I love the Olympics.
I've loved watching them
ever since I was in
6th grade and saw
oh-so-handsome Mark Spitz
win medal after gold medal
in the Olympic pool.
I wished I could be like
Nadia and Olga and Mary Lou
with their perfect 10's
in gymnastics...
and I crossed all my fingers and toes
hoping the United States
would beat Russia
in hockey to win the gold!
.
In 2002,
the Winter Olympics
were in our own backyard--
Salt Lake City.
Did you know
that the Paralympic Olympic Games
are held in the same venues
shortly after
the Olympics are over?
It's pretty hard (and expensive)
to come by regular tickets
for Olympic events,
but we were able
to get tickets for
the Paralympics
with no problem.
I went on a field trip
with A's school class
to the Paralympics
to watch sledge hockey.
We also took our kids
to watch Paralympic
downhill skiing.
I have to say that
watching the Paralympic athletes
was amazing.
They overcome extreme obstacles
and compete at such a high level.
Their disabilities seem
insignificant
as you watch them compete.
Sledge hockey was
exhilarating--
and downhill skiing was unbelievable.
The blind skiers follow a guide
down the hill
who leads them by sound.
That would take so much
courage--much more than I've got!
I'm so glad that
after a lifetime of watching on TV,
we were able to
experience the Olympics
in person!
Why do I love the Olympics?
I guess it's because
the Olympics help you
dream big,
and you end up believing that,
just like those athletes,
you can do anything
if you just work hard enough.
Everybody is now gearing up
for the Winter Olympics
that will be held in
Vancouver, B.C. in 2010.
The Olympic torch relay
has already begun.
It started in Greece
on October 30, beginning its
106-day journey to Vancouver.
Over 12,000 torch bearers
will carry the torch
as it makes its way
across all of Canada,
finally arriving in Vancouver
on February 12, 2010.
Do you want to see
some incredible photos
of the torch's journey so far?
Visit The Big Picture.
Really. You don't want to miss it.
.
