As the London 2012 Olympic Games came to an end, I found myself reflecting on what was a truly amazing spectacle. Heading into the Games, I was unsure what my level of interest would be.
I knew I’d be a keen follower of the basketball competitions, but found it difficult to gauge how enthralled I would be with all the other sports.
I need not have worried.
From the second the Opening Ceremony commenced, Olympic fever was running high throughout my body. The Games are such a unique event, and apart from the obvious patriotic motivation of watching a number of different events, there is also a major attraction in watching sports you don’t normally view.
It is this last point I’d like to focus on, because while basketball was always going to be the sport I watched the most of, it was never going to be the only sport. Which raises the traditional Roar topic of code wars.
Hands up if you only watched one sport during the Olympics?
Just as I thought, there seems to be a major lack of paws raised in the air.
It was once said that sport should be considered a smorgasbord, with fans able to pick and choose as many as they desire.
However, it seems that many believe that you should only be allowed to select one solitary ‘dish’; while also then feeling the need to defend that choice to the death, and deriding and mocking any other ‘dishes’.
This is a great analogy for the code war mentality that exists in Australia.
The Olympics are the ultimate example of how sport should really be consumed. Specifically:
• Lots of it
• Appreciating the many different types, even if you don’t fully understand them
• Appreciating the specific skill set and athleticism required
• Enjoying it – even if it is in moderation
You might not have loved every sport at the Olympics, but I’m also positive you found yourself enjoying one that you either hadn’t previously, or hadn’t for a significant period of time.
That’s one of the many beauties of the Olympics: the exposure it gives fans to sports outside of the ones they normally watch.
As an example, I’m not a massive cycling fan, but I love the cat-and-mouse games of the individual sprint. I don’t completely understand the tactics, but I do realise that there is a distinct strategy in play – in terms of when to make your move – and fully appreciate the execution of that strategy.
It’s thrilling, it’s skilful and it’s intelligent. As a sports fan, it’s fantastic.
Does that mean I’ll watch it every weekend? No, of course not. But just because it hasn’t become my number one sport, doesn’t mean I should be derisive of it either.
Nor should I be derisive towards sports I don’t even like, or will fail to ever really warm to. For when it comes to sports, I believe never a truer word has been spoken than ‘to each their own.’
It’s fun to have playful arguments about sport. That’s an ingrained part of Australian culture: having a beer at the pub, and debating sport topics with your mates.
However, when it descends into nonsensical gibberish about which sport is the best, and involves stubbornly refusing to move from your point of view, the fun and intelligence of said conversation dissipates rapidly.
That normally signifies the commencement of a code war, of which the Olympics have highlighted just how silly they really are.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
One of them ? I thought I saw several.
chris
Guest
I can not be arsed with Aussie Rules but think I watch The Club on Yourtube..Me I like some type of Football.
chris
Guest
NF I don’t want to see Rugby League die but wouldn’t it have been great to see Wally Lewis/David Campese and even Gary Albett all play for the same Australian. Can not stand American sports but love the structure of the NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB as all sports are so different to each other.
chris
Guest
NF I don't want to see Rugby League die but wouldn't it have been great to see Wally Lewis/David Campese and even Gary Albett all play for the same Australian. Can not stand American sports but love the structure of the NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB as all sports are so different to each other.
chris
Guest
NF I like League first but I know it will never happen but just like the what if Wally Lewis/David Campese and Gary Albett were all playing the same Australian side.
Bondy.
Guest
No worries mate as good as gold.
NF
Guest
Sorry Bondy got a little bit emotional and included you as collateral heat of the moment and 4am in the morning wasn't thinking right and couldn't sleep. I'm just annoyed of people who want my code to wither and perish which is rugby league I'm sure you feel the same way about the insular, backwards thinking comments people make about association football. It's possible for all the codes to expand there share in the market and prosper there no need for a last code standing scenario.
Bondy.
Guest
NF. You've misunderstood my post mate as i've said i've lived in N.S.W. all my life my father and us played league and association ,my point was that the sporting landscape of Australia almost doesn't make sense due to the congestion of sports.I watch in the off season both Rugby League and Rugby I enjoy them as sports,if i've offended mate I apoligise.
NF
Guest
In conclusion both chris and Bondy want rugby league dead I'm sick of your moaning chris about the existence of rugby league how about you deal with the fact rugby league is here to stay whether to like it or not. Bondy I don't mind football and with it being in the summer it is possible for the winter/summer codes to co-operate peacefully. Overall, both of you need to live with the fact RL is here to stay.
chris
Guest
Good post Bondy mate the Australian sporting landscape a mess with Canada and Ireland not far behind alongside Japan and New Zealand. Thing’s would of been much easier if - 1. Back in 1877 if the Southern Rugby Football Union of N.S.W. had agreed to a proposed match with the Melbourne Aussie Rules lot with a interest of forming a National code.And with that you would have had a national code that would of made Rugby Union and Soccer secondary. 2.The English Rugby Football Union had a agreed to broken time rules and then Australia would of had Cricket and too a lesser extent Soccer but Rugby Union would of ruled NSW and Queensland and Aussie Rules the southern states but Iam sure Aussie Rules and Soccer would be anywhere as near as popular in the northern states as seeing the best Australia Rugby team take on the might of the All Black’s/Springbok’s/Lions etc. 3. The NSWRL and VFL had a agreed to a merger for an all Australian Football code and league (ala NFL) and then the Australian public could off had a national game to be proud of also have State Of Origin’s involving NSW/QLD/VIC/SA/WA alongside Cricket with it’s international test’s but also Rugby Union and Soccer could of still prospered and capture the Aussie public imagination with Rugby Union international games like Lion’s/AB’s/Bok’s etc/world cup’s and later on Super 12 etc and with Soccer with world cup, internationals’/touring club teams and then the A-League. There is one to two too many Football codes in OZ.
chris
Guest
Good post Bondy mate the Australian sporting landscape a mess with Canada and Ireland not far behind alongside Japan and New Zealand. Thing's would of been much easier if - 1. Back in 1877 if the Southern Rugby Football Union of N.S.W. had agreed to a proposed match with the Melbourne Aussie Rules lot with a interest of forming a National code.And with that you would have had a national code that would of made Rugby Union and Soccer secondary. 2.The English Rugby Football Union had a agreed to broken time rules and then Australia would of had Cricket and too a lesser extent Soccer but Rugby Union would of ruled NSW and Queensland and Aussie Rules the southern states but Iam sure Aussie Rules and Soccer would be anywhere as near as popular in the northern states as seeing the best Australia Rugby team take on the might of the All Black's/Springbok's/Lions etc. 3. The NSWRL and VFL had a agreed to a merger for an all Australian Football code and league (ala NFL) and then the Australian public could off had a national game to be proud of also have State Of Origin's involving NSW/QLD/VIC/SA/WA alongside Cricket with it's international test's but also Rugby Union and Soccer could of still prospered and capture the Aussie public imagination with Rugby Union international games like Lion's/AB's/Bok's etc/world cup's and later on Super 12 etc and with Soccer with world cup, internationals'/touring club teams and then the A-League. There is one to two too many Football codes in OZ.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It's not just silly to point that out, it's irrelevant. Kind of like a lot of the points you've made in your comments on this post. You clearly have something you want to say - regardless of the relevancy to the topic at hand - so maybe you should write a piece at get it all out.
JVGO
Guest
All i have ever said on the Roar regarding other codes is that 'AFL is not better' than other codes which is generally enough to send the AFL is better brigade into a tizz. Anyone who thinks AFL is better than other codes deserves to be mocked Ryan, sorry ifit upsets you. Enjoying a variety of football codes is normal, in NSW and Qld. Most southerners barely know that there are two different rugby codes. By the way I believe every Australian gold medal at the London Olympics was delivered by a NSW or Qld athlete. But it would be silly to point that out. It's probably just a coincidence or something.
Marc
Guest
what does that humble pie taste like? http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=usa/countryInfo.html Big Count All Players 24,472,778 Registered players 4,186,778 Unregistered Players 20,286,000 Clubs 9,000 Officials 796,300
Bondy.
Guest
If Aussie Rules and Rugby League are so explosively entertaining why dont people genuinely take them seriously outside of their respective television zones or precincts, do people in N.S.W. take Aussie Rules seriously ! and do the people of Melbourne take Rugby League seriuosly !,both sports illustrate that they are nothing without major backing from TV comapnies and there penetration outside of thier respective markets is minimal the swans are leading the ladder in the afl right now in Sydney you'd not no who they are they feature ocasionally on evening news bulletins. Case point, do people in Melbourne take S.O.Origin seriously ! I've lived in N.S.W. all my life if Western Australia and Adelaide played a Aussie Rules S.O.Origin formated game at Homebush what relevance does that have for me being a New south welshmen " i've never watched the sport " none ,surely that would be the same for a Victorian who follows Hawthorn and calls Rugby League Rugby,. I''m biased I know but the only sport I can see genuinely prospering is the A League it's the first time in their history as a sport in this country that where their going to sit down a sign a genuine first time tv contract it wont beat the N.R.L. contract everyone knows that but it doesnt need to but it will be a massive jump to what they previously had. Conclusion; the sporting landscape of Australia is a mess, a mass of confusion and no one sport will ever dominate ,enjoy it as best as you possibly can.
Australian Rules
Guest
"I blame Aussie rules, rugby union and soccer fans for the code wars. " What...!!! *gasp*...and here I was thinking you were going to "blame" Queenslanders and League lovers..?
Bondy.
Guest
I was thinking about this last night a New Rule for the olympics ,that no athlete can contest these games when he/she has earnt more than a million dollars,that way it can still remain partially an amatuer contest. That rule or law would shut a lot of people up about it being full of millionaire Basketballers and Footballers.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
stop bullshatting mate..if it had 25 million players it would be the number one sport in America..baseball only has 11 million players and its that country's favourite past time..american football, just 9 million..please stop pulling bs figures outa your arse..
Lolly
Guest
They did used to have lawn bowls in the Olympics didn't they? Or is that just the Commonwealth Games?
Lolly
Guest
I watched more handball than I've ever watched before this Olympics. Wanted so badly to go and see some but couldn't get tickets. It's a wonderful sport, so fast. I wish I'd had the chance to play it as a kid. The minor teams sports/passing games are what make the Olympics great for me. You get to see the absolute best of team-work and skills in the different formats. I don't bother with footie as that is so easily available year-round but sports like water-polo, hockey, volleyball and handball are such a treat to see at that level. For this reason, I reckon rugby 7s is a good addition.