Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Olympics are coming! New sport announced.

This summer John and I are going to the Olympics--not as competitors, but spectators. A friend has lent us her house in London and we're going to be part of that crazy atmosphere, while watching the very few events we actually managed to get tickets for: tennis, women's soccer, badminton and water polo. No track and field and no swimming. Call me cheap but I am not prepared to pay 800 pounds to watch Michael Phelps swim up and down the pool twice when I can see it on TV.

But the snippet of news that has tickled my fancy is that a group has petitioned to make YOGA an Olympic sport. Yes, yoga. I can hear the commentary now:  "Yes, Dan, I believe he's going for the ultimate lotus position with his ankles crossed behind his neck. He is! Well done. And I remember at the world championships last year he held the position for three weeks without twitching a muscle...."
"We may be handing out one gold medal after the games have ended, Frank."

Not the ultimate spectator sport. They'll be introducing chess next.

I've been to two Olympics and got tickets for track and field at both of them--saw the finals of the relays, saw Sebastian Coe win the mile in 1984. I'm thrilled to have seats for the tennis semi-finals and I'm also glad that we have access to a good TV set.

So are there any sports nuts out there? What sport would you like to see introduced at the Olympics?

5 comments:

  1. I'm not really a sports nut, Rhys, but I enjoyed your post as always -- and want to wish you a Happy St. David's Day. Dydd Gwyl Dewi dedwydd!

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  2. Dear Ms. Bowen,

    I just came across your blog and giggled at your post on Yoga in the Summer Olympics.

    I'm not a sports nut, but I did get to see one of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics sports events, the biathlon, where they raced up and down hills on skis, then while trying to catch their breath, they had to load and shoot a rifle they carried on their back. I believe the one we watched was a relay. Is there any other? It was highly entertaining and the tickets weren't that much. I know this because there were several school buses of children from our town attending as well. Ours isn't the richest school district.

    But the opportunity of having it right here Salt Lake, only three hours from my home was so exciting. I loved the ambiance, created by the city dressed in her finest. The the banners that covered all the tall buildings, the Temple Square Christmas lights still burning brightly in honor of this exciting event, the torch, the Olympic rings in lights on the hills above Salt Lake and the beautiful John Williams music sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir all added to the thrilling atmosphere.

    It was an event I will never forget, and I still have a very faded cling sticker in the window of my car (transferred to new car when I traded). I'm unwilling to take it down.

    You brought back some fond memories. Have a fabulous time.

    Thanks for your great Royal Spyness books. They are most entertaining. I listen to the books on CD as I drive to Salt Lake every week for my choir practice. The very talented reader keeps me entertained and giggling. Thanks. You're a fun writer.

    ~a

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  3. Oh, how I'd love to be in London any time - even with all the Olympics crowds. I'd even go watch Yoga as long as I could go to Westminster Abbey inbetween matches.

    I've been very happily enjoying your books. I'm on "A Royal Pain" right now and looking forward to the rest, then going through the Molly Murphy series. Please keep on writing!

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  4. Yoga as an Olympic sport would be like "watching paint dry"!

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