I wish all the Olympics could eliminate national anthems and, for that matter, national teams. There are many beautiful and courageous athletes who deserve the opportunity to shine globally, winter or summer. I’m a track-and-field fan and once scheduled periodontal surgery so I could watch the second week of the summer Olympics ... none of which I can remember because of the much-needed pain meds. Oh well.
See, I loved the anthems and flags. It was a bit of pageantry that also taught me something about other countries. It really does feed into a lot of nasty jingoism, especially once TV quit showing the medal ceremonies if anyone but an American won.
Thanks for reminding me of Franz Klammer's thrilling run; to this day, though I have zero interest in ski races otherwise, I always watch the Olympic downhill and it never fails to amaze. And also for mentioning Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev who remain in my memory as the pinnacle of beauty and delight in sports.
That Klammer ski race is the single best sports film ever. I love the part in the middle where he's windmilling his arms and flying on one ski, just one bad ice crystal from a terrible crash, but he held it all the way down.
Remember the Wide World of Sports beginning montage, "the thrill of victory; the agony of defeat?"
Oh sure, who could forget it? Personally I was never an athlete, but I do think I understand, or at least appreciate, the drive and determination it takes to compete at the Olympic and/or pro level. We watched the Klammer race with some friends and I'll never forget the experience.
I wish all the Olympics could eliminate national anthems and, for that matter, national teams. There are many beautiful and courageous athletes who deserve the opportunity to shine globally, winter or summer. I’m a track-and-field fan and once scheduled periodontal surgery so I could watch the second week of the summer Olympics ... none of which I can remember because of the much-needed pain meds. Oh well.
See, I loved the anthems and flags. It was a bit of pageantry that also taught me something about other countries. It really does feed into a lot of nasty jingoism, especially once TV quit showing the medal ceremonies if anyone but an American won.
Thanks for reminding me of Franz Klammer's thrilling run; to this day, though I have zero interest in ski races otherwise, I always watch the Olympic downhill and it never fails to amaze. And also for mentioning Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev who remain in my memory as the pinnacle of beauty and delight in sports.
That Klammer ski race is the single best sports film ever. I love the part in the middle where he's windmilling his arms and flying on one ski, just one bad ice crystal from a terrible crash, but he held it all the way down.
Remember the Wide World of Sports beginning montage, "the thrill of victory; the agony of defeat?"
Oh sure, who could forget it? Personally I was never an athlete, but I do think I understand, or at least appreciate, the drive and determination it takes to compete at the Olympic and/or pro level. We watched the Klammer race with some friends and I'll never forget the experience.