"Ladies and gentlemen at this time I am very proud to announce that the United States' applicant city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is Chicago." -- U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth
I'm still basking in the excitement from hearing those words come through a live feed from Washington, D.C. That statement capped a yearlong search for an American candidate for 2016 in which Chicago edged out two-time host Los Angeles.
I had an opportunity to attend the bid announcement gathering with the Chicago 2016 organization on Saturday afternoon. I've been a huge fan of the Olympics my entire life; emulating Olympians by attempting gymnastics in my living room and putting everything on hold for the rare and fleeting moments that the Games take place. Chicago's Olympic bid being moved to the international stage means a lot to me and I would love a chance for this city to host one of the greatest international sporting event in the world.
Lately I've been getting the impression that the general public isn't as interested in the Olympics as much as it used to be. Television ratings for the 18-49 demographic seem to reflect my suspicion. Through 13 nights during the Torino Olympics, ratings for the 18-49 demographic were only 6.3, compared to the 12.4 overall rating for primetime network coverage.
Has your interest in the Olympics dropped? Do you think this trend is caused by the increased popularity of professional sports or because of doping scandals, etc.?