Technology Aims to Attract Youngsters to 2008 Olympics

With the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games tomorrow, 8/8/08, a lot of pressure has been put on technology to help raise Olympic viewing numbers and also attract younger viewers.

 

In a recent article covering the Olympics and its new reliance on technology, I was surprised to discover that the average viewer for the Winter Athens Games in 2004 was 40 years old.

 

However, with the rise of technology and the Internet becoming more mobile, anyone with a cell phone and a Wi-Fi connection is now able to tune into the Olympics. We know that kids of all ages now carry cell phones with them, to school, to friends' houses, and to after school activities for "safety" reasons (and peace of mind of their parents). Because of this, younger generations can watch the Games at summer camp, the beach or in their backyards.

 

Many kids are also more familiar and up-to-date with the latest Internet offerings, and often more than their parents. With the 2008 Beijing Olympics being dubbed as the "first digital Olympics", the amount of youngsters tuning in should increase.

 

And if anything, today's teens should tune in to see eight-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps set a new swimming record.