Olympics 2024

One of the great things about the Olympics is that it is the greatest three ring circus ever made and the not so  great thing about the Olympics is that a three ring circus can be wearing on the soul.   The CBC went overboard with their coverage offering 22 hours each day on the main network, an unprecedented podcast offering, plus an alliance with two sports networks.   The following are a few impressions to help me remember.

I started following the Olympics in 1960 at age 12.  At that time news clips were flown to North America from Rome and we could read details in our newspaper the next day.  Things have changed since then and not all necessarily good.   

 This year my first awareness before the official opening was a report that the Canadian women's soccer staff spied on the opposition team from New Zealand, not something for Canadians to be proud of.  For awhile us Canadians rallied behind the women realizing the drone decision was above their awareness of the players.  They were handed a very stiff penalty that required them to win all their remaining group games without a tie.  They won some tense games, and did qualify for the knockout phase where they lost.

The Opening Ceremony was unique and reflected French culture.  Boat rides on the Seine.  Lady Gaga in singing in French with lots of other entertainment along the riverbank.  French historical characters were displayed.   Women leaders were hi-lighted with statues to help balance the preponderance of male statues.  Hot air balloon was the location for the Olympic flame.  Celine Dion with a well known vocal concern sang an Edith Piaf classic "Hymne a l'amour" with rain coming down on her and a pianist from the Eiffel Tower that also provided a light show.

The Olympics at one time was for amateurs only that might make it seem more pure, but in effect it was-gentleman's club.  Those who had the money and social backing got to compete.  Jim Thorpe, an   amateurs lost his medals after previous payments uncovered.  Nowadays hypocrisy has been set aside and replaced by professionals that are more entertaining.

Olympic status has increased popularity, but to me increases the circus aspect. .Admittedly  I enjoy some of the additions such as synchronized diving.  Judgement to me make some events more of an artistic endeavor.  it must be aggravating to have rehearsed thousands of  times and be judged by a second or so on stage

Men's basketball was my main interest.  The Canadian team did good for awhile.   Their first game was  against.Greece with Giannis Antetokounmpo (he will be referred to in future blog) provided a tough opposition.   They didn't get far but were competitive.  I was very pleased with local hero Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Canadian men lost fo France with Victor Wembayama .

Women's basketball, was another disappointment.  Made it to the the knockout round before exiting.  Another major disappointment was the exclusion of Caitlin Clark who has made women's basketball exciting to watch.  An upcoming visitor watched the women;s semi final.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2019/06/my-60-year-love-affair-with-basketball.html 

It was upsetting to see that sports betting was among the adverstiers.  To me excessive gamblsing is -a disease.  Like other pleasures a little bit may be fun, but dangerous when it becomes habitual.  

The French crowd support does play a role which was very noticeable in the team sports.

Another almost mandatory focus was on Simone Biles.  She is likable as well as a joy to watch.  This was the first time I saw her fall which reminded she is mortal.

Water Polo was something I paid little attention until my daughter became captain of champion high school team.  There is skill and strategy involved with a lot going on below the water.  c

Wrestling was an event once considered for discarding.   I grew up frowning on televised wrestling, but got a different perspective when I attended the University of Guelph where they had a champion wrestling team including one top wrestler who lived on the same residence floor.  Wrestling is a foundaton of the original Olympics.

The French organizing committee made an effort for greater gender equity. The events were split evenly between male and female.

Climate change  was another theme.   Paris was conscious of the Seine being polluted and made efforts to clean up.

For the third summer Olympics,  a refugee team exemplifies the international peace theme    This time they won their first medal, a bronze in women's boxing.

Andre De Gras had at first a bad Olympics.  He failed to qualify for the finals in either the 100 or 200 meter run.  In fact none of the relay team members made the finals, but they had practiced together and won the gold medal illustrating that team work does make a difference. All relays are fun to watch.  Botswana won silver in 4 x 400 men's men;s relay.

Break dancing was a big surprise.  A Canadian won a gold and was mind numbing impressive.

Tahiti provided  an exotic setting several time zones away from Paris. Surfing is fun to watch, but not too much was shown in my tv. coverage.

The Closing Ceremonies were not as interesting as the opening, but the Los Angeles delegates provided something different, especially Tom Cruise who performed a stunt that saw him fall from a high spot, pick up the Olympic flag and supposedly transport it to L.A.  Some American entertainers, some ceremony. filled out the evening.  One new feature was to present the medals for the women's marathon.  .

France showed off its tourism attractions.  Earlier I had read they are one of the best organized tourist destinies.    http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/02/overbooked-and-thoughts-on-tourism.html

Each Olympics tries to set itself as unique.  Some sports will be dropped while others will be added.  I understand break dancing will be dropped and I suspect baseball will be added.  My son plays on the New Zealand dodge ball team.  At an international tournament my wife and I talked to an American enthusiast who thought dodge ball had a lot to offer, but didn't need the Olympics to validate itself,  just a joy to play.  Check it out as it is also a joy to watch.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/09/dodge-ball.html

Other viewers would have emphasized different points as there was so much to check out.  The Olympics are still for me the most exciting event of the year and I am looking forward to the  Paralympics, Winter Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Memories of 2022

This was supposed to be the year we recovered from Covid and to some extent we did.  However it did rear its ugly head from time to time and has failed to go beyond the horizon.  Memories are fragile, but here are some I don't want to forget.

Boris Brott was killed by a hit and run driver while walking in his neighbourhood.  He spent a number of decades leading various orchestras in different countries and arranging musical events.  He chose to live in Hamilton where his children attended Westdale High School as have both my children.  I remembered attending a concert with the Hamilton Philharmonic backing Chuck Mangione, and later I was able to get the album.  I attended a few operas that he helped set up. When the Pan-Am Games had some soccer games in Hamilton he led some musicians backing up Terra Lightfoot which is shown to the left.  He enjoyed and promoted a wide variety of music as he felt it made life better.

Bill Russell, perhaps the winningest athlete in all pro team sports with 2 national titles in the NCAA, an Olympic Gold Medal and twelve NBA titles.  He is the one who helped shift the attitude on basketball defence from an oxymoron to a game changer.  More than all that he stood up for human rights when it wasn't easy and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Honor.  You can read about his effect on basketball and me at:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/09/bill-russell-and-rise-of-defense.html

 

Edson Arantes do Nascimento better known as Pele died in the last week of 2022.  He managed to survive through the World Cup that he had been a principle hero for.  I remember driving from Barrie to Toronto to watch Pele playing in an exhibition game at Varsity Stadium in 1971.  Brazil had won the World Cup in 1970.  You don't have to be a soccer fanatic to recognize one of the world's greatest athletes.

A new family member is welcomed to the fold.  Madelyn Rose, to be known as Maddie. 

 We both became members of the Royal Botanical Gardens.  Winter Lights were our first event there.

 

Early January is cold, but the scenery was wonderful.
 

 

 

 An anniversary present from Heather.  Grain and Grit put on a zoom meeting about beer, cheese and chocolate.  Very tasty combinations.

 

 

Many years ago we went to the Aquarium in Toronto for our anniversary and yes there was a restaurant.  This year we decided an RBG event would be appropriate.  Under the Canopy offered a display of tropical animals.  At first the sloth was sleeping, but when the caretaker got out the dinner the sloth was very lively compared to our expectations.

                                A green snake.

Our long tradition on a New Years' Eve Party was broken by a trip to New Zealand and two years of Covid.  March 5th we assembled most of our previous guests and made it over--we even made it to midnight.  The theme was a Tropical nite.

One new and welcome visitor.

      A good spread of appetizers.

 Doors Open Hamilton

 Stairwell in Coppley Building for Doors Open Hamilton.  Given a tour by Terry Cooke.

 Walking tour with Bill King

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Polkinghorne turned  70  

 

 

 

 I have long been fascinated with the many murals in walking distance.  Here is a example of a very interesting one. 

Artist Scott MacDonald in action.  See finished work in blog plus over 60 others and a few other artists.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/09/murals-liven-up-hamilton.html

 

 Enjoyed Luca Vitali at the Racamultese Festival.  Check Hamilton's connection to Racamulto:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/06/hamilton-ontarios-connection-to.html

 

 

 

 

Blue Jays win 9-2 on Canada Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Trip to Port Dover to see Norm Foster play (Halfway There)--reminded me of Haliburton that also claims to be halfway between Equator and North Pole.  I had an interesting restaurant entree, tandoori salmon

World Dodgeball Championship were held in Edmonton and they provided opportunity to see Michael after three years.  

This is the famous Maori hakka.  The New Zealand team did it at the beginning of each day.

 Not sure what this is called, but some teams as sort of a victory dance invite their opponents to also celebrate.  They go arm and arm in a circle until they all collapse.

More on Dodgeball:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/09/dodge-ball.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Edmonton Mall.  It is overwhelming.

 

 

 

 

 Chianti where we had dinner.   Took photo in a morning that I was seeking some murals.  I thought this was an abandoned Church, but it turns out it used to be a post office.  Actually it is an Italian restaurant that we quite enjoyed, service, ambiance and food.  About a block from our hotel on Whyte Avenue.

 

 

 At the Edmonton Airport a commemoration of Wayne Gretzsky in a triumphant moment.

 

 

 

Checking out scenery in Toronto, actually Michael likes to geo cache wherever he goes
 

 

 

 

With some Kiwi visitors watching the Blue Jays.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Blue Jays trip.  They won 10-1 after a nite of celebrating.  It wasn't actually dark at all.

 

 

 

 

A joyous occasion was when Ryan married Samantha shown here with Emma.  It seemed risky holding an outdoor ceremony on October 22, 2022, but the weather added to the beauty.  A poster to be remembered:  "Pick a seat, not  side.  We will all be family when they tie the knot."   Photo by Sharon.

 

We went on the trails of RBG  on October 30

 
Sharon meets a dog, Ripley and just happens to have dog biscuits on her.

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve was differently than had been habit forming.  It was a stage show at Theatre Aquarius, but it was different.  Personal--the actors told their personal stories and they centered around their experience in Hamilton.  Many of their references were familiar.  At the end they closed with a request to contribute to a food bank and personally took our donations in stockings by the front door.  We had a enjoyable meal at Pho B & T. and got set for Christmas. 

 New Years Eve is the closeout of the year.  Getting back into our regular groove.  This year we declared Camp Winealot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Barbara Martin, our double prize winner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Another good year for watching movies.  Which ones did you also see?  Which ones did I miss?  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/worthwhile-english-speaking-films-seen.html

Among my top favorite movies many were subtitled.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/films-from-non-english-world.html

Here is my list of books read in 2022.  Feel free to comment:http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/books-read-in-2022.html

Restaurants:  Rapscallion (Beatles brunch), Pho B & T,  Mai Pai on Barton, Afrolicious   A takeout with Persian at Nannaaa .  While in Edmonton we enjoyed Chianti on Whyte Ave.  

Most popular blogs:  Number one dealt with book on "China Unbound" from a Canadian perspective. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/04/china-unbound.html

Number two was inspired by the Trucker Convoy to Ottawa that I felt was misguided:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/02/freedom-and-law.html

Number three was about an Egyptian tv. series partly filmed in the U.S. with an interesting complicated plot.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/02/newtons-cradle.html

This honestly has been a better year than last year, but there certainly were pleasant memories in 2021  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/01/2021-another-disapointing-year.html

Dodgeball

Do you remember Dodgeball?  That was a game where a circle of young boys and girls with a ball to throw at those in the middle.  Now we have a sport with rules and a way of keeping score and both fun for the participants and the audience.

 Dodgeball is one of many sports competing for a spot at the Olympic circus.  My son developed a strong interest and as he was visiting Edmonton to participate at the world championships it seemed a good time to learn more.  Never did master the rules, but did come to appreciate that skills, physical fitness and strategies are important and it is fun to watch.  

The basic idea of hitting your opponent with a ball and avoid being hit has been retained.  One innovation is to catch the ball.  With a definite format we can have international contests.

Some of us (not me unfortunately) saw a movie that used Dodgeball as a vehicle, "Dodgeball" (2004).   Judging by the comments, it generated a lot of laughs with its plot and action.  Unable to locate it from my usual sources it seems that it did not advance the serious side of the sport, but must have stirred some curiosity. 

Rules are confusing (unless you read the written ones).  There are two versions:  one with a cloth ball and the other with a foam ball.  Both could be viewed at the World Dodgeball Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The cloth version uses a harder ball that is more painful. 

There are 6 players per side with 6 balls in total.  Initially teams line up at opposite ends of a court and race for their 3 balls.  Strategies have developed to take advantage of this unique starting situation. As soon as you have a ball you can shoot at the opponents, but you also leave yourself vulnerable.  When a player is hit they must leave and stand by the sidelines. After that each team is given opportunities to fire on the other.  The object is to hit all six opponents while they try to do the same to you.   In a sudden death situation each team is given three balls on their back line to help decide the winner.  

After a set is completed the winning team is credited with one point.  Then another set is started with perhaps a change in personnel.  The object is to win the most sets.

Ball retrievers or shaggers play an important role. In practice each team has three, one at the end line the others at either side.  They are not allowed to pursue balls on the court while players are not allowed to go off the court.  Their role is to give their side a steady flow of balls which is a key factor in attacking and even for defense. Sometimes this means chasing into the audience, calculating which way a thrown ball will end up and at other times watching the ball roll to the opposition.  Two New Zealand players decided to help the short handed Irish team and shag for them.

Two referees in the middle, one blowing a whistle to start the game--they confer on disputed calls and check each other for greater visibility--there are also four other referees at each side of the court to catch deceptive angles.  Referees  discussing disputed call.  Accredited referees are critical for the game's credibility.   Very little contesting judgments, but as the level is more competitive, players do dispute and many situations are marginal.  

On the attack.  Advance using subterfuge;  for example looking in one direction and hitting someone in another direction.  Two balls for quick followup or blocking.  90% of the attackers seem to be right handed.  Fake shots force a change in position, perhaps making the target more vulnerable.

 

 

 

Head for safety.  On defense one can jump, duck, bend, step aside or best of all catch the ball. Catching the ball is rare, but sometimes a game changer.   The person who threw it is out and your team can bring back a player who had been out.  Sometimes a ball will bounce off a player, but if they can catch it before it hits the ground it does not count as a hit and you are allowed to bring one of the outed players back.  At the end of the game there is often only one player per side and often the game might appear to end when one player apparently has hit the opponent, but if the ball is caught the game reverts. 

In addition to the cloth and foam versions the modern version has three competitions within each version.  One for males, another for females and a third for mixed.  In the mixed it might be assumed the females are the weak link, but that has been proved delusional.  The Olympics are looking for more gender equality and Dodgeball does offer that.

 Dominant teams were from Britain, Austria  Malaysia, Canada, and the United States.  Several countries were unable to get visas for tournament resulting in no African or South American entries.  The poorer countries are handicapped in raising money.  A catch 22 situation;  if an event is considered an Olympic sport it is easier to get govt support, but in the meantime it is harder to raise support.

Excitement- levels run pretty high.  We met participants from different countries, -Ireland, France, Britain, the U.S.  plus a Canadian referee.  All here for love of the sport.

Goodwill was displayed.  The New Zealand team performed a hakka at the beginning of each day.   I don't think too many were intimidated, but appreciative.  Helps build team cohesion.

 

 

Some teams were so excited about the game they invited the opposing players to join them in  a dancing circle and finally collapsing.  Goodwill is an important part of any sport.

 

Is it going to make it to the Olympics?  As one American player said, that is not important.  It offers a lot for participants.  To be taken more seriously coaching also has to be developed.  One colleague suggested a key factor in coaching is teaching.

Check earlier blog on water polo  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/04/in-praise-of-water-polo.html

Another sport promotion:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/04/synchonized-skating-would-add-to-olympic.html