Coverage (NBC and other networks)

[redpencil]

30 minutes ago, tracyscott76 said:

LA maybe, but I'm not sure Paris and Milan-Cortina are actually more US-friendly in terms of time zone, at least for a typical 9 to 5er on the East Coast (i.e. me). 6 hours ahead means it will be 11pm/midnight over there by the time I get home from work, so everything will be over. With PyeongChang, Tokyo, and Beijing, their day was just getting started right at prime time. So I'll actually get to see FEWER live events in 2024 and 2026 than I did the last three Olympics, at least during the week.

And that's not really a complaint; that's the way it works and I don't expect them to cater to my schedule every time.

Yeah, these last few Olympics have actually been pretty great for the primetime coverage (maybe slightly better for those of us Pacific or Mountain than Eastern). Especially when NBC was able to use the amount they paid to get some of the marquis events done in the morning (like swimming finals, some of the figure skating, etc.). Granted, there was nothing live during the day, which is why there were so many repeats. Paris and Milan-Cortina will be much better for daytime events, depending on your time zone, but pretty much nothing live for primetime.

[Rootbeer]

7 minutes ago, legaleagle53 said:

I echo the sentiment regarding the Norwegians as hosts. I vividly remember when Dan Jansen won his only medal (Gold) l in Speed Skating. The Norwegians practically adopted him as one of their own, and they cheered for him as loudly when he won as they would have if he had won for Norway. I've NEVER forgotten that moment!

Speed skating is HUGE there, on TV all the time and covered extensively in the media.  Bonnie Blair skated in those Olympics, too, and the Norwegians love her, too.  The Norwegians mostly all speak English fluently and, nearly everywhere we went; when people heard us speak they'd tell us how thrilled they were for Dan Janssen and congratulate us on his victory.  We kinda felt bad because they seemed to be more excited about it than we were, mainly because they knew his skating career better than we did.  

I went into a sporting goods store in Lillehammer while waiting around for closing ceremonies because I was freezing.  There were huge displays of speed skating gear and, interestingly, racks and racks of NHL hockey sweaters.  Hockey is, of course, very popular there.  I asked the clerk and he said all the Norwegian kids followed their favorite Norwegian players in the NHL and all of them wanted to wear the sweater of their fave.  Or, they wanted a Mighty Ducks kit. LOL:

There was also a life sized cut-out of Michael Jordan in a Bulls uni holding a sneaker in the middle of the store.  I asked if they were basketball fans.   No, but everybody loves Michael Jordan.  'Air Jordan!  I wanna be like MIke!'  Just adorable.

[gingerella]

3 hours ago, Rootbeer said:

On the night of the closing ceremonies, as we walked up the hill from the town of Lillehammer to the stadium, maybe a mile, people in the neighborhoods had set out luminaries along the snow banks in front of their homes and our way was lit with candles and people standing in their doorways thanking us for coming. CBS didn't have to manufacture Olympic spirit, it was right there every moment. That is what I want to see again.

This sort of sums up the Games for those of us who love the Olympics. Bringing folks together to root for the athletes and whomever is best on the day! I wish coverage from NBC extended to.other countries more, especially given it seems they're trying to fill time. Reading your above account of Lillehammer brought tears to my eyes because that's how the Olympics have always made me feel. But as you said so perfectly, so much if these Games have felt 'rote and lifeless'  and I think that's what you get when you cave and give the Games to a repressive, militaristic country.

I remember going to the Lake Placid Games (I know, I'm dating myself!) to watch the Mayer Brothers ski. I grew up in an Olympics obsessed family and it was so exciting to walk through the main entrance in Lake Placid and hear all the announcements in French, German and English, seeing all the flags fluttering in the wind. I guess I'm always trying to grab that feeling again when I watch Games so I'm left hungry from this one. I suppose there's always another one to look.forward to though so there's that, right?!?

[Rickster]

Not a complaint about coverage, but I know the overhanging Ukrainian crisis has really impacted my enjoyment of these games.

[chitowngirl]

The Winter Games has fewer events all using the same arenas, so there’s just not as much going on at the same time. Add in that there aren’t any “local flavor” pieces that are usually used to fill the gaps and you have things repeated…a lot

[bosawks]

I’m completely over the coverage of  Mikaela Shiffrin's torture porn, however, I have a new found appreciation for her as a competitor trying to will her way through grief.

I salute you  Mikaela and wish you nothing but smooth sailing as you process the loss of your father.

And Jesse Diggins is a BEAST!

[AuntieDiane6]

On 2/20/2022 at 12:03 AM, gingerella said:

But as you said so perfectly, so much if these Games have felt 'rote and lifeless'  and I think that's what you get when you cave and give the Games to a repressive, militaristic country.

I blame COVID and its protocols.  No one made the "rote and lifeless" comment when Beijing hosted the 2008 summer games.  

[gingerella]

7 hours ago, AuntieDiane6 said:

I blame COVID and its protocols.  No one made the "rote and lifeless" comment when Beijing hosted the 2008 summer games.  

Yes bit it wasn't rote and lifeless in Tokyo and they were following protocols too. China was under different leadership in 2008, I believe it's the current leadership that has brought down the vibe, eschewing non political for flexing their power. Using the military for Opening and Closing ceremonies was bad enough, but using them for medal ceremonies was just disgusting IMO.

Edited February 23, 2022 by gingerella