2024 Paris Olympics Update
Please note: for a wide variety of reasons, we have decided not to cover the
Paris 2024 Olympics and ParaOlympics, beyond what we have already covered.

Background: As a child, I remember vividly watching the Olympics and counting how many medals the United States won and comparing it to how many medals the Soviet Union won. I think that everyone did this. The Olympics was very competitive. My first clear remembrance of the Olympics was the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble France and in Mexico City. Both had very special moments.

Munich Olympics, 1972: In 1972, my father brought me to the Munich Olympics and we had tickets to various running events. Unfortunately, the terrorist event resulted in the death of 10 Israeli athletes in helicopters that were blown up and by the time we arrived at the Olympic village, the security was so high, that we never actually were able to get into the stadiums to watch the event. Never the less, the people behind the Munich Olympics developed a system of 26 picturegram images that were designed to be understood by any person, speaking any language. For example, an picturegram image of a man or a woman to represent a restroom or an image of a telephone to represent a telephone booth. Today, virtually every website uses picturegrams that allow the website visitor to click on to contact the site, purchase or do a variety of other functions. --- Frank X. Didik, April 10, 2024

April 18, 2024 The Paris Olympics will start in 100 days.

April 17, 2024 For the past four days, the American Olympic Committee has held a summit to introduce to the media and public, some of the athletes that will represent the United States in the Paris Olympics and ParaOlympics. What struck this writer is how well spoken and diverse the American athletes are. Many have illustrious careers besides athletics. Below are a few of the athletes.

Ryan Crouser, 6 foot 7 inches, at 330lbs is the winner of multiple gold medals, including at the Olympic's for shot put. Mr. Crouser also holds the world record for shot put through at 77 feet. A shot put weighs 16 pounds.
Olympic champion Ryan Crouser pointed out that in the shot put competition, that even number eight should be looked at as being the eighth best shot put champion in the world, rather than the loser of one particular competition. Mr. Crouser who studied engineering and political science also pointed out that contrary to the views of many spectators, not all athletes are able to make money from sport endorsements.

Twenty year old Lydia Jacoby, Olympic gold medal winner for swimming at the Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) Olympics.

Olivia Chambers, swimming champion in the ParaOlympics