@ misfit: I disagree - people who really like to watch sport will watch sport; those who don't, won't.

I don't see what's wrong with wanting your country to do well? If that's nationalism then you're as mental as the people who claim racism and sexism for the most mundane of things.

I have no choice but to watch the sport in 99% of all the competitions as my nation bought a handful of competitors, so I'm watching to see the best athletes in the world do what they do best.

or would that not give you and your theories ample attention, perhaps not get you the reactions you were looking for?

not really, how can you explain people cheering for some gold medals of their nation in shooting or equestrian jumping without even knowing the rules? if the athletes werent representing their nations really almost nobody would follow the games on tv...

Well perhaps there are enough people who understand the rules?

There really are some sad gits in the world when the world puts its differences behind it to play the olyimpics for 3 weeks and you still can't see it for what it is.

How about teaching English? Isn't that nationalism? Brits teaching their language to foreigners on the premise that it's superior to all others? Or does this extreame version of "nationalism" you see around you not apply when it starts to effect you?

How about men and women competing separately in the games on account of their gender? Sexism?

If there was a gold medal for overanalysing and talking tripe you'd win.

Got to hand it to Napoleon. Quite rightly enjoying the Olympics with Zimbabwe right at the bottom of the medals table out of 205 nations. No medals and unfortunate spelling that's all. A bronze would take them right up to 60th though.
No surprise with USA and China at the top of the medals table but with Great Britain up there in 3rd again has been impressive for the last few Olympic games.

As for commentators on here talking about the Olympics and nationalism - I think they have missed the point completely which is sad considering what the Olympics stands for and has the ongoing aim of achieving.

@ Napoleon: Like I said, maybe that's okay, I was making an observation, not an accusation. As for organization, why shouldn't teams be organized on whatever bases that the players want? Kunming Drinking Society Rugby squad vs., say, France, the winner to play the International Red Cross?

@ Vicar: I thought the point was good sport, not somebody's country.
@ misfit: Thanks for making my point.

Yes alien good sport and as many nations on earth as possible. Not always necessarily the best sports in the world when you look at the football teams and some of the other sports events. Still a good place to see world records broken and the best of the best in most events.

Somebody's country plays a huge role in these games and a great part of the passion, yet not the whole picture. You're getting there though

Ah, well, wherever your loyalties and passions lie. Note, however, that the world is round like a pizza and can be cut anyway you choose, but that the hype is that there's only one correct way to do it. The media and the state sneeze very loud, and have other interests than sport. All I'm saying is, think about it. Enjoy the pole vaulting.

I am looking for video of the Fiji Vs GB game in the rugby 7s.
The true spirit of the amateur from Fiji. A great Olympic result. Go Fiji, and I am British.