Some Little Olympic Thoughts…

When they first announced that the 2008 Olympics were to be held in China I was ambivalent about the idea. On one hand it would be a fascinating place and might help to open up the country to other cultures and ideas. On the other hand seared in my memory is the picture of the lone student facing off the column of tanks. So a part of me didn’t think China should be rewarded for their nationalistic and militaristic behavior but I hoped that maybe some good might come of it after all.

Today I am almost glad that it will be there. I think the people in China need something to boost them after the devastating earthquake that has literally and figuratively rocked their country. It will also give the rest of the world the excuse to enter the country. Perhaps now in addition to playing games they might also be able to see and help the affected areas.

I also feel some sympathy for the Olympic Committee. For the first time the running of the flame turned into a political debacle. Tibetan and human right activists protested against China wherever the flame was seen. This caused some hide and seek tactics by the keepers of the flame thereby denying people who had spent hours waiting to simply watch the flame go by.

And yet there was one place the flame was going where no one could follow and would be a public relation coup for the Olympic Committee. On May 8th a Tibetan woman held the Olympic torch at the top of Mount Everest after she and a camera crew scaled this highest peak to literally take the flame to the top of the world. Unfortunately it got lost in the headlines about the cyclone and elections and other news and that is too bad. It really could have been a much needed feel good story.

But then yesterday the Olympic Committee announced a decision that has me angry at them all over again. This time they decided that a double amputee from South Africa who is fitted with fancy mechanical legs is allowed to compete in Track and Field. Excuse me? I don’t know if this is one of those politically correct, help the disabled motivated decisions but it is definitely not the right decision. What is next? Someone with a bionic arm entering the discus throwing competition? The list is endless… I do admire the man for overcoming his disability and managing to run much less walk again but he should not be allowed to compete with nonmechanically enhanced athletes. The Olympics should stay true to their original intentions of pitting those gorgeous muscular human bodies against each other in competition. Clothes optional.