Winter Olympics

[iceman]

Is anyone really interested in the winter olympics?

It just doesn't have the same feel about it as the summer olympics, for us down here in Aussie land. Probably because it's not splashed all over the media, simply because we'll be lucky to win 1 medal :)

I don't mind watching some of the events and the highlights.. and I know my wife likes watching the ice skating/dancing, but it'll probably come and go for me.

What about you?

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

Despite the fact that our weather is not ideally suited to Alpine Sports I love the Winter Olympics. I have not missed watching them since 1976 at Innsbruck when the TV coverage was somewhat limited. It was a better coverage in 1980 at Lake Placid in the US when Eric Heiden (USA) won 5 gold. From 1984 in Sarajevo where Torvill and Dean featured the TV coverage has been full on. Some events don't interest me much, like Torvill and Dean, as I think they should be at the Ballet not the Olympics, but most of the skiing and speed skating events I won't miss for the world.

Tomba La Bamba !!!!!!! What a legend :)

CS-John B

[matt]

I actually quite enjoy the winter olympics but don't feel we get enough coverage to fully appreciate it?

As you say Mike, maybe coz we're not much of a show as far as medals it doesn't get enough exposure. That seems a poor reason not to see more of it, though.

I think there's definitely something in what you say about Australia being a "summer nation", though.

Although we do enjoy ourselves in winter sports too.

Maybe the winter olympics are just seen as something of a sideshow and "bridging event" between the summer games?

Anyway... come on Aussie come on!

[beren]

:confuse3: Dont mind it but prefer the time trailed events like down hill skiing etc , dont like events where the winner is decided by the judges

[iceman]

yeh that's a good point Stuart..

We were watching the figure skating the other night and were surprised to hear them talking about "PB's".. and found it odd that you can have a PB in an event where you are subjectivally judged by someone else.. not to mention the corruption in the judging.

[acropolite]

I'm a winter olympics fan (Ex skier). IMO The summer olympics are lame in comparison, the winter action and visuals are a real spectacle and there's an element of risk involved in most of the disciplines. Regarding the "judged" events for me it's fun to be an "armchair expert" and predict the outcomes, and often disagree with the judges. The only thing that's missing is Roy & HG's commentary (The Dream) at the end of the day....:D

[matt]

Definitely ... Roy and HG are very much missed.

They'd have a great time in the snow:lol:

[h0ughy]

I like the ones where they leave their brain in a jar and go jumping, or speed skating, downhill, bobsleds, anything with speed and beat the clock. But only have seen about 2 hours worth. Just enought to satisfy

[ausastronomer]

Girls in the aerials are a chance, thats about all. Unless we have another occurence of "Bradbury's Luck". He invented a new concept and has it all to himself, "how to win a GOLD medal when you were otherwise going to run last" :)

CS-John B

[h0ughy]

very true John, but at least he made the finals;)

[AstroBug]

True again Houghy. I think he make the final in the same manner as he won it. By again surviving when those ahead of him crashed?

[ving]

downhill skiing is good, i'll probably give the rest a miss tho

[RAJAH235]

Just can't wait for the 'Curling' to start. :shrug: :poke:
I like it..& the Luge. :D L.

[mickoking]

This is a question thats been bugging me for years. The brooms they use for curling, are they just ordinary brooms or are they specially made for the sport? I once asked a Canadian lumberjack and he didn't know? Can somebody help me???

[beren]

:shrug: sorry Micko dont know about that one but I top marks for asking a lumberjack the question :)

Watched the mens downhill ski final last night, pretty exciting with the final bloke to go {a frenchman} taking the gold :)