I’m going to grouch about the Olympics

August 14th 2008

OK...I’m going to grouch about the Olympics. I’ve never been the sporting type. No surprises there. Could never do a handstand, cartwheel or skim myself up a damn gym rope, hand over hand. Hated tennis, races, or any other kind of  physical activity. Watching football leaves me feeling catatonic, so I suppose I’m the very last candidate to be writing about competitive sports. It’s a universe of it’s own..And I certainly it doesn’t need my participation in any way shape or form. Which might explain why I’m avoiding the Olympics like the plague. I’m boycotting the Olympics actually. For me...it’s like... What Olympics????
And the sight of that cute little girl in a red dress, miming to some kind of “ode to the mother country” type of anthem, followed by flag bearing soldiers ( or were they ballet dancers?) sprightly goose stepping in full military gear  was just a little bit too surreal to swallow.
Identity, nationalism and sport seem to be such cosy bedfellows. The universal menage a trois.  What can I say??? I can’t stand sport. Leave me out of it.