"But the Olympics have simply never done it for me, doubly so for the Winter Games. There's less drama, the storylines are hard to follow, and the stars rarely seem to transcend the competition (figure skating being the one occasional exception). That said, ever since the Olympics announced that Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams-the stars of HBO's Heated Rivalry, a steamy romance about two closeted, pro hockey players-would serve as torchbearers for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games (they carried the torches on Jan. 25),"
"You've probably heard that, in the original Greek Olympics , competitors were naked. It's a fact kind of like, "Hey, did you know pee is sterile?" Something you file away under "Interesting, not useful." And, sure, ancient athletes were nude (and, for wrestlers, also covered in oil) because it made the sport easier; one can run faster and punch harder without clothes."
Many casual or mildly uninterested viewers find the Olympics unengaging due to diffuse storylines and limited transcendent stars; figure skating occasionally breaks that pattern. The decision to use torchbearers from a steamy HBO series signals a shift toward courting broader cultural attention through sexuality and narrative crossover. Historical nudity in ancient Greek Olympics and modern examples like condom distribution at Paris 2024 show a longstanding sexual dimension to the Games. Incorporating provocative personalities and sensual framing can make the Olympics more enticing to audiences who otherwise ignore the event.
Read at Jezebel
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