Over the weekend we had the gymnastics trials at the Wachovia Center in Philly, and the diving finals in Indianapolis.  While I didn't watch either one with tremendous interest, it certainly whetting my appetite for the upcoming Olympics.  But reading today's article on ESPN.com got me thinking about the one element of the Olympic Games that the Chinese cannot control - the weather.

In Asian countries, especially countries like Japan and China, the "loss of face" is an extremely critical element to their psyche.  In a way, they are like gang members writ extremely large.  Gangs are more than capable of killing rivals for "dissing" them - disrespecting them.  This is the same thing in Asian countries - showing them disrespect is akin to slapping them in the face, spitting in their face, then spitting the faces of their kids, grandchildren, and on the graves of their distant relatives.  In other words, it's a pretty nasty offense. 

What China faces is an incredibly complex problem regarding it's air pollution problems.  The IOC has gone on record saying that it may have to move traditionally outdoor action inside due to the air pollution problems.  Now China has spent untold billions of dollars to create a "green" Olympic experience, and their entire fortune may be doomed because of air pollution.  To the Chinese, this would represent an incredible loss of face.  However, it's their own doing.  They are the ones that allowed their air quality to suffer to badly.  But it will be the voices of the athletes that really doom them.  Already some American athletes have begun to publicly wonder about the air, and not whether it will affect them, but how badly it will effect them.  There's some thought that perhaps some outdoor athletes will be unable to compete due to the air quality problems.  When that hits the airwaves, you can bet the Chinese will go totally nuts - they cannot tolerate having others tell them how badly they're doing (that loss of face thing again) and for athletes to bash the city and country because they cannot breathe will infuriate them.  But it's going to happen.  Two months out from the Games and one of the hottest topics is the air, and not the training and preparation for the Games themselves.  That tells you how much of an issue this will be.  And for two plus weeks, I guarantee you all that we'll hear about the air every bit as much as we'll hear about the athletic splendor of the event.

Back home, in more pleasant activities, the US Olympic teams are rounding into shape, and will soon begin to focus their training on their Olympic game routines.  For gymnasts and divers, they'll get their rotations set and their events planned.  They'll practice them over and over until they have to leave.  I would think that the most painful cut of all are the ones happening now all over the world.  That you're not quite good enough to represent your country at the Games.  Of course, losing a medal at the Games would be crushing, but at the same time you could stand up and say that you were there.  You competed against the best in the world in your discipline.  So you'd always have that.  A medal at the Games would be the icing.  But to lose out now?  Ouch.  How painful.  To know that you were that close, only to fall short - or to see someone else take it from you? 

On 8/8/08, the Games begin.  I will be watching.  I enjoy the Olympics.