Tag Archives: Olympics

Dreamer

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The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing are officially over now and what a spectacle it was. I think all Olympic games have their own special unique voice so no one can ever declare one better than any others, especially the ridiculous statement that some IOC presidents used to make about a particular event being the best one ever. China did a wonderful job as host and even performed amazingly by winning the most gold medals (51 to the USA’s 36). The USA did win the most total medals with 110 to China’s 100.

Still, what will be remembered most will be stories like Michael Phelps and his eight gold medals and Bolt’s three gold medals and world records. All of the other stories too that touched the heart like the weight lifter from Germany who won it all for his late wife. Another incredible story was the Aussie diver Matthew Mitcham whose final perfect dive stole the gold from China who would’ve won all eight diving events. Also memorable were all of the dreams that were shattered such as for the US women’s softball team and their relay teams that dropped the baton. So many highs and so many lows. It was a gut-wrenching, heart-warming and soul-enriching 16 days of glorious humanity on the world’s largest stage.

Here’s the official song for the Olympics by Chris Brown called “DREAMER”. What a beautiful song with a fantastic message and powerful images. This is the version that NBC showed with amazing images from the Beijing games which worked perfectly with the song. This song and its message is edifying and inspirational. It makes me want to attack my dreams with an entirely new spirit and a whole new attitude. Sure, most of us will never get a chance to perform at an Olympics but we each have a race to run and medal to win in this thing called life. Also important to remember is that we need to enjoy the journey and not focus solely on the destination!

This is for you, my fellow dreamer.

Lyrics

Dreamer
by Chris Brown

What Do i Do.. Stop Go Fail Succed? Live or Die? I Just Got To Believe
Believe its worth saving
And to get lost, lost in a day dream
So why hesitate
Take me to another place
So far far away
So i can get out of the dark
High speed, like I’m racing
It’s like lighting, sky is blazing
But you’ve lost your way, You’ve been lead astray
Are there better days for my fallen dreamer
Calling a Dreamer(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x) Calling a Dreamer
(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x)
(You don’t sleep no more) You don’t even sleep no more
(Dream no more) You don’t even dream no more
Dreamer (Dreamer)
Why don’t you just dream again
Believe In You
You Got Something To Prove
You’re A Star
Watch You Shine Bright On Your Way To The Limelight
Finish Line
The Sweat And Tears
You Can Channel All Of Your Fears
Open Your Eyes
Your Eyes And It Will Be Alright
Calling a Dreamer(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x) Calling a Dreamer
(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x)
(You don’t sleep no more) You don’t even sleep no more
(Dream no more) You don’t even dream no more
Dreamer (Dreamer)
Why don’t you just dream again
(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 8x)
Calling a Dreamer(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x) Calling a Dreamer
(A Dreamer A A A Dreamer 2x)
(You don’t sleep no more) You don’t even sleep no more
(Dream no more) You don’t even dream no more
Dreamer (Dreamer)
Why don’t you just dream again

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Cold War Medal Count

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Locator map for the Russia

Image via Wikipedia

 

While looking at the latest medal count for the 2008 Olympics I wondered what the totals would look like if Russia were re-united with all of its little brethren. Would the USA still be winning the total medal count? The answer is a resounding Nyet!

Thanks to my good friend Adam Daniel Mezei who helped with these numbers. I consider him an expert on this subject matter. He reports daily from Prague on Utterz.

Here’s the official medal count.

Here’s the new Gold table

USSR 44 — USA 29
Former Soviet satellites or Soviet republic golds:
(44 golds)
RUS — 16
UKR — 5
ROU — 4
POL — 3 
CZE — 3
SVK — 3
GEO — 3
BLR — 2
KAZ — 1
AZE — 1
UZB — 1
BUL — 1
EST — 1
HUN –
LTU –
KGZ –
TJK –
ARM –
LAT –

Technically, these nations were allied for the most part with the former USSR during the Cold War:
(52 golds + USSR 44 = 96 Communist Gold medals!)
CHN — 46
CUB — 2
PRK — 2
MGL — 1
VIE –
The former Yugoslavia, in fact was decidedly not in the Soviet camp, unlike the rest of Eastern and Central Europe:
(1 gold)
SLO — 1
CRO –
SRB –

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The Miracle on the Mat

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rulon

Rulon Gardner always comes to mind whenever the summer games roll around. He pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history, not just Olympic history. He was the American wrestler that shocked the world when he defeated the Russian wrestler Alexander Karelin who was undefeated in 13 years of international competition. The Russian General was going for an unprecedented 4th straight Olympic gold medal when the farm boy beat him 1-0 and made history.

It became known as the miracle of the mat and the announcers compared it to the shocking miracle on ice from the 1980 Olympic games when the US hockey team also shocked the world by upsetting the powerful Russian team. So many similarities, exactly 20 years apart. I’ll never forget this story. Nor will anyone else ever. Here’s video footage of the match.

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Michael Johnson

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The amazing accomplishment achieved by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympic games reminds me of another incredible Olympian named Michael who was the story of the 1996 summer games in Atlanta. I’m talking about Michael Johnson and his golden shoes. While he didn’t win 8 gold medals he did have the same pressure that Phelps had as he was attempting to be the first man to ever win both the 200m and 400m races in the same Olympics.

I guess I have extra special fondness about Michael Johnson and what he achieved in the Atlanta games because I was fortunate enough to attend his 200m race. I watched in awe as he shattered the world record in 19.32! My seat was right near the finish line so I had a fantastic view of the event and even videotaped it. Here’s what happened that night. I will never forget it, nor will anyone else that witnessed it.

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The Power of the Dream

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The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta had two of the best Olympic theme songs ever! There was “REACH” by Gloria Estefan and “The Power of the Dream” by Celine Dion. Here’s the chilling live performance from the closing ceremonies. You have no choice but to be moved by this beautiful and unforgettable song.

Note: See if you can spot some high profile people in the audience.

The Power of the Dream

Deep within each heart
There lies a magic spark
That lights the fire of our imagination
And since the dawn of man
The strenght of just “I can”
Has brought together people of all nations
There’s nothing ordinary
In the living of each day
There’s a special part
Every one of us will play
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
As the world gives us its best
To stand apart from all the rest
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation
Every boy and girl
As they come into this world
They bring the gift of hope and inspiration
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
There’s so much strength in all of us
Every woman child and man
It’s the moment that you think you can’t
You’ll discover that you can
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
The power of the dream
The faith in things unseen
The courage to embrace your fear
No matter where you are
To reach for your own star
To realize the power of the dream

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Reach

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Since we’re experiencing the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, thoughts of my favorite Olympic themes come to mind. Right at the top of the list comes “REACH” by Gloria Estefan performed during the closing ceremonies of the 1996 games right here in my backyard in Atlanta, GA! The song still gives me chills and inspires me tremendously.

Here’s the video of the live performance. Pay close attention to the amazing choir behind her and the incredible drums as they build to a powerful conclusion. Majestic and inspirational, everything that an Olympic theme song should be about. Reaching…ever higher. Awesome.


 

Here’s the official music video

 

REACH
by Gloria Estefan

Some dreams live on in time forever
Those dreams, you want with all
Your heart
And I’ll do whatever it takes
Follow through with the promise I made
Put it all on the line
What I hoped for at last would be mine
If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment
In my life
I’m gonna be stronger
Know that I’ve tried my
Very best
I’d put my spirit to the test
If I could reach
Some days are meant to be
Remembered
Those days we rise above
The stars
So I’ll go the distance
This time
Seeing more the higher
I climb
That the more I believe
All the more that this
Dream will be mine
If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch
The sky
From that one moment
In my life
I’m gonna be stronger
Know that I’ve tried my
Very best
I’d put my spirit to the test
If I could reach
If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment
In my life
I’m gonna be stronger
I’m gonna be so much stronger
Yes I am
I put my spirit to the test
If I could reach, higher
If I could, if I could,
If I could reach
Reach, I’d reach, I’d reach
I’d reach, I’d reach so
Much higher
Be stronger

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Derek Redmond: Olympic Champion of the Heart

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I will never forget Derek Redmond and what he did in the 1992 Olympics. No, he did not win the Gold medal, nor any medal for that matter. He shouldn’t even have finished the race because of a blown hamstring, but his heart and determination prevented him from giving up and thus a legend was born. He limped across the finish line with his father by his side. It’s still an emotional experience whenever I watch the footage of that race. How can you not be moved by those images? It’s been over 15 years and I still think of his courage and heart from time to time. He might not have the hardware like so many other champions, but he’s won a spot in the history of sports and humanity. He will never be forgotten. What a true inspiration!

Video Recap of the Race

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zi0_LjHHN4]

Here’s a two part reflection by Derek…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpcxrhZd3Vk]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjWVEO9Jtc&feature=related]
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