15 reasons Summer Olympics are better than Winter Olympics
By Brad Weiss
1. Star power
The biggest reason why the Summer Olympics are better than the Winter Olympics is the star power that the Summer Games have. For years, Summer Olympic heroes have been marketing gold, and they have become household names. From Michael Phelps to Carl Lewis, Olympic champions have graced the cover of Wheaties boxes, and television commercials for years.
Unlike the Winter Games, which only have a handful of stars each Olympics, the Summer Games possess world-renowned talent. These stars resonate with the fans because they are competing in sports that people have actually played before. Kids can pretend to be Phelps when they swim in a pool, or jump off a diving board pretending to be Greg Louganis.
One of the biggest star attractions in the history of the Olympic Games came in 1992, when USA Basketball brought a “Dream Team” to Barcelona, Spain for the Summer Olympics. The roster included international stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, and for the first time ever, fans were able to see these stars in person. The team brought basketball to the forefront on an international level, and forever change the game.
The most decorated Winter Olympian in history is Bjørn Daehlie of Norway, the winner of 12 Olympic medals. While his accomplishments in the Winter Games are incredible, his star power does not resonate the way a Nadia Comaneci (Romania), or Mark Spitz does.
The bottom line is people tune in to see big names on the biggest stage, and the Summer Olympics cannot be touched when it comes to that. The 2016 Rio Olympics will be the last for US Swimmer Michael Phelps, and you can be sure, the ratings are sure to be through the roof.
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