In terms of mega events, I will always view the FIFA World Cup as the greatest sports event in the world.
Sure, it’s only the sport of football featured, rather than a multitude of athletic endeavours, but the glory of winning that game’s greatest prize – and even in some cases qualifying as a tiny nation – somehow seems a lot more significant to me.
But the Olympics offers the chance to fully immerse yourself in sports you wouldn’t normally give a brass razoo about.
Even the most passionate Olympic followers (I’m looking at you Bruce McAvaney) would struggle to tell you who won the gold medals in fencing, equestrian and archery at the last Summer Games without looking it up.
So why do we care about this event every four years?
The modern Olympics had terrible beginnings. The second and third Games, in Paris and St Louis, were basically sideshows to World Fairs held at the time. In other words, the World’s Fair was considered more important than the Olympics.
As part of the St Louis games, exhibitions were held to determine how ‘savagaes’ would go against whites.
In The Roar’s Olympic countdown we also featured the ridiculous moment when golfer Margaret Abbott didn’t even know she was competing in the 1900 Olympics.
Not exactly a great start, but it didn’t take long for the Olympics to be taken seriously.
As with any worldwide competition, nationalistic pride comes into play.
Governments saw the power of the games to push their ideology, to prove their country is a world superpower through sport.
The public, of course, goes along for the ride, swept up in the emotion of seeing their heroes beat the best twice in a four-year period (summer and winter). Heroes who aren’t necessarily known before the event but become household names after. The Olympics are incredible in that sense.
Think, for example, of how ‘doing a Bradbury’ has become part of the Aussie lexicon, honouring Steven Bradbury, who won gold at the Winter Olympics for speed skating after his competitors fell over. Speed skating! When had Australians ever cared about speed skating before that epic final in 2002?
It’s also unique to Australians that we remember that moment, whereas Brits would likely have no idea who we’re talking about if we mentioned Bradbury.
Even those staunch AFL and/or rugby league-only supporters who claim they won’t watch a single minute of Olympics in the next few weeks won’t be able to escape the fever once a new hero emerges.
Whether we want to admit it or not, it’s great looking at that medal tally each day and comparing Australia to other countries.
It’s also stupid in a way. Different countries spend different amounts on sport. Some countries will naturally be better at Olympic sports, but somehow that doesn’t seem to matter.
The Olympics, like the FIFA World Cup, creates those ‘where were you’ moments. Where were you when Cathy Freeman won gold? Where were you when Kieren Perkins won from lane eight?
It unites the country, unlike fractured football codes that seem to be determined by which state you live in.
The ‘where were you’ when the North Queensland Cowboys won the 2015 NRL grand final doesn’t work as well because most of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia didn’t care.
The Olympics has a novelty factor which refuses to wear off, no matter how cynical we might get about its importance.
We may all have sports we prefer watching, but wait for that first Australian gold medal and feel that patriotism take over.
Punter
Guest
For Billions more Tim, the football world cup is the most passionate & most watched sporting event by a long way. To each their own!!!!
Mitcher
Guest
Spain? And England a chance if they host? The 60s was a long time ago.
Gentile
Guest
In 20 world cups there have been 7 winners, plus another 5 countries have made the final (the dutch 3 times). Tell me another team world sport that could possibly have 12 different countries make their world cup/ championship final?
mike j
Guest
Synchronized swimming - sexist.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
For many the Soccer World Cup is sleep-inducing. For starters, you know the winner will come from Germany, Italy, Brazil or Argentina, with a nation like England or France having a show when they host it. And the World Cup heightens the tendency in soccer to play defensively, with 0/0 a likely result which is very rare in any other sport.
Punter
Guest
YAWN!!!!! It's the off season.
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
The Australian media is as always talking it up. They love their junket every four years. How many people will actually listen to ABC's radio coverage? More taxpayers dollars down the drain. There seems a lot less interest in the Olympics this time around, especially outside of Australia. Not sure if it is the location or just other priorities in the world at the moment. As an event, it is shaping up as a huge non-event.
jameswm
Roar Guru
In fact for me it's like this. Keep sports where the Olympics is the top, it has a worldwide care factor, and is not too much of a niche sport. I'm not a fan of events decided by judges either, though diving and gymnastics have to stay. They are semi-decided already, by degree of difficulty, anyway. KEEP (18) Athletics - except maybe ditch the walk (apologies Jarred) Basketball - and keep the Dream Team, great concept Canoe sprint Cycling - Road - OK we have the grand tours, but this is a fundamental sport Cycling - Track Diving Field hockey - I think keep, though not a strong opinion. Meets the pinnacle criteria, a bit niche though Football - undecided on this too - perhaps ditch Gymnastics Marathon swimming - probably in Rowing Rugby sevens - I think this will turn into a top Olympic sport - played throughout Oceania, most of Europe, all through the Americas, southern and East Africa (Kenya are very good) Swimming Triathlon - great inclusion in Sydney, top sport Volleyball Water polo - though it is played so cynically as you get better Weightlifting Wrestling - very traditional sport - undecided on this DITCH (21) Archery - niche sport most of the world doesn't care about Badminton - ditto Beach volleyball - ditto - though great fun Boxing - barbaric Canoe slalom - though I do like it Cycling - BMX Cycling - Mountain bike Equestrian - who can afford this, quarantine and cost issues etc Fencing - niche sport most of the world doesn't care about Golf - why on earth is this here? Handball Judo - though it is quite traditional by now. Don't mind this one so much Modern pentathlon - ironic that it's called "modern"! Rhythmic gymnastics Sailing - way too unavailable to most of the world Shooting Synchronized swimming Table tennis Taekwondo Tennis - see golf Trampoline
jameswm
Roar Guru
I don't care who won fencing, equestrian and archery last Olympics, and I don't care this Olympics either, even if it's an Aussie. IMHO these sports should be ditched. we need to get back to the basics of running, swimming, cycling, fastest, strongest, top team sport. And I love this question: were you when Cathy Freeman won gold? Answer: in the stadium, on the second curve, with my wife and oldest kid (7 months old at the time).
Galatzo
Guest
Well written, Benjamin. There was an incident at the Games in London in 1908 that beats even the Margaret Abbott anecdote for stupidity The 400 metres track event featured an Englishman named Halswelle and three Americans. When the race finished Halswelle protested claiming that the Americans had boxed him in and prevented him from winning. The English judges accepted the complaint and ordered the race rerun. The American team captain refused to allow this so the judges decided that the race would be run without them. Halswelle re-ran the race by himself and was declared the winner.