Japan's obsession with the olympics?

[Elizabeth]

I think this is a very strong opinion, but I think it has some truth in it. I would not be so strong with my opinion, so please don't think I am saying this. I thought it would be interesting to add this comment to the discussion to get peoples thinking.

Perhaps this is better then, from a Japanese friend in the middle of 柔道競技 ....オリンピックは始まったばかりで、多くの日本人は熱狂的にオリンピックを見ていると思います。 Although Olympic-related stories are only around half the sports news, now, along with baseball, so the intensity may not be as white hot. But still without profiling of Western athletes, as Maciamo pointed out.

 

[Violet]

Hmm ... I say any country that has an Olympic team will have a certain interest - which for some folks could border on obsession - in the Olympics. But there will always be individuals who care a great deal and who will discuss it with family, friends, colleagues, people the meet on the train as opposed to individuals who couldn't care less and who have a built-in filter regarding all things Olympic

 

[Maciamo]

Hmm ... I say any country that has an Olympic team will have a certain interest - which for some folks could border on obsession - in the Olympics. But there will always be individuals who care a great deal and who will discuss it with family, friends, colleagues, people the meet on the train as opposed to individuals who couldn't care less and who have a built-in filter regarding all things Olympic

Of course, we are discussing more the attitude of the media in one country than the entire population, which would be impossible to assess fairly.

 

[Violet]

ah the thread went into various directions, thought I'd add one more

hmm I can't say what the media frenzy is like in other countries, but here in Holland it's probably moderate or at least scattered. We have one TV channel dedicated to the Games, the other channels pay some attention to the Games during the news or maybe by showing a documentary or two. Newspapers all have a few pages dedicated to the Olympics, although the focus is usually on the accomplishments of the Dutch athletes. I still think some of the perception of how frenzied the media are is down to individuals. I am a huge fan of Olympic events and I think the coverage couldn't be big enough, whereas people who do not like the Games at all either ignore it or moan about the fact that there is too much attention for the Games.

Still, there is also truth in the fact that some nations and thus the media in that country are much more 'obsessed' with the Olympics, in a way also fuelling 'individual obsessions'

 

[Brooker]

In America the media only covers events that Americans have a good chance of winning, so that practice is not limited to only Japan.

 

[Violet]

It's gotta be like that everywhere, I mean you'd want to see your country doing well

I think the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation in case someone wonders) might be a bit of exception to the rule, they don't overly focus on the sports the British excel in, although if a few events are taking place at the same time they will pick the one with Brits competing ... but maybe my perception is flawed heheh, I didn't really analyse it.

Oh well, I get to watch the Olympics on Dutch TV, German TV and BBC, and I can switch to Eurosport also, heheh, I get to see different takes on the Olympics

 

[Hachiko]

Cant complain...

With 8 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronze to their credit (so far)...can't complain about Japan's effort at these Games.

Banzai! Banzai! Banzai! :nihonjin:

 

[byp]

In America the media only covers events that Americans have a good chance of winning, so that practice is not limited to only Japan.

so ? what's new ? absolutely nothing since the start of the thread and what it was always said.
if you read a french newspaper, you really believe that the only nation participating in the olympics games is... france and no one else.
you hear occasionnally of another nation if france wins a gold medal AFTER complaining (it happened yesterday wednesday) with the germans (the german won gold but french protested and then got the gold....) and same again with kayak (sort of a boat in troubled water). Then and only then we learned that the french had some competition !!!!
but that almost happen with every media of every country.
and it has been like that for decades.
so ? what's new ?
nothing.

 

[jieshi]

I love the opening ceremonies when the countries come through. They announce these countries you have never even heard of, and then the camera zooms out and they only have 1 or 2 athletes. 2 thoughts go through my head when I see this:

1. Wow they must be really proud to be the only one representing their country on a world stage

2. lol. that is so lame the country is so small/ insignificant they can only get one athlete into the olympics!

I like to stick with the first thought as the second is excruciatingly cruel!

 

[byp]

They announce these countries you have never even heard of,

gosh !!!!!!!!!!!! where do you live ? on Mars ?

2. lol. that is so lame the country is so small/ insignificant they can only get one athlete into the olympics!
I like to stick with the first thought as the second is excruciatingly cruel!

yes good idea to stick wherever... just you try to make it to the olympics...

 

[Glenn]

In America the media only covers events that Americans have a good chance of winning, so that practice is not limited to only Japan.

Well, I don't think that this is true, because I just finished watching the gold medal mixed doubles badminton match between the UK and China. Certainly there are times when the coverage is a bit too biased for me, but they do mix in events in which other countries are doing well. Another example would be the women's 53kg class weightlifting, in which there were no American competitors, and the winner was from Thailand.

 

[shiroma]

小坂憲次

Japanese Minister Says Sorry for Cheering figure Skater's Fall

Sports minister Kenji Kosaka told Arakawa in a informal televised conversation that he had "felt joy" when Russia's Irina Slutskaya took a tumble at last month's Turin Games.

Shame.
And this MEXT minister does not resign yet.

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