The 29^th Olympic Games on NBC

By Ally Matteodo

The opening ceremony of the Olympics aired on August 8^th, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. on NBC, and the Olympics have been on during prime time ever since.  The Best TV Show of the Week goes to the Olympic Games collectively.  While it would be impossible to describe everything that has happened at the games from the opening ceremony until now, it is possible to include the highlights.  The games opened with an amazing fireworks display and impressive synchronized musical performance by the Chinese.  The Chinese invented printing and in an impressive display, close to 900 soldiers stayed under movable-type cubes and followed instructions on when to lift up the cubes in order to create the Chinese character for “harmony.”  One of the true stars of the Games has been 23-year-old swimmer Michael Phelps.  Phelps won eight gold medals and annihilated his own 200 freestyle world record during his time in Beijing.  Other American darlings of the Olympics have been Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin for gymnastics.  Shawn won gold for the balance beam, and Nastia succeeded in winning the same number of medals as iconic gymnast Mary Lou Retton.  Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh once again brought home the Gold in women’s beach volleyball.  Another highlight has been Usain Bolt, or “Lightning Bolt” as the press has nicknamed him.  Bolt set the record in the 200 meters and won the gold for Jamaica.  There are still more events to see, and the closing ceremony is sure to be another impressive display. 

One of the best things about watching the Olympic Games is the pervading atmosphere of unity.  Although individuals and teams are competing and people feel nationalistic pride in those representing their countries, the overarching feeling is one of togetherness:  Let the best man win, whoever he may be.  Harmony between people and cultures is a common thread that resonates throughout the games.  Furthermore, the games are filled with inspiring stories of courage, perseverance, hard work, and optimism.  Some of the athletes who compete in the games have suffered severe injuries in the past, yet have worked through their pain and not given up.  Dara Torres, a 41-year-old mother, competed with women half her age in swimming to succeed in winning a silver medal for the 50-meter freestyle.  These are stories of people overcoming what appear to be insurmountable odds with flair and aplomb.  These games are truly Olympian in spirit, and they encourage us to be Olympian in spirit too.  The refulgent smile on the faces of those who achieve their dreams is intoxicating, and we too realize that we must keep striving for the stars.  The urge to press on and go further is there within all of us -- and sometimes, when that urge lies dormant, it takes seeing these kinds of feats to reawaken it within us.      

Best TV Show of the Week

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