Well, we are a week into the Olympics now.

Everyone I have spoken to this week has commented that they’re a bit tired: staying up later than usual, waking up earlier than usual. Going through the emotional rollercoaster of sport is taking its toll - even if we’re only watching from the couch.

And this is the wonderful thing about the Olympics – we’re all in it together.

It’s a cliché, but sport brings us together, as a nation and globally. And while there are epic performances from the world’s top sporting stars, there are also smaller moments which bring a smile to your face and warm your heart.

Oh yeah - Who would have thought Snoop Dogg would be an ambassador for the Olympics? Technically he’s a special correspondent for NBC, and his job is to hype up athletes and root for team USA. But heavens he’s having fun - and we’re all in on it. What hasn’t he done?

Where hasn’t he been? Who hasn’t he hung out with? If you’re trying to get those not interested in sport to pay some attention - well, he’s the party guy to bring them in!

Aside from the tourists burning up social media, there have been some actual competitors who have also gone viral and stolen our hearts. If there was ever an example of how talent rather than tools is the important thing - then Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec is your guy.

A former officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie, Dikec and his teammate won silver in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol this week. His casual approach is what’s got him all the attention. He stood out for his nonchalant shooting stance, with his spare hand tucked into his pocket, and not having specialised gear like lenses, an eye cover, or ear protection. He preferred simple yellow ear plugs and run-of-the-mill prescription glasses.

He turned out to be the star we didn’t know we needed.

The other star of the show - and yes, I know a lot of you were not happy with the Opening Ceremony - has been Paris, an incredible setting. The backdrops are unbeatable, whether you’re watching the equestrian at Versailles, the beach volleyball beside the Eifel Tower, or any number of events and locations across the city. I’ve no idea if the travel logistics for fans and athletes are easy or awful, but from a TV watchers perspective it’s part travel show, part drama, and part sports doco.

And that brings us to the other discussion that always dominates at the Olympics – medals. For the first days, our lust to see a Kiwi on the podium almost over-shadowed some incredible achievements and performances. Hayden Wilde’s arm wrapped around his competitor’s shoulders, after losing the triathlon to him in the final 300m, was a beautiful moment of sportsmanship and a reminder for is all to calm the farm, it isn’t always about the medals.

So all in all, it’s been a wonderful first week – bring on week two. 

Well, we are a week into the Olympics now.
Everyone I have spoken to this week has commented that they’re a bit tired: staying up later than usual, waking up earlier than usual. Going through the emotional rollercoaster of sport is taking its toll - even if we’re only watching from the couch.
And this is the wonderful thing about the Olympics – we’re all in it together.
It’s a cliché, but sport brings us together, as a nation and globally. And while there are epic performances from the world’s top sporting stars, there are also smaller moments which bring a smile to your face and warm your heart.
Oh yeah - Who would have thought Snoop Dogg would be an ambassador for the Olympics? Technically he’s a special correspondent for NBC, and his job is to hype up athletes and root for team USA. But heavens he’s having fun - and we’re all in on it. What hasn’t he done?
Where hasn’t he been? Who hasn’t he hung out with? If you’re trying to get those not interested in sport to pay some attention - well, he’s the party guy to bring them in!
Aside from the tourists burning up social media, there have been some actual competitors who have also gone viral and stolen our hearts. If there was ever an example of how talent rather than tools is the important thing - then Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec is your guy.
A former officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie, Dikec and his teammate won silver in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol this week. His casual approach is what’s got him all the attention. He stood out for his nonchalant shooting stance, with his spare hand tucked into his pocket, and not having specialised gear like lenses, an eye cover, or ear protection. He preferred simple yellow ear plugs and run-of-the-mill prescription glasses.
He turned out to be the star we didn’t know we needed.
The other star of the show - and yes, I know a lot of you were not happy with the Opening Ceremony - has been Paris, an incredible setting. The backdrops are unbeatable, whether you’re watching the equestrian at Versailles, the beach volleyball beside the Eifel Tower, or any number of events and locations across the city. I’ve no idea if the travel logistics for fans and athletes are easy or awful, but from a TV watchers perspective it’s part travel show, part drama, and part sports doco.
And that brings us to the other discussion that always dominates at the Olympics – medals. For the first days, our lust to see a Kiwi on the podium almost over-shadowed some incredible achievements and performances. Hayden Wilde’s arm wrapped around his competitor’s shoulders, after losing the triathlon to him in the final 300m, was a beautiful moment of sportsmanship and a reminder for is all to calm the farm, it isn’t always about the medals.
So all in all, it’s been a wonderful first week – bring on week two.

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Francesca Rudkin: Bring on week two of the Olympics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0cde20b8-5d35-4571-816b-b1c1016d20a9/transcript

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