Will the Olympics ever be popular again or is it downhill from here?
99404
I think more and more people will watch it each year. According to an independent study, the number of people watching the Olympics has grown over the last fifteen years.
111558
When I was a kid in New York, the Olympics were a huge family event. We all sat around as a family and had special dinners in front of the TV, and my dad would come home early from work so we could watch together. And the Games were always discussed in school the next day.\n\nIn short, I believe Americans aren't so into the Olympics anymore because we are a very ethnocentric society and we think we are the best at everything (and at many things, we are). I think we also carry a lot of bitterness toward other countries and we don't like to lose.\n\nAlso, I think people and families are just too busy with their lives to keep track of the Games and the winners and losers. It's a shame. The Olympics are supposed to be about the World coming together as one to compete in a non-political venue.
154388
I used to watch the Olympics when I was a little kid, but now I find them quite boring.  \n\nIt just doesn't interest me at all.  I suppose I would rather see the nations of the world get together to try to figure out our problems, then seeing a bunch of people ice skating.  \n\nHowever, for some people it is entertaining and it makes their lives better, and that is great.  It just doesn't do that for me.
295755
New York is in the early stages for bidding for the 2016 Olympics. The thing that beat them last time was the unworkable stadium in Manhattan. Now, Queens is trying to get NYC back in the hunt. Plus, I would keep checking the US Olympic Committee Website because they nominate which city the US will put up to the Intern'l Olympic Committee,
374189
very definitely yes. Could be even sooner in 2016. Leading cities would be New York, Chicago, San Fran, and Philly.\nUSA is very important to the IOC on many levels (brilliant history, avid fan support, money from sponsors, broadcast and marketing, past success at hosting great Games). It seems to me if New York bid again it would be a done deal. The others would launch strong bids and would be worthy hosts. LA, Minneapolis and Houston are also interested but I don't know much about their plans so I have no opininion although all are nice places.\n Also take into account that from 2000 -2012 no summer Games were held in in North America and The IOC likes to spread it around so-to-speak.\n Toronto would be a great contender for North America and competitor to a USA bid but not seen as likely given the 2010 Winter Games are going to be held in amazing Vancouver.\n IOC would love to see a Games in South America and Africa eventually and so would I. My best guess is NYC in 2016 and either Rio or Buenos Aires for 2020. Check out some sources below.\n I live in San Jose but no matter where they are I'll be there.
1035132
no they are not ...just like the olympics are not held in the same country everytime . Germany is the Host this time around .Next four years it is south africa.\n_______________________________________\nuruaguay 1930,italy  1934france 1938...\nbrasil 1950,switzerland 1954,sweden  1958,chile  1962,england 1966,mexico 1970,GERMANY PREVIOUSLY IN 1974,argentina 1978,spain  1982mexico 1986. italy 1990 ,usa 1994,france 1998,korea /japan  2002\nhope that helps
235364
That is quite a stretch there but the way it works now is that an Olympic athlete can be replaced by another top finisher from the same nation. But if there were no available candidates then the specific sport would be listed as having no winners.
122324
Everyone did real good.  But this Olympics were not as much hyped as it was for the games at Salt Lake City in 2002.  The Next games in 2010 will be much closer since it will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.  Best of luck to those who wil compete in those games as well as those training for the Bejing games in the summer of 2008!
93846
Its all in the name. Trust me. The Olympics is all the sports with a Big Name...that's it.
123119
I'll probably not watch it at all.  Most of the coverage I'm just not interested in.  Skiing?  Nah.  Cross country?  Nah.  Now, the speed-skating is interesting and could hold my attention for a bit, but other than that... hockey would be the only one, as I like to watch hockey, but I'd probably end up doing other things.\n\nThat isn't to say that I wouldn't read about the Olympic coverage and root for Team USA!
1076024
No, for a couple of reasons:  \n\nA.  The Olympic brass are still pissed about Atlanta (traffic, commercialization, the smallness of the city) and Salt Lake (the blowing open of the bid scandal).\n\nB.  The new rule for bid cities is that the federal government must guarantee the cost of the Games, and the U.S. government has expressed an unwillingness to do so.  I know a new administration will be in place in 2009 when the voting takes place, but it is a factor.\n\nOh, and C:  Will the citizens of Chicago be willing to fork over the tax money for at least one new stadium?  I can't see Soldier Field holding an Opening Ceremony.
1184812
Yes and yes.. Olympics are supposed to be the best athletic competition in the world.. once you start exluding people that are good enough to be paid.. then you lose the best perfromers\n\nI like seeing how olympic athletes earn money by doing what they do.. basketball is the only one that I hate how the US handles it
103227
No.  The last time they were in the same year was 1992.  The winter olympics was held again in 1994, then it resumed it's usual every 4 year pattern.
95532
That's not the sort of information that is usually available at a snap. The only thing I can suggest is that you contact people living in past Winter Olympic host cities who were aged between 5 and 13 when the Games where hosted there and ask what influence it had on them.
928912
That would just never happen. Even the Tibet situation isn't enough to persuade the IOC to take the games away from China.
283017
the same as all the other countries get out of being it...the same the reason why every 4 years every country goes to the normal olympic games duhh!!
824590
I love the Olympics, it is something that for me shows the best of humanity. The world comes together, representing all nations and all walks of life, and in a friendly atmosphere competes as equals. \n\nWhen I heard it was coming to London, I was over the moon (until the very next day) and I still am. The Olympics is about more than money, we are privileged that it is coming to us and that the eyes of the world will be on our capital and our culture and everything that makes me proud to be British to celebrate something that, as mentioned above, I think is the best.\n\nI wont go as far as to say sod the cost, but I think the values it has are too easily overlooked when money comes into it. When you think of how much money is pissed away on welfare fakers who cant be assed to work as just one example, I think it is a small price to pay for greatness and for being a part of something that really matters