Anyone who knows me, knows I love the Olympics. I watch hours and hours of the competitions of each and every Olympics. I especially like individual competition. Gymnastics and swimming in the Summer Olympics, Ice Skating and skiing in the Winter Olympics.
But best of all, I like watching the opening and closing ceremonies. It is interesting to see what each country comes up with to entertain and celebrate. The current Winter Olympics in Torino Italy is no exception.
I watched the opening ceremony last night. I enjoyed the ballet dancing, the acrobatics, even the monstrous skirted women dolls that were paraded around the arena. Even if I do not know why.
The Italian racing car showing off it's speed and power was spectacular. What I like best of all, though in every opening ceremony is the parade of nations participating. I like seeing what they are wearing, and watching the mostly young hopeful exuberance of the athletes as they march in.
As usual, there were some aspects of the ceremony that mystified me. Why the Italians would have a Japanese reading a poem about a British song, and then having an American singing it I found a little strange. Having important women carry the Olympic flag into the area was a unique idea, with an extrodinarily famous Italian actress, metal winning elder Olympic athletes, and a Nobel Prize winner I understood, but Susan Serandan? Weird. If they wanted an important and famous American woman to help carry the flag, I can think of several who would have been a more appropriate choice. Oprah, Martha Stewart, any female US Senator, even Angelina Jollie would have been a better choice.
And the last and I think the most spectacular weirdness was that when the nations paraded into the arena, they all marched to a DJ's selection of 1970's American Disco songs. About the only songs I did not hear was Betty Davis Eyes, and Disco Duck. And when the Hungarian contingent paraded in, they did it to The Village People's Y.M.C.A.
I cannot help wondering if the strangely attired Hungarians had ever seen a Y.M.C.A. or could appreciate the deliberate Gay underpinnings of the song. Now all together, form your arms into a Y, then an M, then a C and then an A.
