i've always been into the olympics and even back in the old country, i'd file my vacation leave so i can watch the olympic games on tv, never mind that all we got were delayed telecasts. canadians are equally ga-ga over the olympics, and at one time, i sent a young figure skater a hundred dollars a month for two years before she became a professional. i hope you, americans, have not tired of hearing your national hymn whenever one of your athletes are on the top podium. i sure know i feel so proud when one of our athletes do.
during the 1996 summer olympics, partner was doing a lot of travelling and brought me a few souvenir baseball caps, which i brought to manila last year and gave them away to a boy who collects baseball caps. but i kept this, a large towel. and who knew that today i will have to take a photo of this to match ann's @olivetreeann posting.
let me see if i remember something from that olympics off the top of my head. i think our guy bailey won the 100 metre dash? there was a guy, an american athlete, who wore his gold nike's, i forgot his name and he was good, too, as he went on to break some world records after the olympics. but the one name that stuck in my mind all these years is 'bolt usain'. i don't know what he did, but the name just stuck.
now, off i go to google to find out if my recall is bang on.
@sarasdadandmom - thank you, terry. when i came to canada, i got more into the winter olympics because i love watching figure skating and briefly considered learning how to skate, however, i love my bones too much.
When the olympics were in salt lake city was as close as I have ever come and even though I drove through the construction chaos a few times during the actual games I was teaching here in CA
@pandorasecho - thank you, dixie. it is always good to be watching the olympics where you get to see people in the same frame of the tv, especially during the cold war or when there is a war between countries. when the athletes greet each other, even when it's just a slight nod, it gives one a good feeling; it's like for a brief while, the world is one.
My dear friend! I am honored that you posted this for me! This trip certainly was a highlight for me! I never do get tired of hearing the Star Spangled Banner, and I have to say that one of my favorite Oympics was the one in Calgary (winter). I loved both the American and Canadian skaters that year. I do remember the track and field athletes performing so well in '96, breaking records left and right- no matter what country they came from. I think the runner with the gold shoes was Michael Johnson?? Michael something, and yes he was a bit cocky but lived up to his own hype by breaking all the records Carl Lewis had held. Bolt Usain is running this year- I think for Jamaica- but don't hold me to that- I often get the countries with similar colors mixed up and all I remember is that his gear was green, yellow and black. But don't expect me to remember all these other sports- after all I am a Soccer Mom, not a track, volleyball or otherwise Mom! lol So, thank you for my matching post! I am grinning from ear to ear!
@olivetreeann - glad you liked it. i was really stumped what i had to post for today, and as soon as i saw your post and realized i still have the towel, it was a no-brainer. yes, that was michael johnson who wore the 'gold nike's'.
then partner promptly corrected me that bolt usain, in 1996, could not have been in the olympics because he would have just been 13 around that time. but whatever, i like the name and it got stucked in my head. and on the drive back from bringing back the boys, we listened to the 100-metre telecast and there was 'bolt' winning it.
pardon my typing as i'm using a teeny-weeny netbook as my laptop is out of commission.
i've corrected my tag. thanks.
then partner promptly corrected me that bolt usain, in 1996, could not have been in the olympics because he would have just been 13 around that time. but whatever, i like the name and it got stucked in my head. and on the drive back from bringing back the boys, we listened to the 100-metre telecast and there was 'bolt' winning it.
pardon my typing as i'm using a teeny-weeny netbook as my laptop is out of commission.