Olympics!!

I love the Olympics.  I'd be lying if there were some sports whose membership at The Games that I question (ballroom dancing??), but what I don't question is the sacrifice and work that everyone there put in to get there.  I love every four years when the off-events get showcased - when you can watch team handball at midnight, catch some of the modern pentathlon (so I know what it is when people ask me if I have to ride horses or shoot guns as a part of the decathlon), and even right now I've got some crazy equestrian thing on in the background on my computer.  I have no idea what's going on, I think the horse has directional issues because it's crooked most of the time, but the rider seems very serious so I think they're doing the right thing.  Despite my ignorance, I know one thing for sure, this crazy Canadian in a top hat probably worked damn hard to get to where he is.  It's so great to think that right now in China there are thousands of athletes all living in one village.  The gymnasts are eating right next to the gymnasts, million-dollar NBA guys are like 12 year olds trying to catch a glimpse of hard-core table tennis in action, and you know the pole vaulters are finding a way to hang out with the beach volleyball players.  300+ ilb men (maybe even women) 4'-8" girls, 41 year old ripped swimmers, people in top hats who ride horses, multi-million dollar basketball players, athletes from countries the size of my state, all coming together to realize how alike they all are.  They may all look very much different, may act very much different, but inside they are all composed the same: heart, determination, grit, pride.  I love it.