At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, sporting events were allowed to continue in limited fashion, but no spectators were allowed. In many venues, there were cardboard cutouts of people that were put into the stands by the hundreds or thousands in some cases, depending on the event. Cheering and applause and general "stadium noise" were played from sound tracks to give it a live feeling. Nevertheless it was surreal and there was something lost without the energy of a live audience.
That will be the case for these Olympics. No foreign spectators and just a select group of Chinese nationals will be allowed to attend. It will be that weirdness all over again in my opinion.
Over time I had slowly lost interest in the Olympics and I doubt I'll be paying much attention to it this year, but there was a time when I wouldn't miss them and watched as much as I could.
I enjoy the ice hockey, speed skating and ski jumping events the most for the winter Olympics.
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