I haven’t cared about the Olympics since high school, when my boyfriend and his family were big fans. I remember watching hours of it, but I don’t even remember whether it was summer or winter–spring or summer of 1996, probably? Anyone?
Maybe it’s because I’m the opposite of athletic, but the Olympics have never been a big deal for me. Sure, I’ll watch a good gymnastics routine if it’s on, and I enjoy some figure skating every now and again. But I haven’t watched one minute of it this year and I don’t plan to. But as I watch my Facebook friends talk about curling and snowboard crossing and Johnny Weir getting robbed, I start to wonder again if I’m missing something.
What about you? If you’re an Olympics fan, tell me why. If not, join my new club. I’ll be over here, watching Lost and wondering if they’re ever going to explain just one piece of this enormous mythology without adding on more layers of questions and mysteries first.
I never cared for the Olympics all that much, either. But this year, I’m watching a couple of hours a day. I don’t know why. Perhaps because it’s in my favorite city in the world?
Vancouver, right? Why is that your favorite city? Fun fact– I pierced the cartilage in my left ear during a stop in Vancouver on a cross-country road trip I took in graduate school!
I cared a lot about the Olympics in college but not since then, which means that I’ve been kind of out of the loop at lunch-table conversation this week!
I am in the club. I just don’t care! I mean, bully for them, I just don’t have a burning need to hear about it, or even a flickering need.
My most memorable Olympics were Winter when Oxana Baiul won and Kerrigan was injured and Harding threw her skate up on the judges table crying about her laces. I also remember a summer Olympics where Shannon Miller was a gymnist. I’ve never played sports or really liked sports, but for some reason, I enjoy watching Olympics. I like the personal stories. I remember a lot of stories of iceskaters/dancers. But I only watch a little here and there. I get bored with all the switching around of sports. I was so excited Lost was new and I had missed it last week, too, so I got to watch the rerun of that. So, is Jacob the good one? Is that boy Jacob? What’s going on!?
Yay, Kim! Come sit over here and we can continue to not care at all.
Lauren– Jacob is still semi-ambiguous, but yes, I think that boy was supposed to be Jacob. Which means that next episode something will come to completely confuse me in a whole new way!
WN: I have been nodding along when people mention it and so far that has been getting me by.
HUGE Olympics fan. Yes, I’ve always done physical things – ballet, boxing, kung fu – but I don’t think that’s why. One of they only good memories I have of my rotten father was watching ABC’s Wild World of Sports with him as a girl. But the real reason, I suppose, is because my Mom and I always watched the Olympics together – I’ve seen ‘em all since Montreal, I think – esp. figure skating and gymnastics. It was a ritual. Even though I seem like a sarcastic and unsentimental sort of person, which I am in many ways, deep down I get very affected by things that are Operatic. The Olympics, to me, are theater and a contest of wills and about mind over matter and true grit and even sometimes good! vs. evil! and all that good stuff, the stuff that some of the best classic stories have at their core. Now that my mom is gone, I find myself feeling close to her and daydreaming about her as I watch, and I realize that my tendency towards high drama does indeed have its place.
Trix: my mother and I have that kind of bond about the Oscars, always– that’s why I let my girls stay up late now to watch them and have special fancy snacks. I think it’s lovely that you can re-experience that connection every time the OIympics rolls around.
I’m not much interested (I feel benignly happy for all of those who are and think it all sounds great and all) but I got a kick out of the fact that my five-year-old watched it for hours today – would not tear herself away – where did that come from?
That’s sweet that you have that with your Mom & the Oscars. I love that you’re continuing the tradition with your girls. As politically incorrect as it may be, my mom and I also had that about the Miss America pageant. So there’s a contrast for you: Olympics and beauty pageants!