how strange the change from major to minor

[pensnest]

The Summer Olympics, formerly known as The Olympic Games, mostly makes sense. Quite a lot of the velodrome racing was devised by drunk people, obviously, and there is dressage, and there is pole vaulting which, come on, who thought that was a good idea?

But mostly the Olympics in summer makes reasonable sense.

The Winter Olympics - bonkers, or what?

I mean.

Hurtling down a steep slope then up a short slope then doing aerial acrobatics with planks of wood strapped to your feet. Or hurtling around an arena and getting dizzy with sharp blades strapped to your feet. Sure, it's fascinating to watch, and clever, and impressive, but... bonkers.

Curling.

Ice hockey - okay, fine. Downhill skis, okay, fine. Games make sense, even when played intimidatingly fast, and races make sense.

Except for Luge. Grown women lying down on supercharged tea trays to hurtle down an ice tunnel at eighty miles an hour in a supine position.... Just bonkers.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Gloriously bonkers!

[pensnest]

Oh, indeed!

[watervole]

I used to love ice-skating. Really missed the local rink when it closed.

[pensnest]

I admire it enormously because I cannot do it at all - literally not at all. I once took my daughter to an ice rink, and when I got onto the ice I was completely unable to let go of the side. Just couldn't do it!

[watervole]

I was pretty good at it. Used to go to classes as a child, and we got to do some pretty complex moves by the end.

[nineveh_uk]

Even as massive Winter Olympics fan I confess that the luge makes little sense, though perhaps that is part of the pleasure - it is purely for fun. And really that's just as much justification as ice hockey (which is my least favourite winter sport).

I do rather regret that of the various Norwegian military skiing exercises that evolved into modern competitive skiing, we have lost shooting at a target while skiing at top speed... Though probably for good reason.

[pensnest]

I have a sneaking suspicion that luge makes more sense than curling, but I may be wrong. Watching people shoot while hurtling by would be quite exciting!

[turlough]

Both my mum and my youngest aunt are big sports fan so right now all they're talking about is the Winter Olympics :-)

[pensnest]

I think I'd probably watch more of it if I knew what it might be, but the programme guide on the Virgin TV box is very vague. Also, sport and knitting are not a great combo.

[rikes]

Oh, agreed! My favourite is ski jumping, which is absolutely insane! Hurtling down a steep slope only to jump off and fly 140m at 100km/h! But very entertaining.

Sidenote: I think dressage started with training war horses to attack or evade, so even that one kind of makes sense!

[pensnest]

I think the ski jumping with added aerial acrobatics is a better spectator sport for those who, like me, know nothing about the skills required.

It's weird where what are now sports actually derive from. I did not know that!