Let the games begin. XXXIII Summer Olympics – John Cardullo

by John Cardullo, sportswriter

“Que les jeux commencent” – Let the games begin! Buckle up, the Olympics are ready to take us on a two week journey – enjoy the ride!!!

The games of the XXXIII Summer Olympics have begun in Paris, France. As 207 nations are set to compete for the next two weeks, including the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, the ratings for these games promise to be through the roof. Team USA headed out to the City of Lights with one goal on their minds, and that is to show the world that America once again is – and remains – a force to be reckoned with.

The pageantry of these games will be over the top as Paris will serve as the backdrop for these games. Right from the get-go this edition of the summer games will be one like we have never seen before. Instead of the “March of Nations” that traditionally has been a part of all past Olympic games, this one will have a twist. The nations will enter the Olympic stadium as they have done before, in groups, wearing special outfits that were made to reflect each country’s style. They will circle the stadium before taking their seats however, their journey to the venue will come by barges as each nation will come up the river Seine on a total 94 boats carrying over 7,000 athletes and support staff. Few details of this historic event have been made public, but it promises to quite the spectacle.

(As we go to publication: Massive targeted attack on train lines in France overnight, designed to interrupt Paris transportation. France calls this “coordinated sabotage”. 300,000 in attendance at games, opening ceremony set for today. Trains throughout Europe beginning to be impacted.)

As the Eiffel Tower looks down on all the events, it will be difficult for Paris not to become the start of these games. This will be the sixth time France has hosted the Olympics, for Paris this will be the third time hosting the games. They greeted the world in 1900 and 1924, and the country hosted three Winter Olympics. If it seems that the time between the summer games is going by faster, no, time is not flying by, but it is because the 2020 games were delayed by one year because of the worldwide pandemic and the games were pushed to the summer of 2021. For some athletes who would have retired, this 3-year span between allowed some to seek and make it to one more Olympic games.

The United States will be represented by 600 athletes who will all be competing for that once in a lifetime prize, an Olympic medal! Ask any athlete they will tell you that whatever the color the medal is, Gold, Silver or Bronze, the achievement of winning a Olympic medal is the top of the mountain, regardless of the color. Getting on the podium is the goal, but having your national anthem playing means after all the hard work, the sweat, blood and tears and years that were invested, was worth that reward.

The names of the US athletes will be familiar to most sports fans. Swimming sensations Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Lilly King and Caeleb Dressel will head the swim team, while gymnastic superstar Simone Biles who struggled in the last Olympics with have an opportunity to chase away the ghosts of the past and reestablish herself as the best in the world. Accompanying Biles will be Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera. Men’s basketball has always dominated the Olympics since professionals were allowed to play and the USA sent Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkley to name a few, went on to win a gold medal. Named as the  “Dream team” they are still considered as the greatest men’s Olympic basketball team ever assembled, even to this day. That’s a big claim considering that LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum are those heading up this year’s team. Let’s not forget the women’s basketball team, that will be led by WNBA legend, Diana Taurasi. Both teams look to be in good shape to take home some hardware,

Track will feature Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson running for Olympic medals, Shot putter‘s Ryan Crouser and pole vault star, Katie Moon, look to be repeat medalists. As will Valarie Allman as she will look for her second straight gold medal in the discuss. Tennis sensation Coco Gauff will compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles on the clay court. Surfer Carissa Moore, Street Skateboarder Jagger Eaton all hope to become household names as the games progress. Breaking or (AKA Break Dancing), Surfing, Sport Climbing are the new sports added in these Olympics. Leaving Women’s softball, men’s baseball and Karate out of these games this time around. Each host of the Olympic games are allowed to choose what sports will participate and the ones that will be removed. Citing a conflict with the Major League Baseball schedule, baseball was eliminated.

The sports that made the cut are: Aquatics: Swimming, Marathon Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, 3 x 3 basketball, Boxing, Breaking, Canoe Sprint, Canoe Slalom, Cycling BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing, Road Cycling, Track Cycling, Equestrian Eventing, Equestrian Dressage, Equestrian Jumping, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics- Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Handball, Field Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentahlon, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sports Climbing, Surfing, Soccer, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling Greco-Roman & Freestyle. There will be sports that will appeal to virtually every sport fan’s taste. Put that together with the usual production of the host city these next two weeks promises to be entertaining and interesting.

These games come with the promise that the world can set aside their difference to meet on the field of competition, where the best athlete or team will win, and the losing athlete or team knows that they gave it their best shot! For a short time, conflicts among countries take a back seat and politics are off the radar screen. We all hope for this.

Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will stand up at the podium and declare the games of the XXXIII Olympic games open! “Where the youth of the world will meet and compete!” If the result has the athletes returning home with goodwill and hope in their hearts, well the world will be a much better place. In the meantime, GO USA!

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John Cardullo, sportswriter. John is a lifelong Rhode Islander. His sports experience is extensive, as a player, coach and sponsor of youth and high school sports. He has been the Public Address Announcer for the CCRI Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams. Both the Cranston East and Cranston West football, Cranston East Boys and Girls basketball for 12 years before moving onto the Central, Juanita Sanchez and Mt. Pleasant football teams. Also, Central HS Boys and Girls Basketball, Scituate High School Boys and Girls Basketball, Johnston High School Girls Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and CLCF football.

John has been involved in Men’s softball for 61 years, starting as a batboy for his father’s team in 1964. He moved to the teams scorekeeper then became a player in 1975, and created the men’s team, Players Corner Pub, that went on to win 20 State Championships in their 35 year history. In the 1990’s he published the statewide softball magazine “The Fielders Choice” which was dedicated to all topics related to adult softball. As a feature writer, John and the publication won several media awards. In 2019 he was elected and inducted into the Rhode Island Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame which he also helped create. John is a softball umpire in Warwick, Rhode Island.

In his spare time John golfs with his life long friends on a weekly basis in season. After retiring from the printing Industry after a 45-year career, he now writes specialty sports columns for RINewsToday.com.