"Games": Spirit of Friendly Competition and Co-opt-eration - a bit worry-some.

Historical, Spectacular Backdrops: It's always been that way, at these so-called "Games" -- incredible panoramic views that offer those (the few allowed these days) some breath-taking scenery. Breath-taking to the degree(s) that mask wearing is not only required in and around Bejing, but also suggested in order to provide a buffer of warm air before reaching the spectator and contestants lungs...in earlier Pre-COVID, even Pre-Cold War Days, some wore masks around these parts due to poor air quality, which hasn't apparently improved a whole lot, despite our "Climate Change" rep jet-setting to China in an attempt to get them to comply with some of the least measures, in the "spirit of cooperation". Spectacular views of nature (if you can call 1.8 billion gallons of water converted to make snow "natural" in order to make the "Games" spectator worthy).  Which hasn't been all that friendly yet for the contestants, based on accounts from those who have been bold enough to speak out after being cautioned to leave their phones at home or otherwise on silent, given the suspicion of "Big Brother" listening in. History, Nature, Athleticism all depicted on camera and in 'side bar' stories, "outtakes" regarding athletes, their challenges, their quests for golds...as well as the challenges of various countries sending their athletes there. And, of course, stories in and around the host country. Having grown up during the days of the "Cold War" it was sometimes with blurred vision that we tried to discern what the main event was, politics or athletic competition. When it came to judged events like gymnastics during the warmer Games and figure skating in the Winter, we could look forward to as much drama unfolding in the judges' box as on the skating rink or on the uneven bars ("uneven" being a common outcome from the judges from the "Bloc" countries). 

In and Out of the Cold: "Come in from the cold" was a term our parents often used in literally calling us in, to "warm up", sometimes enticing us with a mug of "hot chocolate!" If that weren't quite sufficient to get us in, whether to do our homework, get ready for dinner, or simply because we were caught doing the "shivers" (when younger the "pee-pee" dance), our moms might have had to add "OK, I'll even top it off with marshmallows". In later teen years and young adulthood, having lost a bit of innocence, having tuned in to the news, once again of the "Cold War" and mutual acts of spy craft, "Come in from the cold" came to mean either: a) becoming part of normal society after one has been outside of it; or b) a former spy who has been brought back in, "in from the cold". Or combos of both. Let alone those who have been kept outside of normal society but kept 'within', such as some groups being talked about, sometimes in a whisper due to internal censorship, here at the "Games XXIV", which opened with visuals suggesting friendship, competition, and a degree or co-operation which collectively, may have made you warm all over. Quickly to be replaced, camouflaged, even eclipsed by pics of the Chinese and Russian heads of state -- the latter ostensibly there as a spectator, to watch many athletes who had been sanctioned due to the revelations of Russia's cheating, who now have to compete under a 'false flag' -- a term that has become associated with action far afield from these Games, as far away as Ukraine. This photo op, followed closely by an article outlining the chummy "pact" these two have forged, ostensibly posturing themselves in a "defensive" position vis a vis NATO and others who might be tempted to gain an advantage. The details of which, up close can give one quite a chill, as the ambient temperature keeps rising, as long as these two remain as friendly as they appear, posed. And which seems to have many journalists and other reps heading to the exits, a bit prematurely (?) Hopefully, I myself can return my attention and the focus of the next post to the real Games, the ones these two friendly competitors have temporarily co-photo-opted.

Here's to friends and the "Spirit of Competition", if not co-operation.