The Paris 2024 Olympics commenced during some turbulence. France has internal political struggles combined with a migrant crisis. The Russia-Ukraine War and the energy crisis has put Europe in a precarious situation. Israel was allowed to participate even though they have engaged in war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Belarus was banned for simply being an ally of Russia, even though it has not attacked Ukraine. The opening ceremony that had drag queens imitating the Last Supper was designed for shock value. This was not promotion or advocacy for LGBTQ+; it was a way to say relevant. The Olympics might in the coming years struggle to maintain viewership and a following. Culture war stunts are not going to help. There has been a drop in viewership. Some of that can be blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Tokyo Games had to be postponed to 2021. During this time there was a video streaming boom. People probably were not going to watch TV networks as much as a streaming service. The ratings have gradually went up, but the decline in interest is obvious.
The modern Olympics have been around since 1896. So far, 128 years is an impressive record. The Olympics must update to maintain interest. Certain viewers felt that the Paris 2024 Olympics was not as entertaining as Tokyo. There could be a number of reasons for such disappointment. Athletes that are longtime fixtures retire or did not make it to the Olympics . The selection of host cities could be a reason. Manufactured controversies overshow actual sports competition. These are possible reasons sports fans lose interest in the Olympic Games.
Fan favorite athletes are not always going to be a part of the Olympics. They retire, may not make it through the trials or get injured . Fan favorites are going to retire at some stage. A new generation of athletes will emerge. Spectators might not be as accepting. Some fans feel sad to see your favorite athlete run their last race or lift their last weight. The positive aspect is that new athletes will emerge. It does not feel the same however. Their are athletes who competed for long periods of time.
Adjustments to athletic training and nutrition allowed some to compete longer. This does not stop age, fitness plateaus, or injury. These factor are part of why athletes would retire from competition. A void does remain in the fandom. This might explain some of fan disappointment and viewer decline. It will take a few more Olympic Games for fans to get used to the new generation of competitors.
Host cities need to be rotated around the world. Europe and North America have hosted the most Olympic Games. Asia comes in second and Latin America has only done it twice. Africa has not hosted the Olympic Games so far. The fact that most of the time it goes to the West shows the international divide in resources. Nations of the Global South just might not have the financial strength to host the Olympics. A change in competition atmosphere is needed. The majority of the world is not the West or European. Mexico City, Beijing, Rio, and Tokyo were exciting places. Europe has a practical monopoly on hosting. The United States does to a lesser degree. This becomes tiresome, but also demonstrations that there remains an inequality among nations. Hosting the Olympics is a burden and has generated concerns over the years. The costs and removal of people to build stadiums brings into question ethics. During the 2024 Olympics migrants were removed from the streets of Paris. Police also forcibly took the homeless to lodging areas. Building sports venues adds to pollution. Social cleansing and environmental degradation are major reasons why some countries do not want to host the Olympics. The IOC needs to confront these issues. Africa, Latin America, and Asia should be given a chance to host the Olympic Games.
Manufactured controversy is becoming more prevalent. The opening ceremony became one part of the culture war. Conservatives complained it was an attack on religion. Some liberals then tried to say it was historic. Drag queens at the Olympics really was not significant. The media amplified the reactions. Imane Khelif was subject to manufactured controversy. Anti-LBGTQ+ conservatives spread misinformation about Imane being a transwoman. She was not, but those online refused to make a correction. The manufactured controversy over transwomen in sports is a recent development. Trans athletes have been allowed to compete in the Olympics since 2004. The hysteria around transwomen competing emerged in the early 2020s. This also negatively impacts cisgender women. Women who do not fit into a certain ideal of femininity are called trans. The misinformation and slander against Imane Kelif proves this. Manufactured controversy has contaminated various forms of entertainment. The distraction becomes so bad that focus is taken away from competition and the athletes. All aspects of life do not need to be a debate or argument. It is evident this is the desire of both sides of the culture war. The Olympics does not need to be a part of the culture war or do shock stunts to be relevant. Doing so will alienate and reduce viewers.
The Paris 2024 Olympics did well in ratings. Based on reports it was up 82% from the Tokyo Olympics. While this is a positive sign, it may not remain constant. Audience viewing habits change and at times some become bored with certain sports. The IOC should be mindful of keeping interest high. The next summer Olympics will be held in 2028. There is some time to make adjustments. Adding more sports could help the Olympics. This would prevent sports fans from getting bored with the games. There should better consideration in selection. Break dancing was added to the 2024 games and it was met with mixed reviews. Break dancing is not the best place for the Olympics. Dancing is more of an art form than a competitive sport. Other sports like cricket, korfball, and tug of war could be added. Changes need to be made other than making unique opening and closing ceremonies. The 2024 Paris Olympics did not have the same feeling of enthusiasm as previous games. Ratings are doing better, but future Olympic Games are going to have to innovate to maintain interest.