As disheartening as it is to hear more and more people scoff at the Olympics every two years, I remain steadfastly loyal as a fan of the competition, the ceremony, the pomp and circumstance. Sure, billions of dollars are spent for what amounts to two weeks worth of playing games, but if you read my review of Invictus (or my post on the '08 Summer Games), you should have an idea about why I think the benefits of the Olympics on a global scale outweigh the cost of the Olympics on a local scale.
It is more than just a game - a concept nicely summarized by a piece I read this morning: "Today, cheer not just for the United States but for the other 96 countries as well. Cheer because any time so many nations congregate with common goals, under common rules and in peace, [it] ought to be cause for celebration."
And then there are the athletes who perfectly embody the spirit of the games and, if I may be so bold, the human spirit itself. I defy you not to be inspired by people like Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong:
And then there are the athletes who perfectly embody the spirit of the games and, if I may be so bold, the human spirit itself. I defy you not to be inspired by people like Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong:
That's why I watch.
Thanks for the clip Dan. I just mentioned to my wife earlier this week that the Olymics were starting on Friday (yesterday) but I hadn't yet appraised this year's games. But I did know they were being held in western Canada. I always tune in to the ice hockey (has anyone ever forgotten that Mike Eruzione goal that won the gold for the US over the USSR years ago?) and the figure skating and some of the skiing always keeps me watching. Yep, Acheampong is most inspiring there. I would have been tuning in now but it appears that the movies have intervened tonight, where I have a showing of THE WOLFMAN a short time from now with the family at our local multiplex -I dread this- but then a documentary late tonight at the Quad that has the word 'TIMBUKTU' in the title. That's how much I tried to learn about it in advance! Ha!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing sopme of the events.
I hope you were able to check out a few of the events, Sam. Some of the "marquee" competitions haven't happened yet, but there have been a few great stories I've come across so far (a Canadian mogul skier winning the first-ever gold medal for the country in a host year, then dedicating his win to his older brother, who has cerebral palsy). And there will be more to come, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd regarding the documentary - sometimes the title is all I want to know before seeing something anyway!