Our Two Week Addiction
I have to admit I'm not a huge sports fan. I watch basketball when Duke is playing in the winter and figure skating from time to time, but really that is it unless I go to a baseball game with friends. However, there is something special about the Olympics. It always seems to turn me into a instant addicted fan.
I have fond memories of watching both the summer and winter games as a child. Especially during the 1992 summer games I can remember being glued to the tv at my grandparents lakehouse in TN. It was as if all the fun water sports outside didn't exist. Then, in 1996 when the games came to Atlanta, my uncle was gracious enough to get me tickets to a women's basketball game. It was a match between two relatively unknown countries, but I didn't care. I was at the Olympics! And from then on the magic of it all makes me excited to think about the games every two years.
My husband is the same way. He has tons of sporty friends and will watch sporting events if social fun is involved, but doesn't keep up with the scores or results of any particular team. But he's an Olympic fan too, especially as he was on the staff of the 1996 games in Atlanta working the entire summer as a one of the host guides and program coordinators. (It is cool to think we could have walked past each other then and not even known it!)
Thus, we've been glued to the tv every night since Friday watching everything from swimming and gymnastics to beach volleyball. And we love watching the Today Show coverage of the games in the morning before work too!
While I'm not super hyper about nationalism (I believe loving people means loving all nations of the world not just those who are Americans), there is just something about the Olympics that makes you excited to be from your home country. It has been a lot of fun to cheer on the men's gymnastics team hoping they would medal (and they did). I've been nervous for the swimmers watching them race to the finish, being especially mesmerized by the men's relay team that beat France the other night to win the goal. It is a good feeling to feel like "your team" is winning in a way that lives are not lost (aka war).
Not only do I feel more connected to the country where I live, but to other places around the globe as well. There is also something special about watching the feature stories about athletes from other countries and feeling like you get to know someone that you would never of otherwise met. My favorite are about how some struggled to get to the games even when the proper training and equipment is not available to them. They come to the games with the victory being in their presence!
For these reasons and more, our house will be addicted to the tv until the games are through. It is such a nice summer break to feel as though you've gone somewhere cool even when you are just in your living room!
Anybody else have my addiction?
I have fond memories of watching both the summer and winter games as a child. Especially during the 1992 summer games I can remember being glued to the tv at my grandparents lakehouse in TN. It was as if all the fun water sports outside didn't exist. Then, in 1996 when the games came to Atlanta, my uncle was gracious enough to get me tickets to a women's basketball game. It was a match between two relatively unknown countries, but I didn't care. I was at the Olympics! And from then on the magic of it all makes me excited to think about the games every two years.
My husband is the same way. He has tons of sporty friends and will watch sporting events if social fun is involved, but doesn't keep up with the scores or results of any particular team. But he's an Olympic fan too, especially as he was on the staff of the 1996 games in Atlanta working the entire summer as a one of the host guides and program coordinators. (It is cool to think we could have walked past each other then and not even known it!)
Thus, we've been glued to the tv every night since Friday watching everything from swimming and gymnastics to beach volleyball. And we love watching the Today Show coverage of the games in the morning before work too!
While I'm not super hyper about nationalism (I believe loving people means loving all nations of the world not just those who are Americans), there is just something about the Olympics that makes you excited to be from your home country. It has been a lot of fun to cheer on the men's gymnastics team hoping they would medal (and they did). I've been nervous for the swimmers watching them race to the finish, being especially mesmerized by the men's relay team that beat France the other night to win the goal. It is a good feeling to feel like "your team" is winning in a way that lives are not lost (aka war).
Not only do I feel more connected to the country where I live, but to other places around the globe as well. There is also something special about watching the feature stories about athletes from other countries and feeling like you get to know someone that you would never of otherwise met. My favorite are about how some struggled to get to the games even when the proper training and equipment is not available to them. They come to the games with the victory being in their presence!
For these reasons and more, our house will be addicted to the tv until the games are through. It is such a nice summer break to feel as though you've gone somewhere cool even when you are just in your living room!
Anybody else have my addiction?
posted by Musings @ 5:29 PM
2 Comments:
At 8:47 AM ,
Di said...
I do! I watched the kayaker from Togo win the bronze yesterday, and that was fantastic. Tiny little Togo! I had to look it up. That's my favorite part of the Olympics.
At 1:12 PM ,
xxx said...
When I was getting excited over women's badmiton, I knew I was addicted. I truly love the Olympics and this year's opening ceremony was great. Not going in alphabetical order was kind of a treat. It made the 2 hour processional fun and VERY educational.
Smooches...
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