Olympics and Cancer

Ah, the Olympics Opening Ceremony is only a few hours away, and I can't wait. Apparently, rumor has it that the ceremony will feature, among other things, 70 goats, a forty-foot tall Lord Voldemorte, and Queen Elizabeth. Which sounds like the beginning of a sick joke. I can't wait to see if it's all actually true.

But, more important than all of that is that cancer is well-represented. Some of the cancer-related stories this year (I expect Bob Costas will give us more detail in his usual metaphors-as-thick-as-clotted-cream manner):

• U.S. swimmer Eric Shanteau will compete in the 100 meter breaststroke. This is his second Olympics; a few days before the 2008 trials, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He held off treatment for two months, competing in the trials and the Olympics, and then had surgery six days after he got back from China. Skip all of the Lochte vs. Phelps stuff and cheer for the cancer survivor instead.
• Petr Koukal, who is on the Czech badminton team, is also a testicular cancer survivor. He'll carry the flag for the Czech team during the opening ceremony. Watch for him and cheer. (Likely your only chance, since badminton is probably going to be shown at 3:00am.)
• Scottish runner Lynsey Sharp does not have cancer, but she worked last week to try to raise 10 million pounds sterling for a cancer charity. Cheer for her when she runs in the 800 meters.
• And cheer on the U.S. men's volleyball team for helping make a wish come true. They took off from Disneyland with a 15 year old boy named Tim Vorenkamp, who was competing in the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championship division two years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer.  Tim gets to hang with the team in London, thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation. (And he's one of a bunch of kids going to the Olympics because of Make a A Wish.)

Some great stories, especially those that involve athletes who don't give up on their dreams. Truly inspiring.

Anjoy Paul McCartney singing to all those goats tonight.