Do some of these big events – like women’s gymnastics - seem to have a lack of enthusiasm and passion around them?
Maybe it is because when an event is live here at 9:00 pm it is only 9:00 am in China and the arenas aren’t surprisingly filled with people? Or maybe it is because the Chinese folks aren’t as partisan as people from other host nations. They are too polite? In a nation of more than 1 billion people, why are there so many empty seats? I don’t get it. Why are the venues so quiet?
No, I don’t think that’s quite how it appears. When they pan over to certain sides of the gymnastics arena it definitely appears packed. But there is one side that looks empty. I think that is because it is a press side with tv monitors that block our view (from the ground cameras) of the people in those aisles.
Swimming has been packed. No doubt the athletics competitions will be as usual – they always are. Beach volleyball…well, would you go to the beach volleyball bracket matches? Maybe they’re really expensive.
“Their only mission is to win, do their country proud, and avoid embarassment.”
What else would they do? Isn’t that what the Americans do? Yes, our Americans have more emotion but that is the difference between our culture and theirs. They are very reserved, we are used to expressing our feelings.
The athletes, just like the citizens are robots. There’s very little personal exuberance or emotion shown at all. Their women athletes look like 9 year olds. Their only mission is to win, do their country proud, and avoid embarassment.
It’s sad to watch.