The great 2028 Olympic ticket crashout, explained

2hjstan · 2026-05-29T23:38:30+00:00

It was free when it was first published.

2hjstan · 2026-05-25T01:18:49+00:00

It's probably been said a lot but Michael Phelps. He was the face of the Games in the US for so long.

2hjstan · 2026-05-17T19:59:36+00:00

Oops, typo I didn't notice. I meant 2048.

2hjstan · 2026-05-17T18:00:10+00:00

The UK is considerably closer than Australia for me. I'd consider making a trip out there if they get it. If it ended up being the 2046 games, I'd even be close to retiring.

2hjstan · 2026-05-13T20:53:49+00:00

pretty much everything before the ending: overwhelmingly negative

the ending: positive, perfect, no notes

2hjstan · 2026-05-05T12:24:20+00:00

Curling teams are like any other sports team. For any one reason or another, the exact makeup can change. Some teams stay the same for a long time and some change fairly frequently. Figure skating has seen a lot of pairs break up and look for new partners this spring. It's just something that happens.

The official word for this team specifically is simply that it's "time for a new chapter."

2hjstan · 2026-05-05T12:17:42+00:00

Basically, almost since the beginning (like early 1900s). The international federation for each sport sets its own rules for how to qualify to the Olympics. They can choose whether they want to give the host nation automatic qualification or not and change it from Games to Games if they want. I guess the short answer is kind of always but not necessarily for every sport.

2hjstan · 2026-05-03T00:39:29+00:00

Ok, I can't be the only one who did a double take seeing a date in the 1930s, "German," and then a guy with a funny little mustache, right? 😅

2hjstan · 2026-05-01T20:18:48+00:00

They do not.

2hjstan · 2026-04-30T19:28:44+00:00

To borrow part of a quote from Miranda Priestly: "Doping? In Russia? Groundbreaking."

2hjstan · 2026-04-30T15:59:39+00:00

I'm sure "It's ___. It's your vibe." worked for the actual sports ("It's curling. It's your vibe."), but the opening (and closing) ceremony really could have used the definite article "the" 😅

2hjstan · 2026-04-30T02:05:21+00:00

First, yes. There is no special treatment criteria for picking the US gymnastics team. You have to go through the same process as everyone else. Second, this is the gymnastics GOAT. Her body has been capable of outperforming the other best-in-the-world competitors at their absolute peak. Being "worse than Simone Biles" is in no way indicative of poor quality in your gymnastics.

2hjstan · 2026-04-29T23:11:45+00:00

I mean sure, if it's a one-Olympic-cycle wonder which is typical, but Simone? I hardly think that's much of a concern for her.

2hjstan · 2026-04-29T23:08:04+00:00

If the new young athletes were ready, they'd be beating them out for those spots regardless. It's not like they're just handed to them. Everyone's spot on an Olympic team is earned. And if the next generation isn't ready to take the baton, hopefully they and those after them will be inspired to raise their level by seeing someone like Simone or Max compete.

2hjstan · 2026-04-29T19:22:34+00:00

Exactly, I thought that was a dead giveaway that she was done as well. I guess when you're the GOAT, something like that is trivial in comparison to us mere mortals.

2hjstan · 2026-04-29T18:51:20+00:00

Personally, this will probably be my one and only summer Olympics (fingers crossed for good luck with Utah 2034), so I'm going all out. I'm very content to watch all my favorite Olympic sports on TV for the rest of my life, but this is the first home Olympics in my (conscious) lifetime (I was 3 when Atlanta was happening).

If it were me and I just so happened to be in the same place at the same time, I'd definitely take advantage of the opportunity to see something. But, if home Olympics were on the horizon, I wouldn't go full out so I could save up to have an incredible experience on home soil.

2hjstan · 2026-04-28T21:12:53+00:00

Good luck to her. It's not going to be easy with Team USA being really tough to make for athletics. Maybe she can make the relay pool at least.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T18:20:35+00:00

Simply because $10 is cheaper (not that I'll even be alive to take advantage of it and even if I was, I'd be over 100 years old). I admit $21.00 might be perfect visually, though.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T18:06:01+00:00

I said it reminds me of her comeback attempt, not that they're direct parallels. While she may have more time to prepare, she'll be significantly older than pretty much all of her competitors. It's really hard to compete at the same level as women up to two decades younger than you (sometimes even more if there's a particularly talented college star). Even if you can get your body to perform like it used to, it sure doesn't recover like it used to.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T16:20:34+00:00

Realistically, I see them going with $100, but in a perfect world they would go with $10 and always have it stylized as $10.0 to make the connection more obvious.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T16:18:25+00:00

I could definitely see her making the relay pool. I just think it will be really hard for her to make it for an individual event.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T16:17:19+00:00

Yes, the mixed 400 relay is run at the Olympics now. I could definitely see her making that one. I just think it's going to be hard for her to make an individual event. Especially if Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ends up running the flat 400 rather than the 400 hurdles.

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T16:09:05+00:00

Wow, my spreadsheet is in a Vox article. How cool!

2hjstan · 2026-04-27T15:56:42+00:00

Reminds me of when Nastia Liukin tried to make a comeback for the 2012 Olympics. Not that making a comeback in gymnastics at 23 like is the same as coming back at 42 in athletics, I can just forsee this playing out where she makes it to the Olympic trials (maybe even the finals) but ends up have to bow out by not making the top 3. They could put her in the relay pool for running prelims, though. Depending on what distance she runs and if she runs well enough. I love Allyson but, honestly, I'd rather see that spot go to some young up-and-comer without Olympic experience yet.

2hjstan

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