If you had rigorously trained for perhaps 15 out of the 20 years of your life, wouldn't you too seize the opportunity and go, even if it meant travelling to the Chinese-hosted Olympics? Perhaps I am without conscience but I believe I would go, no matter where the Olympics were held.
David, if I had devoted my life to a sport and made the U.S. Olympic team, you bet I'd go... so perhaps I also am without a conscience.
Yes, I'm going to be watching the coverage. I won't be glued to my television set, but I will be watching select events. I'm especially looking forward to women's gymnastics -- my favorite summer Olympic event. I can't wait to see how Nastia Liukin does, but it'll be great seeing gymnasts from other countries compete as well.
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0EiHz8LzY0[/youtube]
One has to wonder what the international Olympic committee was thinking (or not thinking, perhaps) when they selected China. Couldn't they anticipate the controversy that would arise?
That said, I have to put China's human-rights issues aside here and support the athletes (from every country, not just the ones from the USA) who have devoted their time and energy to training for this year's summer Olympics. For many of them, this will be their only chance to compete in their sport; many won't be able to wait until 2012.
Oh, and I have no interest in each country's medal tally. May the best athletes in each event prevail, not necessarily the Americans.