To be so bored with the olympics

[Atinybittiredandsad]

Really so these people have basically spent hours doing a hobby they enjoy. Why does that make them heroes or role models anymore than footballers or cricket players.

Happy for them and all that but what a fuss.

So glad my kids were never that obsessed and generally only joined things to get the uniform 'dd ballet/tap' or just kick a ball around the park.

I can't imagine why any parent would get up at 4am on a Saturday to drive miles to any competition once let alone frequently. Ffs weekends are for chilling.

Nowt wrong with a park kick about or a family swim and them home for DVDs and mummy/daddy wine time.

And to add insult to injury was woken up at 4am by Sky app telling me some bloke had won gold. Who fucking cares aye.

I don't much care for this years Olympics though as always I am enjoying the gymnastics and eventing.

There will be precisely zero chance of me enjoying my daughter to pursue swimming as anything more than a life skill. I suffered through hours watching my cousins swim competitively when I was a child. Would rather stick pins in my eyes now, quite frankly.

This Olympics is kind of boring because it's not in the UK this time LOL

I've successfully avoided most sports coverage for years - Wimbledon, football, athletics, rugby, olympics - just not interested

Running slightly faster than someone else - unless there's a bus at the end of it, just why?

mum

Can't be bothered to explain a comment like mummy/daddy wine time really. You seem devoid of humour. However no most Olympic champions or even those who don't make it but spend hours training don't all do it with siblings that's why the Williams/Murray combos are quite rare.

Seriously can't you really see there might be an issue for a child if a sibling requires so much attention and time in a family?

And it's not lazy parenting to not want to be obsessed with a child's ambition to the exclusion of their other kids or their own free time.

Family life is a balance of everyone's needs to be healthy? No?

Love the Olympics. The once every four years thing makes it quite special. BUT, like everything these days, it is ridiculously bloated.

How can they include golf and exclude squash?! And does every sport need quite so many categories and rounds?

It should cut out every sport in which it is not the major target of the athletes (golf, tennis, basketball etc) and reduce the categories in most sports.

I don't take any interest in the summer olympics. The Winter Olympics is different, I quite enjoy watching Ice Dancing and a few other sports.

However, it seems that in society only sporting and performance related talents are celebrated. I am a talented artist but I don't see this sort of pursuit televised at all, if it was I'd be interested. But no one cares about artistic talent. Only sports and bloody boring singing competitions. Yawn.

Not nasty at all. It is my opinion of your view expressed in your OP.

Perhaps my children will excel, who knows they are pre-schoolers. But should they chose a sport/subject/interest I would encourage them in its pursuit regardless of their skill level.

They will be able to locate the remote control and switch channel, operate a mute button and have the hood grace to appreciate the achievement of others though.

It's very easy to watch something else. I hate practically everything on ITV and football so I don't watch it. Pretty simple really.

Yabu. It's fab watching all the amazing athletes and every olympics I end up watching a sport I don't know much about and loving it.

We haven't watched anything else since it began except CBeebies!

Auti

You sound drunk honestly what a ridiculous ott post to a tongue in cheek thread.

Can't be bothered to report you though.

TSSD

So you have preschoolers. How many? We had 4 all grown up or teens now and it would have been impossible to practically spend that much time and money on one child. It would have been unfair to the others. Ours did loads of sports and clubs over the years but Olympic dedication is something totally different. How would you balance your families needs?

Doesn't anyone else see the point about siblings?

My dad was obsessed by all sport we had to watch everything. I swore that when I grew up I would marry a man who hated sports as much as me. I don't watch it, it's boring I'm with you OP

"hobby"?

Ever watched Chinese/Russian/Romanian sports documentaries?!

Any idea how much time goes into an elite gymnast/divers training?

Generally a humourous / light hearted thread is easily identified by it's light hearted and humorous tone.

And your replies are really snippy

I think you need some mummy wine time OP

It's a good point about the time and money spent on one child when there are other children in the family. My main gripe at the moment is that there is so much time spent on experts and competitors and their families talking that not much sport seems to be shown, so I spend my time wondering why Helen Skelton is wearing a dress with only one sleeve, or has Rebecca Adlington left her child at home in England, and who is her fellow commentator that she is gazing at.

Get off your high-horse - Ha! Ha! - I'm doing dressage!!!

Lighthearted usually makes people laugh.

I knew three people, 2 tennis players and a swimmer, who were really very, very good. Their parents did all they could so that those kids could be the best they could be - and it was wonderful!

My DD was a runner - fair amount of driving about/supporting needed for that. She has grown out of it now but the training was good for her and she loved it.

My DS was a singer - involved a lot of concerts and rehearsals. I was a swimmer and my lovely dad gave up every Friday night and Sunday morning for years. It was a huge part of my childhood. I was really good. (County level). Never got further than that but the determination I learnt and the courage I needed to race and the grimness of Winter Training in an outdoor pool all served me in very good stead when I struggled later in life at things.

So, lighthearted or not, YABU

It's two weeks every four years and not hard to avoid if you don't want to watch it.

I hate reality tv, soaps and crappy 'talent' competitions. I'd happily have those once every four years instead!

I do love the Olympics I like the camaraderie and rooting for the underdog.

Christ what a nasty op and thread

Some MNers seem to lack stick ability. Two days of the olympics and they are bored. Sun comes out and two days later they are moaning about the heat. Snows and they immediately whinge about that.
Get a grip. There are alternatives. It's once every four years. Appreciate the skill and sacrifice, even if it wouldn't be your choice.

I have a relative competing in Rio, as they did in London, and came home with a significant medal to boot.

I can assure you, their siblings had equal quality time given to them by their parents for whatever interests/ needs they had at the time as the whole family pulled together to support them. This has always been the case and continues to be so.

Of course not everybody is interested in the coverage, that's fair enough, and no, I don't think my relative is a hero. I can tell you though that they are talented, passionate, incredibly hard working and also proud, modest and grateful to be experiencing the opportunities they've worked so hard for.

OP you live such a charming and fascinating life!

Reality tv stars are such a better role model than athletes, you are so right.

It could be worst, you could be one of these parents who try to succeed through their kids. Thankfully, most supporting parents understand and are just there to help their kids.

Watch Winners with Denise Lewis on iplayer.
Women who, against the massive odds have become incredible at their chosen sports. Passionate & strong women.
The Olympics is all about people who believe. Who have earned & fought & trained their arses off to get to Rio.
But if it's not your cup of tea, just don't watch it?

I don't think the OP is nasty, though some of the comments to her have been personally pretty nasty.

The Olympics are a bit of a turn off (literally) for me so understand where you are coming from and get some of your humour and serious points too!

It's two weeks. Once every four years. Just do what I do when there's yet another shite reality tv show/"talent" show/depressing as fuck soap on. Change the channel. Hth

Love the olympics- much better than endless tedious football. ESP the men's diving... Those abs!