Monday, August 13, 2012

Memorable Games

There will always be an England, thank goodness.

The 2012 London Olympic Games concluded last night with a closing ceremony only the English could stage.  Pop stars from the last fifty years, huge fashion photo blowups circling the stadium like mobile billboards, and a host of mod-rockers reminded a worldwide viewing audience precisely how the English view themselves.  Masterpiece Theater this wasn't!

These games were a huge success by any standard.  More than ever they put behind us the Cold War era with its politicized judging and doping scandals.  There are still controversies, to be sure (the Chinese continue to excel at cradle to athletic grave training), but they do not insinuate themselves into individual performances on anything approaching the scale of the past. 

There is still too much volleyball in this viewer's opinion.  The IOC  should choose between beach and indoor versions. The Synchronized swimming, race-walking and rhythmic dancing are not sports either.  Why not include ballet if athleticism and grace are the standards by which sports gain Olympic status?

Reviewing the medals totals of the previous 29 modern Olympiads it is interesting to note how often the host countries excelled in the early years leading up to the middle of the last century.  After that, sports machines and cold warriors took over as the United States, Russia, China and East Germany dominated.

In London, the top three were again the US, China and Russia, but England surged into fourth place with a surprising display in everything from rowing to distance running to boxing.  Their medals total certainly underscores the notion of home-field advantage, but happily the judging was unbiased and ecumenical.  More than a few commentators observed how the English stiff upper lip broadened into a wide smile on many occasions at these Games.

The Games move on to Rio in 2016.  One is tempted to think Carmen Miranda and the samba are waiting in the wings if London's homegrown extravaganza was any indication.  Apart from the ceremonies, however, Brazil will be hard-pressed to outdo the successes in London.  These were truly sporting events to remember.


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