Olympic Events: Held Mid-Day?

[HSGP21]

Sorry for the dumb question. As I look at the Olympic Schedule it appears the Figure Skating events are held mid-day Korean time? Is that true? Has that ever happened before?

 

[tony]

Sorry for the dumb question. As I look at the Olympic Schedule it appears the Figure Skating events are held mid-day Korean time? Is that true? Has that ever happened before?

Most events (not exclusive to figure skating) start at 9 or 10 in the morning so that they can be broadcast live in the United States in primetime.

 

[A.H.Black]

Sorry for the dumb question. As I look at the Olympic Schedule it appears the Figure Skating events are held mid-day Korean time? Is that true? Has that ever happened before?

It has happened in the Summer Olympics. In Beijing swimming finals (for one) were held in the morning. I don't think it was optimal, but Michael Phelps still won 8 gold medals - and there were bunches of world records. I think the skaters will be fine.

Many of the Hockey games will also be in the morning.

 

[skatingguy]

NBC = $$$ for the IOC. Most of their big financial supporters are American companies who have put a lot of money behind advertising campaigns that they want aired in front of large prime time American audiences. The schedules for Tokyo and Beijing will also reflect this reality.

 

[starrynight]

It's a shame that the Korean people themselves (who would have contributed an extraordinary amount of money to these games) can't sit down at night to watch the big events. Instead they will be during work hours and many will have to settle for replays. If I was South Korean I'd be very miffed about this, with huge quantities of SK money being spent on a made for US TV event.

But as the US money probably keeps the Olympics alive, that's the way things are I guess.

Although I recall that all the big events in the Sydney Olympics ran prime time in Australia, but maybe things were different back then.

The skaters starting in the first flights will have some very early mornings.

 

[Wyliefan]

It does seem pretty hard on the skaters. I would think their needs should come first . . . but money talks.

 

[Vagabond]

Somehow, the figure skaters in 1948 managed to compete in broad daylight and survive. I'm sure all those precious hothouse flowers in Gangneung next month will do so too.

 

[gkelly]

I don't pay that much attention to other sports, but aren't most outdoor events held during the daytime?

 

[Vagabond]

Yes, most. The one exception I can think of is aerials. Apparently, it's easier for the athletes to see where they're landing under artificial light.

 

[Spareoom]

I imagine it's because natural lighting can be inconsistent and contrasted against white snow can be blinding and dangerous? Maybe? Makes sense to me lol.

 

[starrynight]

Somehow, the figure skaters in 1948 managed to compete in broad daylight and survive. I'm sure all those precious hothouse flowers in Gangneung next month will do so too.

I'm sure the athletes will be fine. It's just a bummer for the people of South Korea (who are paying for the whole thing out of their taxes) that they can't enjoy the top events in their own prime time. Not much fun for them if the hockey final starts at 10.00am (or so) in the morning while they are all stuck sitting at their desks at work.

 

[Vagabond]

I'm sure the athletes will be fine. It's just a bummer for the people of South Korea (who are paying for the whole thing out of their taxes) that they can't enjoy the top events in their own prime time. Not much fun for them if the hockey final starts at 10.00am (or so) in the morning while they are all stuck sitting at their desks at work.

I very much doubt that ice hockey is anywhere near so popular in South Korea as it is in North America.

 

[misskarne]

I very much doubt that ice hockey is anywhere near so popular in South Korea as it is in North America.

I think you missed the basic point there.

Apparently, it's more important for it to be convenient for the US east coast than for the people actually hosting - or the rest of the world.

 

[Lanie]

Money talks, unfortunately. And NBC's money screams to the IOC "do what we say"...

 

[skatingguy]

I think you missed the basic point there.

Apparently, it's more important for it to be convenient for the US east coast than for the people actually hosting - or the rest of the world.

Those of us who live in the Eastern time zone don't understand the problem and think the rest of you are big whiners.

 

[jennysk8oboe]

I'm pretty sure it was the same way in the 88 Summer Games in Seoul. I recall watching it all evening (in the US, Eastern time zone) with a colicky new baby!

 

[Frau Muller]

NBC = $$$ for the IOC. Most of their big financial supporters are American companies who have put a lot of money behind advertising campaigns that they want aired in front of large prime time American audiences. The schedules for Tokyo and Beijing will also reflect this reality.

So will this mentality trickle down to pressure on judges to prop-up US $kater$ if the situation warrants? Hmmm. Hopefully there will be no need for this scenario.

 

[skatingguy]

So will this mentality trickle down to pressure on judges to prop-up US $kater$ if the situation warrants? Hmmm. Hopefully they’ll be no need for this scenario.

No, because figure skating isn't the prime time sport that it once was. Snowboarding is the sport that the advertisers will look to be associated with.

 

[Frau Muller]

No, because figure skating isn't the prime time sport that it once was. Snowboarding is the sport that the advertisers will look to be associated with.

Not so sure, with the way that Nathan Chen is being hyped every five minutes in commercials. But you’re right about Shawn White...and, good grief, will NBC survive another Olympics flop by Lindsey Vohn? (The placing of her face to coincide with the word “BEAUTIFUL” at the end of the “America the Beautiful” ad is hilarious!) In her case, it’s not a subjective sport, thank goodness...she has to ski down the mountain all by herself...not beauty points.

 

[berthesghost]

It's a shame that the Korean people themselves (who would have contributed an extraordinary amount of money to these games) can't sit down at night to watch the big events. Instead they will be during work hours and many will have to settle for replays. If I was South Korean I'd be very miffed about this, with huge quantities of SK money being spent on a made for US TV event.

But as the US money probably keeps the Olympics alive, that's the way things are I guess.

Although I recall that all the big events in the Sydney Olympics ran prime time in Australia, but maybe things were different back then.

The skaters starting in the first flights will have some very early mornings.

the summer of 1996 I was laid off from my job. I saw so much of the Atlanta Olympics which was broadcast live in the US on daytime tv while most people were at work.

I'm no Olympian, but most of the charity runs I've done were on sat mornings. The year I did the gay games I took time off work because all my events were during the day on weekdays. The opening and closing ceremonies were at night, but we had to get there early to assemble etc. can't remember if those were week days or not, but I took a week off as vacation. I'm sure that's what most Oly ticket buyers do too. Even when worlds was 45 mins away I still took fri off of work because who wants to battle rush hr and the stress etc I feel like the people who saunter into an Oly event after work are a minority of the ticket holders.

 

[skategal]

I don't know what the buzz around the Olympics is like in other countries but the part of Canada where I live, there is almost none among the general population.

It's like the Olympics are not even happening next week.

There was much more buzz for Vancouver and Sochi.

I'm sure the fact that the NHLers are not participating this time is contributing to that lack of public awareness and buzz.

But if the Olympics weren't being shown in prime time in this time zone, I think the ratings in this part of NA would be in the toilet.

 

[Anyasnake]

Money forcing Athletes to wake up too early for the pre-competition training. Go land your quads and lift your partner at 6 a.m. Whatever. If we get splatfests though ...
Thinking that NBC will have TV rights in 2022 too makes it worst, because same case scenario when games are in this part of Asia. Love the Games in Asia (as always), but dislike those money rights.

 

[jiejie]

I'm sure the athletes will be fine. It's just a bummer for the people of South Korea (who are paying for the whole thing out of their taxes) that they can't enjoy the top events in their own prime time. Not much fun for them if the hockey final starts at 10.00am (or so) in the morning while they are all stuck sitting at their desks at work.

Here's a reality check for you: Besides speed skating/short track and maybe a touch of figure skating, there is relatively little public interest in South Korea for these games, shocking as this may seem. They have been having trouble selling tickets even to the big events that would have been long sold out elsewhere, and will be turning to distributing free tickets to seniors, school groups, company groups, etc in order to fill seats. The lack of public interest and lack of winter sports tradition was a known problem, both by the IOC and the Korean Olympic committee, and was a major factor in the IOC turning down the two previous Olympic bids by Pyeongchang (2010, 2014 Winter Games).

Given the large local apathy factor, I don't see how you can fault the IOC and local organizers for scheduling events where they have the most potential to make some money for themselves. (A huge part of the IOC budget comes from selling broadcast rights and from corporate sponsors who happen to be headquartered elsewhere.) And besides that the marquee events for South Koreans--speed skating and short track--ARE scheduled for primarily evening competition and local prime time. So people will be able to watch live or at home without being stuck at their desks at work.

Figure skating athletes are quite used to training in the morning, and competing at any time of day. Not even a worry.

 

[Vagabond]

I think you missed the basic point there.

Apparently, it's more important for it to be convenient for the US east coast than for the people actually hosting - or the rest of the world.

As someone who does not live on the U.S. East Coast, I can assure you that I did not miss the point, I dismissed it. Catering to the home country's television market is clearly not one of the Organizing Committee's chief concerns. Those South Korean office workers can suck it up like the rest of us and watch delayed coverage.

 

[SpeedySucks]

NBC paid $963 million for the rights to the PyeongChang Games. When another network wants to pony up that kind of money, they can have a significant say over the schedule as well. I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I have no issue with NBC dictating most of the schedule given how much they pay to broadcast the Games.

There is almost no buzz in the U.S. for these Games right now either. The ratings are likely to be low even with the live coverage.

 

[berthesghost]

So will this mentality trickle down to pressure on judges to prop-up US $kater$ if the situation warrants? Hmmm. Hopefully there will be no need for this scenario.

The lake placid olys were a big deal that abc promoted heavily and even with the usual home court pressure the judges had zero interest in rewarding us skaters there. Had B&G skated and skated lights out, they probably still would have done no better than silver.

 

[Carolla5501]

It does seem pretty hard on the skaters. I would think their needs should come first . . . but money talks.

Actually for US skater's it's prime time. If they can figure out how to stay on their normal schedule then they could make it feel like a normal day

 

[Carolla5501]

Here's a reality check for you: Besides speed skating/short track and maybe a touch of figure skating, there is relatively little public interest in South Korea for these games, shocking as this may seem. They have been having trouble selling tickets even to the big events that would have been long sold out elsewhere, and will be turning to distributing free tickets to seniors, school groups, company groups, etc in order to fill seats. The lack of public interest and lack of winter sports tradition was a known problem, both by the IOC and the Korean Olympic committee, and was a major factor in the IOC turning down the two previous Olympic bids by Pyeongchang (2010, 2014 Winter Games).

Given the large local apathy factor, I don't see how you can fault the IOC and local organizers for scheduling events where they have the most potential to make some money for themselves. (A huge part of the IOC budget comes from selling broadcast rights and from corporate sponsors who happen to be headquartered elsewhere.) And besides that the marquee events for South Koreans--speed skating and short track--ARE scheduled for primarily evening competition and local prime time. So people will be able to watch live or at home without being stuck at their desks at work.

Figure skating athletes are quite used to training in the morning, and competing at any time of day. Not even a worry.

Not to mention there's not much "local" The organizers really expected people to commute from Seoul which is 2 hours by train (not counting time on either end getting to and from the train station)

 

[screech]

At major competitions, events often happen in the afternoon. Times when all 4 disciplines take place in the same day, competing may start at 1-2pm. So there should be no issue with the time.

 

[barbk]

At major competitions, events often happen in the afternoon. Times when all 4 disciplines take place in the same day, competing may start at 1-2pm. So there should be no issue with the time.

Yes...and when there were qualifying rounds at Worlds, those often began early in the morning ...with warmups and practices scheduled as early as 6:30 am.