Anyone who has ever watched television in America is familiar with the commercials that run for both junk food and the medications needed to deal with the inevitable side effects of bloating, wind, and constipation. Sho. Similarly, already large global sporting events such as the Soccer World Cup, Rugby World Cup, and the Olympics are all becoming increasingly large and bloated, with an increasing number of teams, matches, and events. While satisfied viewers hope for the equivalent of a purge on television, the Olympic empire is busy packing in BMX bikes, breakdancing and other content aimed at the hunger of young people. In 2028, the decathlon points system may be recalibrated to also take into account the quality of selfies taken during competition. There could also be a brand new interactive event where people hoping to attend the Olympics as spectators will compete to find the last available hotel room on booking.com.
Changing times require changes in formats and new evaluation criteria. I welcome political intervention in sports and give a special medal to the athletes who come up with the most fundamentally uncompromising political statements of solidarity, such as “Torture is wrong!” Suggest giving. Or, “I say no to suffering!”
I regularly feel this kind of ironic anticipation leading up to the Olympics. And eventually, once it takes off, I end up devouring all kinds of sports (skateboarding) that if I were in a position of power I would exclude because it’s not a sport. The heart of the game is always an event that emphasizes the deep primal powers of biological, naked human ability and strength: running away (running away from or chasing mammoths or other humans), jumping, or swimming ( crossing the river). Basically, the more recently the necessary equipment was invented, the less attractive the sport (golf) becomes, but this rule is not absolute (pole vaulting is probably the most popular sport in any other sport except tennis). (more fundamentally changed by technology). Relatedly, the winners of these sports can be judged objectively, even if not with the naked eye, with the help of finely tuned clocks and measuring rods. The biggest moments in events that rely on judges’ aesthetic evaluations, which also come with the potential for bias, occur when competitors like gymnast Simone Biles defy subjective odds. Another important concern is that the most effective sports are those for which the Olympics are the clear pinnacle (track and field). By contrast, Olympic gold medals in soccer are so meaningless that incorporating this sport would be a waste of effort and air time, or empty calories.
So where does this leave breakdancing? I myself am a little vague about when to use “that” and when to use “that,” but in the same way that I object to relaxing grammar rules. , opposes its inclusion. The distinction between “less” and “less” must be maintained. “Unique” cannot be qualified. That means no BMX, no break dancing, no speed texting. I resist all language changes precisely because I rejoice in the consequences of misuse. Like hearing Ian Wright mess up the rules of English grammar. today’s match is one of life’s pleasures, and we believe that breakdancing can be a source of pure joy. But I don’t want it to become institutionalized. It shouldn’t happen at the Olympics. And I end up glued to the TV and watching.
It’s not mountain climbing, though. Breakdancing is both communal and competitive, whereas climbing is only incidentally competitive. An essential, pure, relationship exists between the climber and the cliff or mountain. Who cares which rock Alex Honnold climbs faster than anyone else?All that matters is that he survived the recorded climb free solo. It was him versus death. Competitiveness is at odds with the nature of climbing, but the sport ultimately has winners and losers. (Technology takes us to the limits of theoretical physics in our determination to divine the fraction of a second that separates first place from his second place in the 100-meter dash.) Thus, in the high jump or on the pole, The charm of the moment when his two contestants compete is extremely captivating. Vaults fixed at heights that clearly cannot be surpassed choose to share the gold. In moments like these, the sport transcends itself, effectively canceling itself out, making us take notice and want more.
Geoff Dyer’s latest book is The Last Days of Roger Federer, published by Canongate.