We're back, only 178 days since the last Quadrennial International Sporting Event (aka QISE--don't want the QISEOC lawyers to descend on me). Beijing is the place, which already hosted Summer games in 2008. How can a single location cover both winter and summer games? Apparently with fully artificial snow, loaded with chemicals.
COVID continues to be top of mind, with China making an almost futile effort to negate the ultimate super-spreader event. There's also political concerns--alleged human rights abuses, a trade war, state-run media. If this was 40 years ago, there would have been a massive boycott, as occurred in the 1980 Moscow games. But QISE is too big a moneymaker now--all the US did was stop their diplomats from going (in related news, we normally send diplomats to QISE).
NBC/Universal/Comcast/Kabletown/Sheinhardt Wig Co. has decided to keep virtually all their correspondents home for the games. This is reportedly due to concerns over Beijing's COVID protocols, which could results in an announcer having to work from a hotel room--but we know this is also a cost-saving measure. Torico will be onsite, but the rest--including those for marquis events--will be holed up in tiny booths in Connecticut. Not sure how Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski will show off their fashions--maybe green-screen them in?
As usual, I will concentrate on the coverage of QISE, rather than the event itself. Of course, there will be pre-manufactured storylines, with an emphasis on rah-rah 'Muricans. NBC has promised that every single event will be available on Peacock this time--hopefully no need to search through a half-dozen sites to find what you want. They will also simulcast anything being broadcast.
Despite the the opening ceremonies not taking place until Friday (that is considered "Day 0"), there's already QISE action underway. I just watched a Curling round early this morning. "CURLING--if shuffleboard and bowling had a kid" (Sponsored by LaBatt's). Tonight, it's Downhill Skiing training sessions and early Women's Hockey matches.
Let the games begin!