Lack of interest nowadays

[elgreco]

Is it me or is there a distinct lack of interest in sporting occasions nowadays. 30 or 40 years ago, I seem to remember the nation being excited by the prospect of the Grand National, the FA Cup, Wimbeldon(?), British Grand Prix etc.. There seems to be an apathy about it all now and I include myself in this.
Is it the vast sums of money and the prima donna participants that are the cause or is it only me. I can't even find any friends who are bothered about going to the Olympics or even watching on the tele. That wouldn't have happened in the olden days, would it?

[woofgang]

Dunno, i have never been interested.....

[Brenden]

I will be watching from my settee - and enjoying every moment.

[MoonRocker]

speaking for myself, no , my interest is as great as ever. I am looking forward to going to the olympics, got some tickets for the boxing!

[craft1948]

I'm really looking forward to the Olympics. I'll watch almost any sport on TV except boxing....................

[elgreco]

I went to the boxing in Athens. Saw Amir Khan in the semi and lose in the final.

[jake-the-peg]

40 years ago there was only 3 channels on TV and everything shut on Sundays (God it was dulll!)

More competition now

[cazzz1975]

its probably a mix of things from the current economic climate to the rubbish weather to reading all the doom and gloom in the papers.

[yogasun]

You are right. The main sporting event I notice the declining interest in is the Boat Race.
I can remember everyone asking one another whether they supported Oxford or Cambridge. Now I don't even realise it's on!!

[elgreco]

Do you think it is sport overkill. The only athletics you saw were the AAA championships and then the Olympic and Europeans, then the odd International. Probably only one test series a year in Cricket and no 20/20 or one day. One World champion for each weight in boxing and only one weight (e.g. no light middleweights and super middleweights). You can do similar comparisons for most sports.

[cazzz1975]

the cost of going to some events is horrific

[TTG]

Weather. Got a feeling British Grand Prix will be a rainy day "parade" type race.

[TTG]

Ditto cazzz.

[ichkeria]

The nation seems as excited about Wimbledon for example as ever. Depends surely on the event. The FA Cup has lost appeal but there's more interest in the League Championship. The Olympics were never more popular than now esp as they are in the UK this time.
As for the British Grand Prix even that event, bafflingly to me, draws large crowds to get stuck in a muddy car park every year. And the Irish Open Golf was sold out for the first time ever.

[Duncer]

I think it's a mixture of Jake's take and the fact that, when I was young, the events seemed much more important to me. As I got older I attended more and more football matches, so the ones from my youth are much more indelibly imprinted on my mind. I could name the scorers and results from most FA Cup finals in the Seventies and Eighties off the top of my head, but recent ones require much greater effort. Ditto the National, Olympics and other major evfents.

[shoota]

I think people are spoilt by the box - too easy to slob on the couch with a tinny and a curry.

Pass me another lager and mind me papadoms......