Why we watch Olympics

When the Olympics began on August 8th, 2008, millions of people around the world tune into their TV to see the grand opening ceremony hosted in Beijing's Bird's Nest. As the games began, people kept their unwavering eyes and opened mouth at the athletes, praying for a gold. After Michael Phelps won his eighth medal, a record of 66 million people around the world had tuned in to watch him. This made me wonder what attracts people to the Olympics? Is it cheering for their country or their favorite athlete? Is it because people want to see what makes Olympics so popular? Or are they just watching because everyone else is watching? Whatever the reason is, I believe there's a fundamental feeling of pride within every human being watching their own race being fast, being strong, and most of all, being the best. It is awesome to watch actual people do things people never thought possible, pushing the human body to the limit. What makes this even more entertaining is that the best all around the world come together to compete. As everyone cheered for their country, they are also amazed at the almost limitless ability of humans.

I was fascinated by the Olympics. Goosebumps chilled my arms as I watched the stadium cheer for the winners. At the end of the games, when the announcer of NBC concluded the Olympics with a great speech, I was moved. If people could come together peacefully for 2 weeks, why can't they do so for two months, two years? How about two hundred years? I wholeheartedly agreed with the announcer.

Finally, NBC concluded the Beijing Olympics 2008 with some footage of triumphant as well as defeated athletes. I cried as I watch them smile at the camera, raising their golden prizes high above their heads. How it must have felt to be labeled the best in the world, the feeling of ovewhelming joy that years of hardwork, sweat, and perseverance had paid off. As the 2008 Olympics ended, I wiped away my tears and smiled. This year was a great game.