[kryslm]

Is anyone else watching the 2004 Olympic Games with a different perspective? Since we are now mid-way through the process of adopting two sons from Russia, we've paid much closer attention to the athletic achievements of the Russian Olympic team. I find myself cheering for Russian athletes as much as I do for those from the USA.

Certainly, it is something both countries (and cultures) have had in common for a very long time: world-class excellence in athletics.

Mike

[grannymac]

I have to admit-I don't root for the Russians. Maybe it's my age, but I love to see the USA "kick butt"!!

[dvona]

My husband was watching with my daughter and he was chanting USA...USA. I came into the room and asked if any Russians were in the event. Turned out there weren't, but if there were I'd want him to chant for both. I have to say I really admired the proud Russian people and their determined spirit, when I traveled to adopt. It definitely gave me a whole new perspective.

Donna

[Dobby]

What I've noticed about myself is that I'm more interested in the backgrounds of the Russian athletes than I have been in the past. I like to hear about their past lives, how they've trained and been brought up in the system.

[Javalita]

The other day on my drive home from work I was listening to the radio. I heard them mention Russia and I was taken aback. I realized that now I was going to have a forever connection with the country. I remember back to when I watched the olympics when I was younger and Russia seemed so different, and so far away. Who knew that here I would be today, preparing to go there!

[EJsDad]

This is funny because just tonight, my son and I were watching Olympic fencing and the US team was beaten by the Russian team for the bronze metal. I groaned "Awww, the Russians won" and my son goes "We like the Russians, I was born there!" in a perky tone! I told him that he was lucky that he was Russian and American and he agreed.

[skiboo]

In our household I root for Canada and dh roots for the USA ... during the last winter Olympics we had a big party for the final hockey game between the US and Canada and I was the only one cheering for Canada so it made it all the sweeter when they won!!!

Here is a cute story though... I have a 12 year old nephew in Canada who loves hockey and plays it all year round in different leagues. He has been waiting anxiously for out little guy to come home so that he can teach him everything he knows about hockey. Shortly after Alex came home we got a phone call from him one evening and this is what he said:

"I have a question that I can't figure out the answer to... when Alex makes the Olympic hockey team, which country will he play for? The USA, Russia or Canada?"

Note how the question was "when" and not "if"... he is just assuming that we have an olympic athlete for a son!

I told him that Alex would probably play for the USA *if* he decides to play hockey and *if* he makes the team... he just responded by saying "Oh, I was hoping we could play together on the Canadian team"... he didn't figure out that he himself would be well in to his 30's by the time that Alex would be old enough to play on the team!

[jimpol]

I totally agree with kryslm. I am watching the Olympics so differently this year. Maybe it has to do with the Russian connection because I feel like I should root for them now too. I also think that I have a renewed since of patriotism after the whole adoption process. Visiting other countries always makes me cherish where I come from even more. I really feel for the Russians and all that they have been through to be where they are today.

[stern]

We do cheer for the USA, Russia & Germany (that's were I am from) and it makes the games so much more fun. We love having a connection to all three countries, plus it gives us so many more chances on winning

[marmarcam]

I also look at the games totally differently. My 7 yr old loves to cheer for the Russian team.

Also has anyone seen the movie "Miracle"? I had wanted to see in the the theater but was didn't because I didn't want my son to see the"Russia vs USA" thing. We rented a few weeks ago; my DH and I watched it without our son. It is a wonderful movie. Throughout the movie they refer to the Soviets or Communists. Later we allowed our son to watch it and he loved it! He never realized that they were from Russia. Course he is 7 and doesn't always pay attention to every detail. It also showed that the Russians were just a hard working hockey team.

[Agapi]

We are Greek-American and are very proud of being both. We have been cheering for the USA and Greece depending on the events. Overall, I would say we cheer more for the USA!!!

As far as Russia is concerned, this year we have been doing some cheering for them as well.

Let me add that I absolutly love that the athletes are presented with olive wreaths. The olive wreath is just as much an honor as the medal itself IMHO and would love to see this ancient tradition observed in other host countries in the future.

[HelenAnita]

This is too funny. During the Opening Ceremony we were, of course, looking forward to watching the USA Team walk in (in fact, I like the Greek alphabet because it meant that the USA wouldn't be towards the end as usual). I also mentioned to my husband that I felt geared to watch the Russian Team enter also.
He agreed. It is part of our lives now and we will always have a fantastic connectiion with Russia.

[marjo]

Wow, is the gymnast Alexei Nemov a gorgeous man. I am ready to go to Russia if the men look like him.

[Kate'sMom2B]

I find myself just as happy for the Russian medalists as those from the USA! I really like the winter olympics because figure skating is my favorite...lots of talented Russian skaters too.

My daughter from Russia is 5 and is very athletic. Her preschool teacher swears she will be an Olympian someday. And my brother calls her his "Russian gymnast niece" because he gets a kick out of the fact that she can do 20 push-ups, perfect form without breaking a sweat (he's into bodybuilding himself, so he's quite proud). LOL.

Dian, Mom of 2 bios, 2 Russian-born, and our new baby girl from Guatemala