Olympic Competitions
By carpenter5
@carpenter5 (6782)
United States
January 30, 2010 5:54pm CST
Hubby and I are looking forward to the Olympics starting in two weeks. We enjoy sitting down and watching all the pageantry of the Opening Ceremonies, and then the excitement of all the teams marching into the arena.
I love figure skating, the luge and bobsled races, and downhill ski races.
Mike likes the more active sports like snowboarding, snow mobiles, speed skating and hockey.
Now, I don't understand hockey. At all. I know the idea is to get the puck into the net, but that's about it. It seems like such a rough sport and almost every game I've ever watched, there has been at least one fight.
What are your favorite Olympic competition.
Is there one that you don't understand, or don't think it should be a sport at the Olympic Games? (Summer or Winter)
3 people like this
8 responses
@theroadtomoney (27)
• Finland
30 Jan 10
Well as a Fin there have been alot of set backs the last years. Last Olympic we lost the final (in hockey) against sweden :( And some years before that almoast everyone in the ski team was doped. But hey your from Canada right? And you don't like hockey, how is that possible? ;)
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85713)
• United States
31 Jan 10
In general, Americans are not hockey fans (I mean we have some fans here, but hockey is like the fifth most popular sport in the U.S.). Most Americans are obsessed with (American) football. And other than America, I don't think anyone else really cares about American football. Maybe a few Canadians? lol
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I know at one time there was a Canadian Football league. Not sure if it still exists or not. It's kind of funny, that in basketball, baseball and hockey the teams from the US compete against the teams from Canada, but in football they don't. I wonder why that is. LOL
@theroadtomoney (27)
• Finland
1 Feb 10
Aah okey, thought you where from Canada, Don't know why i thougt so :) But hey, if you hate hockey you should give soccer a try ;)
1 person likes this
@mzz663 (2772)
• United States
2 Feb 10
I usually don't watch the Olympics. I haven't for years but remember my dad making sure that every game played that was on tv got watched. I guess there are too many other channels and other things for me to do now instead.
Maybe the next Olympics I'll sit down and watch some of it, but this year I've just got a lot to do.
The hockey thing is pretty easy, pretty much the same as soccer except with sticks and blood! 
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
2 Feb 10
Well, not really clear about soccer rules either, even though my kids played for years! I just cheered when the rest of the parents did! LOL
We don't watch everything. Hubby got interested in the trials for the snowmobile competitions, and some of the newer X-games so I guess we'll watch those this year.
@mzz663 (2772)
• United States
2 Feb 10
That's too funny!I did the same thing with my son while he played football....
I get it now but it took me a really long time! (I stil don't know all the calls and rules) but it is always fun for me to go to a Steelers game and make fun of all the Browns fans around here!! (yep....an Ohioan that likes a Pennsylvania team) 
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
8 Feb 10
Oh don't feel bad. My best friend from College lives just outside Columbus in Marysville. She and her husband are both from Michigan originally, and are huge Michigan Wolverine Fans. Can you imagine that in the land of Ohio and Ohio State? LOL
I thought it was really funny that this last fall when her youngest child was playing soccer that he ended up on the buckeyes. Poor Kurt. He said Aunt Paula, I'm just going to say "Go big Blue" because our shirts are blue.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
31 Jan 10
Hullo Carpenter5! If at all there is one person who is thoroughly disqualified to answer this question then it is me.I have no interest in sports whatsoever and except for brisk walking I have neither participated nor watched any game avidly.I would just sit along with family to participate in watching a cricket match or some swimming etc.I like to see the Olympic Torch being lit up or inauguration ceremony and if there is some enthusiastic discussion at home I will peep in and participate. .Otherwise it is virtually nil.
The only reason I chose to answer this was that I suddenly realised that I have not responded to any discussion of yours in the recent past..Saw this discussion in the list of those started by friends and here I am.
Have a nice time watching your favourite games.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
1 Feb 10
ah, that's okay my friend. The fault is mine, because I have been absent from here the last two weeks or so. It's been a rough time around here. My back is out again, and there have been lots of appointments and tests. My attitude hasn't been very good about the whole thing, and I've found myself avoiding the sites where I was expected to have any type of conversation with anyone. It's easier to cry and feel sorry for yourself if you only have yourself to talk to. LOL
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85713)
• United States
31 Jan 10
Well, hockey appears to be the most popular sport in Canada, so I'm sure their whole country will be going nuts over that sport since the Olympics are in Canada this year. I like the figure skating, bobsled races, and speed skating. Apolo Anton Ohno is probably my favorite male Winter Olympic athlete ever, so I like to watch him speed skate. Remember years ago when Sarah Hughes won the gold for Figure skating? She has to be my favorite female Winter Olympic athlete along with Nancy Kerrigan. Sarah Hughes went pro after that, and I haven't really heard much about her since.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85713)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I looked it up, and representing the U.S. for men's figure skating in the Olympics is of course the flamboyant Johnny Weir (the only guy I "know"), Evan Lysacek, and Jeremy Abbott. As for the women, Rachael Flatt (17), and Mirai Nagasu (16) will be competing for the US in figure skating. I thought there was always 3 women skaters, but I guess not this time. I was hoping Sasha Cohen would have made it.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I started watching Figure Skating's Nationals last Saturday, but then had to leave before they finished, so I never saw who won. I guess I'll be surprised in two weeks (Unless someone happens to know and just tells me) who will be representing the United States at the Olympics.
Earlier this week, I watched a Brian Boitono special that had several of the "greats" skating in it. It was an exhibition skate, and those are always fun, because they can get more creative!
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
1 Feb 10
I was hoping Sasha would make it too, after trying to come back from retirement. I saw Rachel and Marai both skate at National's last weekend, and they are very good. Hopefully, they will have what it take to give the US a boost. I knew the ladies only had two, but didn't realize the men had three compete. I remember the two because of all the hoopla surrounding the women's team the year of the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan incident. Personally, I thought Harding should have been banned from skating, but instead she got rewarded by making the olympic team.
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I have to say that I like figure skating and the one's that you have mentioned the best. I have to agree that i don't understand the sport of hockey either. And what i do know of it with the fighting, I just as soon not watch it!
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
1 Feb 10
My only real interaction with hockey was the year that the US won the Gold Medal when we weren't supposed to. I somewhat remember it actually happening, but then we rented the movie with Kurt Russell that was based on the Olympic Games and the team's rise to glory. It was actually a pretty good movie.
Then of course, there are the Mighty Ducks movies.
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
1 Feb 10
The figure skating is my favorite to watch. It is so beautiful.
My favorite memory about the Olympics is from Feb. 1994. The opening ceremonies were on Feb 12. I watched from a hospital bed between contrations. They sent me home that night and I return the next morning to birth my dear daughter.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
11 May 11
Oh what a sweet memory! I remember the night my youngest daughter was born, there was severe flooding in our town. I watched the news between contractions and saw my brother and other members of the volunteer fire department that he and my husband were a part of going from house to house rescuing people by boat!
I know that hubby would probably rather have been out there with his unit, but he never once left my side.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
31 Jan 10
I find the downhill skiing and the slalom exciting. I don't quite grasp hockey's appeal, but I did enjoy playing it when I was a kid. I just am not as interested in watching other people play it.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
31 Jan 10
You sound like my daughter! She played softball from the time she was old enough to get on a team in summer league until she graduated high school. Absolutely loved it, but she doesn't like to sit down and watch a game on television. She says it just isn't the same. Now, if she goes back to her high school, or to a live game of any sort, she loves it. I guess the action of the crowd may have a lot to do with it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157675)
• United States
31 Jan 10
I love the skating and the skiing. I have not been able to watch much television in a while, but those will be fun to watch. I do think the hosting countries really do themselves up proud, and also provide great services for their visiors.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
31 Jan 10
Most definately! Most tend to use their kids (their futures) and I'm a sucker for a cute snaggle-toothed grin of a child. My heart just melts. When they're all out on the field and waving flags and dancing and singing, looking like they're having an absolute blast! My Grandma tears start rolling down my cheeks!
