I’ve always been a fan of watching the Olympics. I know politics and wealth all influence outcomes, but I still enjoy seeing the athletes perform. My favorite sports to watch include swimming, diving, and gymnastics. The other night I marveled that I could watch 2 hours’ worth of swim events on my own schedule. Even better, I had the ability to fast forward through everything except for the actual competitions. Another bonus, considering I don’t have cable, is being able to still watch the events through an app. I can browse through a collection of options including sporting events and extra coverage. I also appreciate all the enhanced camera views and angles, especially for the swimming. The underwater coverage is pretty awesome.
Although I appreciated the convenience and customized viewing experience, I felt conflicted about it. Growing up watching the Olympics was an event. Most families I knew only had one TV. We were all at the mercy of watching the limited coverage offered by whatever network showing the events. There were no options about what time we wanted to watch an event or even how much of a specific sport was covered. The viewing schedule was the schedule. Only highlights were available at later times. If you were busy during the scheduled showing, the only option was to record it on VHS, or more modern options as the years went by.
Now, we have the option of switching between multiple events at the same time. Or watching one live and viewing the other one at a later time in its entirety. But what we miss out on is the communal aspect of watching. Or knowing that we’re all part of watching the same thing at the same time, comparing notes, and talking about it later. Rather than in person, all of this happens in the digital sphere, exchanging posts, likes, and comments through social media. Even if you have a conversation with someone about an event you watched, it’s likely you may not have even seen the same thing.
Although I appreciate all the customized options available, it can get lonely watching the events by myself. On the other hand, I get to watch all the things I love the most without competing for the remote or which event to view.