The Problem with The Olympics
This isn’t an analysis of the economic consequences of hosting the Olympic Games — the financial struggles of cities like Beijing, Tokyo, Sochi, and especially Rio have been examined countless times. Instead, this is about the Games themselves and why, for many, the Olympics just aren't exciting.
At its core, the Olympics are supposed to represent the peak of human athletic achievement — the ultimate stage where the world’s best compete to prove their dominance. And for the athletes, that may still be true. But for the viewers? It isn’t.
What Are We Doing?
Let’s rip the band-aid off and go straight for the jugular: the Olympics are packed with an array of pointless “sports.” Sure, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) made some smart moves recently by adding skateboarding, surfing, and rock climbing — fresh, exciting events with real athletic appeal. But many of the long-standing Olympic staples desperately need to be reconsidered.
Race Walking – How is this still a thing? Speed walking might be fine as a casual workout, but as an Olympic sport? Come on. If you need proof of how irrelevant this event is, just look at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: the U.S. didn’t even bother to compete in the Men’s 50km Race Walk. Not a single American flag in the results. That says it all.
Steeplechase – I hadn’t even heard of this one before researching for this piece. After watching it, I’m conflicted. On one hand, I get the endurance aspect. On the other… it’s just not engaging. It feels like someone combined hurdles and a kiddie pool and called it a sport.
Equestrian Dressage – I hardly know where to begin to explain how much of a waste this event is. No offense to the skill involved in training these horses, but this isn’t about athleticism — at least not from the human side. It has no business being in the Olympics.
Curling – Honest question: why are there separate men's and women's events? There's already a mixed version, so why not make that the standard? Curling is a “sport” where gender has zero effect on performance, and let’s be real — it requires almost no athletic ability. It’s more strategy and sweeping than strength or speed.
Boxing – Ok, hear me out. I’m not saying that boxing isn’t a sport or entertaining enough to be an Olympic event, but at the Olympics, it’s just taking up space. The sport already has far more frequent, far better, and globally recognized events that are way more prestigious than what the Olympics has to offer. It’s the equivalent of a brand name — often, there’s nothing special about it other than the label. And that’s all the Olympics really brings to boxing: the title of “Gold Medalist,” which pales in comparison to “Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
There are countless other sports that demand far more athleticism, offer way more excitement, and yet have never even been considered for the Olympics. Take cricket, for example. Have you ever watched a game of Cricket?… It’s weird. But more importantly, it’s athletic and entertaining. And let’s be honest: Cricket is a million times more popular than Race Walking will ever be.
What Am I Looking At?
Plain and simple, the Olympics suffers from bad commentary. While the commentators may know their sport inside and out, they seem to know very little about engaging, accessible broadcasting. Too often, they explain events as if every viewer is already familiar with the rules and strategies — which completely misses the mark.
The Olympics are a global event featuring a wide array of niche sports. That means a huge portion of the audience is watching these events for the first time, relying on the commentators to help them understand what’s happening. If you’re going to dive into strategy, you also need to cover the basics: What are the rules? What are the athletes trying to do — beyond just winning gold?
A great example of how to do this right is Nickelodeon’s NFL broadcasts. They understand their platform, know their audience, and adjust accordingly to make the sport understandable and fun. The Olympics could learn a lot from that approach.
Final Thought: Bring Back Tug of War
Yes, really — Tug of War was once an official Olympic event, running from 1900 to 1920. And honestly, it deserves a comeback.
The Olympics are supposed to be about nations sending their best to battle for athletic supremacy. But in so many events, athletes aren’t actually competing against each other — they’re racing the clock, performing for judges, or chasing personal bests. What’s missing is raw, head-to-head competition.
Enter Tug of War: the ultimate display of brute strength and teamwork. No timers. No scorecards. Just two teams, one rope, and one goal — drag the other side into defeat. Forget the Kentucky Derby. A literal show of might between two superpowers, where the only way to win is to out muscle your opponent, would be the greatest two minutes in sports.
