Hell, yes.
The Olympics have grown into one giant advertising love-fest using "global sports" and the "Olympic Spirit" to attract viewers around the world. (And why China got it still baffles me, but I'll hold my tongue for now.)
Over-hyping of anything turns me off and serves to discourage me from buying or participating in whatever's being hyped -- including the Olympics. Aside from swimming, tennis, and gymnastics, could care less this year. And then it's only two more years and the Winter Olympics get hyped up. Talk about viewer fatigue -- they should hold both events in ONE year, every four years.
Plus it's amazing that nobody in the MSM talks about the economics of the Olympics -- ie how much is wasted to build luxurious new stadiums and other venues that may not be used afterward, or as frequently?
On a side note, to followup on my many previous comments about CNBC....the fact CNBC - a "business news" channel - is modifying its schedule during the US trading day to participate in covering the Olympics as part of the NBC franchise only reinforces my already established views that CNBC is less about "news" and more about "-tainment."
Bleh.