The vast majority of sports fans watch sports because they can’t or don’t play sports themselves. They spend vast amounts on supporting pro athletes that make millions per year and these pros can compete against any poor athletes from any poor undeveloped countries at the Olympics.
Guess why richest and most populated countries win the most medals. Duh.
I don’t mind watching some events, but there just keep getting more and more events every Olympics.
As to how many medals each country wins, including my own, I don’t give a hell.
Imagemaster wrote:
The vast majority of sports fans watch sports because they can’t or don’t play sports themselves.
Link to your study on the topic?
Quite a lot of athletes and people who have a background in sports also watch sports.
Of course, there are others who don't play sports but watch it, as entertainment or social activity.
I find it entertaining to photograph the people watching sports, in normal times (not right now, because watching as social activity may be hazardous). There can be a lot of emotion in the audience, whether on site or at venues where people go to watch sports socially, and that emotion translates to interesting photographs.
Imagemaster wrote:
The vast majority of sports fans watch sports because they can’t or don’t play sports themselves. They spend vast amounts on supporting pro athletes that make millions per year and these pros can compete against any poor athletes from any poor undeveloped countries at the Olympics.
Guess why richest and most populated countries win the most medals. Duh.
I don’t mind watching some events, but there just keep getting more and more events every Olympics.
As to how many medals each country wins, including my own, I don’t give a hell.
Interesting thought on your comment about more sports being added every new Olympics. Most of the new sports being added are what the population actually participate in, not the war sports such as shooting, throwing the javelin, hurling stones or running a cross country race to save the troops.
chez wrote:
Yep, watched many of the highlights, particularly liked the women’s triathlon that was won by someone at their 4th Olympics. I’m not telling you what to watch…just commenting on your observations. Keep on tuning in and counting cameras…that must be more exciting than watching the athletes…power to you.
You do realize that pretty much the only time you can get a look at the photographers is during breaks, celebrations etc. right? The broadcasts are smart enough to focus on the athletes during active competition and not focus on sidelines.
Why you think that taking an interest in what gear is being used by the photographers is such a stupid thing when you can only do it when the atheletes aren't actively competing is beyond me
I've actually been quite surprised by how many 70-200 EF lenses I still see at indoor events. That's the lens I've been seeing most for the Judo event for example.
I did see a good handful of Sony's for the more outdoor events!
chez wrote:
Really? The thousands of hours these athletes devoted to their training and we watch the sidelines to count cameras?
At this point in my life I couldn't care less about sports.. I grew up playing sports for 20 years. Constantly watching sports, reading about sports, collecting sports cards and other sports stuff. But as I got older it became one big time suck. 2-4 hrs at a time watching adults play games? Not my idea of fun anymore. I would rather do something else with my time that gives me more enjoyment.
At work I hear these grown men talking and debating about sports. Hanging on each others word like it matters. Like it's really important. It's not. Maybe a fun distraction for some and that's fine. We all enjoy different things.
molson wrote:
At least the photographers are probably not doping...
Recreational or performance enhancing? ;-)
And every sports photo guy I know is checking out the gear. Its a sport in of itself. It's crazy but I can both watch the athletes and try to see what equipment is being used to capture them.
zz wrote:
I've actually been quite surprised by how many 70-200 EF lenses I still see at indoor events. That's the lens I've been seeing most for the Judo event for example.
I did see a good handful of Sony's for the more outdoor events!
Yes a lot of 70-200/2.8s from all three manufacturers. Easy to spot the Sony ones as they have the white pedal lens hood. The Canon EFs all have black hoods and the RF version has a white but non-pedal hood.
I'm actually surprised how many 200-600s I've seen at indoor events. I guess the Olympics know how to light a venue.
Randolph K wrote:
At this point in my life I couldn't care less about sports.. I grew up playing sports for 20 years. Constantly watching sports, reading about sports, collecting sports cards and other sports stuff. But as I got older it became one big time suck. 2-4 hrs at a time watching adults play games? Not my idea of fun anymore. I would rather do something else with my time that gives me more enjoyment.
At work I hear these grown men talking and debating about sports. Hanging on each others word like it matters. Like it's really important. It's not. Maybe a fun distraction for some and that's fine. We all enjoy different things....Show more →
Is that any different than talking about the latest gear or testing the corner pixels at 200% or counting different camera brands at a sporting event? Yes, different strokes for different folk.
This is slightly better than those athletes who went to Tokyo, tested positive for COVID-19 and have to watch everything on TV while being quarantined!
chez wrote:
Really? The thousands of hours these athletes devoted to their training and we watch the sidelines to count cameras?
Randolph K wrote:
At work I hear these grown men talking and debating about sports. Hanging on each others word like it matters. Like it's really important. It's not. Maybe a fun distraction for some and that's fine. We all enjoy different things.
"Bread and Circuses" to distract the masses, keep them sedated so those in power can loot the society.
Has worked for thousands of years. Works great still.
zz wrote: