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300 million? That's like three Super Bowls here in the States! That's pretty huge. That means a little less than half the population of Europe saw the final.
Those were the statistics worldwide, not just Europe.
The Copa America in Chile next year, despite of the lack of Concacaf teams, will be better in quality overall than the Centennial Copa America because it will happen before the start of the qualifiers and won't overlap with Olympics, but still, like I said, the top South American teams don't tipically go with their complete A teams, unlike the Eurocup.
They're not. Olympic football is played by U23 teams and Asia and Africa have almost as many spots as Europe (4 vs. 3.5). It's not a serious tournament but I suppose that it has some value if it's the only thing you haven't won yet (as it is for Brazil). Especially since the Olympics will be held in Brazil next. .
Sorry but not completely true. People say that because not many teams, especially Europeans can make it, especially Netherlands Soccer in the Olympic games has some limitations imposed by FIFA, so it does not take the star away from the WC, but it is still a very important tournament.
Because only 16 teams participate in the Olympics, it tends to be rather competitive. Yes, it's only under 23 but all teams can bring up to 3 players over 23, which are typically their major stars. Lately, the olympics have also being important for teams to invest in the renovation and creation of strong squads for the WC. A lot of the players in the current Argentina who lost the final to Germany, were Olympic champions in 2004 and 2008.
I would say the big deal about the Olympics is that many of the up and coming young players are in it and you could see future World Cup players while they are young. It is one gauge of the various country's youth development. At least that is true from an Americas perspective, which is what I follow more closely.
For example, when the US failed to get out of the group stage in qualification it was a big deal. I see the Brazil squad had Neymar and Silva on it and the Mexican squad had dos Santos and other WC starters.
Why do you pretend to be completely ignorant of football sometimes? It's annoying.
Because I never looked at the stats. I had always know these events were popular but never knew they were THAT popular. I live in the States and coverage of football at all is like how citizens of North Korea get to hear about the outside world.
I didn't even know the EPL was popular in the states until I read an article about it a couple months ago. I thought it was just a small niche.
Sorry but not completely true. People say that because not many teams, especially Europeans can make it, especially Netherlands Soccer in the Olympic games has some limitations imposed by FIFA, so it does not take the star away from the WC, but it is still a very important tournament.
Because only 16 teams participate in the Olympics, it tends to be rather competitive. Yes, it's only under 23 but all teams can bring up to 3 players over 23, which are typically their major stars. Lately, the olympics have also being important for teams to invest in the renovation and creation of strong squads for the WC. A lot of the players in the current Argentina who lost the final to Germany, were Olympic champions in 2004 and 2008.
Important for who? Yes, maybe for people from Nevermindistan who manage to get into the tournament once, and now they have to convince the others that it matters to everybody, because it matters to me.
The fact that the Olympics football is practically an U23 tournament, drops the prestige tremendously. The overaged players are usually like Beckham, just for promo purposes. Most overaged players decline the offer.
Yes, there's some good players and rising stars in the Olympic football, but there's a lot of players that may score a goal in the quarter finals, but now struggles to even get on the pitch in the Japanese league, like a player called Kensuke Nagai.
And I didn't watch the damn thing at all in London. Couldn't care less.
I would say the big deal about the Olympics is that many of the up and coming young players are in it and you could see future World Cup players while they are young. It is one gauge of the various country's youth development. At least that is true from an Americas perspective, which is what I follow more closely.
For example, when the US failed to get out of the group stage in qualification it was a big deal. I see the Brazil squad had Neymar and Silva on it and the Mexican squad had dos Santos and other WC starters.
But it's not as significant as the U23 WC (or other youth WCs), at least here in Europe. The Olympics are held in the same year as the Euro so the European Olympic teams tend to feature the players that weren't good enough to be selected for the national team. Compared to the other major international football tournaments in Europe (WC, Euro, CL, EL), the Olympics just aren't that relevant. People watch the Olympics for other sports, many even feel that football doesn't belong there because it doesn't feature the best athletes. The fact that Africa and Asia are way overrepresented and Oceania gets a guaranteed spot doesn't help the quality or prestige of the tournament.
Edit: to clarify, in the first sentence I meant significant as a gauge of the various countries' youth development.
But it's not as significant as the U23 WC (or other youth WCs), at least here in Europe. The Olympics are held in the same year as the Euro so the European Olympic teams tend to feature the players that weren't good enough to be selected for the national team. Compared to the other major international football tournaments in Europe (WC, Euro, CL, EL), the Olympics just aren't that relevant. People watch the Olympics for other sports, many even feel that football doesn't belong there because it doesn't feature the best athletes. The fact that Africa and Asia are way overrepresented and Oceania gets a guaranteed spot doesn't help the quality or prestige of the tournament.
Edit: to clarify, in the first sentence I meant significant as a gauge of the various countries' youth development.
Yeah, in the end I agree with you. It is one of the many places that youth players get a chance to show they belong on the senior squad. Overall, I watch very little of the olympics, but will watch a bit from track and field, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. I don't find the Olympics that amazing in general, but I bet it would be fun to travel and see the games live, just for fun.
Yeah, in the end I agree with you. It is one of the many places that youth players get a chance to show they belong on the senior squad. Overall, I watch very little of the olympics, but will watch a bit from track and field, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. I don't find the Olympics that amazing in general, but I bet it would be fun to travel and see the games live, just for fun.
In the United States, the Olympics are touted as the biggest sporting event in the world. When the Olympics come around the media plays it up way more than the WC and acts as though everyone knows it's the biggest in the world. It's silly.
I've hardly ever kept up with the Olympics.
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Soccer in the Olympic games has some limitations imposed by FIFA, so it does not take the star away from the WC, but it is still a very important tournament. 
