Countdown to Athens- The Best in the World
The month is August. The year 2004. What could this possibly tell us? School is quickly approaching? Wrong. The election is in a few short months? wrong again. The answer, not that it is a mystery to anyone, is that dun DUN!> The 28th Olympic Games have almost arrived. Not at any point in time nor at any other place in the world will there be a more amazing display of athleticism. In just 4 short days the dreams and life-long ambitions of hundreds upon hundreds of athletes will be made- or shattered.
Sounds so dramatic, doesn't it?
I don't know why I find the Olympics so thrilling, but I know I'm not alone. Millions around the world marvel at the games the same way I do. Could this be because in each of us there is a tiny piece that wishes he/she could posses such an incredible talent, dedication, and drive to be amongst the best world? I think so. I know I'll most likely never have he opportunity to participate in the Olympics, but just knowing that behind the hype- the advertising, threat of terrorism, and politics, are people just like you and I that have the privilege of achieving their life-long goals, gives me hope that literally anything is possible.
It sounds cheesy but it actually saddens me to think of my current age and know that I will never be in a class with the world's best-in anything for that matter. The years of dedication and hard work required to make it that far have come and gone, without being taken advantage of. Sometimes I wish that if I could go back and time to the age of 5 or 6, I could realize how much it would mean some day to go all the way, and do it all over again to get there. I probably wouldn't feel the same way if I wasn't a gymnast. Deep down every gymnast's real "pot of gold at the end of the rain bow" is being an Olympian. It's what drives you to keep going and making sacrifices. It's what you thrive on, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. Though it won't happen to me, and I'm not speaking out of modesty but out of cold hard facts, I have to admit that I don't see myself being done with the sport until I have been at that level. It's really a hard thing to explain... but I'm trying.
I guess the Olympics are also so important to me because I know that if I cannot attain a goal like that, then there is something to be said for anyone who can, and I have a profound respect for anyone who does. That said, I am sooo very excited to announce that there will be 27 hours and 55 minutes of televised coverage of gymnastics in the games. I printed off the schedule this morning, and will post it later for anyone who is interested. I'm sure in the next month (approximately) I'll make several posts relating to the Olympics, but it is attention well-deserved.
For now, I'm tired and honestly can't remember my real reason for this entry. Anyway, I've got to say that I pray for the safety and well-being of all the athletes in Athens right now, and also hope to God that some terrorist-waste-of-air-fuck-up doesn't try to ruin these games. I'm afraid that if people become anymore frightened by situations such as these around the world, the Olympic Games will become obsolete.