> > I'm just not sure about the idea of having it as a massively-televised spectator sport.
>
> The chance of it being massively televised here in the US is about zero. Broadcast networks would only show it if the final happened to include an American, and then you'd only see about a 20 second clip of the final move, the contestant's cheering parents, and the teary-eyed medal ceremony. Unless of course the finalist had battled cancer, recently lost a spouse/child/sibling, or sacrificed his childhood to train intensively. In that case, you'd see a five minute "up close and personal" segment before the aforementioned 20 second clip.

I heard about this, but didn't believe it. Is this true for all US sports networks... that they'll only televise the Olympic events which include Americans?? On some sports channels, if the US competitor happens to fall out of the running, the network sometimes doesn't even bother to show who actually won the event or the medal ceremonies for non-Americans. Sounds like a rather skewed approach to the notion that the Olympics celebrate *international* relationships of competitive spirit.


> I don't mind if they include chess in the Olympics, but where do they draw the line between sport and games?

Heh. I'd like to know what kind of interesting logic was used to convince the IOC that chess should be added to the official roster of sporting pageantry. Chess is nowhere near as telegenic as OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL, now is it?

Wolf" ;)" spirit