Every four years, an incredible spectacle takes place with the eyes of the world watching. No, I”m not talking about the upcoming presidential election, though that certainly is a spectacle all right. I”m talking about the worldwide event that is the Olympics.
The Summer Olympics are probably the most entertaining event in the world. I know more people around the world usually end up watching the Super Bowl than the Olympics, but that”s usually because one U.S. network controls the coverage, whereas with the Olympics many possible worldwide broadcast networks may share broadcasting rights for the games. I know the BBC is broadcasting this year”s games, and I imagine much of the world is watching its live coverage.
In terms of pure entertainment value, the Olympics destroy any other sporting event, and not just because most sporting events are likely a part of the Olympics. The Olympics are multi-faceted and offer so much more than just those creative commercials for which events like the Super Bowl are known.
Thousands of athletes from around the world descend upon a chosen city every four years, a rotating cast of veterans and newbies, each person a walking human-interest story. They faced numerous challenges and overcame them to make it there. I love hearing about the various obstacles they battled on the road to the games.
Just on the U.S. swim team alone, there is a plethora of tales to tell.
There”s the veteran phenomenon Michael Phelps, who is finally showing that there are chinks in his armor, which seemed indestructible at the Beijing Games. He has a chance to become the most-decorated Olympic athlete of all time. I hope he makes it.
Vallejo-native Natalie Coughlin won her 12th medal on Saturday and could become the most-decorated U.S. woman swimmer if she is chosen for the 4×100-meter medley relay, which takes place Friday. Coughlin earned a medal in each of her 12 Olympic swims, quite an impressive feat.
Missy Franklin is a high school student who just won a freaking gold medal. Matt Grevers proposed to his swimmer girlfriend after winning a gold medal at the Missouri Grand Prix swimming event in February and won an Olympic gold with her cheering him on from the stands.
Then there are the opening and closing ceremonies, which are always spectacular entertainment.
The last few Olympics, I was not able to watch these ceremonies, usually because of work, school or both. I wasn”t happy about that, especially with the awesome opening ceremony at the Beijing Games. But I managed to see most of the London opening ceremony and found it amazing.
Movie director Danny Boyle was in charge of the direction for the ceremony. He”s made some amazing-looking films that are among my favorite, including “Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later” and “Sunshine.” He didn”t disappoint me with the ceremony, replete with some awesome character creations and a beautiful torch-lighting.
Then there”s the way that the Olympics can overshadow global politics with sizable gestures.
I found it so refreshing to see athletes from war torn nations such as Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Libya walking in the Parade of Nations. These athletes must have incredible stories of determination, and I certainly would love to hear them.
North and South Korea, long-standing enemies, walked as the united Korea in the Parade of Nations for both the Sydney and Athens games.
And, of course, the Olympics offer the ultimate chance to cheer on your country.
I”m not exactly the most patriotic person, but come the Olympics, I love watching the drama that often unfolds as U.S. athletes take on the world”s worthy competitors. I erupt in cheer when the U.S. wins. In many ways, it”s a victory for us all.
It was such a blow watching the U.S. men”s 4×100-meter relay swim team get upset by the French four years after beating them by a few hundredths of a second in Beijing. But that is the drama I love that only comes every four years.
It”s amazing that this global event first occurred thousands of years ago. I”m so happy that it was rebirthed in 1896.
My mom took me to see the Olympic Torch relay pass through the Bay Area for the 1984 Los Angeles Games when I was just a few months old. I hope one day to attend an Olympics. Here”s hoping those games prove to be as exciting as London has been thus far.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
