Francesca Rudkin: Bring on week two of the Olympics

Well, we are a week into the Olympics now.

Everyone I have spoken to this week has commented that they’re a bit tired: staying up later than usual, waking up earlier than usual. Going through the emotional rollercoaster of sport is taking its toll - even if we’re only watching from the couch.

And this is the wonderful thing about the Olympics – we’re all in it together.

It’s a cliché, but sport brings us together, as a nation and globally. And while there are epic performances from the world’s top sporting stars, there are also smaller moments which bring a smile to your face and warm your heart.

Oh yeah - Who would have thought Snoop Dogg would be an ambassador for the Olympics? Technically he’s a special correspondent for NBC, and his job is to hype up athletes and root for team USA. But heavens he’s having fun - and we’re all in on it. What hasn’t he done?

Where hasn’t he been? Who hasn’t he hung out with? If you’re trying to get those not interested in sport to pay some attention - well, he’s the party guy to bring them in!

Aside from the tourists burning up social media, there have been some actual competitors who have also gone viral and stolen our hearts. If there was ever an example of how talent rather than tools is the important thing - then Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec is your guy.

A former officer of the Turkish Gendarmerie, Dikec and his teammate won silver in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol this week. His casual approach is what’s got him all the attention. He stood out for his nonchalant shooting stance, with his spare hand tucked into his pocket, and not having specialised gear like lenses, an eye cover, or ear protection. He preferred simple yellow ear plugs and run-of-the-mill prescription glasses.

He turned out to be the star we didn’t know we needed.

The other star of the show - and yes, I know a lot of you were not happy with the Opening Ceremony - has been Paris, an incredible setting. The backdrops are unbeatable, whether you’re watching the equestrian at Versailles, the beach volleyball beside the Eifel Tower, or any number of events and locations across the city. I’ve no idea if the travel logistics for fans and athletes are easy or awful, but from a TV watchers perspective it’s part travel show, part drama, and part sports doco.

And that brings us to the other discussion that always dominates at the Olympics – medals. For the first days, our lust to see a Kiwi on the podium almost over-shadowed some incredible achievements and performances. Hayden Wilde’s arm wrapped around his competitor’s shoulders, after losing the triathlon to him in the final 300m, was a beautiful moment of sportsmanship and a reminder for is all to calm the farm, it isn’t always about the medals.

So all in all, it’s been a wonderful first week – bring on week two.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Edb Well, we are a week into the Olympics. Now.
Everyone I have spoken to this week has commented that
they're a bit tired. They're staying up later than usual,
waking up earlier than usual, going through the emotional rollercoaster
of sport is taking its toll, even if we're only
watching it from the couch. And this is the wonderful
thing about the Olympics, right, We're all in it together.

(00:33):
I know it's a cliche, but sport brings us together
as a nation and globally. And while there are epic
performances from the world's top sporting stars, there are also
smaller moments to celebrate which bring a smile to your
face and warm your heart. Wouldn't the pimps and the
grib mud drop it like it's high, drap it like

(00:54):
your tid, drop it like your ti ah.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Who would have thought Snoop Dog would be the ambassador
for the Paris Olympics. Technically he's a special correspondent for
MBC Mike. He was in Tokyo and as John is
to Hypeark athletes and root for the Team USA. But heavens,
he's heaven fun and we're all in on it. What
hasn't he done? Where hasn't he been? Who hasn't he

(01:18):
hung out with? If you're trying to get those not
interested in sport to pay some attention, well he's the
party guy to bring them in. Aside from the tourists
burning up on social media, there have also been some
actual competitors who have gone viral and stolen our hearts.
If there was ever an example of how talent rather
than tools is the important thing, then Turkish shooter Yusev

(01:41):
Decatch is your guy. A former officer in the Turkish Gendarmerie,
Decatch and his teammate one silver in the mixed team
ten meter air pistol this week. You know what I'm
talking about. You will have seen the photos. His casual
approach is what's got him all the attention. He stood
out for his nonchalin shooting stance, with his spare hand

(02:01):
tucked into his pocket and not having specialized gear like
lenses or an icrver or air protection. He just preferred
simple yellow air plugs and run of the mill prescription glasses.
He's turned out to be the star we didn't know
we needed the other star of the show. And yes,
I know a lot of you were not happy with

(02:22):
the opening ceremony, but the other star of the show
has been Paris. An incredible setting. The backdrops are unbeatable,
whether you're watching the equestrian at Versailles or the beach
volleyball beside the Eiffel Tower, or riding a bike or
running through the incredible locations across the city. It's just
been wonderful. I've got no idea if the travel logistics

(02:45):
for fans and athletes are easy or awful. And of
course it was a bit of a hiccup last night
with the Rowers. But from a TV watcher's perspective, it's
more than just sports show. It's part travel show, part drama,
and part sports docko. And that brings us to the
other discussion that always dominates at the Olympics Medals. For
the first few days, our lust to see a Kiwi

(03:07):
on the podium almost overshadowed some incredible achievements and performances.
Hayden Wild's arm wrapped around his competitor's shoulder after losing
the triathlon to him in the final three hundred meters
was a beautiful moment of sportsmanship and a reminder for
us all to calm the farm. It isn't always about
the medals. So woman all gotta say, it's been a

(03:29):
wonderful first week, bring on week two and don't forget.
You can catch all the action on Gold Sport on
air or through iHeartRadio.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks it B from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.