The Olympics: Sci-fi stuff
Published 2:57 pm Thursday, July 26, 2012
They open tonight, across the world, in London, with a three-hour ceremony that may be watched by a billion people, and will try to balance British chest-thumping — direction by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle, a performance by Paul McCartney, a cast of thousands — with a parade of chiseled athletes from roughly 200 nations.
Yes, the Summer Olympics mark their beginning with another massive ceremony, leading up to — hold your breath now — beach volleyball, track events and swimming.
Also, badminton and trampoline.
Not excited? You should be.
Admittedly, we are not usually the type of people who sit through three-hour ceremonies. We normally don’t choose to watch swimming or track, unless our children are competing. Until recently, we didn’t think of “trampoline” as a sport.
But nonetheless, every four years, we get excited about this kind of thing.
Every four years, we find ourselves caring — caring a surprising amount — about the Summer Olympics. We care because, simply put, we decide to care.
In large part, that’s what the Olympics are about: A billion or so people undergoing the same blissful self-hypnosis, and investing themselves, all together, in an odd, friendly, pan-global competition.
It’s very close to being the stuff of science fiction.
Because let’s be honest. Do average Americans usually think about Jamaica?
We do not. But when our guy, Tyson Gay, goes up against their guy, Usain Bolt, darn right we will.
Both men can run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, covering about 33 feet per second — per second!
On Aug. 5, when they race, we’ll have something in common with an island nation. Two very different countries will focus on a sprint.
Our guy may lose, but maybe not. Either way, it’s amazing.
And do we Americans often take pride in our nation’s swimming ability?
We do not. But for the next three weeks, we will get worked up about Michael Phelps, our guy, who four years ago set the record for winning the most gold medals ever in a single Olympic Games, with eight, and his teammate, the also-extraordinary Ryan Lochte.
For a few weeks, we can turn to strangers at the grocery and talk swimming. How strange.
Most of us will never win a gold medal. Most of us don’t have the physical ability or the mental drive needed to hone that ability. It’s just not an option.
Instead, for most us, the Olympics offer a funny sort of pride in absurd contests. They somehow remind us of the world’s largeness, of humankind’s spectacular potential and, ultimately, of each other.
Excitement is justified.
