Olympic Hopefuls

I have a special fondness for the hoopla and spectacle that is the Olympic Games (despite the oppressive corporate sponsorship). It's really exciting to start seeing the Olympics news posts appear in my feed reader.

I'll obviously never get to the Olympics as an athlete, but it would be really amazing to attend in some other official capacity. I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not pursuing a job working on the NBC Olympics site. It would have been incredible to have such an interesting, all consuming Olympics experience. Perhaps I will have to go for it in 2008.

At least I can coddle my obsession during the games of the current Olympiad by joining the amusing Knitting Olympics cooked up by the Yarn Harlot.

Eligibility: Any knitter who, embracing the "Citius, Alitius Fortius" ideal, would like to challenge themselves while embracing the Olympic spirit, and is just whacked enough to play along with me.

Concept: You must cast on a project during the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics (Feb 10)- and finish before the Olympic flame goes out (Feb 26). That's 16 days.
...While this is intended to be somewhat difficult (like the Olympics) it is not intended to ruin your life. Don't set yourself up for failure. (Olympic athletes may cry, but they do not whine pitifully, sob and threaten members of their family with pointed sticks because they haven't slept in five days. ) This is intended to (like the Olympics) require some measure of sacrifice, and be difficult, but it should be possible to attain.

I'm not sure though that I have the fortitude to start and finish a new challenging project in that time period without whining pitifully. I mean, who wants to be known as the Paula Radcliffe of the knit blog world? I also already have way too many projects in progress. Perhaps keeping me in stitches' UFOlympics is more up my alley.

knitting olympics

Comments

[carrie]

wow, word of the knitting olympics is really spreading fast! your post totally cracked me up. i'm so obsessed with my current projects that i'm not sure i can think that far ahead.

[melissa]

i've been thinking about joining the knitting olympics too. more knitting gets done when there is a deadline - but then again, it's not always more fun that way! and to think, every knitter is just starting to forget the effects of last minute christmas knitting! let the knitting begin!

[lucia]

I like your idea of UFO Olympics. I propose these rules:

Cast on a project Feb. 10. Then cast on a new project every day until the Olympic torch goes out!

[Amy]

I wish I could claim the idea for the UFOlympics, but it's by keeping me in stitches. Your variation is even more fun!

[molly]

I am an Olympic hopeful, too! I always like the idea of being an interpreter for the Olympics. But I get the impression that people who are involved are all pretty hardcore athletes... so I guess I'll just stick with the knitting. I have no idea how to find out about the Olympics in Japan, but I have a feeling there won't be much to see over here, especially with the time difference. Got my fingers crossed though--can't wait to see what all the Olympic knitters make.