The Olympics are Here! The Olympics are here!

I have been anxiously waiting all summer for this and finally, it is time for the start of the Olympic games! I am seriously giddy. The opening ceremonies have already begun (I love how futuristic and that stadium is, amazing) and are probably done by now and it looks like it will be a pretty good show that I look forward to watching tonight.

After watching Project Runway this week, I looked forward to seeing what the USA athletes would be wearing. It was actually very similar to Terri's design:

I don't understand why the women have to wear the exact same thing as the men, but it looks pretty smart and sporty/casual. I love watching the athletes walking through the stadium and being introduced. Their expressions range from pure joy to being completely overwhelmed by it all. I can't even imagine how that must feel but it must be amazing.


This year the athlete that is carrying the American flag is Lopez Lamong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. He has only been a citizen for 13 months and won the vote and has quite an amazing story.

He was born in Sudan, separated from his parents at the point of a gun at age 6, and with the help of friends, he escaped confinement and made it to a refugee camp in Kenya. In 2001, he was brought to America as part of a program to relocate lost children from war-torn Sudan.

Lamong is also a member of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Lamong had this to say about his involvement:

"I’m worried about the kids who are dying in Darfur and South Sudan. The kids don’t have the dream they could be Olympic athletes or doctors. I want those kids to reach what their dreams are. It's not just what's going on between the Chinese government and the Sudanese. It's what's going on with the people. We hope those kids can pursue what their dreams are."

I don't always like when people use the olympic games to express poilitical points of view, but in this case it is not only appropriate but impossible to seperate the athlete from the cause. That is part of his experience and his life and it wouldnt make sense to ignore that during the games.

Bring on the track & Field, gymnastics, swimming, marathon, triathalon & volleyball.