The Olympic Age Debacle

4:23 P.M. UPDATE: I swear to you, I wrote the below post hours ago this morning before coming across this article. Love it! (Perhaps they read my post and were inspired? haha)

When I saw this comic in today's paper, I couldn't help but chuckle... then cut it out, scan it, and post it here to share! From opening night, I have been one of the many glued to the Olympics, and thank heaven for TiVo because I couldn't do it without the miracle of fast-forward.

In spite of the glorious opening ceremonies, the Phelps/US Swimming triumph, the "lightning" Bolt on the track, ALL the new world records that have been set, etc., there is no question that these games have been plagued with issues, whether politically-motivated, money-motivated, emotion-motivated, and who-knows-what-else-motivated. Central to that is this glossed-over issue of AGE of the olympians, particularly in women's gymnastics.

Last night, Amanda and I watched the showdown between Nastia Liukin and He Kexin--the now infamous tie that came down to a computer-decided tiebreaker awarding the Gold to Kexin and the Silver to Liukin. The commentators lost themselves in their critique of how Liukin's performance was more flawless and should have won the higher honor.

My argument was different. "Look at that Chinese girl... how old is she? Seven, maybe?" What an immense blow it would be if the IOC decided to listen to proof that has been publicized already about the age of some of these olympians. Sure, China wants more than anything to produce a memorable olympic games and to come out on top as part of it. But MAN, if the IOC investigated and reversed medals awarded to illigitimate participants, they'd really make a memorable mark of the variety they certainly did not set out to make.

Come on guys and girls, let's play fairly. What has happened to honesty in this world?