Sorry I didn't go in depth enough with my explaining, and so let me explain my thinking:
The idea of Athletics as it would provide the new world project of Olympics which is a project used to increase commerce and improve relations with other civs using the Olympics. Athletics have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years and they are a tech that would improve your cultural and commerce so that your civ may become more custom (culturally) aware. The Olympics on the other hand are an ancient sport that has been passed down the ages.... Great Athletes are used to produce mostly culture, though they can build things such as your Colloseum (Odeon, etc.), they may found a sport which is no big deal it's just like an artist making a great masterpiece except like religion the sport can spread via trade routes, as well they may join the city, and even research specific techs.
The idea of Television is it outdates the radio purposely, it also enables the News Corp. (not adds corp.). Television is a faster and more commerce producing tech than the radio and allows both broadcast towers and satellites (a little later on in the game) to be used. The Television tech provides your cities with that commerce needed to earn some money, although it produces
in cities for all those Adds (LOL)! The News Corp. on the other hand is setup just as any other corp. except it enables you to buyout broadcast towers in which ever city the News can be found, therefore you reep the benefits of that Broadcast Tower in the founder city.
Mythology is not really used for anything except to improve culture and enable the tech Conspiracy. Conspiracy is used to build Great Churches (or whatever they are called that prophets build in holy cities) as well it enables Monarchy (and you NEED it).
Surgery simply makes hospitables and Red Cross produce
and health in cities, as well units heal faster (without surgeon upgrade though with that upgrade they heal even faster).
Zoos need two animal resources (deer, sheep, elephant, beaver, horse, cow), and do as said they provided.
You're right ditch stadium.
Hopefully that clears up some of the holes I left..... Oh, and I didn't think of zoos making science that would make good sense...
Here are a few things I wish would (and may or did) come true:
and +
