When asked about my television habits, I often tell them the
truth. I really do not watch a lot of television. But I guess it is now time to
confess why. There is only one event that I truly enjoy watching: The Olympic
Games. Debate what you will about the commercialism and controversy all you
like. While I’m still not happy about professional athletes creeping their way
into the events, I am an unabashed fan of both the Summer and Winter Olympic
Games. No other event glues me to my TV. Some of my earliest memories is
watching the Games; cheering Team USA in hockey or the Luge in Albertville with
my father or in Track & Field in Barcelona.
As I write this, I am slightly jealous of my parents. They
are currently in London for the 2012 Summer Games. This is the second Olympic
Games that they have attended. They were also witness to the 2002 Winter Games in
Salt Lake City. To be at the Olympic Games is certainly on my personal Bucket
List.
Some of my fondest memories involve the Olympics in some way
or another such as visiting Lake Placid during a summer holiday with my family,
walking down the sled run, learning the evolution of bobsled design or discovering how many Olympic rowers were produced right here in Philadelphia. My family and I also
went to the Ice Rink where Team USA beat the USSR then went on to win the Gold Medal. We
watched as figure skaters practiced their routines.
As a child, when we had the original Nintendo Entertainment
System, my father and I played ‘Ice Hockey’ during the Winter Games. He was
always Team USA while I was either: Canada, Sweden, Czechoslovakia or the USSR.
We watch the dramatic stories of peoples’ desires to be an
Olympian that sometimes lead to strange actions; such as Nancy Kerrigan &
Tonya Harding rivalry with the twist that both were to be beaten by the younger
Ukranian Oksana Baiul. I
teared up when Muhammad Ali lit the torch in Atlanta 1996. I cheered when Usain
Bolt (an apt name for a sprinter, if there was one.) demolished the World
Record and threw his gold-colored shoes.
It was always exciting to see as World Records fell, no
matter what country the athlete was from. During 2008 Summer Games in Beijing,
I stood in bar and watched people scream and shout has Michael Phelps won his 6th
Gold Medal of the Games surpassing Mark Spitz. There was much hugging and
celebration among strangers as our representatives at these Games made history.
Watching the Games inspired me to learn different sports, it
inspired me to learn fencing while I was at university. I certainly gained a
deeper appreciation for the sport while I learned what the training involved.
This year will be no different. I will be glued to my
television set; with the added bonus of DVR to get specific sports that I want
to watch when I’m not able to see them. Join me as we cheer on the world. I
look forward to discussing the events with everyone. After these Games are
over, my quota and tolerance for television will be full. At least, until the next Games.
