"It's All Down Hill from Here..." Powerful Psychology at Play...here...and...there!

Red hatter: Intellectual honesty compels me to acknowledge, point out to you, so you may not be deceived, mistaken, faked out, that it is not actually the man/woman wearing the striped shirt and the whistle that has the power, control of the field of play, at least the flow of the game (e.g., stoppages of play, flagging players, protracted replays), which can in turn have great psychological IMPACT! on the players, as well as the fans home and abroad. But in 'truth and transparency' (key to this post as well as the first few weeks in February, which coincide with the first few weeks of the Chinese "Year of the Tiger" as well as the 2022 Winter Olympics in Bejing), it is the "man with the red hat" who wields even more power. For, if it weren't for the sponsors, who purchase commercial time (from NBC once again), how would the Olympics "be brought to you..."? And, standing on the field, right in front of the masses, whose red hat makes him/her (haven't spotted a woman yet, but I suspect this time around...), a target for ridicule, holding all the power for "another 30 second commercial", holding up play, the focus of attention of all the players on the field, until he signals first "short time" (e.g., "get ready, get into your stance, put your game face on, it's only one more commercial"), then "game on". Finally, gracefully, deftly stepping off the field of play, at least for a few minutes. 

"And let the games commence" Once again, as the flame burns brightly, once again in Bejing, which has the distinction of being the only city to host both the Summer and Winter Games. A distinction that has and will continue to bring both wanted/unwanted attention to their locale, given both their internal state of affairs and the uneasy relationship with many nations now prepping for a return trip. Their officials are posturing as if possessing both a striped shirt and a red hat. Lots of psychology at play here, already having IMPACT! before the official Games have commenced. Which is why I am posting once again on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, while from a distant land and time zone, prior to formally returning to the previous series on communication. So, consider this as my 'man in the red hat post', posting one more commercial before returning you to...

Contestants, Co-opters: Of course, while the last few years have demonstrated that competitions can occur sans fans in the stands, the Games can't occur without contestants. These particular 2022 Winter Games bringing in contestants from all over the world, perhaps at a slightly lower rate than usual, in part due to Mr. Grinch in the form of Omicron, and otherwise due to "hold-outs" who are not attending for conscientious reasons, choosing to sit down in order to stand up for others who aren't in a position to do so, whose rights are being deferred, violated, exploited in the form of "re-education" camps, which exist just outside the watchful eye of the Olympic NBC ("Never Be Confrontational") camera lens but have not escaped the word view, a collision course off the ski slopes that is likely to continue to offer the viewing audience, if they look closely, read between the lines, a 'Games within the Games'. Lots at stake to those involved on all sides, and lots of players, including the usual suspects, the obvious, but also the detractors and, finally, the retractors. Detractors, including a young man freshly released from prison, whose crime was essentially standing up for democracy, against what he continues to believe a tyranny of a looming China government, whose shout-out during protests in Hong Kong became a meme the world over ("Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times"). On the other hand, on the other side of the ring, we have those who, after taking such a stand, such as calling out the host nation for violations of human rights, were 'forced' to retract, even apologize (e.g., "Intel"), as well as those who refuse to take a stand, turn their heads, or pretend as if nothing's happening. Collectively, the latter could easily constitute a Games within a Games within the Games, as in an "Ex" Games:

EXercised, EXorcized: Both of which I found myself in, one a state of being, physically engaged, the other a state of being, mentally outraged, when I listened to the Burton Snowboard CEO being interviewed, pushed a bit, about their willingness to set up manufacturing in a locale where people may be detained against their will and otherwise utilizing 'sweat shop' like conditions..."X"   Games being strongly associated with snowboards and skateboards, "Burton" having established a strong 'foothold' in both...whereas "Ex" strongly associated with another type of action, as in "I divorce myself from politics and what's going on...I don't really know the facts..." And, once again, when challenged about the existence of "re-education" camps and the like that may represent something different to their residents, he responded, "Well, we could just divorce ourselves from the people there and..." CEO here apparently standing for Conveniently EXceptionally Oblivious. 

Hats Off: As in "My hat's off to all of you who have qualified and seek to represent our country". After listening to the foregoing and reading other such articles, if/when I tune in to NBC's coverage, I will likely find myself looking for the "Mad Hatter" -- as surely, I've gone MAD. In the meantime, the dude in the red hat will step off this field and at least temporarily return to you (ir)regular programming and this loyal correspondent will report to you again from what's being referred to as the 2022 Winter Games. Psychological IMPACT!