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Off the Bench: Olympics: they still do that? |
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Tuesday, 31 January 2006 |
 | Chris Zaluski
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In just a few days, we will be in the midst of the largest sporting event in the world.
An event attracting millions of viewers from nearly every country. An event so large that barely any Americans seem to know it still exists.
No, not Super Bowl XL, but something that carries a little more history: the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Remember that little event that takes place every four years and includes more than 85 countries?
Despite opening ceremonies being only 10 days away, the Olympics have
failed to attract any attention, at least by the population at large.
It seems the Olympics are becoming the new FIFA World Cup for
Americans. By this I mean that outside the United States, millions of
fans plan their lives around the events. Inside the United States, many
fail to realize these events still take place and, yes, they do.
Unlike its 2002 counterpart, which took place in Salt Lake City, Utah,
this year the Olympics will be held in the quaint mountain town of
Torino, Italy, located at the base of the Italian Alps.
While many around the world would love to tune in to see the
picturesque views of the mountains, it will be another distraction for
uninterested U.S. “fans.”
For example, in 2002, at least the events were happening roughly around
the same time we were watching them on TV. Now, with the time
differences, I can find out who won an event seven hours before seeing
it … where’s the drama in that?
I think there is a fundamental difference in the way that Americans view sports opposed to the rest of the world.
For instance, figure skating, which is one of the top events in the Winter Olympics, has yet to catch on in America.
In Russia it’s practically a national symbol, as skaters are groomed from a young age to become the best in the world.
Despite our lack of interest, we still have one of the top figure
skaters in the world in Michelle Kwan. Unfortunately for Kwan, no
matter how successful her performance, she will never be able to stack
up to the fame of Derek Jeter or Peyton Manning.
This is true for almost all Olympic athletes, who would otherwise be adored in other countries.
Whether you agree with this fact or not, one thing that Olympic
athletes have over all American pro athletes is that they are truly the
top in their sport.
Imagine taking the Pro Bowl teams from the NFC and the AFC, combining
them and then making cuts. The U.S. Alpine Skiing team only has 19
male and female athletes, an incredibly select group when compared to
the amount of people who competitively ski.
Another select group that breaks away from the more traditional “Olympic athlete” mold is the U.S. snowboarding team.
It is because of this long-haired, extreme attitude that the
snowboarders receive more attention than many other Olympic athletes.
On top of that, Americans are used to seeing them in action with the
help of ESPN’s X-Games. The X-Games, which occur every year, have
created an almost cult following for some of the athletes.
Let’s face it, there is no “Miracle on Ice” story left to accomplish.
What Americans really need is a Tiger Woods to emerge in the sport of
speed skating or bobsledding so that the Olympics will become
interesting again.
Unless a magical storyline appears between now and the medal ceremony,
the Olympics will pass by American sports fans like another episode of
“Skating with Celebrities.”
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