Why do people not watch the Olympics?
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.
185448
Nobody did. It was not played in the Olympics that year.
454323
Because it allows the athletics from all over the world to compete with each other for the chance to win a medal. It also give the host city to what kind of culture it has to offer to spectators from all over the world.
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.
1180512
Ignorance.  I thought it was boring until I was stuck in a small english town with nothing to do in 1982.  I had to watch the world cup, and after a few matches I realized what a great game it is.  Most americans aren't in a position where they have to give it a fair chance, so they watch it for 10 minutes, decide it's boring and change the channel.  I think if they gave it an honest look, a lot more would like it.  But even if I didn't like it now, I wouldn't come here and post smack, I'd let people enjoy what they want to.  For example I don't go to nascar sites and post what I think of it.  \n\nOne thing I'll make no bones about disliking is the faking of injuries. I think that is so lame, and nothing's going to change that.\n\nAnd you may find it interesting to hear that I walked throug north beach san francisco yesterday at lunchtime, a number of cafes were broadcasting the Ukraine-Switzerland match, and they were packed inside and also had tons of people standing on the street looking at the screens inside.  It's growing here, and I think that's going to continue.\n\nI do have to laugh at all these "US football is wussy/for gays" etc.  comments.  I can guarantee you everyone posting that would rather meet ronaldinho than any NFL linebacker and call them names to their face.
266449
yeah but if not that way, how do we decide? \nOf course, at any given moment someone might to better or worse then they usually do but there is no way of comparing without competing and the competitive edge makes the psort more interesting. Also, if one athlete didn't do so well next time, it is moe exciting for them to outscore everyone next time.\n\nBesides I am Russian - so the olympics are never bad for me :D
616579
Athletes don't compete in the Olympics to break records. They compete to celebrate sports, represent their countries and to win Olympic medals.\n\nSo long as there is sports, so long will the Olympic games flourish.
871032
Because we're in a "different world". Our minds are occupied by HDTV, Ipods, football games, Britney spears news, Dancing with the Stars, etc, that we're numb to what's going on in other parts of the world.\n\nThere are ppl out there though that are not being credited, those are the ones who are in poor countries, helping people.
339043
Um, because they're athletes? If they didn't participate in sports, they wouldn't be athletes.\n\nIf you mean why PEOPLE participate in sports, there are lots of reasons: the exercise, the fun, the need to compete,
119012
The Olympic Games offer no prize money for winning any medals.\n\nThat being said, several countries have traditionally offered cash prizes to members of their teams that medal, not to mention the cash benefits of sponsorship offers many athletes who win gold will receive.
793769
I think the right answer here that most people don't realize they root for their heritage or home country because would you rather watch the depressing news about wars in the world or watch sports and have something to cheer for and be happy about on a national level.
1008502
Because German people are very practical.\nThe reason why everybody was watching the opening ceremony was to see the opening match with Germany.\nDon't torture people, don't waste money.\nAnd well, the ceremony centered a lot about Bavarian rites. So this was dead serious, nothing funny..
118321
It's a sport that's played in most of Europe and has gained popularity in Asia and other countries.  It's an Olympic sport cuz there's enough popularity for it to demand a place there.  Read the entry on it to learn about the rules and such.
27036
Obviously this way, with the Summer and Winter Olympics not falling in the same year, it keeps people talking about it more often. And when they were both in the same year, I think it was easier to overlook Winter, since the Summer Olympics are more popular.
1032299
Because people weren't watching it. \n\nMy guess is people nowadays prefer not to think. They'd rather watch something retarded and cliched.
312546
The Olympics games were not originally an international competition, they were held with in Greece.  They used to be male only competitions, and the men had to compete naked to prove they were male after a woman competed and beat some men somewhere back in history before they had to do it nude.\nThere are many more sports in the modern olympics than there were in the classic games, tho there are some that remain, mainly athletic events such as javelin, discus, jumps and running events.\nDuring the classical period the olympic movement did not have the same ideals as the modern one, and there were no winter olympics.\nThe 5 interlocking rings is a new symbol, though there was a torch in the classical period.\nThe games from classical greece were held to honour the gods, now they are used to spread a message about good sportsmanship and international co-operation.\nRules have become rationalised in the modern olympics, no doubt in the classic games the final decision was made by an important official, probably with a few favourites....
1062028
man im a runner myself and i dont watch coverage of televised running events\n\nrunning is not a spectator sport, most runners would rather run themselves than watch someone else do it\n\nthe whole challenge of running is invisible because it lies in the individual runner's body and mind and it can't be broadcast or conveyed via television\n\nfinally, i loathe events where speed is considered somethign of value\n\ndont show me on the tv the elite guy who gets paid by new balance to train 8 hours a day so he can hit the 2:06 mark, show me the dad with four kids, a 50 hour a week job who coaches little league and still finds the strength in himself to be able to complete a marathon in under 5 hours, THAT GUY, is the real athelete and hero to me\n\nhaha\n\ngood luck getting it on t.v.