, I only pay attention to a few teams. I honestly haven't heard ANYBODY talking about eagerly awaiting the Olympics to begin, or rah rah cheering for a certain sport or group of sports. Is the media pushing their coverage of the Olympics, or are there REALLY that many people who care a lot?

[niceypoo]

1. Yes

The Olympics are da BOMB!

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I think so

It's an American Idol kind of pastime.

[begin_within]

3. Just watch it for the fireworks on the opening and closing ceremonies

They did a "dress rehearsal" of the fireworks and the light shows on July 16th:

http://www.fireworkstown.com/NewsDtls.asp?Id=2970

[DesertRat]

4. Yes, I think so.

Our family and friends are looking forward to it.

[beyurslf]

5. I know many people looking forward to it, and planning on dvr'ing the parts

they want to watch.
I also think it is a time when lots of people feel like politics should take a back burner, because the Olympics is a time of world unity.

[napi21]

6. OK, I guess it's just me. Thanks. n/t

[Journeyman]

7. Well, the media will certainly pay it considerable attention . . .

and that, after all, is what the majority of Americans will concede to be the day's big news.

[Warpy]

8. I might watch the opening ceremonies

but only because I get CCTV9, the Chinese English language station, on my Direct TV.

If they hire some yappers to screw it all up, then forget it, I'll tune out.

I know US TV will have blow dried bobbleheads blabbing all through them and rendering them unwatchable.

[Clear Blue Sky]

9. We'll have it on in the background.

Watching only if there is something interesting going on.

[Catch22Dem]

10. Absolutely!

Although I'm a MUCH bigger fan of the Winter Games, I'll tune into this year's games for several events.

I truly enjoy it.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Women's Beach Volleyball

It's one of the rare international "events" that truly is international thus billions pay attention and thus why its such a big deal. Then there's the nationalism aspect...USA, USA, USA...always a feel good thing when the "good guy" wins...bad over evil and all that. Or for some other countires it's having a world showcase and getting a little love and respect in the process. Lastly there's the commercial games...billions in promoting and marketing. It's become a worldwide reality show.

I'll probably watch a good share of what's going on out of mere curiosity and since there isn't much else to watch. I also think it'll be a good vacation from the political bobbleheads; considering what follows will be the convention then the "home stretch". Sounds like a good time for others to take a breather as well.

[Greybnk48]

12. Yes. We'll watch almost every minute of it

thanks to TIVO.

[bluedeminredstate]

13. Back in '92

I had my son a couple days before the Olympics started. My husband spent two weeks with the baby in his arms glued to the TV watching every event that was televised. I swore I'd never watch the games again, but every 2 years - winter and summer - my husband lays in supplies of snacks and hunkers down for the duration. He'd be crushed if for some reason he couldn't watch.

[Booster]

14. Absolutely. I was privileged to work on the 1984 Olympics in

L.A. My shift was the overnight shift, which is grueling enough, but we got free tickets to the events and my friend and I attended as many events as we could during the day and at night before I went to work. It's the stories behind the competitors (from all countries) that I find most interesting, and, of course when an American wins I admit to standing up in my living room and cheering like crazy. You have to appreciate how much sweat and blood those people put into whatever sport they are competing in, and what they and their families sacrifice to get them there. The icing on the cake was almost all of us in the engineering dept won an Emmy for our work and that is a feeling that no one can ever take from you. The Olympics brings the world together and that is always a good thing (except for Munich, of course). I will be watching as much as I can and cheering on these wonderful people from all over the world.

[spanone]

15. oh yeah....

[CanonRay]

16. I hate NBC's coverage, so I watch very little, if any.

I used to love it when I was a kid, but then they covered WHOLE events. Like a whole 100m dash, including heats. Much different coverage.

[KansDem]

17. The "What?"

:shrug:

An afterthought: I was a pole vaulter in high school so naturally I was interested in this event at the Olympics. But TeeVee coverage of field events in general and pole vaulting in particular is so piss-poor that I gave up on watching it.

Plus, Bob Seagren's raw deal at the 1972 Munich Olympics turned me off from ever watching the Olympics again...

[Bluebear]

18. I have always loved the Olympics

More winter than summer, but you get to see sports you only see every four years. Sue me :)

[Sanctified]

19. The Olympics have been serious business in my family since I was a kid.

Something about the best in the world all coming together to compete has always drawn me to it.

[Clark2008]

20. No.

I'm with you - I haven't heard anyone talking about the Olympics, much less eagerly awaiting them.