The Winter Olympics -Are You Going to Watch It?-

[Arwyn]

This Friday will begin the Olympics dedicated to nearly every winter sport except snow ball fights.
Will you be watching every event that will be held at the Olympics?
Will you be watching only events you like?
Or
Will you be doing something else because the Olympics just don't interest you?

Me..I'll be doing something else.

I'm really not interested in any of the sports held during the Winter Olympics and if it wasn't for the Verizon ads touting that their sponsors and my local cable channel touting what good deals you can get to watch the Olympics, are you Vancouvered?, I wouldn't even know they were starting this Friday.

Now if Snow Ball Fights where a real event or some really over the top scandal were involved (like the Harding-Kerrigan Incident) I would watch it.

[Vephriel]

*bashes head against desk repeatedly*

I'm not a sports person.

Okay, so I'm originally from Vancouver (well, technically I'm originally from Ontario, but that was where I was born, I've lived in BC the longest).

Anyways, when my boyfriend and I moved out to Edmonton a few years ago we were relieved because we would get to miss the chaos and insanity that the Olympics would bring to our home town which is a busy location right near Vancouver.

Usually on our birthdays and for holidays we'll go back to BC to visit our friends and family. My birthday's tomorrow, so I've got a flight set for next week to head home for a bit.

Yeah. Guess what? Right smack dab in the middle of Olympics. So after years of rejoicing over missing it, I end up back there whether I like it or not. T_T

[Saturo]

Nope, can't say that I'll watch it. I'm just not interested.

[Karathyriel]

No way!
I hate most sports and I hate winter. I hate snow and ice.
And the Olympics are, in my opinion, only a test of whose got the best untraceable doping drugs or if the officials got the better test this time.
It is more about politics ten it is about sports.

If the games are there, we're not gonna compete... If they come, we won't...
Wasn't it all about forgetting that crap and have a peaceful contest?

It's like the pope thowing out some blessings to starving africans while the golden cross around his neck could feed them all for about 3 years... Hypocrites!

[Gala]

nope. never cared for them.

[Nikrosnil]

I know many others won't be, But I for one will be watching. My favourite sports include skiing and snowboarding, as I have done both from a very young age. Norway also participates, and, being Norwegian, I gotta support my country! I'm very proud to be Norwegian, no matter what anyone says.

[Saturo]

Pfhh... Norway...

You should hear some of the jokes we swedes have about you guys.

Or maybe you shouldn't... Actually, just forget what I just wrote.

[Vephriel]

I <3 Norway because they give us epic black metal.

[Nikrosnil]

Saturo is a SWEDISH gnome? Pssh, We have just as many jokes about you guys. xD

Honestly though, I agree the Norwegian stereotype unfortunately exists. Too many don't like the idea of others doing better than anyone else, and they're a little too proud. I was brought up in England though, so I luckily didn't get any of those traits. ^^

I'm also an eighth DANISH. I bet you like me even less now. xD

Vephriel: Lol. ^^

[Aleu]

Likely no. I never really cared for Olympics. I only ever watch the Equestrian during the Summer Olympics. Other then that, they're just little games were countries can yell at each other that their athletes are the best. =P

In other words... It's pointless. XD

[Dulanie]

What I don't understand is that since they are based on the ancient games held near Olympus in Greece why aren't they held in the same way?

[Saturo]

Probably the same reason as Christmas, Valentines Day and the like. Commercial income.

[Dragonpuff]

Being Canadian, I've been bombarded with alot of Pro-Olympic stuff over the past year. While I usually don't care very much about the Games, other then if something big happens, like underdogs beating everyone else, some kinda scandal, etc., I'm feeling strangely patriotic this year. I am going to watch the opening ceremonies for sure, and probably a few events, but I can't say what. I'll just tune in every now and then... Between doing BGs for the ingame Competitors pet, of course. XD

[Skyshot]

I might watch it periodically for like 10-15 minutes each sitting. But I can't sit there and watch for the whole duration despite how much I love winter. :(
Get's too dull watching the entire time its on. Besides.. if WoW does something for the Winter Olympics, you bet I'm going to go WoW > RL Oly's. lol

[Tahlian]

I'll be watching off and on, most likely. Since Friday night is one of our raid nights, I'll probably have the opening ceremonies on so I can listen while I raid, even if I can't just sit down and watch.

[Arwyn]

What I don't understand is that since they are based on the ancient games held near Olympus in Greece why aren't they held in the same way?

2 things:

1) In the old days only free men who spoke Greek could participate while women couldn't.
So it wouldn't really be fair for such an archaic rule to still be in use with all the women athletes out there.

2) They liked to play their games in the buff in the old days.
Since the games of today are aired on public television stations the athletes of this age have to wear clothing or else there will be a great outcry against seeing people in the buff. (Remember the flack when Janet Jackson had her wardrobe malfunction which happened in under 30 seconds. But the outcry and wailing lasted a way lot longer.)

Source: Wikipedia: Ancient Olympic Games

[Mania]

Did you know that there are two events in the Winter Olympics in which women cannot compete at all?

Points if you can name them both, and half points if you can name the activity that they share (for a total possible 150% points) -- plus a special bonus if you can name some of the unfortunate reasons given for this state of events.

[Arwyn]

Thank you OneManga!
I kinda know half of this answer because they have the manga Nononono which is based on: Women not being allowed to participate in the Ski Jumping Event in the Olympics.
But I don't know the reason why their not allowed since there Women Ski Jumping Orginizations out there and sadly I don't know what the second event is they can't participate in.

Edit: I'm going out on a limb and saying Hockey is the other sport.

[Dragonpuff]

I know Ski Jumping is one, but I didn't know there was another. But, it isn't hockey. Canada has a women's hockey team going.

[Mania]

The other one is kind of a cheat on my part -- it's the Nordic Combined event, which is a combination of cross-country skiing and skip jumping. (Thus my question about what activity they share.)

And Arwyn, I am amazed that there is such manga in the world -- although I shouldn't be.