You all know Ben and I have been eagerly waiting for the start of the Winter Olympics. We have been reading and watching and learning and getting more and more excited.
We’ve made an Olympic flag from a hand towel, an Olympic torch from construction paper and tissue paper, and a medal board from poster board.
We couldn’t wait until the Opening Ceremonies. And then, the terrible news came. A luge athlete from the Republic of Georgia was dead, and in case you dont’ believe us, here’s the video to prove it. Nodar Kumaritashvili died doing what he loved, what he had dedicated his life to. We would have enjoyed watching him race, under any other circumstance. But not this run.
Ben freaked out. I cried. And now, I’m angry. Why did we have to see it? Why did millions of people all over the world have to see it? Why did young children have to see it? Why did his family have to see it on international television? Was it not enough to hear about it?
To the credit of the organizers of the Opening Ceremonies, I did appreciate the moment of silence, the flags at half staff, the words of comfort. But seeing the eyes of the athletes from the Republic of Georgia was heartbreaking enough, I really didn’t need to see the video of this man’s accident, especially knowing the outcome.
For us, the Olympic joy will return. We’ve been too excited for weeks now for it not to. But for today, the image is stuck in our heads. We’ve talked about it. We’ve prayed for Nodar’s family, his teammates, his country, the other lugers. But I’m pretty sure we won’t be watching any of the luge events this year. It will just be too scary for my sensitive little boy. And far too sad for me.
God bless you, Nodar. We hope you are full of joy today.
