Olympics 2008

[Alex]

I don't find it all that interesting, because i think the number of gold medals given out in Olympic swimming is ridiculous and the fact that so many different events are so frequently dominated by just a couple people (even if never before quite so dominated) is evidence that they really aren't sufficiently unique to warrant separate competition.

To me the feat of winning gold in two separate gymnastics apparatuses is way more impressive than winning gold in 5 swimming events.

[Kevy Baby]

In reading today's LA Times (yes, I still read the physical newspaper - I'm a dinosaur), I saw an interesting article talking about how art used to be an Olympic event. I was unaware of that!

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

In reading today's LA Times (yes, I still read the physical newspaper - I'm a dinosaur), I saw an interesting article talking about how art used to be an Olympic event. I was unaware of that!

Awesome article love the connection to Mary Blair

[SzczerbiakManiac]

NBC apologizes for not mentioning Mitcham is gay

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

NBC apologizes for not mentioning Mitcham is gay

I don't remember them mentioning the sexual orientation of all the straight athletes and I don't feel snubed. Why would you expect sexual orientation to be mentioned as part of the Olympics coverage?

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I don't remember them mentioning the sexual orientation of all the straight athletes

That's not true. Every time the camera shows an athlete's opposite-sex spouse or boy/girlfriend, that is exactly what they are saying.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Why would you expect sexual orientation to be mentioned as part of the Olympics coverage?

Because, in this case, it is relevant. Mitcham is the only out gay male at the Olympics this year. He is the only diver to break the Chinese stranglehold on diving gold. His struggle to even get to the Olympics with his partner was big news in his native Australia.

But more importantly, gay men are associated with being physically weak, poor at sports, and the antitheses of athletic. When an open gay male succeeds in an athletic endeavor, it is a big deal. Should it be a big deal? No, of course not. But reality, at least for now, makes that answer a resounding yes.

Even on this board, with its high population of left-wing/liberals (not saying that as a pejorative, just a statement of fact) has had non-conservative posters make comments about how hard it was to believe a gay man could enjoy sport for sport sake and not for the sole purpose of ogling the athletes.

That is why I would expect NBC to mention it.

For further examples, please see the following articles on OutSports:
NBC, media ignore Mitcham’s sexuality
NBC defends not saying Mitcham is gay
What Mitcham’s win means to gays everywhere

[Morrigoon]

Bravo for them not considering it relevant to an athletic event

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I don't remember them mentioning the sexual orientation of all the straight athletes and I don't feel snubed. Why would you expect sexual orientation to be mentioned as part of the Olympics coverage?

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Bravo for them not considering it relevant to an athletic event

As SzczerbiakManiac said, It's because the sexual orientation of straight celebrities is mention, examined, promoted, and obsessed about continuously. The sexual orientation of gay celebrities – and gay sports celebrities in particular – is ignored and covered up. NBC went to great lengths to mention various straight Olympians’ significant others, but ignored Mitcham’s

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by JWBear

As SzczerbiakManiac said, It's because the sexual orientation of straight celebrities is mention, examined, promoted, and obsessed about continuously. The sexual orientation of gay celebrities – and gay sports celebrities in particular – is ignored and covered up. NBC went to great lengths to mention various straight Olympians’ significant others, but ignored Mitcham’s

I really don't remember it that way. In fact the only relative they focused on that I can recall was Mrs. Phelps and that was just because they covered everything about Michael. I don't know if Misty and what's her name are a couple or have boy toys, Bolt? The only thing I saw about him was his excessive celebrating and lay back methods. Etc....

Obsessed about it?

[Strangler Lewis]

I sort of agree with both sides. There are two ways that sexual orientation merit mention at the Olympics: 1) a quick cutaway to the partner in the stands without comment; 2) as part of a human interest story about obstacles overcome if, indeed, there were obstacles. However, I don't think editorial comment along the lines of "And you thought gay guys weren't athletic" would be any more appropriate than praising our black swimmer with "And Al Campanis said blacks lack buoyancy."