Originally Posted by Scotty83:
I was sitting here reading about the Winter Olympics and the warning they are giving not to wear USA clothing. I was thinking about how much work my son has put into baseball. About how much work I put into my sport of football way way back in the day. How much time and money my parents spent on my dream. How much I have spent on my sons dream. I can't imagine how much time, money, and work the athletes and parents of athletes have spent I pursuit of a chance at a medal. To spend 4 years for one moment. Then have a situation where they have to decide if they want to risk the danger of going to it. When I was an athlete no doubt I would go. As a parent I have pause. What a horrible situation to be in.
I think if one of my children were participating in these games I would have to go. Was wondering if anyone else had thought about it and what they feel they would do.
Can you imagine how the summer 1980 participants and families felt, after all the practice, competition, and expense, to only have the USA boycott the Olympics? whew
If I had a child that made it that far, I think I would do everything I could to go watch my child compete in the Olympics. However, so many of these families don't/can't even watch their child compete in the USA. Some of these athletes live many miles away from home with a host family or coach. Can you imagine finding out just in the last week or so that your child made the Olympic Team and then trying to secure (and pay for) airfare, hotels, and tickets to the events ... in Russia? Having a comfy warm seat in front on your own TV with family and friends is a nice alternative.
But I am not sure how a parent going to the Olympics may help protect a child in some way. They are living together and eating together in "dorms", form my understanding.
