We are getting all of our Olympics coverage via BBC - HD - our one high definition TV channel. We record it when it is on, early in the morning and while we are at work, and then try to zip through all of it at night. The kids have enjoyed it, and Hilde has decided she wants to be Chinese, 17 and be able to do cool tricks (read - gymnastics). Enoch loves to watch the Judo and will ask for a million Judo flips a day. But there are some very interesting things about watching the Olympics here, and here is just a few I thought up:
1) There is WAY more sailing, kayaking, and rowing on than you would ever see at home. Hours and hours and hours of it.
2) If there isn't sailing, kayaking or rowing on, then you are sure to be watching dressage. This equestrian sport would get quick highlights in the US, but you see every moment of every competitor's trials here.
3) The commentators talk a lot about whether or not things are "useful". For example, that swim stroke doesn't seem very useful, what a useful boat....
4) Great Britain apparently cannot compete in soccer in the Olympics, so the one sport I was counting on seeing more of I actually haven't seen at all. Dave had me go to the cafeteria for a couple of minutes Friday to see a snippet of the China/Norway women's game that was playing on the US Armed Forces Network. Great Britain has an agreement with FIFA that allows them to submit multiple teams in international competitions - Ireland, Scotland and England. If they essentially combined those teams into one for the Olympics as Great Britain, they would lose their FIFA independence. Maybe that is why they put so much effort into the water sports!
5) As you would expect, they focus on the British athletes, so don't expect to even see the Americans finish the event. And don't expect anyone other than Brits to be interviewed. I actually like this change. It is a lot of fun to be part of a different culture this way. The only American they really talk about is Michael Phelps, but he is a special story anyway.
6) Other sports you will get a lot of coverage of: archery (we are in the land of Robin Hood and all), shooting, cycling, beach volleyball (for the eye candy I presume), field hockey and badminton. There are a lot of British competitors in badminton this year.
7) We find ourselves easily embarrassed by Americans who are overly loud, demonstrative, or cocky. Both athletes and the crowd. Luckily this doesn't happen a lot, but when it does, I hate it.
8) We haven't seen or heard Bob Costas even once.
9) We haven't heard the Olympics theme music at all. I kind of miss it.
10) I am out of time - there is a lot more Olympics to watch!!!
3 comments:
Those differences actually seem fun. The Olympics is a lot different this year. It seems like if they broadcast it on t.v., at all, then it is not online. I was looking forward to watching soccer games, but apparently they are showing on a paid soccer station that we do not get so I cannot watch it at all. Plus, the live coverage is not live at all. Oh well, the Olympics are still fun, even without the Olympic theme song.
For the most part we really like the differences, and we have watched a lot more Olympics than we normally would have. So nobody gets to watch soccer unless they pay? Does the soccer mafia get a cut? :)
Cool differences. We barely watch any because it's all gymnastics and a little running. We wonder when the other stuff is on, adn then realize they probably just won't show it. I saw a little volleyball during teh day once. I like some of the "essays" they do - some people don't like these - about the athletes' stories but I'm sick of the other filler stuff like special stuff about China. Let's show more of the events! I'm glad you guys are enjoying it, I think the "useful" thing is funny.
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