Just days after the last flash of fireworks and opulent display of the Beijing Olympics, a more grim scene awaited a spectator in China’s now famous Olympic Bird’s Nest Stadium. On Tuesday, a woman at the paralympics (an event for athletes with physical, mental, and censorial disabilities) discovered a newborn baby girl in a toilet. She is perfectly healthy.

Due to the high profile of the child’s case, she is being cared for at a NICU in Beijing, and may have a decent future. It still breaks my heart but it’s not really her story that does it.

Though the government has not confirmed the statistics, many agencies estimate that over a million babies are abandoned in China every year. Put another way, about 114 perfectly healthy newborns are left to die every hour. Almost all of them are girls. Some of them -like the baby in the stadium – are found before they die, but they are hardly rescued.

The lucky ones end up in a private orphanage where foreigners vie to bring them home. Less fortunate ones are kept in hospitals for the mentally ill, or in state-run orphanages. It’s impossible to say what the care is like in average institutions, but journalists who have visited selected orphanages report children being systematically neglected, the sick being left to starve to death. Not because the workers don’t care, but because they can’t take care of all of them. There are also many tiny, covert rescue homes that are unsanctioned.

The Communist government enforces a one-child per family rule (with a few exceptions). There are, of course, many sides to every story, but the simple explanation here is that if a woman managed to avoid a forced abortion of an unauthorized baby, she will sometimes resort to abandoning the child. And since the culture prefers the birth of boys, first-born girls are sometimes exposed, as well. Infertile Chinese couples can adopt, but it is very difficult for families with a child to get authorization to bring home an orphan. So the majority of these ‘rescued’ babies languish and die in government sponsored institutions. In theory, foreigners can adopt a Chinese baby, but few have the money or patience to do so.

I just don’t understand. A friend of mine recently adopted from China. It took two years and more than $20,000 to bring home one of millions of little girls that the Chinese government doesn’t want to feed, much less educate.

So what can be done? I have no idea. If you are the praying type, say a prayer for the mothers, orphans and government of China. Hug your babies. And for all of our nations failings, remember there are many good things about America; be thankful you live here today.

I watched the Olympics the other night, and twice, I saw parents hugging each other in joy, with tears running down their face, and I thought I saw relief mixed in with them as well. Finally, all the hard work has paid off. When Shawn Johnson, gymnastics gold medalist, saw her scores, her parents were one of the ones who hugged while crying. The commentator mentioned that her parents had at one point mortgaged their house twice to “keep her [Shawn Johnson] in the gym”.

Raising an Olympian comes with very high costs, not just in actual monetary terms spent on trainers, coaches, equipment. There’s also the time spent on the road, on auditions, competitions, often at the expense of spending that time on the job, or with other children.

The monetary cost can climb in upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially for athletes who wish to compete in the most prestigious arena. It means a full day of practice perhaps six days a week, with an in-demand trainer, in an in-demand training facility. When I searched for Olympic training facilities like World Olympics Gymnastics Academy, which has produces national champions, no fees are advertised online. Some classes are invitation only, even for kid classes like tumble classes. I don’t think you can pay just $55/month as you notice your child’s talent emerging and being honed as they grow.

The cost of getting to the Beijing Olympics alone is estimated to be around $15,000 to $20,000 for three weeks. Let’s say a world championship, or a national championship is a fraction of that, and let’s say a gifted child athlete goes to about two major competitions a year. There’s $10,000, plus hotel accommodations, food, gas or flight costs, and all the other little expenses along the way that adds up.

Some athletes are lucky enough to enjoy corporate sponsorship, which wasn’t made legal by the way until 1978. Many more are footing the bill themselves, and asking family and friends to pitch in.

How many more talented kids out there had to abandon their dream of going to the Olympics because a practical parent just wasn’t willing to shoulder all that expense, or sacrifice family time, and, some would think, sacrifice their hopeful young athlete’s childhood? Most parents in Beijing now, it seems, were willing to do anything at the expense of getting in debt, hoping that it will pay off: in the form of that Olympic medal.

What about you: What sacrifices are you prepared to make if you find your child with a gift in arts, music, athletics?

Since the stories about the historical nature of Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals had been beaten to death by the mainstream media before the end of the Beijing Olympics, a new Phelps-centric story was needed to capitalize on his fame. Unfortunately, most of the swimming events were completed, leaving the media no more opportunities to reference Phelps save for some far-fetched comparisons to Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter with multiple medals and world records.

Enter Fred Phelps, estranged father of Michael Phelps.

According to reports, Fred and Debbie (Michael’s mother) divorced in 1992, and since then the relationship between father and son has been, at best, difficult. Prior to the Athens Olympics in 2004, Michael was asked about his father and replied that the two hadn’t spoken since he was in high school, and that Fred didn’t call when he broke the world record in 2001. They reconciled shortly thereafter, and Fred came to the 2004 Games, but the relationship soured again.

Now, Fred is fielding calls from media outlets, and from what I can tell, he has no interest in capitalizing on his newfound celebrity. He is often referred to as “tight lipped”, and the few quotes he offers are deferential to his son.

“This is not about me, it’s about him.“

I cannot imagine what has happened between these two men to prevent them from having even the most minor of relationships. I have no idea what the circumstances are, so I have no interest in laying blame at either man’s feet. However, what I do know is that as a father myself, I love my kids, and no matter what may happen in the future, I will continue to love them and do what’s right for them. (As an aside: no, my wife and I are not having any marital problems, but I cannot help but put myself in another father’s shoes when I read about their relationships with their kids.) I just don’t understand how they allowed it to get to this point, and why it cannot be repaired.

Source: Phelps, dad not on speaking terms via Fox Sports.

When Dara Torres (US), and Constantina Tomescu (Romania) won medals last week in swimming and marathon, respectively, nobody batted an eyelid. Why should they? Many other women like them -Paula Radcliffe (UK, long distance runner) and Lindsay Davenport (US, tennis player), to name a few – have achieved athletic feats not unheard of in this day and age.

What all these women have in common is that they are older than your average competitive sportsperson but are still competing at the Beijing Olympics. At 38, Constantina is the oldest marathon winner in Olympic history while 41-year old Dara is the oldest ever member of the US Olympic swimming team. Paula and Lindsay are both over 30.

And – they are all moms. While many of us juggle between job and kids, these women have to juggle between demanding physical training and kids. That’s the way to go nowadays. No problem.

But let’s go back 60 years and 15 Olympic Games ago in London in 1948 – to the woman who paved the way – Francina Blankers-Koen. This Dutch athlete, better known as “Fanny” had a lot stacked against her. She had to live through the second World War, a time when food was scarce, therefore extra hard for athletes in training. She was a woman at a time when sporting bodies were exclusively male who simply tolerated female athletes. She was 30 years old, a very ripe age in field and track athletics. And – she had two young children during an era when a mother’s place should be at her children’s side and nowhere else. Something that helped through was her determination to succeed and the support of her husband-coach.

War, food shortage, pregnancies, 2 small children – these were not the best ingredients for an athlete’s training. Remember, this was a time when athletes were not allowed to do endorsements or accept any kind of commercial support. While Fanny trained on the track, her kids played in the high-jump area – a perfect sandpit! – according to the Independent. For her unconventional parenting style, Fanny got lots of hate mail – plus the fact that she wore short trousers while training.

Fanny went on to win 4 gold medals in the 1948 London Olympics. She could have won more if not for the Olympic rule at that time than women were limited to competing in 3 individual events only. Public opinion was divided – admiration for her feats and condemnation for shirking on her motherly duties – her youngest was 2 years old during the London games. To show this rather grudging appreciation of her achievements, she was dubbed by the international media as “The Flying Housewife“, “flying” for her athletic prowess and “housewife” to put her in her place.

What even made her story remarkable is the birth of her 3^rd child in 1949 just a few months after she came home victorious from London. She was actually in the very stages of pregnancy during the competition, according to the Independent . Whether she knew about her condition was not clear. At any rate, had her condition been known by the sports authorities, she wouldn’t have been allowed to compete.

Fanny went on to compete in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. In her time, she set 16 world records in 8 different disciplines. The crowning glory to her amazing athletic career was being voted as the “Female Athlete of the 20th Century” by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1999.

Seeing as though the Summer Olympics comes around every four years, I believe it is important to watch them actively each time. Admittedly, I haven’t watched as much as I have in the past, but this is due to the fact that I have a child now and don’t want to sit glued to the television all day long, which is topic for another post in itself!

This is my daughter’s first exposure to the Olympics and I am very excited to share the experience with her. I remember being so excited to watch the Olympics as a child. I always felt so inspired by the commitment of the athletes. The Olympians truly are role models to children and adults alike. We can learn so much from their dedication, commitment, focus, strength and personal goals.

I am enjoying watching my daughter during her exposure to the Olympics. Her little mind is learning so many new concepts like the different countries and flags, exposure to sports and competition and winning medals.

What I am finding most interesting is how she is soaking in all of the information. This afternoon, we were outside playing and she wanted to enter a “skipping competition”. I was to be the judge and hand out the “prizes” when SHE won–every.single.time! Then she did mention the word participation, but she still expected a prize. Clearly, we still have a far way to go when explaining games, sports, sportsmanship and playing for more reasons than to win! Time and more exposure will certainly help her in this area of understanding.

It is fun watching the Olympics with a three year old, but it can be frustrating at times as well.

My daughter hasn’t grasped the concept that when other people are in the room, she should be careful where she stands to see the television. She usually chooses her spot right in front of the television every time she stops to take a look. Her constant questions also make it is difficult to enjoy or focus on the events as an adult. I have learned that my personal enjoyment from the Olympics comes at night after she goes to bed and any daytime viewing that we may do together is purely for her, her enjoyment and her “education”. Since the Olympics started, I don’t think there has been a night where I have made it to bed at my usual bedtime.

Please don’t get me wrong, I do love watching the Olympics with my daughter. I am very happy that she is interested in watching them me.

Are your children interested in watching the Olympics?

As the 2008 Beijing Olympics continue, some faces are becoming so familiar to the average viewer they know them without an identifying caption: Michael Phelps, Dara Torres, Kobe Bryant, Katie Hoff, LeBron James, Debbie Phelps.

Oh wait, you think to yourself, Michael Phelps has a sister in the Olympics?

No, Debbie Phelps is Michael’s mother, and every time he is in a final, or a semifinal, or a qualifying match, or on a podium, the television cameras inevitably find her, and when they do, the commentator is always there with something along the lines of, “Imagine how proud she is right now. Think of all the sacrifices she made taking him to the pool when he was younger.”

But parents are not only watching from the stands. Some of them are watching from the sidelines, standing alongside their children as they compete, coaching them. There are three such pairs on the US gymnastics team: Nastia Liukin and her father Valeri, Chellsie Memmel with father Andy, and Sasha Arteme coached by his father Vladimir.

Sometimes, the partnership isn’t by design. Liukin only took over after another coach gave his daughter a black eye, and Memmel sought her father’s guidance and expertise after a disappointing season. But whatever the origins, all three Olympians say it benefits them not only as athletes, but as individuals. Because their coaches are also their parents, they can offer more emotional support than a typical unrelated coach, and it also brings parent and child closer together.

Source: Fatherly advice goes a long way via USA Today.

The opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics dazzled the globe. And what a moment when that little Chinese girl serenaded the flag. ?In terms of voice, Yang Peiyi is perfect,? gushed musical director, Chen Qigang.

But she wasn?t so perfect in other ways. Her chubby face and buck teeth kept her from the spotlight. Seven-year old Yang Peiyi wasn?t allowed on stage after the chief Communist Party politburo decided she wasn?t cute enough. ?The reason why little Yang was not chosen to appear was because we wanted to project the right image, we were thinking about what was best for the nation,? said Chen.

So 9-year old Lin Miaoke got the chance to capture the affection of millions as she appeared to perform the patriotic song. Of course she didn?t sing a word; she was only moving her lips to Yang?s recorded voice.

It?s all about the image. ?The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression,? said director Chen in defense of the decision. If he sounds like a communist hack?you?re only partly right. Chen is a French citizen.

So this was all for the best when it comes to the motherland. But what about what?s best for the 7-year old? She was, supposedly, proud of her contribution to the Olympics. (But what else could she say?) Her talent was enough to impress the world, but what she learned is that her government isn?t proud of her talent, at least not enough to put her on display for the world. She learned that someone else more beautiful will come along and get credit for her ability.

I can see why they wanted to put Lin on stage. She?s a doll. And of course, most of the time these days, performers are expected to be attractive. That?s just the way it is. At least in Hollywood. And while I have plenty to say about the politics here, let?s get back to our kids.

You see, I think we do the same thing in America every day on the playground. The cutest babies get the most smiles and tickles. They get the most attention in school.

How many of us adults grew up insecure about something in our appearance? Probably most of us. We were certain that this particular feature was going to keep us from getting the boyfriend we wanted?or even keep us from happiness.

And on the other hand, plenty of pretty girls start examining themselves in middle school, wondering why things aren?t going as well as they used to. They see their image in the mirror?the one that used to be good enough?and can?t figure out why it?s not enough anymore.

No, it?s not just China that coddles the beautiful. We need to start showering all of our children with affection because they are beautiful people created with love. They have value because they exist.

Former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and her husband are expecting their third child. The 1994 silver medalist and her husband Jerry Solomon, President and CEO of StarGames, a sports marketing and entertainment company, say they are thrilled with the addition to their family. The couple has two sons Matthew, 11 and Brian, 2.

Kerrigan, 38, and Solomon, 53, say while Kerrigan is feeling great, they have kept this pregnancy a secret longer than usual due to the difficutly Kerrigan had with her second pregnancy, suffering six miscarriages over eight years while trying to conceive.

The two say everyone is excited with the news, except their 2-year old son Brian who still isn?t sure how he feels about having another sibling and changes his mind from day to day about the idea of a new baby in the house.

The couple hasn?t decided if they want to know the sex of the baby and have not announced a due date.