IT looks like “game on” for sport and for fans who have been missing savouring the atmosphere of live sport over the past 18 months.
Attending live sport events has been one of the last areas of our life that was impacted heavily by the pandemic to have restrictions relaxed. For me there can be no argument that attending a live event delivers so much more, and I am sure other fans will agree, even though TV can offer multiple cameras, replays, various angles etc.
Yet watching the Olympics we have much to be thankful for in the wall-to-wall TV coverage of the games, particularly the commentators and summarisers who have tried – and I think in the most succeeded – to bring the games to life for so many people all over the world.
We have seen the highs and lows that athletes experience at this level, the laughter and the tears, just pure raw emotion.
READ MORE: Scottish athletes celebrate incredible medals haul at Tokyo Olympics
This enthusiastic coverage has been welcomed and helped to fill the space and recreate the atmosphere for the millions of armchair fans who have tuned in.
I can only imagine that for families and friends of the athletes, who would have relished the opportunity to travel to Japan to support their daughter or son, wife, husband, mother whatever the relationship, it has been near enough compared to a lifeline for them.
Another thing has interested me with these particular Olympic Games.
I must say I was more than a little sceptical about their inclusion, but skateboarding and BMX freestyle have had me glued to my screen in amazement, particularly given the age of many of the competitors.
Watching these young children, some of them just entering their teenage years, focus and perform on the world stage with confidence and composer, has for me been emotional at times.
And there’s more in store for armchair fans, who can reset their clocks to Japanese time and tune in for even more startling performances when the Paralympics start on August 24.
If the previous games are anything to go by, we will be amazed and entertained at the skill and dedication of our para-athletes.
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