I used to love watching the Olympic games when I was a kid. Back then, it seemed the focus was mostly on athletics and we got to see the various countries actually competing against each other.

I stopped watching when it became all about us (our team only). Besides, we rarely got to see much competition - only sappy personal stories of the athletes. I like a good sappy story now and then, but it got to be a little too much. We've ALL got sappy stories to tell.

I feel really bad for those people in China, especially those who had to give up their HOMES for our entertainment! I'm also a little concerned about the athletes in that polluted environment, especially those who come from "pristine" lands. My cousin came to visit me from Finland when I was a teenager, and we passed a spot that everyone considers a little "stinky" but no big deal. It wasn't just "stinky" to my cousin - it literally made her eyes water, and she couldn't breathe!