'WE LIT UP THE WORLD'
John Lennon Video Wows.. Spice Girls Return.. Music Highlights..
Christine Sinclair Carries Canadian Flag..
Top 10 Olympic Moments.. For Canada And The World..
Canada's Bumpy Road To The Podium.. What's Next?..
LOOK: Closing Ceremony Fashion.. Canadian Tuxedo..
PHOTOS.. FULL OLYMPICS COVERAGE
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
It's always moving to see an Olympian's elation of success. I also felt some of the heartache of the athletes that fell a bit short of their dreams. Sport is always going to provide the ups and downs, the elation and the disappointment. Not everyone gets the ultimate chance, and the viewers feel their pain.
In ancient times, all wars around the world came to an abrupt hiatus for the duration of the revered Games. If only that were still the case. Nevertheless, it does seem that most of us drop life as normal to immerse ourselves in the many moments of drama.
When I visualize, I gain virtual experience on the course. Imagining the run helps me anticipate mistakes and gives me the opportunity to fix them before my boat even touches the water.
While there wasn't much suspense to the bold prediction that the USA will win gold at London 2012, the first part of this preview begs an answer to the question; Who might upset the US in men's basketball?
Does this make me a bad person? I was sitting in the HuffPost newsroom on Friday afternoon when the noise of the overhead televisions -- and the funny, running commentary of the news team -- drew me over. I watched as the surreal montage of industrial smokestacks, dancing chimney sweeps, the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine," nationalized health care, Voldemort, top-hatted marching men etc. etc. exploded over multiple screens. "Who do we have to blame for this?" I asked one of the news editors. "China."
The 2008 Beijing Olympics comes readily to mind as a well-managed major symbolic event -- it's the model that can and should be emulated. That makes us look at the numerous glitches of security and management flaws of the London games -- the antithesis of the Beijing model. But in many ways messiness may actually be preferable -- especially when judged in retrospect -- to order. And even the Beijing Olympics can be seen as having flaws.
This question originally appeared on Quora. By Peter Cipollone, Two-Time Olympic Row...
Since his sudden and tragic passing in April, Randy Starkman's Olympics Blog has faithfully remained in the top left spot of my computer's web browser favourites page. We'd all grown to rely on Randy for his insight, inside scoop and eloquent storytelling of Olympic Canadiana, and it seems unjust, and impossible even, that in London his voice will be silent.
Can you imagine an Olympics effort that fosters the depth and breadth of talent of our young people, of young people all over the world, who may see better than we do, into the flaws of our world, and what it would take to put it together?
As an Olympian, I can tell you that nothing quite prepares you for what it is like to compete at the Olympic Games. Perhaps that is why far and few athletes medal at their very first Olympic Games. When it comes to the Olympic Games, be prepared to observe three types of medalists. The first medalist is your favoured athlete, the second your veteran, and the third -- wildcard!
Measures being taken to prevent misuse of the Olympic designation are intriguing, appalling and hilarious. Fines for abuse can total $30,000. There's the 81-year-old grandmother who made tiny sweaters with the Olympic logo for dolls selling for the equivalent of $1.63, proceeds going to a church charity. And the florist rebuked for arranging flowers with the colours of the Olympic rings. Off with their heads!
The British opening ceremony was a total rejection of each and every one of the traits seen at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony . It was humorous, self deprecating, soft, whimsical and creative.
Although the Olympic Games often bring a sense of unity, patriotism and heightened national pride, it also causes a rise in human sex trafficking as the market demand for sexual labour increases dramatically. I commend the British Government for the steps they're taking to help tackle human trafficking concerns and applaud them for appointing a police commissioner to deal exclusively with trafficking during the Games. But the sad reality is that women and girls will still be sexually exploited on the streets of London.
I've always understood that women don't need to stop playing sports just because they want to have children, just because they want to start a family. They can absolutely do both. And, contrary to popular belief, their bodies can handle it.
While we have a hard time getting into some Olympic sports, we do enjoy spectating at sports bars during the Olympics. We aren't ashamed to admit that in our minds, the games provide for three solid weeks of competitive man-hunting.
In the first few days of the London Olympics, we get fresh reminders that it is a political as well as athletic event. See what games were being played this week -- in London and around the world.
| 1 | United States | 46 | 29 | 29 |
| 2 | China | 38 | 27 | 23 |
| 3 | Russia | 24 | 26 | 32 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 29 | 17 | 19 |
| 5 | Germany | 11 | 19 | 14 |
| 13 | Canada | 1 | 5 | 12 |
