Inclusionary Olympics

This is what I sent to the International Olympic Committee tonight:

So, in the sprit of the Olympics, I am suggesting that we consider an inclusionary Olympics:  Why have a “regular” Olympics and a “Para-Olympics.”  And now facing the controversy of “transgender Olympians,” why not figure out a way to:  do “Parallel Olympics.”   Do not hold them sequentially, but inclusively.   Hold the various categories and name the winners of these “categories” and then if THEY choose, let them compete against each other.  Including if male and female Olympians want to challenge each other.

 

In the name of world peace, survival of the Earth and Human Rights, you configure this out.  You are smart, and, hopefully would not be on the Olympic International Committee if you were dedicated to the Principles the Olympics stand for!

Basketball in the Olympics

I watched the US men's basketball team play against China on Saturday and the women's basketball team play against Senegal on Sunday in the Olympic games  http://www.fiba.com/olympics/2016.  Both teams overpowered their opponents. 

I am from Western Massachusetts, and am very much aware of the heritage of basketball as a game created in the United States. I have been to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame http://www.hoophall.com/.  This is our game! I get it!

While I watched both games, I was really distressed by the announcers. They talked about the United States winning the gold as if it were a forgone conclusion.  The announcers were very respectful of the opponents that both the men's and women's team played. But their comments were as if it were already decided that the United States would win the gold medal.  This kind of hubris is what alienates the rest of the world from the United States.  I do not believe that the announcers were trying to be rude or disrespectful, but they were. I sent an email to NBC http://www.nbc.com/.  Because comments are limited to 500 characters, I was a constrained in giving them my message. And, I realize that my message is probably one of thousands if not millions that they will receive and even if they read it, it will probably not make an impact.

I know that my blog is viewed, if not read, in other parts of the world, especially in Russia and China, although why I am so popular there, I do not know.  I want other people from other parts of the world to know that I am not that disrespectful of other countries of the world.

2016 Summer Olypmics

So I have watched some of the summer Olympics in Rio https://www.olympic.org/.  I watched the opening ceremony.  It was interesting, exciting, the effects of the projector were great, and I love the parade of nations.  The stories about the past Olympians and the current Olympians are great.

I watched the men's basketball game against China on Saturday.  I realize that basketball was created in the United States.  I grew up in Western Massachusetts and I have been to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. http://www.hoophall.com/.  But I really resent that the announcers from the United States talk about the basketball portion of the tournament as if it is a forgone conclusion that the United States will win the gold medal.  I agree. The United States should win. But it is very rude, condescending and exhibits great hubris of our announcers.  I resent that. I think we are better than that as a nation, and should treat the other participants with more respect.

Sunday, I watched the women's basketball game against Senegal.  I heard the same overweening pride about the women's basketball team.  It puts a bad taste in my mouth. I want the United States to win the gold, and I think the US team will.  But we need to be more respectful of our international co-inhabitants of the Earth.

The 2014 Olympics

My attention to the Olympics waxes and wanes.  I cannot say why, but that is true. I realize that a lot of things wax and wane in my life.  Well, so be it. 

This year, I had a hard time being interested in the Olympics.  I tried to watch the opening ceremony but lost interest after the parade of nations. Extravaganza shows hold little interest for me.  I tried to watch the nightly sports, but found I did not care.  I dislike the extreme sports:  I am always afraid of seeing someone make a major gaff and land in such a way as to break a neck. I do not want to see that.   I like figure skating, no matter what country the skater is from, but am tired of the judging "drama."  I won't call it controversy:  I remember the same types of drama in the past when the judges were known, there were no replays, and national judges obviously showed national bias.

I do not care for sports like speed skating, decathlons, and I have never really gotten into hockey, which is weird, given the fact that I grew up in a part of the world where hockey is very big.

During the last Olympics, I really started to learn about curling.   It became more interesting to me when they miked the participants. So, I tried to watch some of that.  But, I could never figure out the coverage.  So, it was difficult to be motivated to watch something I could not figure out when it was on air.

So now the Olympics have ended.  I was tired of the medal count.  That becomes an international competition.   I understand that the Olympics are about competitive sports, but I think it should not be a medals competition.  But, it seems that is what many people think the Olympics are: a medal count.   So sad.