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Or Heroes or Losers: About Ten Stages of Watching the Olympics

The excitement, the professionalism ("smooth entrance to the pool"), the zigzag between Simon Bailes and the Toto Cup, the tears on the podium, the Israeli medal, the judo madness, the killing and the ridicule ("Why did we send them?").

The Olympics are about to open, we already know how it will end

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• 2021 Olympics

• Tokyo 2020

Paz Hasdai

Saturday, 17 July 2021, 11:00 Updated: 11:01

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"I am not a hundred dollars. I do not need everyone to love me": Ira Vigdorchik ahead of the Tokyo Olympics (Photo: Shlomi Gabay Video editor: Lear Spiegler)

1) Here again comes this strange period, in which we hang all hopes and place all the burden of national honor on the shoulders of anonymous athletes, most of whom we did not hear until two days ago, and we certainly will not care about them two days later. A strange, amusing time, when we are thirsty for information about competitions that on a daily basis do not interest the pinky tip, and suddenly watch them as if our lives depend on it. Industries that some of us despise, ridicule, do not bother to read a single line about, even the sports sections place them at the bottom of the order of importance - and suddenly they are the center of our world, the pride of our lives, headlines, editors. What fun at the Olympics.

2) This time there is no audience. The stands are empty. The competition will start with a slight feeling of sourness. The opening ceremony will be free of energies and waves. Both the athletes and the spectators at home will complain, some will say that "this is not it" and "what is the point" and "it would have been better if blah blah blah blah" - but very quickly we find ourselves sucked into the "other branches". Suddenly a man notices that he already sees an hour and a half in a row of jumps into the water. And not only does he see jumps into the water, but he also becomes an expert on the matter, examines the size of the squirt at the entrance to the pool, and in fact even feels he can be a judge himself. Going to the gym, and here we are gym judges, he did not straighten his legs in the air, he faked on landing, and it's a shame, we're in favor of all of you. Just do not fall.

3) At some point the phase of messaging will begin.

Someone will say he misses Gretel, and then say he was not and will not be like Meir Einstein in athletics, the adults will talk longingly about Dr. Gilad Weingarten and Jackie Vishnia, but overall it will be okay. With the twisted smiles and scary trainers, from there zigzag to the ping pong and badminton tournaments, jump into the fencing hall and weightlifters, and at every moment before our eyes people in their climactic moments, fulfill the dream of their lives.

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To the full article

Very quickly we find ourselves sucked into the "other branches."

Suddenly a man notices that he already sees an hour and a half in a row of jumps into the water.

And not only does he see jumps into the water, but he also becomes an expert in the matter (Photo: GettyImages, Richard Heathcote)

4) Very quickly, judo competitions take over our lives, and with them the Israeli madness. Vasari, an Uzbek opponent, former European champion. The laws, the punishments, the house of consolation, lost the battle for the bronze. Then - a medal! madness. Tears. Bennett calls live. The president is waiting. Broadcast mobile outside the parents' house, thirsty for a word from the mother. The next day the judoka will be crowned a national hero and his face will be on the front page of the newspapers. Press conferences, a state reception in the field, the sports minister and millions of activists celebrate and congratulate and ride on the success and take ownership of it. The result: even joy is always mixed with distress and a feeling of disgust.

5) At this stage, a discussion begins about Israeli provincialism and extreme patriotism, and it is immediately made clear to us that this is how it works all over the world, everyone broadcasts only their athletes, all of them disproportionate, only with us it lacks culture. It is probably a unique Israeli combination of nationalism, a sense of inferiority, thirst for recognition and international pride, which are combined with a belligerent yellow media that enjoys volume and exaggeration. After all these years it already feels like we are programmed for total frenzy in successes and self-flagellation in disappointments.

6) Because the bigger problem is in "failures".

In the depressions of the mind.

The contempt for the losers.

Attitude to those who did not win a medal.

People who until yesterday did not know who they are, and are suddenly disappointed in them, are angry with them.

They are called "losers."

For example a swimmer who set an Olympic criterion, a young guy who has spent his whole life swimming and training and managed to be one of the few dozen who managed to qualify for the Games, then only finishes in 22nd place.

The feeling is that he has embarrassed us, no less.

Or for example a triathlete, that every person who runs, swims or rides sees his results and is amazed, and then in games he finishes only in 45th place.

Say, that's why we sent you?

Not a waste of money?

And so national pride, combined with ignorance and wickedness, becomes a curse.

This is Vasari!

Is it Vasari?

(Photo: AP)

7) The games go on, and there is no day without a heartbreaking human story. An Argentine who recovered from cancer and won a medal against all odds. A Lithuanian wonder girl who amazes the world. A Frenchwoman who is injured in the middle of the competition and completes the lap as she sobs in tears. Everyone is crying, all the time. The winners cry, the losers cry. Whining on the podium, sobbing in the anthems. Hard work of an entire life drains into one moment, how can one not fall apart.

8) A dreamy basketball tournament, what a beauty of teams. Women's volleyball, what a pleasure. Handball, surfing, boating, archery, horses, bicycles, field hockey and kayaking, some quality, some variety. The "Israeli" baseball team brings a medal, and the feeling is confusing, it is not clear how much to rejoice. Coming to Athletics, the Queen of Sports, the high jump competition, and I'm just thinking of Arik Einstein.

9) At the same time, reports from Israeli football continue.

Another absurd contract was signed, another intriguing encounter between an Israeli team and a rival from Montenegro, and the feeling is of a murky liquid in the middle of a pure celebration.

World records are set at the largest sports celebration in the world, and the headlines are a quote from Moshe Hogg.

Won't you give us two weeks of quiet?

Why mix the worlds?

Israeli pride?

Baseball Team (Photo: AP, Matt York)

10) We are nearing the end, exhausted and tired, Linoy Ashram rises, and an entire country prays to seize the hoop.

Ira Vigdorchik speaks, and evokes admiration and horror at the same time.

The gymnastics team is giving its exercise, and everyone is happy for the girls that it's over, they can start living.

At the same time, the constant debate takes place: Are formal swimming and artistic gymnastics a sport?

And yes, this question is often asked by people who are interested in the Toto Cup.

And here it's all over, a graduation ceremony, the torch on its way to Paris, and you're like a man on his deathbed, regretting and regretting everything you missed, and cherishing gratitude.

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