Youth Olympic Games

I found out that this year will be the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games for ages 14-18 held in Singapore. The Youth Olympic Games will occur every 4 years as well, but its summer games will be held in the same year of the original Winter games. And vice versa. So, the Winter Youth Olympic Games will be in 2012.

Perhaps there is some controversy surrounding these games. Should teens be striving for such a goal at such a young age? My take on it is that they already do. Most every teenager who is training in an Olympic sport is already hoping to gain elite level as soon as possible. And perhaps the age falsification so prevalent in sports like Gymnastics will die down if those same youngsters have an legitimate avenue on a world level to achieve the same success.

I think it seems quite interesting. It’ll be nice to have something to watch in between the main Summer Olympics!

If you write about it, you want to really do it.

In my first batch of freelance assignments, I wrote about walking, hiking, camping, and rock climbing. I do/have done all of these things, which is a good thing from a writing point-of-view – to have some experience with what you’re writing about. But in my research for writing, I came across a few points of interest I’d like to share. 

First of all, (and it’s really well-timed that I find this out now) but walking is actually an Olympic sport. It’s more commonly called Race Walking in the Olympics, and it’s complete with a set of rules and regulations and special techniques developed for optimal success. It’s pretty crazy, because these people walk so fast, it almost looks like some kind of jog. And I say “some kind” because it honestly does look a little funny, but respectable as far as hard work goes nonetheless. 

Here’s a vid of some of the Australian Olympic Race-walkers as they prepared for Beijing:

Can you believe they actually race-walk 50 kilometers? I’m continually amazed at the things the human body can do. (By the way, my favorite gymnast, Nastia Liukin – remember when I told you about her? – won the All-Around competition on the 14th. I have always been amazed at the crazy stuff she can do with her body.) 

So, on to the next thing. As I wrote about hiking, I mentioned expedition-based hiking, like hiking the Appalachian Trail. I’ve already known that I want to do it, or at least part of it, but obviously writing about it reminded me. I think it’d be cool to hike it with David. If we could take several months out of a year, and just do it as slow as we needed to, that’d be a great experience. I’m thinking good writing material, too, which makes me think that I should find out if anyone’s written a book about their AT hiking experience and read it. I’ve read newspaper articles about it here and there. If you know of one, let me know for sure.

The reason it’s been a couple days since my last post:

the Olympics, of course. Friday night, David and I watched the Opening Ceremonies. I was wide-eyed and well impressed. It made me want to be there more than ever, though. I have a Chinese friend I met online (Hi Lu Fei!) And his blog is pretty interesting – you should read it. There’s a link at the bottom (Fareonline). One of the most interesting things he had to say about the opening ceremonies (all of it is interesting) is this: 

 …I think that is the moment not only for the world get to known the new China, but the moment that a new image of world standing China. from decades of people’s struggling and sacrifice, the China is not the way it used to be, it is a fresh new image of China which contain harmony, peace, economic developed, intelligent, huge population, open, good will, etc.

You have to remember his English isn’t perfect, though pretty good, I think. Anyway, it’s been great talking back forth with him. 

So, tonight, so far, I’ve watch the men’s gymnastics team qualify 6th for the team competition, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh win their first beach volleyball match, Michael Phelps win a gold and Ryan Lochte win a bronze in the Men’s Individual 400, and Katie Hoff win a bronze. 

I love our athletes. Seriously, the Olympics make me more patriotic: it’s the fact that individuals can have success at whatever level they want in whatever avenue they want in our country.  And that’s true – whether you believe it or not. Whether you take advantage of your opportunity or not. I guess that’s part of it. It’s your choice. 

And the Olympics also make me more hopeful for humanity. If athleticism becomes a language, it means we can at least talk to each other. And if something like sports can become a method of communication, it helps me believe that other things, like our common feelings, hopes, desires, and insufficiencies can unite us – not just for unity’s sake but for the goal of making us spiritual brothers and sisters.

Don’t miss a single butterfly

I found this awesome AT&T ad yesterday:

So, you may remember me saying that Nastia Liukin is my favorite gymnast. Well, that’s her in the video. I love it when I see any of the gymnasts on advertisments from companies they’re endorsed by. It just gets me even more excited.

Tonight, well, early Thursday morning, I’m going to do something a little stupid. NBC is streaming the podium training (which just means a mock competition with no judges or scores) live at 1:30am. I’m probably going to stay up and watch it. It’s not that stupid considering I’ve not gone back to work yet. And even I had, I’ve got my vitamins and energy drinks. :)

So, speaking of butterflies, earlier, my cat, Tuxedo, sat in front of me and the computer on my dining room table facing the big window. I watched him move his head following a couple butterflies that seemed to want to fly into the window. There was even a humming bird out there – that really got his attention. I tried to grab the camera, but when I stood up, he jumped off. Too bad, because it would have been a cute photo. I’ll try to get one sometime.

Official Beijing Olympics Song

So, in my search anything Olympics related, I came across this video:

Earlier, I said that usually Asian things seem so important and purposeful. I take that back. I can’t help but to laugh a few times during this video. I’m sure you will, too. And is that Jackie Chan? I swear it looks just like him at 1:16. You tell me.

Getting close

That looks fun.

Recently, I’ve been into all things Olympics. Not long at all left until the games start. I’ve mentioned it before, but I would love to go the Olympics someday. Speaking of the games, I just love the Beijing mascots.

Aren’t they adorable? Mostly anything Chinese or Asian seems adorable to me. I’m sure my lack of Asian culture shows here, but everything Asian always seems so ornate and important. So purposeful. These little mascots name’s say “Welcome to Beijing” when you put them in the correct order. That’s just nifty.

So, I mostly watch gymnastics, track and field, and swimming during the Olympics. I’ll probably catch the diving and beach volleyball, too. What sports do you like to watch? Any specific athletes/sports you plan on keeping up with? How about athletes from other countries?

To the 2008 Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Contenders: You make me a better person

It’s usually movies and books that move me to tears. It’s usually stories about characters or people’s lives that inspire me. And those stories are usually written after they are lived out. After the victory.

But it is in my following of the American elite gymnasts who are striving to reach their ultimate goal, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team, that I have recently found inspiration. And currently, they are exactly in the middle of their story. They are writing it right now.

And I am, quite possibly, more affected by their fight for their dream than I ever have been by anyone else. I know it’s because, over the past year, I’ve spent countless hours researching their lives, watching videos of their gymnastics, reviewing in detail their routines, their personalities, and their hopes and it’s all culminating now as they perform the routines that will determine their destinies. And I have realized something.

Their destiny is not at all just handed to them. It is by their choices and actions whether they will be on that Olympic team or not. It is by their choice to train hard, their desire to do what it takes, and their determination to make no excuses that they have victory. No, they can’t control how they are scored. They can’t control how hard it rains and how high the flood waters rise in their gym. They can not control what order they perform in and on what apparatus they start on. They can’t control their inconvenient injuries. But they can control the placement of their hands as they touch the vaulting table, the balance and strength of their bodies on beam, their momentum in the air as they flip, twist, or turn, their toe-point and lines on bars. And how do they do it? By repeating over and over their routines in the gym countless times perfecting their skills, knowing their bodies, becoming one with the equipment, with the music, and merging their mental toughness with their physical capability. And it is only through this hard work, through battling this ever-fight that they become the toughest athletes you will ever see, that they become champions.

I am inspired. Because I have dreams, too. And though they may not be to win an Olympic gold medal, they are just as important. And I’m realizing, they are just as attainable. Because I, too, can put in a work ethic and determination behind a vision. I, too, can dream. And so can you.