Sunday, August 10, 2008
The Olympics!
I love the Olympics. In 1984, in fact, while I was in college, I gave up my primo oyster-shucking job in Rehobeth Beach, Maryland and drove out to Los Angeles to see the games there, and it was TOTALLY worth it. In order, here are my favorite Olympic events (summer and winter):
1) Luge
2) Winter Biathalon
3) Swimming
4) Beach Volleyball
5) Fencing
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The Biathlon is the best. Skiing and shooting a gun. What a winning combination. This year I am boycotting the Olympics due to them being hosted in China, so I can't say much about them. I look forward to 2010 though.
The Swiss must surely have invented the biathlon . . . they ski a lot and all the men have a gun at home (the joke is that it's under their bed) from their required military service. And they're still required to stay in practice, so there are all these shooting ranges around, and the guys go and practice shooting on the weekends. No joke.
There was a shooting range near where I lived, and it was at the edge of a golf course! Aargh. It was also not too far from walking trails. I got spooked one time, walking down this lovely path and hearing shots being fired.
I was also taking a walk in the woods one Sunday morning and started talking to a Swiss woman who said yeah, it can be dangerous to walk in the woods because there are people out here shooting! Good God.
Anyway . . . I'm all for the Biathlon in a controlled environment like the Olympics than for real in the Swiss forests . . .
There was a shooting range near where I lived, and it was at the edge of a golf course! Aargh. It was also not too far from walking trails. I got spooked one time, walking down this lovely path and hearing shots being fired.
I was also taking a walk in the woods one Sunday morning and started talking to a Swiss woman who said yeah, it can be dangerous to walk in the woods because there are people out here shooting! Good God.
Anyway . . . I'm all for the Biathlon in a controlled environment like the Olympics than for real in the Swiss forests . . .
# posted by 
: 9:00 AM
: 9:00 AM
I love the Olympics - all of it.
I am glad to see Swimming on the list.
I got to see Dara Torres break the US 50 Free Record on her 40th birthday in St. Pete, FL last year at a Masters Swim Meet and it was incredible. She was just so ordinary and casual about swimming with a bunch of 'not quite good enough' swimmers.
As for boycotting the Olympics because they are in China. Please remember these athletes had nothing to do with the host country selection. They deserve our support. I am in awe of their commitment to training and pursuit of representing their respective countries on this stage.
There will always be 'politics' involved with the Olympics but it should not diminish the feats of these great athletes. I will always feel sorry for the athletes in 1976 and 1980 who trained and earned spots to compete in Montreal and Moscow, only to be denied their opportunites due to political tensions.
And just think of the young Korean who won the 400 Freestyle last night (this morning). 4 years ago he was 14 and false started in his heat - his Olympic moment was over. This time he took home the GOLD. That is perseverance and what it is all about.
I am glad to see Swimming on the list.
I got to see Dara Torres break the US 50 Free Record on her 40th birthday in St. Pete, FL last year at a Masters Swim Meet and it was incredible. She was just so ordinary and casual about swimming with a bunch of 'not quite good enough' swimmers.
As for boycotting the Olympics because they are in China. Please remember these athletes had nothing to do with the host country selection. They deserve our support. I am in awe of their commitment to training and pursuit of representing their respective countries on this stage.
There will always be 'politics' involved with the Olympics but it should not diminish the feats of these great athletes. I will always feel sorry for the athletes in 1976 and 1980 who trained and earned spots to compete in Montreal and Moscow, only to be denied their opportunites due to political tensions.
And just think of the young Korean who won the 400 Freestyle last night (this morning). 4 years ago he was 14 and false started in his heat - his Olympic moment was over. This time he took home the GOLD. That is perseverance and what it is all about.
Christine-
I realize that the athletes had nothing to do with the country selection, and it's unfortunate. However, giving the Olympics to a country like China despite their long history of political, social, and human rights abuses sends the message that those things don't matter, and that the world community is ok with them. Allowing China to ignore the rule of law and to commit these atrocities and then giving them the Olympics is almost more of a reward than a reproach, and I can't bring myself to support that. It's reminiscent of the Munich Olympics in 1936, where the Nazi party incorporated the swastika as part of the Olympic logo, thus giving them legitimacy at a time when the world should've been casting a wary eye at Germany's new government. For every story about a valiant athlete who has overcome hardship to compete in this year's games, you can find stories of a political dissident denied justice by China, or a woman forced to have an abortion by the Chinese government, or a Szechuan farmer whose land was unfairly taken by the government. Not granting legitimacy to an oppressive regime is more important to me than the struggle of the innocent athletes, so I have chosen to boycott these Olympics. I realize not everyone has made the same choice and I respect that.
I realize that the athletes had nothing to do with the country selection, and it's unfortunate. However, giving the Olympics to a country like China despite their long history of political, social, and human rights abuses sends the message that those things don't matter, and that the world community is ok with them. Allowing China to ignore the rule of law and to commit these atrocities and then giving them the Olympics is almost more of a reward than a reproach, and I can't bring myself to support that. It's reminiscent of the Munich Olympics in 1936, where the Nazi party incorporated the swastika as part of the Olympic logo, thus giving them legitimacy at a time when the world should've been casting a wary eye at Germany's new government. For every story about a valiant athlete who has overcome hardship to compete in this year's games, you can find stories of a political dissident denied justice by China, or a woman forced to have an abortion by the Chinese government, or a Szechuan farmer whose land was unfairly taken by the government. Not granting legitimacy to an oppressive regime is more important to me than the struggle of the innocent athletes, so I have chosen to boycott these Olympics. I realize not everyone has made the same choice and I respect that.
Hey I have a question:
I was watching the equestrian events last night and I wondered HOW the heck do those competitors get their horses all the way to CHINA???
I was watching the equestrian events last night and I wondered HOW the heck do those competitors get their horses all the way to CHINA???
Justin
A slight correction. I beleive you are referencing Berlin in 1936.
Munich was 1972 with it's own political drama played out before the world.
I understand all the arguments as to why many people believe China was not a correct choice (you included). I need to be optimistic and think the world has seen some (ever so) slight improvement on China's record as their society modernizes. Russia struggles, still today, after so many years of communist rule.
Having been raised in an modern, free thinking society I think it is hard for us to understand the process and hurdles the Chinese will face as they address these issues. There is no quick fix; something we as Americans always hope for.
~*~*~*~*~*
I have an Olympic event I would like re-instated ~ TUG-of-WAR.
A slight correction. I beleive you are referencing Berlin in 1936.
Munich was 1972 with it's own political drama played out before the world.
I understand all the arguments as to why many people believe China was not a correct choice (you included). I need to be optimistic and think the world has seen some (ever so) slight improvement on China's record as their society modernizes. Russia struggles, still today, after so many years of communist rule.
Having been raised in an modern, free thinking society I think it is hard for us to understand the process and hurdles the Chinese will face as they address these issues. There is no quick fix; something we as Americans always hope for.
~*~*~*~*~*
I have an Olympic event I would like re-instated ~ TUG-of-WAR.
Osler, why did you put a picture of a ping ponger with the post instead of a picture of your favorite sport, the luge? Not that I don't appreciate a good ping pong reference...
# posted by : 11:36 PM
: 11:36 PM
I never miss snowboarding in the winter, but I had no idea you were a fencing aficionado, Professor!
No Seriously? They fly the horses? So like do they stand up the entire time? GAWD that must be the most expensive sport EVER.. Flying stupid horses around the world???? WOW>
twd
They really do fly the horses and then they are inspected by Vet's and quarantined for several days. I think I saw some horses were transported to a central location and then flown together on the same plane.
From what I hear it is a VERY expensive sport.
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They really do fly the horses and then they are inspected by Vet's and quarantined for several days. I think I saw some horses were transported to a central location and then flown together on the same plane.
From what I hear it is a VERY expensive sport.
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