Hi Roger,
I should probably turn on the TV and get my sons to watch the opening ceremony with me.
My Mom always enjoyed watching the opening ceremonies, most times I forget to watch if I'm by myself.
My favorite summer Olympic sport is gymnastics, especially womens' gymnastics.
I remember in 1976, I was 11 years old, and visiting the relatives of my ex-sister-in-law, they were from Portugal and had emigrated to USA to Philadelphia, and we were in their livingroom watching Nadia Comaneci, it was exciting! She was only a few years older than me, and very tiny, probably the same height I was at 11. It doesn't matter what countries the athletes are from, or where the viewers are from or what language we all speak, it's just a great audience-participation and human-spirit.
Then I remember in 1996 here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, watching womens gymnastics again, with Mexican friends that time, again with 2 different languages going on, and the same human reactions. Our favorites were Shannon (forget her last name but she had long wavy blond hair).
If anyone has never watched the Olympics with people who don't speak your language, try it! You'll realize everyone gets excited about personal bests and also holds their breath and hopes each person doesn't mess up, and we all feel bad when they do mess up.
My exhusband's favorite female gymnast was Mary Lou Retton in 1984. I also liked Carl Lewis and Zola Budd in track & field.
The true mark of a sportsperson is how they behave when they don't win, how they treat others who do win.