I don’t watch much TV, but I have been keeping an eye on the Olympic Games. I tune in on occasion to see how the U.S.A. is stacking up against the world’s best, and it is obvious we are still rather good at what we do. I can’t help but believe other countries get tired of America bringing back the majority of the hardware every four years.
I remember growing up in the seventies and early eighties, professional athletes were not allowed to participate in the Olympics. The emphasis was on amateurism and athletes were expected to participate purely for the love of sport, and making money for their efforts was scandalous.
I did a little research on the games, here is what I found.
The IOC, International Olympic Committee, which outlines the rules and principles of the Olympic Movement, strictly followed the concept of amateurism, or at least tried to.
Over time, the definition of amateurism became loosely defined by the participating country, and athletes faced challenges of balancing their commitment to training and the cost associated with doing so.
The shift towards professionalism came with the decision made before the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The IOC officially allowed professional athletes to participate, ending the longstanding requirement of strict amateur status.
This change opened the door for top athletes from various sports, like basketball, tennis, and soccer, to compete in the Olympics without jeopardizing their professional careers.
The move was directed at ensuring the highest level of competition by allowing the best athletes in the world to participate. Today, instead of America sending inexperienced college kids to play the Russians in basketball, we are truly sending the best players on the planet, who just happen to be Americans.
My two favorite memories of the Olympics are Mary Lou Retton winning the Individual All Around Gold in the 1984 Olympics. She was the first American woman to ever win the all-around Gold in gymnastics. Her personality was over the top and every teenage boy in America had a crush on her.
The other was watching the U.S. Hockey team beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. Although that game was not for the gold medal, it did send the Americans to the gold medal game where they beat Finland 4-2. The U.S. Hockey team was made up of college players with an average age of twenty-two. Meanwhile, the Russians were grown men and had won gold in the previous four Olympics. Only days before the Olympics began that year, the Russians embarrassed US Hockey 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden.
In my humble opinion, the U.S. hockey team beating Russia is the greatest upset and victory in the history of all sports. Considering the political climate of the time and the obvious skill difference, boys against men, it truly was a miracle on ice.
I don’t believe God cares who wins or loses contests, but I gotta believe he was pulling for Uncle Sam in that one.
Olympic sports have come and gone. Baseball and softball have never stuck long term. It would be difficult to field a baseball team in the middle of the Major League Season.
I noticed today the IOC added Breaking as an Olympic Sport. I didn’t even know what that was until I googled it.
It’s breakdancing! You know, spinning on your head and flipping around on a piece of cardboard to a funky beat. I had no clue, but I am sure it’s exceedingly difficult and medal worthy. The goal for adding this event is to attract a younger viewing audience.
As a member of the older viewing audience, here are a few of my suggestions for additional contests that I now find exceedingly difficult.
- Weed Eater stringing: I can’t think of anything more difficult than putting string on a weed eater. Put a clock on it along with a shot at glory and an Olympic medal, things just might get crazy.
- Trailer Backing: Using a pick-up truck, each Olympian must back an eighteen-foot flatbed trailer one hundred feet in a straight line, and then execute various corner turns on a designed route. Time deducted for going out of bounds. Fastest time wins.
- Furniture Assembly. Each Olympian is given a set of shelves from IKEA. The contestant must open the box, assemble the shelves, and have no leftover pieces. Fastest time wins. Using the paper instructions is optional.
- iPhone Synching. No explanation needed. Fastest time wins.
- Jar opening: Each Olympian is given twenty pickle jars to open. Tapping the jar lid on the cabinet top will result in disqualification. Hand strength only. Fastest time wins.
I doubt my recommendations will make their way to the Olympics, but I do find these things difficult. But they may attract an older viewing audience…you never know.
I think I’ll watch Breaking; it might be fun. I am sure American’s will end up on the awards stand again with Old Glory draped over their shoulders. That look never gets old, no matter the sport.
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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].