OPINION
The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us and the quadrennial showpiece for many of the world’s lessor-seen sports is a nice break from the river of rugby codes and golf that dominate Sky TV’s programming over the winter months.
For many Kiwis, the games invoke golden memories of Sir Mark Todd and his mount Charisma leaping to victory after avoiding wobbly rails, Paul McDonald, Ian Ferguson and Dame Lisa Carrington muscling their way to glory on calm waterways and Dunedin’s favourite son Danyon Loader defying the odds to power to victory in the pool.
In place since the first naked marathon in 776 BC, the traditional offerings of track and field, weightlifting, fencing, and pankration pursuits still light a torch-sized flame inside the nostalgic sports fan.
However, after I listened in to the great sounding board of the New Zealand sporting public, otherwise known as talkback radio, it would appear (albeit from a small sample size) that the populace is largely apathetic to the events in Paris.
A common thread seemed to be that the games were trying too hard to stay relevant, almost as though they had become increasingly analogue in a digital world.
Perhaps sensing the concept of a two-week-long showcase of the world’s rarely-mentioned sports was too much for the TikTok generation, the IOC included Surfing in Tokyo followed in 2024 by 3×3 Basketball, Sport Climbing-and the curious addition of Breakdancing.
Otherwise known as Breaking, the sport has its origins in U.S hip Hop culture and is enjoying a renaissance after hitting a high 40 years ago when Turbo and Ozone dance-fought developers to save the rec centre in the film Breakin 2- Electric Boogaloo.
While sports like Ballroom Dancing and Synchronised swimming are often the butt of jokes, they have been included in the games for some time now and have defied the naysayers who paint them as mere recreation.
After being surprised by the attitude of my fellow sports lovers, I decided to conduct my own (unscientific) poll via social media to see what Olympic events float people’s boats.
The responders ranged in age from youngish millennials to what could impolitely be described as boomers- but disappointingly did not include many opinions from Gen Z.
An overwhelming number of folks said they preferred the tried and true, with sports like Swimming, Rowing and the 100-metre sprint garnering the most votes. Honourable mentions were given to Equestrian and Rhythmic Gymnastics along with games like Handball, which despite being huge in Europe, seem obscure to the antipodean viewer.
Mulling over my preferences, I do enjoy the opportunity to watch sports from outside the sphere of what is shown ad nauseam on local TV, and I will probably give Rugby Sevens a miss for at least a cursory glance at Beach Volleyball and the Modern Pentathlon.
Let the games begin!
