Two components: TV broadcast and in person experience.
On TV:
-Instant drama: commentators did well to set up tension: "X is the favorite but can they get the baton around"
- domination is not boring: tension through the whole race of getting the stick off in the sprints. Women's DMR? If only one event a night is boring, than it's easy to take. Like a few 3-and-outs in an NFL game;
-Implicit explanation of relay rules (not the NBC cut scene diagramming an exchange zone)
- Host nation's cultural showcase: the band was a good feature, even on TV where you couldn't hear the music
- Technical commentating: I listened to the Bahamian broadcast. Announcers did well to analyze each legs' take-offs, exchanges, mistakes, in a meaningful way. They were speaking to track fans, not dumbing it down, trusting that a casual fan could understand getting up to speed, without the talking-to-a-5-year-old voice off "what they are trying to do is..."
- Engaged commentating: "Get the baton off, girl!" Yelled one announcer to his Bahamian team.
- Intros were good. Maybe too much for a 24 person 5k, but could be regular protocol for sprint finals.
In person? I wasn't there, but probably pretty good.