Every four years, the Winter Olympics bring together athletes from all around the world to compete in events like skiing, figure skating, and hockey. While millions of people tune in to watch, not everyone follows the games the same way, and some do not at all. People at Seven Hills also have a variety of approaches to interacting with the games.
Teacher Ann Gullierman says she is a dual citizen of both Bolivia and America , and has rooted for both teams in the Olympic Games. She plans to watch the games this year and root for “probably the United States because Bolivia really doesn’t have much as far as winter sports, because even though it’s in the middle of the Andes, there are no ski resorts there whatsoever, so not many skiers. And I think soccer is a summer Olympic sport. That’s pretty much the only thing that they could probably compete in that I’m thinking of.” In contrast, senior Thurmund Ellison who lived in Switzerland during his early high school years, said, “I’m rooting for Switzerland.”
Both Guillerman and Ellison also plan to watch different sports. Guillerman plans to watch “figure skating because it’s very artistic and athletic, especially the pairs that require so much cooperation and coordination. I just think it’s really cool. I also figure skated when I was young, so it has a special place in my heart.” Compared to Guillerman’s childhood tied to her love of watching figure skating, Ellison answered “Snowboarding,” which he has never tried before. So, some fans may be watching for personal reasons or just because they enjoy viewing the sport.
With the winter games in Milan, Italy this year, there’s a chance for that nation to display their country. Gullierman said, “I mean, it’s close to mountains, so that’s good. So you got some good skiing there. That would help the venue. And it’s beautiful. I love Italy. I mean, what can I say? I think it’s actually great. Perfect.”
With a “perfect location,” it’s possible that these winter games might even beat out people’s love of the summer games. Guillerman debates which games are the best. She said, “I don’t know, ’cause it isn’t gymnastics like a summer thing? But I like watching figure skating, and I like gymnastics, so I don’t know. Yeah, I would have a hard time choosing between the two”. This shows some fans truly are over all Olympic fans, and some can’t choose between the two. Ellison said, “I think there are more interesting events happening in the summer, like track and field”. Opinions on the Winter versus Summer Olympics vary greatly, with some fans enjoying both equally, while others prefer the variety and events offered during the Summer Games.
Overall, people experience the Winter Olympics in different ways depending on their background, interests, and personal connections. Some viewers feel a strong sense of national pride when choosing which country to support, while others are more drawn to specific sports they enjoy watching or have personal experience with. Opinions also vary on the Olympic venues and whether the Winter or Summer Games are more exciting, showing that there is no single way people engage with the Olympics. These differing perspectives show how the Winter Olympics continue to attract attention while still appealing to audiences for many different reasons.
