Goodbye Olympics...
Well, the Olympics are over, and now we’re left with nothing but bad weather and fascism.
Talk about your seasonal affective disorder.
Lucky for us a bunch of kids who aren’t just world-class athletes but world-class humans just gave a masterclass in grace, humility, friendship, joyful competition and resiliency. Think the powers that be will take a page from that book?
Yeah, me neither.
It’s hard to believe that it was just four years ago that Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy made headlines by being upfront about their queerness at the Olympics.
This year it’s almost like the sporting world is thinking about catching up with the rest of us - according to the Google, there are 49 openly queer athletes at this year’s extravaganza. Progress trudges onward!
And how about these athletes (among others) speaking out, RESPECTFULLY, about the mess at home? Champions, every one. Hey, if MAGA shit-talks you, you know you’re doing something right.
Highlights? Oh yes, there were highlights. My personal faves:
Hype boyz. Now THAT is sibling love.
Sportsmanship. Let's normalize being decent humans.
THIS queen. Tell me to shut up without telling me to shut up!
Tara and Johnny bringing the fashion.
Of course there were lowlights - can’t have the good without the bad, right?
This guy made a tearful confession and bid for reconciliation (spoiler, it didn’t work).
The USA men’s hockey team reenacted scenes from Animal House with the help of FBI Director Kash Patel and that guy in the Oval Office.
But in reaction, Flavor Flav is championing women’s sports yet again (he sponsored the women’s water polo team in Paris two years ago) and it would seem that every brand on earth wants in on the action.
IMO here’s what should be in and out for the next games, which will be hosted on American soil, for better or for worse.
MORE:
- Being open about your sexuality
- Simone Biles reminding us all to take care of ourselves
- Being 100% unapologetically yourself no matter your sport or national affiliation
- Kids and dogs getting in the way
- Incredible shows of love and support to other athletes, especially when you lose to them
LESS:
- Homophobia
- Restrictive eating on the part of female athletes
- Male reporters asking insulting questions of female athletes
- Male athletes denigrating female athletes while partying with fascists
- Truth-telling commentators
- Appearances by wrong-side-of-history Vice Presidents (even when they get booed)
In fact, how about just a fully anti-fascist Games next time?
That’s the dream!
It's been a tough winter, but made more bearable by the Ilia/Ilyas, and I'm here for it. I'll leave you with this, my absolute favorite few minutes of this Olympic Games.
Ok, love you, bye!
Julia