Olympic Rings And Other Things blog

09/19/2021

Split Decision on Ken Burns' Film "Muhammad Ali"

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali got started not long before the 1960 Rome Olympics, later becoming The Greatest loved by billions. Check out this fresh review of the new Ken Burns documentary set to debut tonight via PBS. The film is packed with lessons and facts yet left one viewer hungry for more. https://bit.ly/MuhammadAliPBS

When PBS premiered the three-part documentary " Hemingway " from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick in April, the network also teased " Muhammad Ali ...

09/09/2021

How everything changed for the 2002 Olympics when the towers fell

Some Salt Lake 2002 history in relation to the 9/11 anniversary -- great reporting by Utah-based Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2021/9/7/22639595/were-going-to-be-ok-how-the-role-of-olympic-athletes-changed-after-9-11

Utah’s 2002 Winter Games had been expected to showcase how far the Olympic movement had come following the worldwide scandal surrounding Salt Lake City’s successful bid, but the first major international event held after 9/11 became the "Security Games," and a place to remember the victims of th...

08/08/2021

French Olympians just off the plane!

08/08/2021

Getting My Games On In Paris (And You Can, Too)

https://bit.ly/Paris2024Handover

With just one more day of Olympic competition at Tokyo 2020 , some already are looking ahead to Paris 2024 . Here in the French capital -- ...

07/26/2021

Citius Altius Fortius ... Simultaneous

Did you catch the LGBQT tribute, Susan Boyle's contributions, 1964 Olympic trees and a possible reference to Blake Edwards during the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony? https://bit.ly/3x1Rkwx

The Olympic Motto Citius Altius Fortius always had a nice ring to it. I like Friday night's addition: Simultaneous . Faster Higher Stronger...

07/16/2021

Out, Not Down, About Dashed Tokyo Olympiad

Will this Olympics blogger make it to Tokyo 2020? The answer is yet another cliffhanger. https://bit.ly/outnowdownRETokyo2020

July 25 turned out better than anticipated, but not as hoped. Woke up to find one client in the news in Atlanta, and another on live TV i...

06/27/2021

Olympic Media Score With Tokyo BINGO!

Tokyo 2020 is less than a month away, and the Olympics media cycle is in full-swing. Check out the new Games Media Coverage BINGO card to play along on the lead-up to the Opening Ceremonies. https://bit.ly/OlympicMediaBingo

For athletes, officials and journalists who are Tokyo-bound next month, June included a whirlwind of pre-Olympic prep from final qualificati...

04/06/2021

Happy Anniversary: Modern Olympics Celebrate 125 Years Since Athens Opening of April 6, 1896

April 6 marks 125 years since Athens 1896. How are you celebrating? https://bit.ly/3cOXQzY

Anyone who loves the Olympics has cause for celebration. Today -- April 6, 2021 -- marks the 125th anniversary of the first Modern Olympiad....

03/20/2021

We'll Always Have Paris

No overseas fans for Tokyo 2020? No problem. Optimism reigns in spite of disappointing news for fans. One longtime Games writer's initial reaction to today's news from the Olympic organizers. http://bit.ly/30YNCWP

Like other five-ringed sports fans in the USA, today I woke up to the International Olympic Committee's news making it official: Tokyo 2020...

12/02/2020

Olympic Rings and Other Things

Rest in Peace, Rafer Johnson. One of the nicest Olympic champions interviewed for this blog. http://olympicringsandotherthings.blogspot.com/search?q=Rafer+Johnson

05/28/2020

Ever needed a list of Olympians who appeared in feature films? Or competed while pregnant? These and countless more five-ringed stats are available and free in the new online Olympedia, a feat of Olympic research launched this week with more details at this link: https://bit.ly/3dcU5C7

12/13/2019

Diamond Cuts: The latest from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Digital Museum

Check out the new digital museum.

12/12/2019

Thanks to AroundTheRings for the guest column opportunity to write more about The Suspect and Richard Jewell.

Two new books and the film they inspired turn the spotlight on Atlanta 96 ... Nicholas Wolaver exclusive review.
http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__78644/Title__Film-Books-Put-Atlanta-Olympic-Events-in-Spotlight/292/Articles

11/25/2019

Forgoing Myths of Earlier Films, Clint Eastwood Directs [Mostly] True Story of ’96 Olympic Hero

Hot off the press and fresh from AFI FEST presented by Audi, here's Atlanta's first review of the new film Richard Jewell coming soon from Warner Bros. Entertainment. http://bit.ly/2Dakznz

When the film “ Richard Jewell ” opens at theatres next month, audiences may enter the experience informed by the Warner Bros. tag line: ...

11/08/2019

Upended Lives at Olympics Provide Drama and Richard Jewell Revelations in "The Suspect"

In advance of the Nov. 12 release date, check out this fresh review of "The Suspect" by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen. It's page-turning look at actions of Richard Jewell, AJC and FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation around the Olympic bombing in Centennial Olympic Park via ABRAMS Books. http://bit.ly/33td2f1

10/22/2019

With Simplicity & Class, New Paris 2024 Logo Fuses Flame, Style, Gold Medals and French Symbolism

Paris 2024 nailed it with their new logo design blending an Olympic flame, gold medal, Art Deco and the face of Lady Liberty. Check out a video and other details explaining the emblem via this fresh link: http://bit.ly/2VYYxN8

An email from the Paris 2024 media relations team arrived today like a batch of fresh cookies. It seems the organizing committee baked u...

10/07/2019

Richard Jewell Trailer From Eastwood Looks Good

In case you missed it, check out the Warner Bros. Pictures trailer for #RichardJewel with scenes filmed in Centennial Olympic Park. Interesting the composer selected for the intense score. What stood out for you in the trailer (please comment below or on the blog). http://bit.ly/2OntTey

The trailer to the upcoming film "Richard Jewell" hit the Internet last week, and in just a few days the two-minute clip from Warner Bros...

08/19/2019

Clint Eastwood Crew Films Family Jewell In Atlanta

There's a new Olympic film shooting in Atlanta with some Fans of Clint Eastwood smiling about his directing for a film about #RichardJewell's heroism at Centennial Olympic Park (site of closed movie set earlier this month). Check out photos and details via this link -- http://bit.ly/2YUbjRA

Olympic park/Eastwood mash up image via JoBlo.com For film buffs and Atlanta residents, summer headlines about Warner Br...

07/19/2019

Team USA

Was it really 23 years ago tonight?

On this date in 1996, THE greatest (Muhammad Ali) provided us with one of the greatest all-time Olympic moments.

06/21/2019

USOC Ups Its Game With New Name USOPC

Team USA announced its own game changer, er, name change on Thursday. Get the scoop on this great news for Paralympic Games and Olympic athletes worldwide via this link -- http://bit.ly/2Y03BRD

The United States Olympic Committee is no more. And Team USA's longtime acronym USOC is now former. On Thursday the Colorado Springs no...

04/11/2019

A Denizen In Moscow

Wondering what remains of Moscow's 1980 Olympiad. Check out some of the sites still around nearly 40 years later via this link: http://bit.ly/2IabEXx

01/14/2019

Average Joes Need Reply

The World Olympians Association is looking for regular folks to complete a health survey. Check it out and participate/share where appropriate. http://bit.ly/2Rt3gaD

The World Olympians Association is looking for a few good women and men -- anyone not an Olympian -- to participate in an online health ...

12/12/2018

There's still time! Deadline is Dec. 21.

We are now accepting applications for Games Volunteers! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to be involved in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games!
Application details can be found here: https://tokyo2020.org/en/special/volunteer/method/

10/21/2018

Whitney Houston sang the Seoul Olympic anthem "One Moment In Time" -- check out the new documentary film Whitney The Film for other connections to the Olympic scene (fresh review here: http://bit.ly/2ySEvJ3

09/29/2018

High Museum Fist Bumps with Artist Glenn Kaino and Olympian/Human Rights Icon Tommie Smith

Check out the fresh review of the new Glenn Kaino and Tommie Smith exhibition, the result of a collaboration now on view at High Museum of Art, Atlanta. http://bit.ly/2OrYfgx

08/30/2018

One member of ISOH International Society of Olympic Historians had the stones to visit the global home of curling in Scotland. Check out the guest post by Brian Carberry at this link: http://bit.ly/2NCksEZ

03/02/2018

The Guardian

That one time, in Calgary ...

Did you know ski ballet was a thing?! It featured at Calgary 1988 and Albertville 1992 as a demonstration event before being kicked off the Winter Olympic lineup. Athletes performed to music and were judged on technical and artistic criteria. Happy Monday!

03/01/2018

Beijing 2022

Four years ...

"Winter Dream," the emblem of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, was designed by Chinese artist Lin Cunzhen and unveiled in the "Water Cube“ National Aquatics Center in Beijing on December 15, 2017.

02/18/2018

Olympic Pin Fever Spreads Across PyeongChang

Fun to cross collecting paths with fellow Olympin Collectors Club members across PyeongChang and Gangneung. Here's a look at the Korean pin scene through week one (please share). http://olympicringsandotherthings.blogspot.kr/2018/02/olympic-pin-fever-spreads-across.html

02/16/2018

Swiss Olympian Succeeds In Skiing Gold Three-Peat

Dario Cologna achieves a rare golden Olympic three-peat in cross-country skiing at PyeongChang 2018 평창 동계올림픽대회. Check out details from his post-race press conference, and please share the link! http://bit.ly/2ExBGOU

My longtime friend and fellow International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH) member J. Brian Carberry loves it when there's a five...

02/15/2018

Mikaela Shiffrin Achieves PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Dream Under A Fire Rainbow

Huge afternoon for Mikaela Shiffrin, achieving one of her Olympic dreams for PyeongChang 2018 평창 동계올림픽대회. Check out how she found her pot of gold under a fire and ice rainbow, and learn who will present her Team USA medal (please share this if you enjoy reading it). http://bit.ly/2EIaPmB

On a sunny Thursday afternoon at Yongpyong Alpine Center, one of Mikaela Shiffrin 's 2018 Olympic dreams came true beneath a fire and ice...

02/15/2018

Meeting Mister Tonga

Turns out Mister Tonga was inspired by a 1996 Atlanta Olympian. Check out details from his conversion from Olympic taekwondo to cross country skiing, and get a peek at his special pins for PyeongChang 2018 - 2018 평창 동계올림픽대회 및 동계패럴림픽대회. http://bit.ly/2o6KjJy

On an August day in 1996, a 12 year-old boy in Tonga lined one of the Pacific island's streets to welcome home a national hero. It was j...

02/12/2018

The Scene At Olympic Figure Skating

Two days of PyeongChang 2018 - 2018 평창 동계올림픽대회 및 동계패럴림픽대회 Olympic figure skating was amazing. Notes from the experience, including interviews with Team USA, Team Canada / Équipe Canada, OAR athletes and other Olympic competitors on ice. Bonus convo with Tara Lipinski and The Official Johnny G. Weir about their reporting duties and pins! http://bit.ly/2G6k3WU

02/09/2018

Olympic Rings And Other Things blog's cover photo

02/09/2018

Real-Time Notes from the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Games are officially underway. Check out notes from the PyeongChang Opening Ceremony -- spoiler alert, they light the cauldron! http://bit.ly/2ERnp0H

As evening arrived over South Korea on Friday, Feb. 9, I filed into PyeongChang Olympic Stadium with a small army of fellow reporters and...