I'm just jumping into this thread and I have not read all the previous posts.  Just want to make a general observation.  I'm not trying to start anything or kick anyone's cat but the Olympics just don't seem to be what they were a few decades ago.  They just don't seem quite as special or big.  Almost to the point of being just another international competition.  Didn't they change the format a number of years ago where, instead of both games being held the same year and then no Olympics for another four years, we now have a games every two years, summer then two years later winter, etc?  I think they did that and with the games happening more often it just seems less of an important thing.  Then again, maybe I am just an old fucker.