59 Days

I was talking to my friend Miriam L. the other day and we were discussing the difference between recreational Olympic fans and die-hard Olympic FANS. I'm sure you can imagine which of those categories I fall into. I think one aspect of the Olympics that the die-hard fans really appreciate is the feel good stories. Sometimes viewers get so wrapped up in the race for the gold medal, they forget about the rest of it. The athletes who have dedicated their lives to a sport which they love and have overcome all odds just to have reached the Olympics. The ones who are living their dream just by being there. One such athlete is figure skater Tugba Karademir of Turkey. Vancouver will be Tugba's second Olympics, as she competed in the 2006 Olympics in Turino four years ago. Tugba started skating at the age of five at Turkey's only skating rink. She quickly began competing internationally and it was clear that she had outgrown what skating in Turkey could offer her. Her parents saw the talent she possessed and gave up everything to move the family to Canada, where she could train in better conditions with top coaches and choreographers. In 2006, Tugba became the first Turkish skater to compete in the Olympics, where she placed 21st. Since then she has improved steadily, and while she doesn't appear to be a medal contender, her passion for skating is undeniable. I was in Lake Placid for Skate America last month and saw her skate her short program to Turkish music (choreographed by World champ Kurt Browning). It is clear that she is in it for the love of her sport, which to me, is the most important part.

I just happened to turn the television on last night to find country music star and actor Tim McGraw being interviewed on the Jay Leno show. I tuned in right on time, to hear Leno ask McGraw which of the winter Olympic sports is his favorite to watch, to which McGraw responded, figure skating. He said that with a houseful of women (McGraw is married to fellow country music singer, Faith Hill and they have three daughters) his family very much enjoys watching ladies and mens figure skating events. Here's the clip.

59 countries participated in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the most up to that point. Unfortunately, due to World War II, London was not prepared to host the Olympics and many athletes were not properly trained. Thus, even with the record number of countries involved, it was not considered a particularly successful Olympics.

According to an ESPN poll, only 59% of American viewers rooted for the U.S. Olympic basketball team, known famously as the "Dream Team" at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. The Dream Team was comprised of professional NBA stars who easily beat every team they played by an average of 32 points per game.