Would you watch the Special Olympics if it were televised like the 2008 Olympics?

To be honest, I didn't even watch the 2008 Olympics much the way they were televised. I don't know what NBC was thinking televising the thing piecemeal, feeding everyone different snippets of the events based on where they lived and not what they were interested in. Refusing to set a concrete schedule so you could say "okay, the sport I want to see is on at eight, so I'll tune in then" instead of having to sit there all day while they flipped randomly back and forth was annoying. Like I wanted to sit through several hours of ping pong and watching people run a marathon to see the sports I was interested in (diving and gymnastics) because they were only broadcasting five and ten minutes of those events at a time. By the end of the first day listening to Bob Costas say "and now we go back over to... but first we check in on... and in a minute we'll continue coverage of... but right now let's watch" I was ready to scream. It was like watching a hyperactive five year old go off his ritalin. Plus, the whole thing came off feeling biased... and not just in one of those "China's cheating" ways. I'll just come out and say it, I don't care if the Chinese gymnasts were under sixteen. If you're in the Olympics, "but I'm getting my butt kicked by a little kid" is a complaint that should do nothing but embarrass you. What bothered me was that it felt like the broadcasters were leading me and trying to tell me who I should want to see win in each event to the point of simply cutting out all the parts of the event featuring people I wasn't supposed to be cheering for. I know I live in America, and I know China was hosting the games, but I got sick of events where over a dozen athletes were competing but only three were being shown over and over and over. Okay, I get it. The Chinese have a good dive team, and Thomas Finchum and David Boudia are good, too... but the commentators said half a dozen times in the semi-finals Tom Daley was who everyone really wanted to see dive, and they didn't show him dive ONCE in that round. All I got to see was a slow motion replay of one of his poorer dives so the commentators could make fun of him. Forget that he finished ahead of all the American divers in the event. Forget that he hurdled up the standings several times, which means in some rounds he pulled off the best dives. I wasn't allowed to see any of those... and I do mean wasn't allowed. NBC has set things up so not only did I not see the dives on my local broadcast, but I can't watch anything other than the edited "you have to cheer for the Americans and not care about anyone else" version they aired for me. Every time I find video that does show other divers (like, say, the complete routine of the GOLD MEDALIST from Australia), I get a message telling me I'm not allowed to view it in my area. I won't bother watching the Olympics again period if NBC keeps the rights to air them. The way they manipulated coverage wasn't just insulting, it was incensing. I was tuning in to watch the sports, not a propaganda piece. God only knows what sort of colored commentary they would hire people to do in games like the Special Olympics, with such obvious targets. So no, I wouldn't.

Not 6 hours a day like I've been doing, but I'd definitely tune in. It's nice to see the athletes rewarded for their hard work and determination in a society that is often cruel as demonstrated in the first response to your question.

Yes. Actually, I think the Olympics should be televised more anyway. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

no it seems a little patronizing

Yeap!

I heard they will be televised high lights. Did you know the international Special Olympic where last year in China. they are good for getting people with intellectual disabilities into sport. but not the best against the best. But next is the Paralympic in Beijing. For elite Athletes with a disability and I will be watching that.

I would probally watch some but I will be honest and say I wouldn't watch it as much as I have watched the Olympics over the past 2 weeks. I think it is great that people that have had unfortunate events have the opportunity to achieve goals. These athletes have a lot more courage and determination then I do.

ppl with disability inspire me when i see them competing,not necessarily winning their particular events.To overcome such challenges is inspiring.I think of Aussie Louise Savage and her amazing strength,wow.I would watch and cheer more knowing that as able bodied athletes it is hard to compete and win,let alone being physically or mentally challenged.

Yeah I would, a little humor wouldn't do any harm.