I love the Olympics.
I can appreciate people not being interested in sport - I find the swimming quite dull - but let's not resort to describing, say, football as "twenty-two people running around a patch of grass after a spherical object."
That's no more clever or enlightening than describing the Beatles as "four men hitting and scraping some bits of wood, metal and plastic".

And I don't see anything wrong with caring about something once every four years. I don't like playing badminton and never usually watch it, but I just chanced upon a match between a Korean player and a Chinese player and it was thrilling entertainment.

There's plenty to be cynical about in the Olympics - especially one held in a country like China - but there's plenty to care about too. It's well worth preserving, and well worth supporting when it comes to London.

It's great that teenagers can still fuck up on the international stage though, as with the reports of Tom Daly and his mate falling out because of a mobile phone call, thus ruining their synchronised diving appearance.
Next we loose out on the chances of BMX gold after the Russians comment on Shanaze Reades bike saying it's 'minging and well spaz.'

you can't beat all that boxing on the, eh, box.

Could we start spicing sport up a bit
- Jet pack racing
- Bionic Javelin & discus (? spelling)
= Stilt running
= Long Jump with a trampoleen in the middle
- Unicycle racing
- Scuba bike racing

Although it may displease the traditionalists should we see the range of sports extend to welcome technology and innovative sports?? Just having a bit of fun........

Nearly all sport leaves me cold and I have no sense of patriotism. I treat the Olympics rather like the World Cup or Big Brother, I'm afraid: it's quite clearly going on and everyone seems to be talking about it, but I choose polite ignorance and disinterest.

When it was in Sydney in 2000, I took the time off work to watch it and it was thoroughly worth it. I wish I could do the same for this one but I can't, so thank heavens for Sky+ and Interactive.

Rebecca Adlington's gold medal yesterday was thrilling. And I want to see if today's Badminton featuring Gail Emms & Nathan Robertson is on Interactive later because apparently it's fantastic.

There's probably a separate thread about the BBC's coverage but I think it's been excellent. However, watching the events live on Interactive shows just how much chat and padding there is in the BBC1 programmes - you don't have all the out-of-breath, post-race chats with Sharon Davies or anyone "talking to Garry Richardson".

You'll probably also find that when it's all over, the papers will be full of editorial columns about how wonderful it has been, what a great example of sporting endeavour it is and how much grubbier football is by comparison. At least, that's what happened after both Sydney and Athens, and football has arguably become even grubbier since then.

Do I care about the Olympics? Oh, most certainly. The Pirrip household gets very excited every four years and thoughts of a successful games in 2012 border on the orgasmic.

Whilst I concede that some sports are not exactly riveting telly for many people, they are a demonstration of personal and team achievement at the highest level and the shop window for sports that struggle for airtime and column inches against the ubiquitous soccer.

Up and down the land there are many thousands of badminton players, archers, swimmers etc who derive immense pleasure and success from sport, often in second rate facilities. The Olympics gives them the opportunity to see the Ronaldos of their sport and experience the agony and ecstasy of competition by proxy. Furthermore, if just one cholesterol infused couch potato gets off their spotty arse and investigates the riches available from their local sports organisations as a result of something seen over the next two weeks, then hooray for that.

To quote my nephew as an example: a 10 year old with no obvious sporting talent or interest, who was incapable of kicking a brick wall if he was standing in front of it, somehow thought he might fancy a go at fencing. Two years on he is now pretty damn good and being within the bosom of a club, has all the benefits of social interaction, technical direction, competition, responsibility, fellowship … I could go on, but if I climb any higher up this pommel horse I might start suffering from vertigo.

The Olympics are relevant. Give them a chance.

I agree that the Olympics can be exciting and relevant; if I start watching a particular event, by accident rather than intent usually, I can quite easily get engrossed, especially if a UK competitor has a chance of a medal (jingoistic, I know). In terms of it's relevance, I think this chiefly lies in it's role as an aspirational target for sportspersons worldwide. The encouragement of participation in sports can only be a good thing (safer than religion).
However, what I do object to is the excessive media coverage. I personally don't know anyone who is particularly interested. It's a bit like the Boat Race - who watches it?

While there's much to dislike about the Olympics,seeing Nicole Cooke on the front of every newspaper on Monday made the whole thing worthwhile.

If ever there is someone who by virute of years of unglamorous hard work deserves her moment in the limelight it's her. And she's interviewed on national television for what she has acheived by virtue of her efforts and commitment (and great supporting teamwork) without the benefit of input from spin-doctors, stylist or worrying about what her hair looked like.

She's the Tom Waits of the pushed pedal and what real sport is all about.

dull, dull, dull, dull, dull...

every interview with a British winner is the same... "Oh my GAAAAWWD, I can't BELIIEEEVE it! It's AMAAAAAZING! HELLO MUM! HELLO GRAN! WHOOOOOOO!"

I used to enjoy watching Daley Thompson in the Decathlon though... he had spirit, and he was bloody good at his job.

Sports I wouldn't usually watch, I end up glued to....been watching the swimming and the gymnastics and it is moving stuff. The dedication and training that the competitors put into it is inspiring, with winning and losing being a few seconds or a few points makes it so fascinating.

I was even watching the women's weightlifting the other day!

I'm watching in the US so not much focus on British athletes but I cheer them on nonetheless when I see a name. The coverage is really good and you learn something new about sports you never bothered with before.

Looking forward to the athletics this weekend.

In 1988 American swimmer Matt Biondi was the Michael Phelps of his day and was considered unbeatable in the 100m Butterfly.

The race did not go to script, the great Biondi came second by a fingernail to Anthony Nesty of Suriname. When the race was over I leapt to my feet and punched the air. One minute prior I had not been fully aware that Suriname existed, let alone Nesty. There is (or was anyway) only one 50m pool in the entire country. That it happened is scarcely credible, yet I watched it, what a story!

That's the beauty of the Olympics and sport in general. Sport has every element of drama. Every sport at every level has heroes, villains and a quest and unlike drama its totally unscripted and even the players (in the Shakespearean sense) don't know what's going to happen next. What's not to like?

It looks better. For instance, how many times have summer track and field sports turned up in a James Bond film? And how often have winter sports? There's more chance of people injuring themselves, what with most of the sports being variations on chucking yourself off a mountain or over a pond.

And am I mistaken or is that synchronised diving thing the campest sport ever? They even show the contestants having a quick shower afterwards.

I couldn't really give a toss about some of the downright odd sports that claim to be olympic events but seeing the triumph of unknowns who have flogged their way around the circuit for years to take place in a once in a lifetime event can be uplifting. That girl cycling through torrential rain to win was great!

For me then it is strictly highlights only. I am not setting my alarm for 3.00am no matter how many times Gabby Logan exhorts me to do so.

I do wonder if every other country has the "plucky brit" angle whereby "our" man/woman comes in last but we are pleased they got that far.

Swimming not so much,other stuff is brilliant. I remember that time when we won that relay against the Americans by about 0.001 seconds. Brilliant. Nothing better than seeing Americans cry.

Yawn. Blanket coverage, overhyped British athletes who fail miserably yet are still 'National Heroes'. Excuse me, but failing to win means you're a loser. Do better next time.

Why on BBC1? I want my Breakfast News back not Adrian Childs doing his Black Country everyman schtick. Stick it on BBC2 or better yet one of the Digital Channels. If you want to watch it go to BBC 4 or something.

And you just know that 2012 is going to be an embarrassing mess. I may leave the country for a month.

Can you tell I'm not a fan? Oh well, at least the footie is back soon.

I must own up to enjoying the boxing - the Cuban fighters are usually incredible. The Americans don't dominate (e.g. last gold medal at middleweight was Michael Spinks in 1976 - I think) and various characters from obscure nations can spring the odd upset.
But why are football and tennis now included? It is not as if these sports need the exposure.
Of course you can always watch beach volleyball and pretend to be interested in the outcome!