My life hasn't slowed down for the summer and I look forward to enjoying the competition on the CBC. In fact, I scheduled a week at the cottage for the end of August so I wouldn't miss the Olympic coverage, especially track and field.

I'm just not that into sports. I've kept in touch with all the news about the preparations in Beijing as far as environment, censorship, foreign tourists, etc. But I'll probably only see the Games if somebody else has the TV on when I'm there.

An apt question. On the negative side, it seems to me like a meat parade. China is showing off its achievements, while, according to a documentary, the surrounding countryside is parched, and in poverty. The treatment of workers during the constructions period, I have read, were abominable. Some itinerant workers were never paid.

Then, there's the olympics themselves. There's a lot of pressure on athletes.
Surely there's a limit, to how high, how fast, and how strong a human being can be. This expectation, leads to doping, to micro improvements in equipment (swim suits), and to costly training programs.

Would races, where athletes didn't train, be interesting? I'm thinking the natural runners of Kenya, or Mexico. Or, more iron-man type contests, where competence in a variety of sports, make the games less competitive?

My rant being done, this is still a social interaaction, that is better than war.
Athletes talk to athletes, and visitors to citizens of CHina. There's got to be some value, in that. I just wish all the emphasis wasn't on winning.

i thought I wouldn't be, but, I am hooked once again.

Do you think that the people of China are proud of the show being put on by their country?

I think of when we give up things to throw a party for others? Who hasn't had those frantic times in their household, clean this, put away your junk, do that, i'm busy cooking, etc, as you prepare for a special event. When it happens, it is worth it, as things look great and the party goes off well for all.

Does that analogy apply, or have the affects on the people of China due to the spending & focus of prepping for the Olympics been so large, that though there may be apparent pride, that if one spoke to the majority of people, they would say, "no", it was wrong.

One thing that caught my attention right before the Olympics startted was the whole business with a possible boycott due to China's treatment of Taiwan. China's response: The Olympics shouldn't be political.
I'm sorry but to me, that's all it seems to be now. It's a national event for the host country to support themselves. Isn't this just a clever ploy by the government? How about blocking coverage? I'm not sure how much of this is true but I do know that it does happen, especially in China. Isn't that political? I'm sorry China, but before you go slamming the world, look in your own backyard first.

To return to the topic on hand, I will watch the Olympics. I love the Opening and Closing ceremonies because I truly hope that every year the athletes and the judges will actually respect the oaths taken . I also love to cheer for Canada and for the underdogs. I always hope that Canada will win it all but I feel proud when a small country can overcome and win!

Today's story is mainly on the lipsyncing and the computer-enhancement of the fireworks during the opening ceremony. That little girl was so cute and now, I don't know. I knda figured that something was up with the footprints because that helicopter was awfully close.....

Wow, this is getting long and I don't even know if I fully answered the question. Well that's just my thoughts.