More Than Just Games

Here it is ... that time again… the quad annual bombardment of patriotism, travelogue and product placement known as the Summer Olympic Games.

These, by the way, are the real games. No snowboarding, or curling, or skiing with rifles. Nope, this about running fast, jumping far and throwing stuff. A time when gold is more valuable than platinum and second place barely gets a mention.

Yet if you’ve ever had a chance to meet an Olympic athlete you know how truly special these games are.

The next 16 days are about dreams. Oh, they’ll tell you it’s about country and pride and endorsements. And for a few, that’s probably true. But for most, this over-covered, over-dramatized, over-the-top get-together is simply about being there.

It is the time when the early morning workouts, the countless laps and the endless miles all become worth it. A time when a fortunate few can look in the mirror and say, “I made it … win, or lose, I’m here.”

salutes all the participants of the 2012 London Olympic Games. We wish the athletes luck and remind them that it’s not as much about hearing your country’s anthem as it about listening to your own heart.

Let the Games begin.