The Rundown on the 2008 Olympics Coverage

A few days back, I wrote a long and not too rambling post on The Rundown's coverage of the 2008 Olympics. I went on about how it is a worldwide athletics meeting that, while we are generally none too concerned with either, is distinctly American in spirit. After all, while corruption and politics, religion, even violence have played a part in past Olympics games, the spirit of the games is one of individual freedom and excellence - a democracy of sorts.

But it got pretty forceful and downright angry at times and in re-reading it, I thought it sounded too much like I was defending my right to cover the Olympics, instead of explaining my position on them and how much I love them, so I scrapped it. Needless to say, I can nutshell it fairly well:

I do not care much for sports, but ever since my dad made us watch (and videotape) pretty much every televised moment of the 1984 Olympics, I love the Olympics. I watch every, waking moment of coverage on every TV station that covers it until it is over, then I often watch what I missed online.

I disagree with China's handling of basically everything political and think Communism - regardless of the approach - a blithe anti-intellectualism; I abhor Fascism in all its forms. But a lot of people despise America's stance on a host of issues and Commercialism and Consumerism and cultures that celebrate violence and... yet we set these political, religious, and philosophical differences aside once every two years to watch our best athletes compete.

That's the very spirit of the Olympic Games and that's what I love about them. It's a little pie-eyed and about as close to being a real hippy as I am likely ever to get, but it is the truth. I love the excitement, the drama, the stories, the wins and losses, everything - but most of all, I really love the idea behind the Olympics and I celebrate it every two years by slacking right the hell off and immersing myself in the extended mental vacation I call Olympics Time.

Of course, this go-round, I'll be webmastering throughout the entirety, but even that has its own appeal; this will truly be an Olympics Time I hope I'll never forget - for good reasons! And, of course, while all Olympics are memorable, this one in particular is truly historic. I hope it proves to be China's first move toward softening their hardline position on human rights, and maybe even assimilating a little, but even if things go right back to the way they are now once the games end, it is a bold and wonderful move on their part and I hope we all make the most of this unique opportunity.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008