Posts Tagged ‘olympics’
Yes, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) took on the knitting Olympics (aka Ravelympics) over on Ravelry, the two million member plus on-line haven of stitchers of all kinds. In their original letter, this was the statement that earned the ire of people wielding stitching tools (some of which are really really pointy things!):
“We believe using the name ‘Ravelympics’ for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games,” the USOC wrote in the letter. “It is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work.”
OK, USOC, who do you think took these athletes to all their practices and training? Parents.
Who has sat through competition after competition, watching their young athletes prepare for their eventual inclusion in the Olympic games? Parents.
Who has sat in vehicles year-round waiting for their young athletes to be done with practice? Parents.
Knitting parents are known to prepare portable project bags to have on hand just for the occasions mentioned above. I’ve seen lengthy on-line discussions about this. What projects are best? Should they be easy or complex? What needs to be included in a travel knitting bag?
The bottom line, USOC, is that the Olympics are not only about the athletes. These athletes have gotten where they are through parents and their sacrifices over the years.
Parents have knit at little league games. Parents have crocheted during middle school basketball games. Parents have been there for their kids. Many many times with a craft in hand.
I have no idea what percentage of Ravelry members are parents. I have no idea how many parents of athletes are crafty people. But I’m guessing the USOC doesn’t know either.
For an event that didn’t even include the actual word “Olympics,” the USOC seems to have stepped into a big pile of doo doo. Makes me kind of happy that I am not knitting my way through Olympic trials.
Another rip-roaring read from James Patterson and Friends! Private Games is as mesmerizing and pulsating as all the rest!
Private, the elite security company, is providing services for the 2012 Olympics being held in London. The city of London is primed to show itself off in the best possible light as they host athletes from all around the globe.
But someone has a grudge against the Olympics and has chosen 2012 as the year to exact revenge. First killed is Peter Knight’s soon-to-be stepfather, who is decapitated in his garden. A missive from the murderer soon follows, accusing Sir Denton Marshall of crimes against the games. Knight, part of Private’s London team, vows to discover who has sent his mother into another spiral of grief at the loss of her love. Dealing with nearly-three year old twins and trouble keeping nannies, Knight does his best to save the Olympics.
As each murder takes place and is explained, the unknown Cronus terrifies the world. No one knows where he will strike next. Knight, the Private London team, and other law enforcement personnel fight to stay ahead of him. Soon it is revealed that he is being aided by a trio of Bosnian war criminals known as The Furies, adding to the twists and turns.
As always, this was a quick read with tons of page-turning action. I loved the backdrop of the Olympics and Cronus is a worthy opponent. I had fun guessing the bad guy.
