Look forward to when they add pickleball to the games 😀
There's so much competition for sports to get into the Olympics, that sports need to be very global to be selected for inclusion. As much as pickleball is very popular in North America, I don't think it has the sort of global reach that the IOC is looking for. Maybe some day though.
Funny how views differ. As a Parisian I’ve been completely uninterested in the event, thought it was a complete waste of energy and of taxpayer’s money, have cursed the mayor and French authorities for their hubris; I had to pay absurd prices for taxis to get an elderly relative around the city because of the idiotic road closures all over the center of town this past week. They’ve brought in thousands of police reinforcements and squads of firefighters from the provinces, have had military divers and underwater destruction teams patrol the waters of the Seine.
And yet tonight, now that I see what a crazy grandiose beautiful show this is despite the pouring rain—its embrace of global culture and diversity, its bold portrayal of history, the arts, fashion, all in the largest television production ever made, I’ve completely changed my mind. I’ll be damned if this doesn’t bring enough visitors to the city to make up for all of those costs.
And yet despite this historic ceremony on a scale never seen before, which has illuminated the entire city and shown it in all of its magnificence as the city of light— this is among the three cheapest olympic games in history.
I gave up back in the 1990s. Had one of the first high def TVs and they only packaged the events for 'prime time.' So much chance to change things, but the old advertising NBC monopoly really got my goat. OK they lost a lot of advertising dollars when the US pulled out back in the 1980s. But to give exclusive rights and restrict competition? Seemed so un American not to have all the networks share coverage. Used to rotate between the networks.
Olympics seem artificial these days. Perhaps there is still a chance that the Athletes who win are legit. On the other hand it seems so scripted. By the time of the network delays (three hours extra on the west coast.) you already knew who won. And what was not shown.
Why would the athletes be « sprayed by the waters of the Seine »?
They’re in large and stable boats which carry millions of tourists on the river every day of the year in all sorts of weather. They’re not on a small sail boat on the sea scaling the waves under force 9 winds.
I gave up back in the 1990s. Had one of the first high def TVs and they only packaged the events for 'prime time.' So much chance to change things, but the old advertising NBC monopoly really got my goat. OK they lost a lot of advertising dollars when the US pulled out back in the 1980s. But to give exclusive rights and restrict competition? Seemed so un American not to have all the networks share coverage. Used to rotate between the networks.
Olympics seem artificial these days. Perhaps there is still a chance that the Athletes who win are legit. On the other hand it seems so scripted. By the time of the network delays (three hours extra on the west coast.) you already knew who won. And what was not shown.
