Ever since I was a wee lad, I have enjoyed watching the pageantry and athletic competition of both the Winter and Summer Olympics. However, over the years, the coverage in this country has changed and this change has greatly dampened my enthusiasm.
When I was younger and the coverage was provided by ABC, the reporting seemed to be more balanced and even-handed. While, of course, US athletes were in the spotlight, athletes from other nations were highlighted as well. These days coverage more often resembles a grand exercise in nationalistic flag waving.
Most of this is borne of the typical media hype. Since most of the advertisers are US-based, we need to insure the advertisers are happy!! They don't want to see features on some Latvian speed skater or a skeleton crew from Japan. No, they want the cherubic faces of good 'ol American men and women.
From what I've read in several newspapers and on the internet, most of the athletes themselves embrace the international aspect of the games. Many of these guys and gals view their competitors -- regardless of which country one represents -- as members of their sport's fraternity. Many of them are great friends and travel the international circuits together.
Unlike many sports fans, I don't give a rip which nation scores the most medals. In fact, I often root for the underdogs -- particularly those athletes who are their nation's sole participant or athletes from countries that have never earned a medal before.
Most of all, I simply like to enjoy watching the competitors bask in the glow of competing in the Olympics. It's not so much about winning and losing; it's more about challenging oneself to do your best.
If a particular athlete skies their fastest time ever or accumulates the most points they ever have and yet he or she comes in dead last, that's a victory in and of itself. A medal should pale in comparison.
When I was younger and the coverage was provided by ABC, the reporting seemed to be more balanced and even-handed. While, of course, US athletes were in the spotlight, athletes from other nations were highlighted as well. These days coverage more often resembles a grand exercise in nationalistic flag waving.
Most of this is borne of the typical media hype. Since most of the advertisers are US-based, we need to insure the advertisers are happy!! They don't want to see features on some Latvian speed skater or a skeleton crew from Japan. No, they want the cherubic faces of good 'ol American men and women.
From what I've read in several newspapers and on the internet, most of the athletes themselves embrace the international aspect of the games. Many of these guys and gals view their competitors -- regardless of which country one represents -- as members of their sport's fraternity. Many of them are great friends and travel the international circuits together.
Unlike many sports fans, I don't give a rip which nation scores the most medals. In fact, I often root for the underdogs -- particularly those athletes who are their nation's sole participant or athletes from countries that have never earned a medal before.
Most of all, I simply like to enjoy watching the competitors bask in the glow of competing in the Olympics. It's not so much about winning and losing; it's more about challenging oneself to do your best.
If a particular athlete skies their fastest time ever or accumulates the most points they ever have and yet he or she comes in dead last, that's a victory in and of itself. A medal should pale in comparison.
I am sure the Madison Avenue marketing groups were trembling thinking Lindsay Vonn, the cute little American blonde skier might not be able to participate. Now that the events have been pushed back, it looks like she will and the cash registers are ca-chinging in their heads already as they figure out ways to market her and a gazillion products to the idol worshiping American public. I too have always rooted for the underdog..a backlash against the jingolistic flag-waving U.S. media coverage...
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