Dilemma of True Sports Spirits and th Making of It

Excitement of the Olympics begins!

Exactly seven more days to go before the London Olympics begin. I am excited and eager to watch the atheletes perform. Who will make a new world record? Who will be the new champions? Will the defending champions able to succumb to the pressure. It will be an emotional summer for everyone in the world. With the economics being a slum right now, to be able to watch international atheletes competiting with each other is a treat. A brief break from the economic depression. Nevertheless, it will also be prudent to know a little of how Olympics, the sports come into our lives.

When I was young, the only thing I know of Olympics is that the games are held every four years. Nothing much to ponder on as my country, Malaysia hardly participates in any events, except for badminton. As an adult now, I wonder about the origins of Olympics,  curious about how the gold medals are made and the 'spirit' of Olympics . So many questions. Here, I will only examine the history briefly, and some controversial issue on the gold medals that I happened to read on.

Short History of the Games (I)

The Olympic Games have a deep and rich history. Originating from Greece at about 770 BC( many different opinions about when the Games actually began), the games were only to flaunt their physical prowess, but they were also a time where the Greeks dedicated the games to their mythical God Zeus and other Greek gods of Mountain Olympus. As time passed, the many more games are added, subsequently the period of Olympic Games were prolonged as well. In a prompt manner, the games soone lasted for four consecutive days. From the chronological events in Greece, modern Olympics were borned in 1896.

While athletes train most of their lives for the Olympics, the actual games only last for 16 days. During these exciting days, 300 events will take place in 35 different sports ( I don't really understand this part, 300 events I understand; but 300 events in 35 different sports...if anyone understands this, please explain to me). These ceremonies are meant to inspire athletes, promote national pride, and celebrate tradition and history.  Not forgetting, atheletes are to abide the rules and regulations and protocols in order to preserve the integrity of the ancient games.
I dare say, modern Olympic Games is a huge sport festival!

Five Rings (II)

Do you know which ring of the Olympic represents your continent? I did not know the answer until I checked it out on the internet. To be honest, I did not know what the rings represent too in the first place. The five rings on the Olympic flag that is flown on both the summer and winter Olympics are designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a Frenchman in Sweden in 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. Coubertin was also the man who revived the Olympic Games and formed the International Olympic committe in 1894.

The five rings are linked together with different colour for each rings to symbolize universality. The five rings represent the five continents where international athletes came to compete with each other. This explains the reason for the interlocked rings on the flag. Consisting of black, green, red, yellow, and blue, the colour rings reflect aesthetically on the white flag background. The colours of the rings on the white background do not signify any specific continents but to elucidate that at least one of every colour that is on the flag is on every nations flag. Believe it or not, the same Olympic flag has been used for almost a hundred years now and will be used for years to come.

Where do the Gold Medals Come From?

Admittedly, the making of the London gold medals will make your brow contract in displeasure and anger. Each gold medal won at this summer's Olympics began life as 350 tons of dirty grey rubble taken from the desert mountains of Utah, on the edge of Salt Lake City. That is how the gold medals, which the winners will wear is borned from. Working in a mine so large that it can be seen from space, each truck carries 350 tons of dirty, grey-coloured ore that marks the production of Olympic gold, silve and bronze medals.

One creation of gold medal takes nearly an entire load of ore from one of the trucks. With 4,700 medals to be presented this year, it is clear that this means business for the Utah Copper Enterprise.
According to Matt Lengerich, the general manager of the Kennecott Utah Copper Bingham Valley Mine, 'You are looking at the very start of the process to create what the athlethes in London will be competing for'. He is standing on the edge of an enormous hole, three quaters of a a mile (1.6km~) deep and nearly three miles (4.8km~) wide. The open cast mine is the largest man-made excavation in the world.

Not forgetting, the air and noise pollution...

Dilemma of True Sports Spirits and the Damage of the Making of the Gold Medal


As much as the Olympic Games bring joys and tears, the making of it especially the prizes do not make me proud of being a human. It actually put me to shame. Destroying Mother Nature for gold. Nevertheless, as I am not a member of the International Olympic Committe, I have no say in anything they do. Even if I do, I am sure the Utah citizens have already made their opinions heard of.

I am just going to listen to the 'Moneyball' soundtrack - 'Just enjoy the show' to make myself feel better.

May the best and most determine players win.

 

Could Not Put Them Down

I bought Millenium Series Book 2, 'The Girl who Played with Fire' a few years ago. Read a few chapters and put the book down again. I could not see the story line connection. Few years later, when I visited home, I took the Book 1, 'The Girl with Dragon Tattoo' back with me to Japan. I figured out, since it is quite a thick novel. I should reread it, this time, in the correct sequence.

How should I describe the series? I would say that these 3novels will remain my top reading list for many years to come. Powerful in multifarious ways. The story line makes you stop and think about (1) Analysis and consequences (2) The meaning of Mass Media and Journalism (2) Women's rights (3) Violence againt women in Sweden (4) Corruption in the Judicial system consistently, and lastly but not least (4) Free love. There are sanguinary descriptions of violence, especially violent acts directed towards women, which you could not read in the daily newspaper, because those descriptions are censored. However, the author is bold in writing about it.

I would have thought that the author is a woman, if the author's name is not stated on the novel. Elegantly written and provokes you to challange the norms of society (applicable to all societies in the world). The novels will make you think twice about Sweden and Europe's image on gender equality. Of course, in many Asian countries, women's rights are still a taboo. Nevertheless, it is a must read!

Fireworks

Last week America celebrated Independence Day, July 4th.  The Saturday before, Phil and his brothers (mainly his oldest brother) put on a large firework show.  Certain types of fireworks are now legal in Michigan after years of being illegal for sale in the state of MI, largely due to safety concerns of people using the fireworks and I think also because forest fires are devastating occurrences that happen in the state every summer (but for several reasons, not just because of fireworks).

So that evening I went to my father-in-law's house and my parents came a little later, and everyone who came brought some food to share.  When it was dark, they started the fireworks show with a man playing the national anthem on guitar and the first round of fireworks.  The second round of fireworks was in memory for one of my in-laws who died this spring.  The rest of the show was a variety of different fireworks followed by a grand finale.  It is amazing to think that something so small on the ground, when lit, becomes a beautiful explosion of color and shape.  I wanted to share some photos of that.

Many cities across the state perform their own fireworks show.  Some cities have fundraising activities for people to donate money to pay for the fireworks, which can be very expensive.  Some cities send the fireworks off from a bridge or dock, and where I grew up the fire department lit the fireworks from behind the Fire Hall.  Fireworks are something that are enjoyed by so many people so it is nice to find something that many type of people can enjoy together.

I am almost finished with my competition afghan, so when that is finished I will post photos on that!

Water Lily Washi Collage

Few weeks ago, I found this 和紙ちぎり絵(washichigire) a.k.a Japanese paper collage lesson from the newspaper for halfprice. The theme is 'Water Lily to cool your summer' The lesson is designated for beginners, which suits me perfectly. I told my friends about it and they commented,saying that such lessons are for elderly people. I told them that art has nothing to do with age and gender.

The reason I signed up for the lesson is because I wanted to try it.
I did and the photo above is my product. The teachers are of course experts and could just tear the paper according to the size of the photo within seconds compared to me. Nevertheless, I had fun. Of course, the teachers also took the opportunity to promote their lesson curriculum. TO be honest, I am interested. 4 lessons for 5250yen. I think I will sign up for the 4 lessons...

I didnt know much about collage until I took up this lesosn. Did some research and found lots of beautiful collage work displayed on the internet. Originating from the French word 'coller', meaning 'to glue'. A collage is work of art composed of materials like paper, newsprint, photographs, ribbons and other objects attached to a background support, usually a plain paper.

You can even do it digitally if you possess the technology skills. Lastly but not least, art work does not produces social reality but imagination and intensity of passion to explore everything around you through various materials, such as 和紙(washi).