I am a shameless Olympics junkie. Always have been. Every other year (since the Winter Olympics went to an alternate cycle and confused me), I embark on a marathon telly watch. Almost anything will be grist to my mill as I sit poised for the next event. Food, sleep, and work become things to be fitted in around the round robin section of lightweight judo or the kayak qualifying. Boxing, football and hockey bore me a bit, and luckily there is always enough of those sports to allow basic bodily needs to be tended to.
Not being the sporty type myself, I'm hugely in awe of anyone who is. My utter ignorance does not stop me from becoming an instant expert in rhythmic gymnastics. "Tsk, they'll lose points there" I mutter knowledgeably as a ribbon flutters slightly out of sync with other ribbons.
Since the UK is hosting this year, there are several other enjoyable treats in store. We lived in London for years, so a lot of the event venues are going to be familiar. Always fun. Having worked in Whitehall, the prospect of beach volleyball taking place in the hallowed grounds of Horseguards makes me giggle.
I'm also looking forward to the commentators wittering about Britain's medal tally. The BBC have somehow managed to snag Michael Johnson as a commentator and he is fantastic value. An over-excited Brit turns eagerly to Michael and asks what he thinks of our prospects in some athletic event. "Can he/she win gold?". Michael is always polite, but usually deflating, pointing out that the he/she in question will be lucky to make it to the final.
I do worry that there will be a tendency to swap away from someone about to set a world record in something in favour of watching a plucky home hope failing to fulfil their potential, but only time will tell.
Can't wait. Must fix telly.
I am super excited as well. I love the swimming and the running - absolutely amazing. We're lucky enough to be able to see a soccer match as part of the Olympics in Newcastle. Never been to either - soccer or Olympics!
ReplyDeleteWoah - we're practically neighbours. This I did not know.
DeleteThe Olympic torch will run PAST OUR HOUSE. I have no words for the ridiculous levels of excitement I have about this.
I shall pretend I didn't see the implication that we're too self-involved to care about a new world record being set, because up until then I completely agreed with you.
ReplyDeleteBring on the Games!
I'm basing this on previous years when the BBC has shown a tendency to do just that. "We'll be back shortly to follow X's attempts, but first, let's just cut across to the weightlifting, where Y is going for GB"
DeleteNice post Amanda. Good to see another Olympics fanatic.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be quite a popular topic for O.
DeleteHi Amanda .. good to see some Olympic supporters here - I think it's going to be a great summer - with the Jubilee too .. I've been lucky to have been to two Olympics! - one at 6m - when the Marathon came past our house on the way to Windsor ... and the the 1972 Olympics when I worked for them, and got taken out for a few days .. but I love watching - and must fix my aerial.
ReplyDeletePS - won't we by then be able to select what we want to watch? ...
Cheers Hilary
When I was on my high school and college track-and-field teams, I watched the Summer Games religiously, but now there're only a handful of sports - fencing, baseball, cycling, sculling, volleyball - that I really look forward to watching.
ReplyDeleteAlso, by the time the Summer Games kick-off, I've spent three weeks of watching four to six hours of daily Tour de France coverage, so I'm a little glassy-eyed anyway.
It is very exciting to be the host country - I missed the Los Angeles games as I moved back east that summer, but Salt Lake City was a blast.
Tour de France on top of the Olympics might well be a bit intense. Speaking of which, apparantly there is some talk of using the Dales for a Tour section, but I don't know how far that's got. Or if it's even likely.
DeleteThe Tour opened in London in 2007, so it's entirely possible they'll be back in the UK in the future.
DeleteThis year the Tour opens in Liège - Belgian bike fans are crazy, so it should be fun.
I'm a huge fan of the winter games for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy wife is a total Olympics junkie also. I'm relegated to the other TV's when they're going on! :)
ReplyDeleteActually, two of the items on my mental "bucket-list" are attending the Olympics and visiting London, so this would be the perfect year. :)
ReplyDeleteAlas, I'll have to live it vicariously through the television.
I love the ice skaters best. Always have.
ReplyDeleteI love the Olympics. Unfortunately, Aussie TV only shows Aussie competitors, so we get to watch the first round of the men's polo instead of Ursain Bolt running 9.69 in the 100m. It's really frustrating. The BBC never used to do that, so it's sad that they do nowadays. But then, back in the day when the British struggled to get three gold medals in the Games, if they'd only shown the great Brit hopefuls there'd have been no coverage. Gymnastics is my favourite.
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