Something For Everyone

The 2024 Summer Olympic games officially opened yesterday in Paris. There were a number of great entries in the parade, and as always, the Torch Relay did not disappoint. I think my favorite person in the relay was Kevin Piette…the 36-year-old man, who had been paralyzed from the waist down since he was 11 years old, was in an exoskeleton unit, and he was actually able to walk!! What a thrilling moment that must have been for him!! He looked beyond happy!!

The Olympics have changed over the many years since they began. The first Olympics was in took place from April 6–15, 1896 in Athens, Greece. The athletes in those first games actually competed in the nude. In the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, athletes competed in the nude as homage to supreme god Zeus in celebration of manhood, strength, physique, and dominant status. Ok, well whatever, but I think it’s much better to wear clothes…especially in such a public place.

The events in the Olympics have changed a lot through the years too. From 1912 to 1948, the Olympic Games actually held competitions in the fine arts. Medals were given for literature, architecture, sculpture, painting, and music. The only stipulation was that the art created was required to be Olympic-themed. Ok, easy enough, if it allows you to compete. Sports like croquet, cricket, Jeu de Paume (the original tennis), Lacross, motor boating, Pelota (a type of racquetball), polo, roque, rackets, and even tug-of-war, found their way into the famed event. I suppose the idea was to include as many groups as possible for the purpose of inclusion.

The Olympic games are divided into three separate events. The Winter Olympics, the Summer Olympics, and the three-year-old Paralympic Games. Being a summer person, I prefer the Summer Olympics, but there are events I like in the Winter Olympics too. If it were possible to combine the two, there would not be enough time to get all the events in. Of course, that isn’t really possible anyway, because of the need for very different weather for some events. This year’s Summer Olympics are being held now in Paris, France and started yesterday, July 26, 2024. They will wrap up on August 11, 2024. The Winter Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, February 6, 2026, and wrapping up on February 22, 2026. The Paralympic Games will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, opening on March 6, 2026, and wrapping up on March 15, 2026. The Olympics has something for everyone.