Orchard Rick's Social Media Olympics


Orchard Consultant Rick shares his Olympic and Social Media musings

I hate sport. Can't stand it: I'm baffled by tennis, bored by boxing and completely underwhelmed by the highly paid falling over that goes on on a football pitch. As you can imagine, I wasn't exactly looking forward to the "summer of sport" people have been banging on about all year. If fact as I write this I can't even remember what the other features of this summer of sport were; I seem to remember some Football but whether that was a world or European cup I wouldn't have been able to tell you without checking ; it's really not my thing.

The Olympics was getting on my nerves a long time before it had even began. Actually, I should correct that, it wasn't the Olympics; is was the media's overwhelming obsession with the olympics that got on my nerves. I really didn't care about 'whatshisname' being allowed to race again after his drugs ban or about G4 (I thought they were something to do with the XFactor) breaking their promises and making Jeremy Hunt look a fool.

Some of my tweets from around that time were:

"OLYMPIC MOANING TWEET: You are not allowed you use your Mastercard or Amex at any Olympic venue. What if you don't have Visa. Ridic!"

"I wish the Olympics was over already because I'm SICK of hearing about it."

"Sick sick sick of the Olympics being in all adverts and on all food packaging. Olympics and Subway. Really?"

As well as making me sound like an utter douche, these tweets demonstrate my disinterest in what I saw as a very expensive circus. The only element I was remotely bothered about was the opening ceremony; I like Danny Boyle's work so was interested to see how he'd tackle a live event that would have the potential to reach billions. Naturally I had twitter open as I tuned in, ready to join in the conversation with the tirade of sarcasm that would surely follow.

Only it didn't.

My feed was full of:

"I'M PROUD TO BE BRITISH"

"This is the greatest show on Earth and it's ours!"

"Sorry Beijing, we win."

And most gloriously of all: It's her. "IT'S THE ACTUAL F***ING QUEEN! "

For once, twitter was unified with joy and pride and not negativity and sarcasm. I can't ever remember this happening before and it was great. Obviously it couldn't last. As a nation, we're not good at national pride: picking fault and cynicism are as much a part of our make-up as drinking tea and talking about the weather, so when the sport started, I fully expected normal service (whinging) to resume. 

Once again I was wrong, social media became an outlet for people to display their national pride, a place where they could get behind the athletes and wish them well.
For me it had a slightly enhanced effect; it was the catalyst for me becoming COMPLETELY OBSESSED with the Olympics, the country was being openly patriotic and I wanted to be involved. So I watched EVERYTHING: boxing, fencing, archery, volleyball, handball and I enjoyed it. All of it. I firmly believe that social media played a massive role in instilling national pride and patriotism in the efforts of Team GB. Whether this change in our national psyche led to us winning more medials we'll never know. It can't have hurt though can it? I reckon that's worth remembering as the Paralympics begin...

The guys at Fiasco Design have created this insightful and funky graphic full of fun facts about the highs and lows of London 2012 coverage on Twitter.




Comments...

  • Good read, thanks Rick.
    30/08/2012 by Colin

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