Do you think the Olympics are fun and games or just pointless nationalism?

Nothing wrong with a little nationalism.

Pure competition for the athletes and their families, and nationalism for the fans at home who support them.

i agree there

except when it comes to cycling as cycling is the one sport where i will openly cheer for great britain as i do like the great british cyclists

Do you think the Olympics are fun and games or just pointless nationalism?
In the U.S. it's pointless nationalism, so that drunken morons can watch something in their afternoon while they cook meat or meat derivatives on a grill and drink beer while they hoot and hollar as they occasionally wipe their greasy hands on their "America #1" T-shirt (that was manufactured in China).

Do you think the Olympics are fun and games or just pointless nationalism?

Both.

I always cheer for the USA, but if they aren't in contention i still enjoy watching it.

I think it also points to something beyond the limits of nationalism when so many diverse nations can come together and compete in the games with a majority of good sportsmanship. Thankfully drug abuse is a not-too-frequent occurrence, and outright brawls between athletes of different nations are rare.

Celebrates the human spirit and we are all human beings. :)

and nationalism for the fans at home who support them.

That's prolly why I was cheering for Iraq in football, Hicham El Gerouj in 5000m and 1500m ...