Beyond politics, plenty to cheer for
Inter Lake editorial
It's difficult sometimes to separate politics from sports when it comes to the Olympics, and China has put us to the test more than most countries that have hosted the Summer Games.
Most of us just want to focus on watching perfection from fine athletes from around the world. We don't want to be distracted by Chinese gymnasts who may be underage, or the Chinese government refusing to issue protest permits, or the host country's decision to send two old Chinese women to a labor camp for asking permission to protest evictions from their homes.
We don't want to hear about more doping allegations or shenanigans by athletes, no matter what country they hail from. We simply want to watch the pure, unadulterated greatness of Olympic athletes at their finest.
And when we cut through the politics, that's when the real magic happens. As the very first Olympic athletes must have realized, sport is one of those rare things, like music, that has the ability to transcend our pettiness, our protocols and yes, our politics.
The Olympic spirit shines when we celebrate Rohullan Nikpai's bronze medal in the men's taekwondo competition - the first Olympic medal ever for war-torn Afghanistan. Usain Bolt of Jamaica won us over when the ebullient 22-year-old sprinter collected three gold medals, breaking three world records in three races.
We cheer for the underdogs who triumph in the face of incredible adversity, because most of us, on some level, know what it's like to lose, to experience the agony of defeat.
For Americans and the rest of the world, the 2008 games were dominated during the first half with Michael Phelps' quest to win an unprecedented eight gold medals in swimming, and when he accomplished his goal - with help from team members in a couple of the relay events - we marveled at the athletic prowess that will seal Phelps' place in Olympic history.
But there were so many more triumphs by Americans that shouldn't be overshadowed by Phelps' gold medals.
The U.S. women's soccer team came to Beijing as underdogs but pulled together to beat Brazil 1-0. Gymnastics has long been a favorite Olympic spectator sport, and our girls didn't disappoint, led by the brilliance of Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liuken.
And who knew beach volleyball could be so exciting? NBC showed plenty of Olympic action in that sport, and by the time Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor delivered the winning point against China in a driving rainstorm to win their second gold, many of us were smitten with the sport. The men's beach volleyball team completed the U.S. sweep, beating Brazil in three sets.
There were plenty of disappointments, too. What are the odds of both the U.S. men's and women's runners bungling the baton exchanges in the 4x100m relays? And Lolo Jones seemed a shoo-in for a gold in the 100m hurdles when she clipped a hurdle, sending teammate Dawn Harper to gold instead.
As the Olympics wrap up today, the inspiration and awe of the Beijing games will linger. And already, young athletes around the world are training hard for their chance at greatness in 2012.