Olympics fan

I am not athletic. I played tennis in high school but had no real talent at it. My senior year I even played varsity doubles, but only because all those talented players graduated. A natural athlete could beat us with just a little practice. But it was fun. I am glad I played a sport.

T loves sports, almost anything but basketball. Mostly he loves to play them, but he enjoys the camaraderie of men when they watch sports. I am always glad when football season ends as I just can't get into watching sports.

The Olympics would be the exception. I love them. If there weren't household tasks beckoning, I would indulge my appetite and watch them all day. Beach volleyball is on right now. I love that playing volleyball in the sand is an Olympic sport. I love that ping pong is an Olympic sport and this year BMX racing makes its debut. I love the obscure sports like synchronized swimming and I love the popular sports like swimming, gymnastics, and soccer (it's the most popular sport in the world, and even popular at my home). I love introducing my kids to competition and to new sports they have never seen. I loved watching the beautiful opening ceremonies with the girls and listening to them ooh and ahh at the beautiful costumes, at the fancy lights, and helping them admire the precision of movement of thousands of people--something only the Chinese could accomplish. I even loved the parade of nations though I felt sad so many of those nations won't receive one medal and don't expect to. I know its not because of lack of talent. I like rooting for the underdog, the upsets. I like believing in the purity of the love of a sport, honest competition, and determination. It's refreshing and I wither when athletes like Marion Jones tarnish those ideals.

I love the tears, the smiles, the human-interest stories, the China spotlight stories. I love the pre-Olympic politics and following the choosing of the next Olympic city (go Chicago in 2016 - did you know this great city has never hosted the Olympics? It was chosen in 1904, but gave it up to St. Louis because it was hosting the World's Fair the same year! If Chicago wins, I will be there!). I love getting angry at the human rights violations in China and discovering the crazy cover-ups and massive resources poured into this Olympics (like diverting water from the rice farmers for the normally arid Beijing). While such discoveries frustrate me, I am fascinated by the Chinese and how they think and am happy they have some time in the spotlight. I hold dear my time in China and will forever remember the joyful tears those Chinese teenagers shed when Beijing won the Olympic bid in 2001. Their love of country and sense of belonging parallels nothing that exists here. I love the Olympics. Yea that it is here!