The Olympics begin today! I am excited. I love the Olympic games, or maybe more precisely, I love the idea that the Olympic Games embody. The rarity of the opportunity that the games bring for ordinary people to perform in extraordinary circumstances. The chance for countries that don't normally grab headlines to shine (think Kenya, Jamaica, South Africa).
I know. Many shrug off the Olympics or take a jaded, cynical approach to it. I don't completely disagree. I don't care much for the commercialization of the Olympics, or the media coverage of it. But you strip that away and get down to what the Olympics are really about - people - and I am enthralled. Can you imagine, training your whole life for this one opportunity, and in many cases, it really is just one chance. I remember growing up watching Dan Jansen fail.... and then succeed. I watched Michael Johnson, in a blur of gold... win gold. I saw Michael Phelps set Olympic history in stunning fashion. There was the excitement of nearly hometown girl, Mariel Zagunis winning gold too. This year will add
Oscar Pistorius running in the Olympics (not the Paralympics) with no legs. There is Kerri Strug, Rulon Gardner, Eric "The Eel",
Derek Redmond, Antonio Rebolloto (the archer who ignited the Olympic cauldron to start the Barcelona games). And these are just a few of the memories the Olympics have given me over my life.
Twice now I have been in cities in the months just prior to the Olympics, though I have yet to actually attend an Olympics personally. Even months before the games begin, there is an anticipation, a sense of energy that is prevalent just walking around. Someday I hope to attend a games (the winter Olympics given my choice). But for now, I am content to sit half a world away cheering and rooting for hundreds and thousands of ordinary people I don't know who are in the process of doing something extraordinary.
