08 Summer Olympics- dark clouds | Sooner in WA's Blog

I normally really enjoy the Olympics. Seeing young people who have worked and trained their whole lives for a brief moment on the large stage. Nationalities in normally friendly competition. Rooting for the hometeam, National pride. Great personal stories on individuals the pagentry. It is normally quite inspiring.

I am having difficulty getting excited this year. There are good stories of course such as Phelps but overall not the same.

1st- I have problem being excited about the event being in China. A nation that postures against taiwan (and even deported individuals who came to the games to chear on athletes from taiwan), the issue with tibet, human rights violations. For this to be the venue of nations coming together is kind of a joke. Add to that the fact that all protest is banned, and the fact the chinese government took (literally just took the homes from people) to buld the olympic village and other sites and hard to feel the glamour and fun. Esp when the govt has yet to pay what promised which is less than 1/2 of what the value of the land the chinese govt seized. Not only this but they arrested those whose homes they took so they wouldn't be around during opening ceremonies in case they were to protest. Yes what a great place for the games

2nd- You have American athletes playing for other nations. Not an issue with the Yao Ming's who are here only to play basketball and are obviously still loyal to their native country. However, when young amateurs don't make the US women's basketball team and jump ship to play for russia. What makes it even more errie is the fact that Russia started bombing the satellite nation Georgia right before the games. Odd having an American have a jersey with the words Russia as that country bombs away at a neighbor.

3rd- the bachman tragedy. In less than 36 hours of the games the Father-inlaw of the US Volleyball coach is savagely stabbed to death, the mother-in-law is in critical condition and no motive or rationale reason.

I will definately support the young men and women who try to achieve much for Team USA, and hope things go well but there is just a cloud to these games in my opinion.

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August 10, 2008 09:44 PM ET

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Very nice Sooner.I'll just enjoy, more talk of this will come but at this moment I want to put it aside.Sure you don't want to just push something this important aside, but It's not something many want to deal with.