Do you read writing about the Olympics?

I imagine someone does, and Lord knows I used to more, but I’ll be very honest: No, not that much anymore. Not at all so far. And I’ve watched stuff on TV. I’m just not sure I give a shit what any writer, who doesn’t know any more about the sport than I do. thinks about what I saw. And that’s awful, but it’s where I’m at.

Anyone else?

 

Great thread idea.

Olympics being such a TV event, I don't read unless I want the recap story (and quotes, mostly) about what I saw on TV.

 

Winter "Olympics"? Not a chance.

 

The waves of journalism cutbacks might figure into this too. All the major papers used to have Olympics beat writers, who covered figure skating and swimming and gymnastics and such year-round, so the readers would have heard of the most prominent medal contenders by now. But, today, who are these people wearing
"USA" on the TV?

 

I probably read just enough to get an idea of who are the emerging big names. In other words, the AP lede provides me with just about what I need.

Especially in the Winter Games, there are sports that simply have never captured America's interest -- biathlon, ski jumping, cross-country skiing.

It's not as journalistic an answer as you might want, but I suppose the sport drives my reading interest.

 

We used to send 10-12 people to any Olympics, and that included two photogs, one or two columnists and at least one coordinating editor in the media center. I think that paper is down to two writers and maybe a columnist at these Winter Olympics, with all photos coming off the wire, but that was a few years ago. Downsizing got me and a lot of others after that, and it's hard to tell what they staff these days. But it ain't much.

 

I think it's one of those events that's almost too big to follow. There are so many events, many of them obscure to even avid sports fans, that it's difficult to dial in and focus on more than a handful of them. There's a few that are well structured and easy to follow. Swimming, track and basketball in the Summer Games, hockey and figure skating in the Winter. The rest is just a blizzard of sports that come and go, and with several medal events every day how do you compile it all into one tidy package?
We tend to focus on our state athletes and the major events in our section. The rest we'll get in as needed or as interest warrants.

 

Other than pieces by the three friends I have over there? Nope.

 

I read a couple preview pieces that give me a feel for some of the better storylines, then I wing it. Might read a final recap to help put it in perspective at its conclusion.

 

I've written quite a few hometown Olympics features, so I hope somebody's reading 'em.

 

I'd rather read about the World Cup.

 

Depends entirely on the writing.