Jul 11, 2006

Olympics, the Bad and Good

I'm not a fan of the Olympics.

Too commercial. They've pretty much degenerated into a huge advertising venue for soda makers, sneaker brands, hi-tech companies, whatever.

Too nationalistic. As if the world doesn't have enough trouble with "my country's better than yours."

Too many sports that nobody-especially we Americans-cares about except every four years when the Games come around. When's the last time you went out of your way to attend a short-track skate race? Or a long distance Nordic ski race? Or a modern pentathlon meet?

Too many sports that are "judged." Figure skating may be the worst. But, come summertime, there's gymnastics. Even snowboarding halfpipe awards style points. It's all beautiful to watch, but only the judges know what the heck they're looking at.

Or looking for.

Having said all that, I now want to contradict myself.

I've visited several Olympic venues from the 1936 venue in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to the 2002 venues in Salt Lake City. And, I get up to Lake Placid as much as I possibly can.

Why? Why do that if I'm so anti-Olympics?

Because I admire the dedication and skills of the athletes. Especially the ones who compete in obscure sports. Because I think we all need shrines to memorable or record-breaking or heart rending athletic moments.

I've skied with a bunch of Olympians, from Billy Kidd and Bill Johnson to Pam Fletcher and Stein Erickson. It was fun. They're great skiers.

I was tickled pink the first time I skated on the speed oval in Lake Placid. What the heck-here I was on the same ice as Eric Heiden. (It only took me about ten times as long to skate a lap as it took him, but it was the same track. By comparison, I know I'll never play baseball at a major league stadium.)

So, even though I'm not an Olympics fan, I was glad to hear about the financial well-being and positive economic impact that the Olympic facilities are having in Lake Placid. What better result for a group of expensive facilities than to have them used and enjoyed by the recreating public and world class athletes alike? All while contributing strongly the local economy.

Lake Placid is a beautiful place. People were pilgrimaging there to vacation in both winter and summer long before the 1932 Winter Games were hosted there. And, they kept coming before the 1980 Games were staged. But, now, with the terrific facilities and the opportunity to use them, and to watch excellent athletes use them to train and compete, as well, the place has evolved into an even more attractive destination.

And, I'll dare say, the same is true of Park City, Utah, where regular folks like us can ride the Olympic bob and luge runs, learn to ski jump at the jumps, and take mogul skiing lessons at the freestyle training facility.

For those reasons, I'd have to say that the Olympic Games might not be such a bad thing after all.

Related story: Lake Placid and Olympic Facilities