torn

so, i L-O-V-E the Olympics.  i always have.  my first Olympic memories are of the 1984 games in LA.  at the time we had a cat with a litter of kittens and i remember teaching them how to swim in my little wading pool.  funny, i don’t think any actually went on to become olympic swimmers.

every times the Olympics roll around i am glued to the swimming, gymnastics, skiing, basketball, luge, bobsled.  i love the spirit of competition surrounding the Olympics, and i don’t really care which country wins.  i think it’s great that the hosting country can have as many competitors as they want.  i love that this year there is a 41yo mother on the swim team.  i just LOVE the olympics.

but i hate what china is doing too.  i hate the whole tibet thing, the secrecy surrounding the country, the limitations being placed on the media covering the olympics.  while i don’t think this will be a replay of the 1936 gemany games, i feel like we have already been here.  it has been said that the games are not a political playground, but what better way to make a scene than on a world stage?  not at the expense of the athletes however.  they have worked hard to get to their level of play, and they deserve their moments to shine.

so part of me really wants to boycott these games.  but a bigger part of me realizes that i wait 4 years between summer games and they are my favourite.  why should i give it up because some tyranical government is hosting them?  why should i boycott seeing history being made and records being broken at every turn?  will it really make a difference if i don’t turn on the TV?

what about you?  how are you viewing the games this year?  (or not?)

an a side note, the husband and i are officially putting in our request to trade in the timeshare for a place in vancouver 2010.  that could be SO.MUCH.FUN!  i really hope we can get a place!