Just wondering people's thoughts on the, as Fort put it, People Magazine-ization of swimming. Does promoting a sport to reach the masses and create national interest necessarily mean selling a part of one's soul? I tend to think it does. Look at beach volleyball. They are really popular now. Not the men, thank you. But the women. Why? The skimpy suits. The hugging and butt slapping. The cheerleaders. Though I keep reading the explanations about the women's suits and how they aren't the main reason for the popularity of the sport, I'm not stupid. If it's not about the sex-factor, why doesn't men's beach volleyball enjoy the same support/ratings?
Fortunately, so far, swimming hasn't had to go that route. But, as Susan Von der Lippe pointed out in a Floswimming article at Trials, some of the swimming events have become more of a circus. For swimming to be so popular, it seems that Phelps has to become a celebrity. Things have to appeal to the masses--who don't want a serious story. They want flash. They want controversy. Gary Hall Jr. fits into this picture well. I argued to my family that, as much as I don't appreciate the antics of Hall, he brings some something flashy to swimming. And people like to watch that.
So, how much soul-selling do we need to do to appeal, as a sport, to the masses?
Parents
Former Member
We had our club's season kick off party today. You want to talk about awesome - two Beijing gold medalists atteded. The kids got to wear the medals and have their pix taken. Not one soul was sold for this, all free.
Thats awesome, I hope it shapes up for a good season.
And yes I do believe Phelps' 'fame' will last longer then 3 months, though it will probably die down a bit then... But seeing as he Accomplished something that has not been done it will hold on for a while (assuming nobody breaks the record or gets 8/9 medals in 2012.)
I do hope this helps awareness of swimming another thing that can help allot is simply getting coverage in the local papers/media.
We had our club's season kick off party today. You want to talk about awesome - two Beijing gold medalists atteded. The kids got to wear the medals and have their pix taken. Not one soul was sold for this, all free.
Thats awesome, I hope it shapes up for a good season.
And yes I do believe Phelps' 'fame' will last longer then 3 months, though it will probably die down a bit then... But seeing as he Accomplished something that has not been done it will hold on for a while (assuming nobody breaks the record or gets 8/9 medals in 2012.)
I do hope this helps awareness of swimming another thing that can help allot is simply getting coverage in the local papers/media.
