The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad are right around the corner. With each passing day we get closer and closer. The games are being hosted in Paris, France. Today There is about 100 days until the Olympics start depending on where you are in the world. The Olympic torch was lit today. The ceremony took place in Rome. It is tradition dating back to the first Olympic games that the Olympic torch is lit in Rome and travels from Rome to the host nation. For me this is always an exciting time. This is when the build up for the Olympics really starts to build up.
From what I can tell, the Olympic torch relay will only visit two countries this year. The Torch relay will take place in Greece and France. The relay will visit French territories from around the world. So technically it will go around the world. The relay should visit more countries as it has done in the past. It helps show unity for the games. Unfortunately we will not get that this year. The 2024 Summer Olympics torch relay will go until the opening ceremonies on the 26th of July, 2024.
Paris is a city of art. From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre and countless other art museums. The city is full of art and artists. The Olympic torch reflects this in it’s design. The design is minimal. The torch is symmetric. The torch is steel. It is like an abstract piece of art. A sculpture. Design is often perceived as art with a purpose. Often times it is not seen as art at all. In the case of this torch it is an abstract sculpture that carries the flame that represents peace, unity, and hope for humanity. It is a brilliantly beautiful representation of Paris and France.
At the beginning of this year there was the question of if France would be ready to host the games? That question still lingers as there have been several protests into this year that have brought the country to a stand still. There is also a bed bug epidemic going on in France and Paris. There are also Venues that are still not ready. In particular the Seine river is set to host marathon swimming but has not been safe to swim in about one hundred years. While efforts have been made to clean up the river ahead of the Olympics, those efforts have not lead to the results needed for the river to be swimmable. At this moment I have a careful optimism about the games.
Zac Electrifly 
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