Olympics 2024: Inspiration in Paris

This year the summer Olympics are in Paris. I was watching some of the Gymnastics and Track and Field trials and had some thoughts I wanted to document!

• Pressure: there is an immense amount of pressure on the athletes to perform well. They are representing an entire country that they don't want to let down, let alone their friends and family or themselves. Many also have sponsors, like Speedo, so they need to make sure they are well spoken in case of interviews and not lose any deals. But what about pressure on judges scoring in gymnastic (for example) or people measuring distance for long jumps, etc. How does on decide they're going to be an official in life let alone the Olympics? Also the people who interview the athletes or commentators- how does one get into that line of work let alone be a reporter for the Olympics? I'm also nosy about the pay. Say someone works at NBC and they're sent to interview athletes; do they get an additional stipend for traveling abroad? If the people chosen don't have careers already and have something to go back too when it's over, what do they do for a career?

• Choosing event: some sports are an obvious choice if one played a sport in high school, like basketball, or had a hobby, like horse back riding. But some of the sports are not as known about, like archery, or newly added to the Olympics, like skateboarding. How does one decide they like a sport or activity enough that they want to train for the Olympics? Even in track and field where there are events other than running, such as the long/high jumps or javelin, how does one decide that's what they're good at? In running, how does one choose to  the distance to train for? Same with swimming (including type of stroke). I was never an athlete (one year of JV tennis doesn't really count), but I don't know I'd have the drive that I see on the screen.

• Speaking of drive: no matter what sport the athletes chose, or which one(s) you choose to watch, you can apply their determination in your day to day life. These athletes choose to spend hours in the gym and/or pool, ring, track, etc. They choose to have a healthy overall diet and work on their mindset. If only we spent 25% of their effort on our own goals, we would all be more physically fit. Even if we have goals outside of weight loss or physical accomplishments, we can make healthier and happier choices throughout our day to be happier in life.

Let me know which events you're looking forward to the most!

Favorite Event at the Olympics

• 0%Track and Field: running
• 0%Track and Field: javelin or other events
• 0%Gymnastics
• 0%Swimming/Diving

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