Torino 2006

I watched most of the Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Games last night. I know the United States packs a stellar show when we host but Italia did an utterly beautiful job. It seemed like a magnificent yet intimate affair. I did feel like a night at the opera (not least of all for Pavo's Nessun Dorma finale) but everything was spectacular and beautiful.

As with all Olympic ceremonies, I have a propensity and history to cry through them. When I watched the glitzy portion (the "American Style") bit where Yoko Ono showed up to recite some familiar lines and then Peter Gabriel began to sing Imagine, I was a bit impervious to the emotion. But then you looked out at the Olympian's and saw them all shoulder to shoulder swaying and singing the words, "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.. I hope some day you'll join us. And the world will live as one." Then I gushed.

I suppose that's the beauty of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. It allows the entire world to see what could be possible, that at least some of us can get a long and be united despite all our cultural, religious and political differences.

Though I doubt somewhat that Denmark was cosying up to any of their Lebenese counterparts.
Can I say with absolute recognition of how selfish and shallow this sounds - but I'm so glad it's the Danish that are in the hot seat. Takes a little pressure of us for about five minutes.