I think the 'Olympics in the age of social networks' bit has already appeared in a newspaper column. I was attempting to match it with 'Love in the times of Cholera' by Marquez. Guess somebody beat me to it already....
Yeah London 2012 is not the 1st Olympic games in the times of internet. But is surely a first for me in the sense that I am prolifically using various cyberspace platforms to catch up on the action I have missed every day. There is an official Live Olympic channel on Youtube. Not to mention the live feeds from The Guardian and BBC sports websites. Yesterday morning I searched on Youtube and found the official video of the 100m final. I was belatedly enthralled to witness Usian Bolt majestically powering to the finish line. His challengers were simply specks of dust compared to the brilliant radiance he emanated in the track.
Since the name Bolt came up, its only proper to gush about the wonder and genius that he is. As a commentator mentioned during the 100m final, "He has transformed the world the sprinting for ever". By clocking times never seen before or even thought humanly possible, he has sent the sprinting world into a tailspin. As The Hindu headline wondered, 'Is it the yam or nuggets or merely genes??', in reference to the yam they eat regularly in Jamaica, or the chicken nuggets he snacks on or is it just something in his blood? As I heard one commentator mentioning, before Bolt rewrote history, it was believed that tall men can't sprint, just like the shorter the better in gymnastics. But then Bolt came , he saw and he conquered; and he stood tall at 6ft 5"!!
In these Olympic times, it is impossible not to comment on India's performance in the games. Of late, India's hopes are resting on the tiny shoulders of a petite lady, Mary Kom, boxer, mother of 5 year old twins. I cant help but admire her for doing what she is doing and for being where she is now. To box at her age, juggling a family and gruelling training schedules, she is truly a superwoman.
I was watching an interview with Saina Nehwal, the shuttler and P.Gopichand, her coach. She won a Bronze for India in Badminton. Her coach says, neither he nor Saina has watched a movie or gone for a party or let their hair down in any way for the last 6 months. I was truly amazed at their dedication to the sport, giving up all worldly pleasures, working with a single minded dedication. It may be one of the instances when work becomes play becomes work. Everything is the same for these athletes; work, play, life.... Truly remarkable people.
Yeah London 2012 is not the 1st Olympic games in the times of internet. But is surely a first for me in the sense that I am prolifically using various cyberspace platforms to catch up on the action I have missed every day. There is an official Live Olympic channel on Youtube. Not to mention the live feeds from The Guardian and BBC sports websites. Yesterday morning I searched on Youtube and found the official video of the 100m final. I was belatedly enthralled to witness Usian Bolt majestically powering to the finish line. His challengers were simply specks of dust compared to the brilliant radiance he emanated in the track.
Since the name Bolt came up, its only proper to gush about the wonder and genius that he is. As a commentator mentioned during the 100m final, "He has transformed the world the sprinting for ever". By clocking times never seen before or even thought humanly possible, he has sent the sprinting world into a tailspin. As The Hindu headline wondered, 'Is it the yam or nuggets or merely genes??', in reference to the yam they eat regularly in Jamaica, or the chicken nuggets he snacks on or is it just something in his blood? As I heard one commentator mentioning, before Bolt rewrote history, it was believed that tall men can't sprint, just like the shorter the better in gymnastics. But then Bolt came , he saw and he conquered; and he stood tall at 6ft 5"!!
In these Olympic times, it is impossible not to comment on India's performance in the games. Of late, India's hopes are resting on the tiny shoulders of a petite lady, Mary Kom, boxer, mother of 5 year old twins. I cant help but admire her for doing what she is doing and for being where she is now. To box at her age, juggling a family and gruelling training schedules, she is truly a superwoman.
I was watching an interview with Saina Nehwal, the shuttler and P.Gopichand, her coach. She won a Bronze for India in Badminton. Her coach says, neither he nor Saina has watched a movie or gone for a party or let their hair down in any way for the last 6 months. I was truly amazed at their dedication to the sport, giving up all worldly pleasures, working with a single minded dedication. It may be one of the instances when work becomes play becomes work. Everything is the same for these athletes; work, play, life.... Truly remarkable people.
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