Okay, I'm trying to settle a bet. I said a certain event was the premiere (ie. most watched, most remembered, most important) event of the Summer Games and I was called out on it.

I want to take a unbiased poll.

We are talking about a single event, not a single result (like Phelps winning).

The lip-syncing. :mad:

The end, when they switch out the lights!

Mens 100m

i'm going with football final

Are you talking sports or show biz??

If the latter - opening ceremonies.

Sports...hmmm...100 m as it's deemed fastest man on the planet snf considered a marquee event.

I'd say either the protesting or the 100m...

Opening ceremonies are always the most watched. I'm talking about sporting event.

Used to be the mile long ago but that's not even and event anymore.

I mean watching Phelps this year is a once in a lifetime event so that tilts things for this Olympics.

I guess I'd stick with 100 meters.

The mens 100 meter final has traditionally been the showcase event.

Thanks. Looks like I won my argument.

I also found this wikipedia entry:

List of most watched sporting events in 2004 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_watched_sporting_events_in_2004)

In a nutshell, it says the 100m was the most watched event followed by the 200m freestyle swim (mens). The Opening Ceremonies were #1.

Men 1500m

Depends on the demographic you're looking for ... for certain demographics I'd have to say women's beach volleyball ;)

Mens 8 rowing!

Well at least that was the event for me.

Most watched was probably MacDoc's favourite... Women's Beach Volleyball! :D Ok, now it's my favourite too....

I'm really glad there's no women's gymnastics demographic here.

From a voyeur's prospective, it's hard to beat diving. Those men and women have the most incredible bodies.

My personal fav is the marathon. I could watch the entire 2+ hours. I'd grab a sandwich, watch a bit of it. Grab a beer, watch a bit. Maybe I'd do a couple of pushups. But, I can see why it's like watching paint dry for most people.

CGI footprints in the sky!

Used to be the mile long ago but that's not even and event anymore.

I mean watching Phelps this year is a once in a lifetime event so that tilts things for this Olympics.

I guess I'd stick with 100 meters.

The mile was never an Olympic event. It has always been the 1500 meters, for men since 1896, and since 1972 for the women. Women were never allowed to run more than 800 meters before that.

Hah - :clap: that would explain things .....odd that the 4 minute mile was such an event yet had no Olympic presence. Thanks for that.