Winter Olympics - whose going to watch

*should not

Barmy for environmental and aesthetic reasons to make snow just on the bits they are competing on. Pity they couldn’t be held just in those countries which have a winter sports tradition, funded pro rate by a pool of countries competing depending on the number of athletes they send and some agreed measure of their ability to afford it, eg GDP?? I’m not best places to judge what that should be, but clearly countries which can only muster a few competitors because they don’t have the necessary climate or tradition should not be expected to contribute as much, eg the Jamaican bobsleigh team. And split any profits the same way.
Chinese human rights is a whole other issue, elite sportspeople whose platform this is don’t deserve to be deprived of their small lifetime window of opportunity to compete just because a country abuses human rights. And the Chinese people won’t even get to watch it!

No i agree with others that it shoild not have been held- coronavirus is still virulant, so no.and if chinese people dont watch it or mention it why on earth are they holding it this year anyway. I used to watch the skating on tv as a kid/growing up. I watched Torville& Dean make history.?

No and I don’t think we should be there.

Not me.

I might watch a bit. I like the skating.

I doubt I will watch this year. I agree with those saying we should have boycotted it. We need to make a stand. I used to like the skating and curling but don't enjoy watching the "snowy" sports such as skiing, snowboarding.

I feel people like Clare Balding should use their influence more to speak out against the regime, rather than going to bask in their own fame, just as I feel she should have done at Sochi. I won't be watching and believe more countries should have boycotted them

No

No

Winning at any cost? No

I'm watching.
The politics and the environmental concerns take much of the joy away but the athletes show such resolution and courage.
I find the Winter Olympics more awe-inspiring than the Summer ones as the competition is based so much on a skillful use of the elements as well as the athletes' own power and endurance.

I hadn't even considered any environmental impact of artificial snow etc the human aspect was enough for me. I'd feel so sorry for any athlete who'd withdrawn but would so admire their integrity and humanity. Evil is evil there are no excuses.

No. I feel sorry for the athletes, but no.

Even my favourite, skiing- as I have just seen arial photos of desertic mountains, with just the slopes made of tons of artificial snow only. Sheer madness.

I have really mixed thoughts. I think they shouldn't have even had the games in light of the pandemic, and disagree with China's stance on human rights and freedoms, but I also want to support sports and sportsmanship.

I also really enjoy watching some sports that are not usually televised, and cheering on our athletes that have worked so hard to become the best of their chosen sport.

My husband always has sports on the TV, so I will most likely get drawn in to watching some, depending on the time zone differences.

No.

I always feel the Olympics should be staged in Greece, each country participating to contribute to costs. Winter Olympics, well were there is natural snow, again costs to be met by all. Surely more environmentally friendly. No I won’t be watching this from China.

All the snow is artificial, made at a huge environmental cost. Perhaps if there is nowhere suitable with real snow it is time to discontinue the Winter Olympics.

I thought I'd be alone in saying no. I love the winter olympics and would normally watch the events, although I don't always bother with the opening and closing ceremonies. Although I know it matters not one jot to the Chinese I'm not watching out of principle. China's human rights abuses in general and especially their treatment of the Uyghurs are vile and disgusting. I'd hope there would be a global rejection by athletes and countries but unfortunately there wasn't.

If we win anything, I dare say it’ll be on the news.
Otherwise I won’t be watching. I’m not exactly the biggest fan of China.

No, no, no. ?

I won’t be watching in protest at China’s appalling human rights record.

Hear, hear, HettyBetty.

No, really disappointed that GB didn't have the guts to boycott it. Their possibility of getting a few medals is nothing compared to the human rights abuses.

I watched a bit of the opening ceremony and was amused to see the Chinese playing Land Of Hope And Glory. It seemed an odd choice but perhaps they thought that we'd like it.