The Olympics - Finally Here!

Are you watching the Opening Ceremony today? If you didn't tivo'ed it or missed it, I think the Opening Ceremony is also on YouTube.

The Opening Ceremony was visually beautiful: footstep shaped fireworks, lighted drums, Chinese movable printing blocks (yes, the Chinese invented paper and printing), the globe, etc. Fourteen thousand performers participated in the performances during the ceremony.

There was a cute story that caught my attention. The athletes representing the Cayman Islands (my favorite Caribbean island) wrote NBC and asked that NBC does not cut to commercial after Canada because then Cayman Islands won't be shown on TV. So obviously, they were definitely shown on TV.

I read in the papers that the US althetes would be wearing Ralph Lauren clothing and beret (sp?) this year. I kind of liked the jacket better in the photos in the papers than on TV because but the dark color seemed a bit dull on TV.

I am very excited that the Olympic games are finally here. I love competive sports. The games/competitions that I typically love to watch are Track & Field, swimming, and gymnastics. I haven't been following the US trials at all this year and so I am not very clear on who the US atheletes will be in these particular games. I know that I will know most of the names by the time I am done watching the games this year. I also did recognize from the news atheletes who were at the last Olympics and who will participate again this time: Micheal Phelps (swimming), the 41-year old Dara Torres (swimming), and the 2 injured Hamm brothers who have now pulled out of the men gymnastics event.

Go America! I hope we win a bunch of gold medals and sweep the medals in my favorite categories.