In anticipation of the impending Summer 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Joseph and Nathan question why the games seem to appeal to people who are otherwise uninterested in sports outside of the Olympics on this week’s episode. They point to the opening ceremony, “hometown” athletes, and (comparative) lack of corporate advertising. They then address the highlights and lowlights of the 5 most recent Summer Olympic Games: Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2016), and Tokyo (2020). Amongst other things they discuss host city public transit expansion projects, the velodrome in the Chicago suburbs, the dark side of the Olympics, their favorite Olympians, rugby,  and how cute the 2024 game’s mascots are.

Links: 

London 2012: Indian Gatecrasher at Opening Ceremony Identified

The Tokyo Olympic’s Gymnasium 

Poland by Lil Yachty

The Good, the Bad, & the Snowy of Salt Lake City Transit

IOC Salaries 

Artwork: 

Flickr: Rome Olympics 1960 - Opening Day

Recorded on 3/3/2024