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This Cold Season, Beware of Olympic Fever

I don’t have a favorite team, and I don’t voluntarily watch any Super Bowls, World Cups, or championships of any sort, so why do I suddenly care who’s playing when the Olympics come on? Maybe it is the excitement of all of the nations coming together, competing for the pride and love of their countries. Or, maybe it’s all of those interesting sports being shown that I have never even heard of before, and cannot seem to turn away from. Either way, somehow my patriotism overrides my usual disinterest in sports, and I am suddenly watching hockey and curling with interest.

I can remember watching the Olympics as a kid with my family. Whenever speed skating or figure skating would come on, my sister would run to the television to turn on the events. We would even plan our meals around the Olympic schedule so we wouldn’t miss Kristi Yamaguchi skating for the gold.

I may not hold the same interest in most skating events as I used to, but I always seem to find some sport that catches my fancy during the Olympic season. For the last summer Olympics, I was hooked on gymnastics and swimming. I had never kept such a close eye on athletes before, or even remembered their names. But, two summers ago I was watching sports that were completely new past-times for me, like women’s volleyball. I had to slowly teach myself the subtle rules of the game since I was alone while Misty May and Kerri Walsh beat every opposing pair in their path.

Any other time of the year that someone talks about the current game of the season that’s being played, I could care less about the conversation. Why am I going to take interest in people I don’t know, or teams I have no affiliation with? But, when people start talking about the Canadian hockey team and how it is made up of a majority of the San Jose Sharks, I am suddenly perking up my ears to listen to the conversation.

I know it’s not the peer pressure because I never even glanced at the screen when everyone at my place was crowding around to watch the Super Bowl. Maybe it is the idea of knowing that everyone around the world is taking interest in these events that I feel inspired to want to watch. I happen to be more of a fan of the summer Olympics, yet I have still found myself watching with tension to understand the plan of attacks during curling events.

Normally, I would actually giggle at this sport because I did not understand how it worked. However, I actually found myself rooting for the Americans, as well as the young Swedish team, and the pregnant lady with the Canadians. It all just seems so much more fascinating when the whole world is involved!

When I’m watching the Olympics, I’m not just watching teams made up numerous players who have been traded and re-traded for money and fame. I’m watching athletes who have trained all of their life to perfect their skill, who contend against the best of the best, and who shed tears when their anthem plays for their achieved medals.

There is just some magic that comes over me, and possibly many others, when that Olympic torch is lit. But, I know that as soon as that fire is extinguished, I will once again lose interest in hockey. I will begin my usual chuckles at the thought of sweeping ice as stones are slid across it, and I will go back to my ignorance of the various forms of skiing and sledding. But, for now, fill my head with news of the current events and scores, because there is a limited time when I will listen… until the Olympic games start up again in 2012.