Open Olympics thread
You’d think, with my interest in sports and international relations, that I’d have a lot more to say about the Beijing Olympics. In a perfect world, I would. In the world we live in, however, I have people screaming at me to finish my papers some other obligations. So I’ll just leave this as an open thread. ...
You'd think, with my interest in sports and international relations, that I'd have a lot more to say about the Beijing Olympics. In a perfect world, I would. In the world we live in, however, I have people screaming at me to finish my papers some other obligations. So I'll just leave this as an open thread. Some questions to stir the pot: Will the Games be a success for China? Will the smog clear? Will I be able to avoid NBC for two weeks? Seriously, isn't the Olympics precisely the kind of sporting event meant for YouTube? Why watch eight hours of gymnastics when a three-minute YouTube clip sums things up? Will someone do something that triggers a Chinese boycott or a Western media company? Will Americans care about anything besides the basketball tournament? Speaking of which, will Coach K and Kobe bring back the gold? Fire away! UPDATE: Hmmm... after reading this, I wonder if Russia and Georgia are meeting in water polo this year.... ANOTHER UPDATE: Eszter Hargittai has a fine rant about the jingoistic way the Olympics are broadcast in the United States. I do wonder, however, if her lament is simply a big country/small country distinction.
You’d think, with my interest in sports and international relations, that I’d have a lot more to say about the Beijing Olympics. In a perfect world, I would. In the world we live in, however, I have people screaming at me to finish my papers some other obligations. So I’ll just leave this as an open thread. Some questions to stir the pot:
- Will the Games be a success for China?
- Will the smog clear?
- Will I be able to avoid NBC for two weeks? Seriously, isn’t the Olympics precisely the kind of sporting event meant for YouTube? Why watch eight hours of gymnastics when a three-minute YouTube clip sums things up?
- Will someone do something that triggers a Chinese boycott or a Western media company?
- Will Americans care about anything besides the basketball tournament?
- Speaking of which, will Coach K and Kobe bring back the gold?
Fire away! UPDATE: Hmmm… after reading this, I wonder if Russia and Georgia are meeting in water polo this year…. ANOTHER UPDATE: Eszter Hargittai has a fine rant about the jingoistic way the Olympics are broadcast in the United States. I do wonder, however, if her lament is simply a big country/small country distinction.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner
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