20th
Closet Skeleton Fan
YOU CATCH the Women’s Skeleton last night? I’m not a sports fan but this was gripping stuff. I only caught it by accident, channel-hopping. (Ah, the joy of serendipity.) The likes of athletes competing by running in straight lines or around in cinder circles leaves me cold. The winter sports, on the other hand, tend to be far more engaging - primarily because the competitors and events are dramatically enhanced by accessories to cope with extreme playscapes. The Skeleton is the pinnacle of winter sports cool. It takes the more ‘conventional’ sledding events and cranks up the drama by reducing streamlined vehicles to minimal chassis. Hurtling down a narrow tunnel of solid ice, faster than speeding cars on a motorway; your chin centimetres from flesh-grating, bone-crunching death; only able to adjust course or brake by using your legs hanging off the back of a glorified tea tray… I was so there. I could feel the exhilarating speed - the cold glow of the ice on my face - my stomach and sphincter tightening with every close shave. The commentator - like most of his peers - talked way too much, desperate to fill the space. But some of his observations did work well to punctuate and accentuate the drama (not to mention make the broadcast feel more alive). Minor ceremonies reinforce key moments. Timings are constantly (and conveniently) compared with the current leader: how quickly competitors start, hit checkpoints and finish the race. The use of a more recent TV twist - the ‘ghost’ - to directly compare current competitor and leader was at first confusing but soon became obvious and drama-enhancing. Replays reinforce highlights - and highlight just how dangerous this sport is. For all its simplicity it’s a potent package. It’s the duty of the TV coverage to maximise the feel and drama of the sports, to bring the sports alive, to make appreciating the sports more convenient - and preferably to provide a twist. There have been marked improvements in the past decade, no doubt in part inspired by electronic games. There’s still plenty of scope to go further but I suspect there’s also a fear of going too far and overshadowing and undermining the sport.
