The Greatest Show on Earth

[canveyshrimper]

The ITV adverstising for the forthcoming World Cup is saying it's the greatest show on earth. As the World Cup only features 32 Nations I say not and IMO as a sporting spectacle it's the Olympics.

So a simple poll World Cup, the Olympics or Tilly palying a round of golf at Belfairs?

 

[dashman]

Held at the great footballing nation too! Land of the free and safe!
ITV need a machete lol!

 

[dashman]

IOM TT

Scouting Jamboree lol!?

 

[dashman]

For the yanks -

The WORLD(!) Series

The SUPER(!) Bowl

 

[dashman]

....or are the Nothern Lights the greatest show on Earth!?

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Has to be the World Cup; some Olympic events (e.g. the Madison in cycling) are impenetrable and a bit daft, frankly.

 

[tottenham541]

the greatest show on earth is when southend sign a player again for a fee ha ha.

 

[dashman]

Isn't there a fishing world cup lol

 

[GBJ]

The Olympics is the biggest pile of crap about. How or why anyone gives two ***** about it is beyond me

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Has to be the World Cup; some Olympic events (e.g. the Madison in cycling) are impenetrable and a bit daft, frankly.

No longer an olympic event...Mr Philistine!!!

For me, has to be the Tour de France. It's free and tens of millions of spectators across the 3 weeks of racing can't be wrong

 

[A Century United]

Has to be the World Cup; some Olympic events (e.g. the Madison in cycling) are impenetrable and a bit daft, frankly.

But that's the whole point - The Greatest Show on Earth has a zillion side shows, some superb some dire, but there is something for everyone (except GBJ, apparently) and you get to see sporting excellence across the whole spectrum of human abilities wheras the World Cup, though exciting is strictly limited in the type of entertainment on show - if you don't like soccer or diving, there isn't much left for you.

Even the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympics are an amazing pageant and better than anything you will see in South Africa.

I'm definitely with Harry on this one.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

No longer an olympic event...Mr Philistine!!!

It was an Olympic event. And there'll be plenty of other equally pointless events in other sports at the next Olympics - e.g. dressage, synchronised swimming.

Indeed, any sport in which a winner is judged - rather than where there is a clear, objective measure of someone having won - is a bit pants IMHO.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

But that's the whole point - The Olympics has a zillion side shows, some superb some dire

Don't get me wrong, I love the Olympics. But, IMHO, you can't be "the greatest" when - objectively - bits about your output are a bit "dire". For me, there's something about the World Cup which is truly transcendent - I guess it's the concept of nationhood, of collective endeavour, and also of the sheer joyous simplicity of football. That's what I really love about it.

Matt

 

[Firestorm]

It was an Olympic event. And there'll be plenty of other equally pointless events in other sports at the next Olympics - e.g. dressage, synchronised swimming.

Indeed, any sport in which a winner is judged - rather than where there is a clear, objective measure of someone having won - is a bit pants IMHO.

According to QI so was Sculpture and Town planning


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Olympic_medalists_in_art_competitions

 

[Mad Cyril]

I had a Little Chef Olympic breakfast and to be honest it wasn't the greatest show on the M11 let alone the world.

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

Winter Olympics. Fit women in lycra suits, lying on their back or their front, going at it as fast as they can, twice a night.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Don't get me wrong, I love the Olympics. But, IMHO, you can't be "the greatest" when - objectively - bits about your output are a bit "dire". For me, there's something about the World Cup which is truly transcendent - I guess it's the concept of nationhood, of collective endeavour, and also of the sheer joyous simplicity of football. That's what I really love about it.

Matt

I think Tom's post made the point far more eloquently than I could have achieved. The point I was chiefly making is that the Olympics are for all nations to take part in, not just limited to 32 who have qualified. Therefore with around 180 nations taking part it is a more far reaching festival of sport. While the ideal of de Coubertin has become tarnished over the years, the two weeks the summer Olympics take up every 4 years are just unmatchable.

I love the Football World Cup, the drama, the thrills and the excitement, and I'll be as glued to my TV as anyone during the next month. and of course hope that football may come home.

It's possible that having seen England win the World Cup, albeit in monochrome that I can't wait for London 2012.

 

[class]

Britains Got Talent!

 

[ian_the_girth]

Eastenders wins it for me, followed by robot wars

 

[canveyshrimper]

While we are resurrecting threads what are the views of the SZ collective after London?