Team USA

I've always loved the Olympics. Aside from the 4th of July, I can't think of anything that inspires my sense of patriotism and awe like the Olympic games. In case you've been living under a rock, the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics is tomorrow! Gotta say that I'm VERY excited about these games. I usually prefer the winter games over summer, but I really love gymnastics and track and field events. This year, we actually know someone who is IN the Olympics! Jenny Barringer Simpson is a local (so y'all cheer extra hard for her!) and she and her husband are involved with our area Young Life organization. She's running the Women's 1500M and could be a medal contender. Knowing someone makes watching that event so much more awesome! Go Jenny!

Last week the girls and I went with some friends to check out the the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. We've lived here for almost nine years yet we'd never been. My friend and I thought that since the games were so close we might have a great chance of seeing some athletes/teams training.

The only team we saw training was the women's wrestling team. I believe the tour guide said that this is the first year that women's wrestling has been an Olympic sport.

I definitely wouldn't add the OTC to my "Top 5 things to do in Colorado Springs" BUT if you have time to check it out, it's interesting, informative, and FREE. I loved the short film at the beginning of the tour and I loved the flags of all the Olympic nations that lined the walkways around the complex. The grounds are beautiful and the facilities are impressive but I guess I really hoped to see more athletes. Maybe they'd already left for London? Who knows.

One interesting thing I learned while there is that they Olympic Training Center has a torch on the top of the building that stays lit while the games are in session. I think it would be cool to see that lit at night! We might have to drive down that way just to check it out over the next few weeks.

This seems to be the summer that I'm crossing things off my "I've never done that" list so I'm glad we checked it out! Now, let the games begin!