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Six days ago, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron and kicked off just over two weeks of sporting excellence. Now, sports fans around the globe have been glued to their screens to support their national teams and athletes competing in the biggest event of high-level athleticism.

So amid the salty caramel popcorn, loud cheers and tears of disappointment, people are taking their emotions and laying them all out in these funny tweets that we collected below. So let’s get that Tokyo Olympics vibe up and rolling, and be sure to upvote your favorite ones!

After you’re done, I totally recommend you check out our previous post with crazy photos of Olympians and other athletes that will give you an entirely new perspective on the human body and its capabilities. No amount of respect is too much for these incredible people!

With so many fans not being able to attend the Olympics this year, the post-pandemic sports event seems very different from what we were used to. Just like most professional sports, Olympic events feed off crowd energy that transfers onto the screens for viewers at home.

Commenting on the very different kind of Olympic experience this year, Rick Burton, a professor of sport management at Syracuse University and the former chief marketing officer of the US Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing games, called the experience “sterile.” “The sponsors are going to be thinking the ratings will be down. They’re worried they’re not going to get their money’s worth,” he added.

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Moreover, sports psychologists are now observing an Olympics without fans as a real-life science experiment. It’s thought to help researchers and clinicians to measure the impact of a crowd of fans on its players—and on spectators at home. The unprecedented times offer an entirely new glimpse into what is the social and psychological makeup of the Olympic Games and how the competing athletes are affected by it.

#7

Makes Sense

whens-lunch Report

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denzoren
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is utter none sense...let them wear what they want and what is comfortable! It's their skills on show not their bodies.

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Some athletes have already stressed the pressure that’s been building for not having an audience of spectators. On Tuesday, superstar gymnast Simone Biles dropped out of the women’s team event, blaming “not the right headspace” for competition. “It’s been really stressful this Olympic Games. Just as a whole, not having an audience. There are a lot of different variables going into it,’ she told the Washington Post.

The findings made on viewers’ engagement also show that sports without fans may be way less enjoyable. Kantar, a research firm that measures consumer enthusiasm, found that two-third of American sports spectators announced that watching sports during the pandemic was not as engaging and enjoyable. “[The Olympics] could be a little bit less engaging, a little bit less fulfilling for the viewer,” Ryan McConnell, Kantar’s senior vice president for consulting, told Quartz.

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#10

Tokyo 2020

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ms. Biles did the correct thing for herself AND the team. She "lost" her "way" and she could have hurt herself, physically, destroying her abilities for the rest of her life. In addition, she allowed another American to take her place instead of ensuring a total defeat for the team.

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Leo Domitrix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, my criticism was she should've dropped out sooner. Something after the prelims just made me think, "Oh man, her head's not in it, she's gonna break something...." I'm glad she didn't break any bones trying to "push through". Good for her!

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There Is No Planet B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is an incredible athlete and even better human being. She was already a great role model before, but now she's given a voice to everyone who might be having mental health problems, specially young people and athletes who might have been ashamed to talk about it. As did Phelps and Naomi Osaka, I admire them so much for it.

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Vivian Ashe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love Michael Harriot. He's a really funny writer who makes a lot of smart observations.

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Axolotl King
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah all the people who actually do do that stuff look up to her

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Donkey boi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry to ask the obvious, but what's the issue with Simone? I have heard anything about it over here and google hasn't supplied me with anything that seems obvious.

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Uber Mensch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To do Olympic-level gymnastics, your mind and focus MUST be 100% on what you're doing or you risk *serious* injury. For whatever reason, she didn't have that, and bravely/sensibly bowed out.

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Tess the ferret
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Will someone explain the hype around Simone Biles? It seemed everyone was talking about her in the Olympics. Sorry, I know I've been living under a rock

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righttoopinion
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't wait to hear how her teammates feel about her quitting. Haven't heard much from them. Wonder if they're congratulating her on her bold, courageous move.

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Dan H
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2 years ago

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Only proves that different opinions are not allowed

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Random Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, they are absolutely "allowed", hence your dumb comment on here are others dumb comments on the internet being "allowed". But allowed doesn't mean anyone else cannot disagree with your trash opinion, hence the downvotes.

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#14

Go Guys!

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Francis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

weightlifter hidilyn diaz won the first ever goldmedal for the philippines!! i literally screamed when she won :D i was so f*cking happy for her

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#16

Tokyo 2020

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ggus44
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, it's fair for those russian athletes that don't do doping and just work hard to go to the Olympics.

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#20

Tokyo 2020

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me that it's nearly time for my annual "Blades of Glory" watch.

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#23

Expectations vs. Reality

Pandamoanimum Report

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The EASIER the Olympians make it look, the HARDER IT ACTUALLY IS. My absolute favorite sport in gymnastics is the "rings." OHMYGAWD, it looks "so easy" and actually it is hell on your body.

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#28

Tokyo 2020

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#31

Ya

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Francis
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

me while watching diving: "oh s**t that was a huge splash! that won't be a medal for them!" - it's the only thing i know: big splash = bad rating

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#35

Tokyo 2020

TropicalMaku Report

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Suutashi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

XD That's Yoshi- P, Masayoshi Soken and Koji Fox from Final Fantasy XIV. It took me a moment to realise who they were.

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#38

Tokyo 2020

mikekelton Report

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Zophra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...while eating chips with a cat on my lap also judging the competitors.

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#40

Tokyo 2020

morgan_murphy Report

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Leo Domitrix
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Coolest thing I did at 13 was a trick on a bike that later caused me severe pain (when I landed) and would have made Tony Hawk laugh, b/c he could do it on a skateboard. So, yeah, no coolness whatsoever.

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#42

Tokyo 2020

Ariel_Comedy Report

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lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, yes you do. If you haven't then you don't have a clue as to what is going on, in fact, you really need to go to the library and watch all the earlier ones, though you are going to have a little trouble finding the Grecian Olympics for 400 BC.

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#43

Japan With The Home Field Advantage

Synchronysed Report

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The olympics are temporary, waifus are eternal" - that athlete probably

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#45

Tokyo 2020

alwayssunny Report

Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.