I'm don't usually like to watch sports. I watch the Super Bowl mostly for the guacamole, taquitos, and mini quiches. The one real exception to this is the olympics - I absolutely adore the olympics. I always have, even as a little kid I'd watch the track and field events and then during the commercial breaks I'd turn on my NES and play "Nintendo Track and Field", sprinting furiously in place to win the digital race.
I think the reason that I enjoy the Olympics is that they are inherently dramatic. The drama being that there are hundreds of athletes passionately pursuing their objectives (to win the Gold) for themselves and their country. In direct opposition to the strength of their objectives is the passion with which their competitors are pursuing the Gold. If that's not dramatic conflict, I don't know what is.
In addition, most Olympic athletes are amateurs, so these are people competing purely out of love of what they are doing and an incredible desire to be the very best at what they do.
The Olympics are also a nexus of great tragedy and the courage to overcome extreme adversity. This Visa commercial featuring runner Derek Redmond captures the very heart of what I'm talking about
The first time I saw it I wept. Wept. At a damned Visa Commercial.
I feel like most actors could learn a little something about focus, dedication, and courage from Olympic Athletes.
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