Paris Olympics, Viewed Personally

It was immensely rewarding to see so many other nations emulating the best in US behavior.

That said, there was not much to inspire about the Paris Olympics. looking back over our first week of viewing.

But I'm not blind. Yes, I did see Simone Biles for who she was, a small-sized miracle woman, and yes as well, I observed that shot-putter Ryan Courser was a really big miracle man. I was immensely impresssed with Katied Ledecky, who raised her total Olympic medal count to 14.

Admittedly, I got off to a bad start. I was not at all impressed with the open-river opening ceremony on the Seines.    You really couldn’t tell which was who, unless you were repeatedly told.   (I only rightly identified the American float because, as I expected, it had the most contestants on a boat.)

Thus, I seriously doubt that the 2028 Olympic opening ceremony will be on the Los Angeles River.

Yes, Ledecky, Biles and Crouser were outstanding; otherwise. there was not much to brag about from the USA.  Our Track and Field competitors were less than glorious (we barely won the sprints). 

But do let me give credit for the women T&F members for contributing to a couple of world records.

Worst of all was the TV coverage in the US.    There was nothing televised that was really live; at best, we got glimpses of record setting; but very little of real human interest, like showing how performer react to the performces, theirs's and those of their competitors.

I hope; no, I’m more serious than that.  I pray that the 2028 LA Olympics opening ceremony will take place in a stadium, with my preference being the Rose Bowl.  And for those of us who cannot be present on site, I pray that the 2028 tv coverage will be such that we will see in our homes the best events when they actually occur or, or at least very soon thereafter.

I close with sincere apologies to any of our athletes who may be offended by my critiques. For I do know that whether they won or lost, each did his or her best. For that I remain extremely grateful as I am for the exemplary behavior of our athletes across the board..