Interviewers asking athletes stupid questions.

[dave50]

Is anyone else fed up of the BBC interviewers thrusting their microphones under the noses of the athletes just after they have won and asking them how they feel and other stupid questions? Obviously they are delighted! Then after this there is a long discussion in the studio discussing the same topic over and over again. How long does it take to analyse some ones victory? All this gets annoying and downright embarrassing after a while.

[ELVIS68]

Doesn't bother me, what should they ask them then?

[JoolsTwo]

Yes, I agree with you, but it's not just the Olympics they do it all the time. Very embarrassing, especially when they get basic facts wrong too.

[johnny37]

The best one was the question to Christine Erohagu when she got the silver. 'how do you feel about winning a silver, christine?'. Reply 'After four years training for gold - gutted'.

[snags]

Yes. Especially the twot in my avatar.

[Davethedog]

One, of the few, things I admire about US TV is the way they don't patronise either the player/contestants etc or their audience.

They take it that the audience understands what they are watching and that the participants are elated or deflated.

British TV, especialy SKY could learn a lot from them.

[Canary42]

What amazes me is that nobody ever responds with "What a stupid bloody question, can't you do better than that ?"

[EvianBaby]

I'm not fed up, annoyed or embarrassed by it. I like the fact that we get to see the athletes raw emotions straight after their event - even if the questions and answers are a little obvious.

[bednobs]

during wimbledon, some inanae commentator asked any murray how hard it must have been for his mum watching him and he replied "i don't know or really care, it's a lot harder for me" (or words to that effect)

[kayakamina]

My all time favourite response to the perennial question 'What was going through your mind' was from Eamonn D'Arcy who had just sunk a winning putt
'Don't F....... miss it'
This was live on TV!

[EvianBaby]

I do remember watching F1 a few years ago and someone got hold of Kimi Raikenan (sp) and asked him what he thought of something that another driver just did. He replied, 'I didn't see it, I was taking a sh1t'. Brilliant.

[AliceTickband]

I am quite surprised that some of the athletes who are being interviewed straight after running their legs off don't just reply.....'can't talk - breathing'

[Dodger666]

"What amazes me is that nobody ever responds with "What a stupid bloody question, can't you do better than that ?"

You must have missed this reply from Mark Cavendish to BBC man David Bond:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXv3yA5k3i4

[ELVIS68]

It's hard to understand anything Cavendish says, he talks as if he's got a pair of socks in his mouth

[Duncer]

I feel that our athletes have been superb, but the commentary and track side interviews have been lamentable, especially Phil at trackside.

However, the stupidest question must go to the vaccuous blonde bimbo who patrols the Olympic Park. She spotted a young guy of eleven or twelve outside the swimming venue and spoke to him for a while, ascertaining that he was a big swimming fan, came from Preston and swam for a Preston swimming club.

She then looked off-camera to her left and said, "Is that mum and dad over there? Come on in mum and dad".

Mum and dad duly appeared and she asked "And where are you from?"

[sandyRoe]

Are the athletes obliged to answer these stupid interview questions?

[Duncer]

I suspect that sponsors will want them to maximise exposure in any way possible in return for keeping the nice big cheques rolling in.

[ELVIS68]

I can understand if the athlete has just lost but the OP was saying after they had won, surely they aren't bothered and they are happy enough to answer any questions, after all it's the Olympics not parents race at school sportsday

[Duncer]

A stupid question is a stupid question, irrespective of the venue or the occasion. Being the Olympics I thought the BBC would have tried to employ commentators/interviewers with some knowledge and some gravitas, rather than the sporting equivalent of Trevor Nelson.

[ELVIS68]

They're hardly going to ask them to discuss the race and their tactics as soon as they've crossed the line, they just want a reaction as to how they feel.