So, I have a couple of things to say about the Winter Olympics.
First, I think that it is ridiculous that despite watching figure skating for more than two full evenings of viewership, I still could not begin to describe the scoring. More importantly, how is it possible that people train literally to the expense of everything for their entire lives - some times 20 straight years. And yet, when it comes to the Olympic finals, the key is essentially to look happy, not fall and have a nice backstory. That's a ridiculous sport.
Second, I find snowboard cross to be a particularly compelling sport. I have no idea whether it is hard or not, if its fun or not, but I love the direct competition in the race. I also love that the people seem to have fun while participating and that it appears that while the people are all from Vermont or BC, they seem to be regular people that have excelled over time - not sacrificed their life before they could make a real decision. 10 year old girls should not be making lifelong decisions about spending 14 hours, 7 days a week working towards something. So, I like it a lot more than skating. As Pickles said, so what do you do after you have sacrificed your whole life and not won...oops.
Finally, I have watched portions of virtually every Olympics since 1980. And, I find that my fondest memories are from odd ones - Seoul, Barcelona and Sarajevo. Why, I have no idea. I remember watching the downhill in a snowstorm in Sarajevo while playing on the orange shag carpet in Timmerman's basement when I was 8. I remember the cobblestone and the architectural pictures of Barcelona. I can't tell you a single moment from the sports in 1992 - just discovering the existence of a Catalonian distaste for Spaniards. I simply had no idea and found the cultural parts of this Olympics to be awesome. Thus, I still strongly desire to visit Barcelona. Lastly, I remember Seoul. I remember Ben Johnson failing his drug test and Greg Louganis having HIV and hitting his head on the board.
So, when I watch the Olympics in Vancouver. I'll probably remember the luging death and the problems with the execution. This is horrible and unfortunate - but I think it reflects a new found realization of event execution. In addition, name a sport in the Summer Olympics that people regularly die doing. Luge, skeleton, skiing, snowboarding are all dangerous. People get horribly injured doing these things - not from outside influence (cyclists and cars for example) - but by simply failing to perform - world class athletes die. This is not just drunk people doing stupid things - this is world class people performing at the highest level and not just having an accident - but horrible ones that cause death.
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The winter Olympics have always been more dangerous than the summer. Come now the "safest" sport is probably curling and it is played on ice. Otherwise people are seeing how fast they can go on what is really polished knives, sleds (head and foot first, one, two or four person) that reach 90 mph, skis/snowboards on pure ice or then there is skiing and shooting, and finally there are those who try to fly (on skis, snowboards, and skates). But frankly, winter sports have an element of danger ingrained into their very being. Even "ordinary" people can be seriously injured or killed at "ordinary" speeds. Ice is slick, snow is slick and cold. Control is difficult under the best circumstances. Winter sports have an element of speed that is more difficult to attain in the summer sports, except for when riding bicycles (and yes there are deaths there without being hit by a car both on the track and on the road---crashes can be horrible).
ReplyDeleteI think Olympians are not much different than any other athlete at that level. You can't tell me that the professional futball (soccer) players didn't start "training" at 10y. Most of the best athletes at the olympic level have been skiing, skating, or snowboarding since they were able to walk (even the snowboard cross). It is just they do this instead of basketball or soccer or baseball or play the other sports during the summer. Let us just say there is a whole lot of cycling going on during off season.
Frankly, I love the Olympics (summer or winter), the competition, the "thrill of victory, and agony of defeat". The nice thing about the winter Olympics though, is I can actually watch the sports I really enjoy, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and speed skating (the long not short form). There is just less of a glut of events. My earliest olympic memory is Eric Heiden (and the miracle on ice). I am sorry you focus on the negative. Terrible as Kodar's death is, and he must be mourned, and less importantly, the "glitches", don't lose sight of the successes and the surprises and celebrate the competition and honor a group of athletes who are trying their best since, although some will win medals, most are competing more against themselves and wish to represent their countries with honor.