Olympics '08

(Insert Olympics theme here...)

So, what are your thoughts on the Olympics? Do you have favorite events or favorite athletes competing this year? Will you be watching?

Does the Olympics supercede politics for you, or is it a politicized event?
Should President Bush have gone to the opening ceremony? Should China have been chosen as host? Any other thoughts? Speak up!

4 comments:

RefreshMom said...

I'll go first...

I am watching the opening ceremonies. I've always loved the Olympics (when I left my "career" in TV Production, the thing I really wanted to accomplish but never did was working at the Olympics), but I'm kind of ambivalent about it this year. I haven't been following any of the athletes or anything.

I've known a couple of Olympic athletes. We went to college with a gal who competed in the last two Olympics in rowing, and I spent a day years ago driving Rowdy Gaines around in a fancy red sportscar on a beautiful sunny California day (he was in town for an event we were hosting). Very cool guy--very fun day! It was interesting to hear the perspective of someone who was directly affected by the boycott of the Moscow Olympic games.

I do think it's unfortunate that countries use an event that highlights personal achievement to bring attention to national/political causes. That's why I'm torn about China hosting it. I'm not a big supporter of MANY of China's practices. It's hard for me to see them "rewarded" with the opportunity to host the games, but at the same time, if I think the nations shouldn't be using it as a political pawn, then my views of their politics shouldn't include the Olympics, should it? See, ambivalent.

Even so, that brown goo that passes as "air" should have been reason enough not to hold the games there. As someone with asthma, I can't imagine trying to do anything strenuous in that air, let alone try to compete at an Olympic level! I wonder if we'll see fewer records broken this time around?

Watching the parade of nations, I have to say that I'm glad that some of these tiny nations who have so little opportunity to show the world their national pride and accomplishments get to bring their best to join the rest of the world in competition. That's what the Olympics should be about.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Have they started? Really?

(just kidding...)

I'm so out of the loop on everything going on in the world. I've pretty much given up my television for sanity purposes.

My kids posted me on the opening ceremonies. They said it was "awesome." I'll take their word for it.

That being said, I love the diving and gymnastics. I fell in love with Bart Conner (gymnist) years ago as a youth. I think he married Nadia.

Anyway, I'll catch a bit of it tonight if I can. I'm so blurry eyed and weary from VBS (that's an olympic sport all on its own...) I may just take in a movie with my kids.

Enjoy your weekend.

peace~elaine

Michelle said...

It is fun letting my oldest watch the olympics. He was watching water polo yesturday. It was US vs China. We don't watch many sports so he does not get the whole home team idea. So it was funny when he would announce to us everytime China scored a point.
I have always wanted to be a commentator for the Olympic events.

Anonymous said...

We're boycotting the Olympics and their sponsors for political reasons relating to the Chinese government's policies domestically and abroad.

I'll miss them this year, but I'll look forward to watching when the Olympic committee chooses a country deserving of such an honor.

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