This just in: Women watch the Olympics – and enjoy it

Women doing anything other than cooking, cleaning and running for president is nearly enough to cause mass panic with the mainstream media these days. They’ll probably never catch on.

Oh, well.

Either way…I don’t watch the Olympics.

D’oh.

["Suicide is man's way of telling God, 'You can't fire me: I quit.' "]

There are so many reasons.  I've been watching since I was a kid and times have certainly changed.  At first it was an opportunity to see sports that were not traditionally highlighted in US team sports coverage.  The pageantry of the openning and closing ceremonies and the sense of nationalism at seeing my countrymen and women compete internationally...  It is the one time most of the countries of the world get together on some level of fraternity/sorority even if portions of the world are at war, etc. 

Nowadays there are so many more women competing.  There is so much to choose from.  It's great.  I love the freedom, power and skill they express.  The beauty of what the human body can do at its peak is something to behold.  I think what first really got me hooked on the Olympics (along with everyone else I knew) was wathcing Olga Korbut do the most amazing things on the balance beam.  She more than anyone else catapulted women's gymnastics into the stratosphere. 

The stories of hardship that people from all over the world have had to overcome to get to the Olympics...  Some of them may not be of an elite caliber of sports, but the point is coming together in healthy competition and peace.  The friendship and support that some athletes will give each other across political borders is refreshing. No matter what has gone on during the games, at the end when all the athletes break formation and mingle on the field no matter what country they're from is the best part.  Moments like that give me hope for humanity.

I hadn't intended to say all that, but it really is why I watch.  There are plenty of things I don't like about the coverage and the lengths some athletes will go to win, but there's way more enthusiasm than negativity in it for me.

If there were more women's sports on tv, and coverage in mags and newspapers, I'd be watching and keeping up!!!!

And by the way, what the h*ll is an anti-sport? That's like saying boarding, cycling, ect.. competitions are anti-sports right, because they're not covered regularly either... but at least now they get to be part of the X-Games, or get some cool name, something that sounds way cooler than the Anti-Sport Games....

This dude is seriously shallow or obviously can't accept a sport if he's not hip to it or can't participate in it.

Personally I think sports coverage is dull, I get board with watching men run around in Basketball, Football, and Baseball (enough already).

It can't even be just cuz I'm a lesbian that I prefer to watch women in sports and lesser known sports, that's like saying straight men should be most excited to watch women's soccer so they can watch women run around... or should prefer football to judo since they see it covered more frequently.

It''s just the sports industry and stupid American programing and promotion that gets in the way of sports expansion and popular interests (the macho monopoly of the golden three: Basketball, Football, Baseball).

I read in an article about Katja (and women's handball), that in Norway men's soccer is the most popular sport, and women's Handball is the second most popular sport in the country! Hey and in Finland the javelin throw is the most popular sport.

Go tell them they are participating in anti-sports!!!

Long-time reader, first-time poster. stuntdouble, I adore your writing! Keep it up!

One day the Powers That Be will figure out how to tap into the incredible spending power that women hold. (Hey -- I can be optimistic.)

Okay- i've been a devoted fan since I was a child.

Plus who woudln't want to watch the Olympics? Girl's beach volley ball is the hottest thing ever.

I haven't really watched heaps of the Olympics... mainly I'm mad because Bones and Criminal Minds (and every other decent show) are on hiatus until it's over.

I did, however, tear up a little watching Aussie cyclist Anna Meares win silver in the women's sprint event. Seven months ago she broke her vertebrae and was told she'd be lucky to ever walk again, let alone compete, and there she was, cycling her little guts out.

That's the kinda thing the Olympics should be, for me.  

I'm a bit speechless right now. Those men don't really believe what they are saying, right? Jeez. Well, let me explain why I watch the Olympics: because it's the only time you can watch sports that aren't mainstream on TV. All the year everything you get to see (on German TV) is soccer, tennis, soccer, sometimes cycling, soccer, skiing, soccer, men's handball, soccer, ski jumping and did I mention soccer? Usually only the male competitions of course. So now during the Olympics I can see female athletes in interesting sports that I wouldn't be able to see anytime else on TV. If they would air the Womens Handball League I would totally watch sports on TV every week. But for some odd reason I'm not very interested in seeing sweaty, aggressive men rolling dramatically on the ground when they got poked. *rollseyes*

Well I've never been a big fan of sports, but I do watch the Olympics

I guess it's just the whole thing about all the countries coming together to compete and just have a jolly good time....

As for coverage of women's sport in general...I have noticed that they have been talking about Netball more often recently in Australia..so I guess thats progress

Anywho from what I've seen of the Olympics the women are doing much better then the men (the Australians) so yay for our Aussie ladies!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie 
Oi, Oi, Oi

~Elvis Presley~

I admire and respect every athlete that makes it to the games whether they are a winner or not. Perhaps the New York Times reporter is so confused by women watching sports because for him sports is all about competition and winning and nothing more, in which case he’s missing the best bits.

Just came across this clip in a UK article and then the Aussie take.  Cool! 

Alyson Annan and Carole Thate: Two great international hockey players Alyson Annan (Australia) and Carole Thate (Netherlands) met in Sydney (2000). Their friendship led to a civil partnership in 2005 and they have recently had a son via donated sperm.

Full article here:  http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/divided-in-sport-united-in-love/2007/06/30/1182624235011.html

It is nearly midnight and I am cheering the only out gay guy, Mathew Mitcham, as he dives. Channel 7 then goes across to the pole vault and I am now invested in watching Steve Hooker in that (scary image below). I sit here stunned that the relays teams can't hold a baton. Then I switch across to watch Kazakhstan and Korea in the boxing. Now volleyball is on between Italy and Brazil....this is great.

 I love watching all these different sports.....and I haven't exercised (on purpose...running for public transport doesn't count) since 1989.

 I taught 3 lessons today before the high of watching Gro get that final goal against Korea wore off...should we mine and promote tourism in Antarctica....feeling brilliant......an analysis of Ned Kelly's crimes/heroism...still fantastic.......let's connect To Kill a Mockingbird to a current justice issue....still great and the thought of the final cheers me up. 

GO AUSTRALIA.

I am loving the games........but only when i tune out human rights...and Colin the humpback!

the pale australian ginger with the head band just won gold........i just didn't know there was room for my people in sport.

go aussies.

go pale people.

go go go gingers!!!!!!!

 but he did have freckles... i hope they aren't important for an athetic career because i don't have any....are my dreams over already?