Everybody loves the Olympics, right?
Well, mostly everybody. Whether its the Winter Games, or the Summer Games, there's something uniquely positive about the Olympics that sets it apart from everything else. There are few other events in the sporting world that rival the excitement and pageantry of the Games.
In anticipation of the 2012 Olympics, which begin Friday in London, I have compiled the list below -- six things that make the Olympics awesome:
I don't think any other sporting event has its own theme song. From the booming of the timpani to the fanfare of the trumpets, when you hear the Olympic theme, you know you're hearing something special.
The Olympic theme sets the tone for the entire event. It lets the spectators know they're watching more than just a few athletic competitions -- they're witnessing a grand spectacle.
The opening ceremony really has very little to do with sports. Instead, it is mostly an elaborate tribute to the host country, along with a few other ceremonial functions.
But that is what makes it great. Beginning a period of competition with such a demonstration illustrates that this is not just a few trivial contests. It is a showcase. It is a coming together of young athletes from around the world, united in the spirit of friendly competition.
Above all else, the opening ceremony is a symbol of world peace. No other sporting event in the world begins from that premise.
The Olympics date back to ancient Greece, and even the modern Games have been around since 1896. Very few sporting events have that kind of longevity.
And the 116 years of Olympic competition have brought us countless tales of dramatic victories and crushing defeats. There have been hundreds of heroes made and championed. The Olympics have spanned political backdrops ranging from World War II to the Cold War to the age of global terrorism. They have witnessed changes in technology, changes in human rights, changes in fashion -- but the Games have always persevered.
Athletes about to take part in the Olympics in London will be taking their place in history. They will forever be known as Olympians.
The Olympics are not just about the big-dollar sports, like basketball or football. (American football isn't even part of the Games.) Instead, the Olympics champions athletes from all kinds of athletic backgrounds.
The Olympics are the one time every four years when millions of us suddenly become experts in sports like gymnastics and swimming.
I personally always get a kick out of the obscure sports -- things like archery, badminton or shooting. What makes the Olympics great is that the stars in these fields have equal footing as all the other athletes in the Games.
I love the medal ceremonies, when the flags of the gold, silver and bronze medalists are slowly raised, while the anthem of the gold-medal winner plays. And I admit that it always gives me a warm feeling in the cockles of my heart to see the American flag hoisted above the rest.
But I also have to admit that the one time I root against the Americans is in men's basketball. These superstars just don't embody the spirit of the Olympics to me. I'd much rather see Spain or France or Argentina claim the gold in this event.
I love that the Olympics feature athletes from around the world. This is most clearly demonstrated during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony. For what seems like hours, athletes from around the globe will pour into the Olympic stadium, all marching behind their country's flag.
There will be the huge delegations -- countries like the United States, Australia and China regularly send hundreds of athletes to the Games.
But I am most enthused when I see the tiny nations, who maybe only have one or two or three athletes at the Olympics. But they are there, dreams intact, flag held high.
And when all the athletes are assembled, they are but one giant mass of humanity, filling the infield of the stadium. It's an awesome sight to behold, a spectacle unseen in any other sports competition.
aweld@blythevillecourier.com