Media Meditation #2 - A Look Into the Olympic Games

The Olympic games have always been popular for viewers to watch around the world. But the question is: what is the main draw? In the United States of America, a wide array of sporting events are constantly being aired on the television, yet, typically they do not seem to have the same mass appeal that the Olympics do.

I have always watched different sports including baseball, basketball, football, and even gymnastics and sometimes hockey. However, none of these American sports appeal to me as much as the Olympics. The main reasons that I watch the Olympics are that usually the sports being played are unique and are not usually being aired, and I like watching as people's dreams come true. Every time an American athlete wins in any competition I feel a sense of pride. This does not really happen to me while watching American sports that are typically being aired.

So why do viewers get such a strong sense of pride and belonging when they watch the Olympics? I believe it is because the network that airs the Olympics, NBC, uses different techniques to really connect with their audience.

When thinking about the Olympics, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the image of the Olympic rings. The five rings are supposed to represent the five parts of the world that participate in the Olympic games. Since the rings have been used in every modern Olympic game, viewers all around the world can relate with the image and automatically associate it with the Olympics. NBC, knowing that the symbol is widely known, consistently shows it throughout showing the games. Not only is this a great production technique, but it is also a persuasive technique using "Idea-conveyances."

After viewing the same image over and over again, the audiences limbic brain has been conditioned to feel specific emotions when they see the image. Many feel pride and belonging, and some may even feel competitive feelings. Each of these feelings make the viewer feel like they are a part of the games, which is a crucial feeling that is missing with most sports that are typically aired on American television.

The same feelings can be felt after the games when the athletes accept their medals on the Olympic podium. Coca Cola even created a commercial focusing on this feeling.

The music in this commercial works the limbic brain and makes the viewer feel emotions that for the most part, would not be felt without it. Also, the montage of past Olympics brings up persuasive techniques of nostalgia and the quote, "If you've had a Coke in the last 80 years, you've had a hand in making every Olympic dream come true," brings up the persuasive technique bandwagon.

Many of the Olympic athletes are even on Twitter! I saw a story on Massachusetts local news that Lindsey Vonn had replied to a fan's tweet that stated, "My cousin bet me $50 you wouldn't respond," making the fan know that she actually read the things fans wrote to her. Knowing that the athletes, though they are almost celebrities, can also relate with plain folks. This adds to the feeling that fans are almost a part of the Olympic games.

Most Americans can relate with a moment when they were watching either the summer or winter Olympics in the past. I love the feeling I get when watching the Olympics, that I have a part in the games and I can be proud of the American athletes that represent my country.