____ disagree on whether the cheerleaders are entertaining or just an irritating distraction.

The official Olympic cheerleaders are a lot different than what you would see on the sidelines at basketball or American-style football games. Cheerleader choreographer Paola Bosio says about 500 girls tried out to become Olympic cheerleaders. "At the end we chose 100 girls. We have six groups, three working in ice hockey, two at speed skating and one in the mountains. So this is the first time that there is cheerleading in the Olympic Games, and we thought it was a good way to entertain the spectators." After being selected for the squad, the newly-minted cheerleaders practiced for four and a half months. But during that time, all they learned how to do was to wave their orange and gold pompons, dance a few synchronized steps, and jump up and down to whatever music might be playing at the venue. Fans disagree on whether the cheerleaders are entertaining or just an irritating distraction. After all, they do not actually cheer and they do not wear skimpy uniforms. The all-girl squad, which ranges in age from 15 to 26, is attired in bright orange and gold uniforms that cover them almost from shoulder to toe.