Thursday, August 9, 2012

Opa Johan On The Olympics 2012


Opa Johan On The Olympics 2012

I missed the relay of Bolt’s phenomenal run on TV. However, I didn’t repent it, instead I got the beautiful gold medal sailing boat race of women, you know? What excitement, what a joy, delight to the eye. And I thought of skiers sailing on snow, ballet dancing on ice and of sailing in the sky among the clouds with hang gliders.

But worst, most stupid of all is the walking race - if it still exists -, as it forces the athletes to walk unnaturally, clumsily.

And there were the charming,  dreamlike little fairies dancing on the floor, bars, ..., mermaids diving from the springboards, dancing in the water.

And there was a close up view before the start of a lovely smiling girl, Sarah Attar of Saudi Arabia. And I saw a forced smile that turns into a grin on a beautiful face, but hers was so natural, she was unaware of it.

She ran the 800 m and was left so far behind. But she persevered while it were much easier to drop out. She ran, as I picture her, - in long sleeves, not in shorts – not an athlete but a lady in full dress with her scarf as jilbab to reach laughing the finish last. Yet, the audience welcomed her with standing ovation in honor of her courage.

And I saw the champions raised, hugged and kissed. What about the fallen heroes in the fiercest battle? Do they, does she not earn, deserve a kiss and a hug? Even more so. Don’t you think so?

I could feel, share their joys were they winning a gold medal or not winning any medal at all and the pride of them to participate in the Olympics. I could love any athlete, any country but most of all as I saw this unnoticed small girl who played table tennis among many other lovely participants, saw her poor, plain appearance, her uncombed hair but her eyes were shining so determined, she never gave up, ...  And I saw myself pictured in her.

And in praise of, ... no, not her, Ding Ning, but me, I’ll tell you, you little fool, of - from the outside -, a scarecrow, yet from the inside am I a prince. Ha. Ha. Aren’t you very proud of your husband? So now kiss me. That’s what you owe me.

August 2012


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