"The mountains always promise escape from the squalor of existence at sea level, if not a kind of purification. The fortifying ruggedness of the terrain, the apple-crisp air, the high-albedo dazzle of sunlit snow: at altitude, it seems, everything is thinned to its essence. The Winter Olympics frequently play on this mythology of purity, but rarely has culture's quadrennial ascent up the switchbacks felt as clarifying as it does this year."
"Propelling us into heights untroubled by the compromises and tradeoffs that blight sport's lower zones, Milano Cortina has delivered images so brilliant and sharp they've also served to expose how ugly and morally murky most non-Olympic team sports have become over the past four years. As a TV spectacle, the excellence of this Olympiad has been defined as much by absence as presence."
The mountains evoke escape and purification through rugged terrain, crisp air, and sunlit snow that pare experience to essence. Milano Cortina produced visually brilliant, sharp images that contrasted with the moral murkiness of many non-Olympic team sports. The Games' televised excellence derives from notable absences: no gambling ads, live betting odds, win-percentage trackers, or prediction-market segments. The cleaner broadcast foregrounded athletes' efforts, risky feats, and bodily contortions. The coverage also emphasized sonic clarity, drawing attention to the percussion of athletes against mountain, track, and ice. NBC's U.S. coverage still included over-talking commentary and intrusive drone noise.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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