Tomorrow the games begin. Tomorrow I also have a friend getting married. Tomorrow should be a fun day.
Today I listened to the BBC world news on my phone all day, and they talked about the Olympics almost all day. I mostly enjoyed it. However I do think they should have the moment of silence for the remembrance of the Athletes killed 40 years ago. To not commemorate it during the games is as much to make a political statement, if not more so, than to commemorate it. First and for most, 12 Olympians were killed during the Olympics 40 years ago, and that has forever changed the games.
The other thing I thought a lot about today was my experience as a volunteer during the 2002 games. I remember the day Salt Lake was chosen as the host city- I don't think many days have ever been so exciting and wonderful. I had a group of friends watching with me in my living room and I went crazy when Juan Antonio Samaranch proclaimed that the 2002 games would be in "The city of Salt Lake City". I also will never forget my disappointment, shame and heart break when the Bid scandal came to light.
As the games approached and Mitt Romney took over, and indeed changed the course and helped save a sinking ship and big mess of a games and with the rest of the 2002 team, turned the Games in to a success. I remember when Romney came on board things got a bit more organized, security got way upped, and strict rules came into play to ensure there was no further misconduct in regards to taking bribes. That was good.
I volunteered in accreditation, and I got to make passes for VIPS, and IOC members, Media, and athletes. I got to meet a lot of really cool famous people working in that spot, Dick Button, Jim Mckay, Wayne Gretzky, Brooks and Dunn to name a few. It was an exciting time.
There was one more scandal in 2002, a judging scandal in figure skating. That one was down to the ISU not SLOC as sports governing bodies handle the sports regulations even during the games. So after one big let down from the bid, I got another one from MY SPORT. But, they fixed the judging system, and now its so complex my coach has to explain it to me every time I skate. Over all I am glad I volunteered, I am glad I took part, even though it wasn't perfect and didn't live up to my full expectations, most of my expectations were met and exceeded.
However, I must admit, watching the games on a live feed, raw without the commentary was the beginning in my disappointment in commentary.
One of my biggest memories from 2002 was the torch relay. I will never forget being bundled up in late fall in Ephraim Utah with my college roommates, waving flags and watching the torch pass us. I cried. No matter how flawed the games may be, there is enough good in them, in their ideals, that they ought to be treasured, honored, we ought to try to live up to the ideals.
Today there was some debate about the place of nationalism in the games. Olympic ideals to call for people coming together from all over in peace, but history of the ancient games also brings the element of representing and honoring your nation (nation states as it were in ancient Greece). the march of athletes in opening ceremonies is by country, but closing ceremonies is traditionally everyone mixed together. This balance of national pride and team work and unity and togetherness with international peace and camaraderie i think is important. both things.
Tomorrow the flame will be lit, the oath will be read, and the games will begin. I can't wait to see it.
My favorite opening ceremonies are as follows:
Lillihammer 1994- a ski jumper jumped with the torch, the prince of Norway lit the cauldron
Salt Lake 2002- miracle on ice team lit the cauldron
Bejing 2008- those drummers were very inspiring
1996- Mohammad Ali lit the cauldron, and we all shed a tear
Barcelona 2002- an archer shot a flaming arrow and BOOM flame burst up.
Today I listened to the BBC world news on my phone all day, and they talked about the Olympics almost all day. I mostly enjoyed it. However I do think they should have the moment of silence for the remembrance of the Athletes killed 40 years ago. To not commemorate it during the games is as much to make a political statement, if not more so, than to commemorate it. First and for most, 12 Olympians were killed during the Olympics 40 years ago, and that has forever changed the games.
The other thing I thought a lot about today was my experience as a volunteer during the 2002 games. I remember the day Salt Lake was chosen as the host city- I don't think many days have ever been so exciting and wonderful. I had a group of friends watching with me in my living room and I went crazy when Juan Antonio Samaranch proclaimed that the 2002 games would be in "The city of Salt Lake City". I also will never forget my disappointment, shame and heart break when the Bid scandal came to light.
As the games approached and Mitt Romney took over, and indeed changed the course and helped save a sinking ship and big mess of a games and with the rest of the 2002 team, turned the Games in to a success. I remember when Romney came on board things got a bit more organized, security got way upped, and strict rules came into play to ensure there was no further misconduct in regards to taking bribes. That was good.
I volunteered in accreditation, and I got to make passes for VIPS, and IOC members, Media, and athletes. I got to meet a lot of really cool famous people working in that spot, Dick Button, Jim Mckay, Wayne Gretzky, Brooks and Dunn to name a few. It was an exciting time.
There was one more scandal in 2002, a judging scandal in figure skating. That one was down to the ISU not SLOC as sports governing bodies handle the sports regulations even during the games. So after one big let down from the bid, I got another one from MY SPORT. But, they fixed the judging system, and now its so complex my coach has to explain it to me every time I skate. Over all I am glad I volunteered, I am glad I took part, even though it wasn't perfect and didn't live up to my full expectations, most of my expectations were met and exceeded.
However, I must admit, watching the games on a live feed, raw without the commentary was the beginning in my disappointment in commentary.
One of my biggest memories from 2002 was the torch relay. I will never forget being bundled up in late fall in Ephraim Utah with my college roommates, waving flags and watching the torch pass us. I cried. No matter how flawed the games may be, there is enough good in them, in their ideals, that they ought to be treasured, honored, we ought to try to live up to the ideals.
Today there was some debate about the place of nationalism in the games. Olympic ideals to call for people coming together from all over in peace, but history of the ancient games also brings the element of representing and honoring your nation (nation states as it were in ancient Greece). the march of athletes in opening ceremonies is by country, but closing ceremonies is traditionally everyone mixed together. This balance of national pride and team work and unity and togetherness with international peace and camaraderie i think is important. both things.
Tomorrow the flame will be lit, the oath will be read, and the games will begin. I can't wait to see it.
My favorite opening ceremonies are as follows:
Lillihammer 1994- a ski jumper jumped with the torch, the prince of Norway lit the cauldron
Salt Lake 2002- miracle on ice team lit the cauldron
Bejing 2008- those drummers were very inspiring
1996- Mohammad Ali lit the cauldron, and we all shed a tear
Barcelona 2002- an archer shot a flaming arrow and BOOM flame burst up.
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