In the opening pages of this month's Esquire, there's a collection of Olympic memorabilia stretching back to Berlin, a carefully horded assortment of oddities belonging to Sir Paul Smith, better known for his fashion empire, perhaps, but now revealed as something of an Olympic anorak. '84 LA Converse trainers, hideously kitsch Barcelona and Atlanta branded Ray-bans, silk handkerchiefs from the Melbourne Games in '56: it's one man's devoted tribute to the greatest sporting celebration of them all, and one which now sits just a fortnight away.

The same magnetism that inspires Sir Paul to squirrel away his trove of Olympic miscellany (there's a Smurf wielding an Olympic flame in his collection), will have us glued to the deeper reaches of SuperSport for most of next month, eagerly watching Uganda and Peru do battle in the badminton, or Chinese players under assorted flags chasing gold in the table tennis. Events and athletes you'd never dream of watching outside of the Games suddenly become compulsive viewing, unlikely heroes and established stars combining for a stellar explosion of sport.

The big names get close attention, certainly, a Phelps or a Bolt commanding extensive press as the high-profile events beckon. The other end of the scale, now comprehensively defined by Eric the Eel, also gets due coverage: watching Malawi lose 30-nil to Brazil at football doesn't have much point, perhaps, but there's something endearing about watching a swimmer or a runner determined to finish an event minutes after the rest of the field has finished.

Top of the list, though, is national self-interest, and the race for medals. Every Olympic contingent sets out with vastly inflated expectations, newspapers dancing with visions of planeloads of gold returning home. Inevitably the medal haul is modest; but one spectacular triumph is all that's needed. The 4x100 freestyle provided that moment of triumph in Atlanta, the defining performance in South Africa's Olympic history, and Elana Meyer, Penny Heyns and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi have all created the spark in previous Games. 2008? Ryk, Roland and Gerhard Zandberg probably top the list; more detailed optimism, though, closer to the time.

What's preoccupying my own Olympic space at the moment is the novelty factor of this particular Games, and the labyrinthine politics involved. While China does its best to sanitise Beijing, a city usually resident under a cloud of smog (hundreds of thousands of cars are being ordered off the roads, factories are being shut down, and aesthetic environmental projects are going full steam, apparently), the corporate world dices with not being involved, and offending China, or being involved, and offending all manner of external interests. Pollution, human rights, democratic principle: China's track record is a colourful one, which places the Olympic showpiece all the more fascinating as an advert for how modern China sees itself — or would like the world to see it.

The Times yesterday reported that hotels that had expected to burst at the seams (and had hiked prices accordingly) aren't seeing the crush of tourists, largely because getting a visa for the games is deliberately tough; Independent chief sportswriter Kevin McCallum's supposed to be going to Beijing, but is still waiting to hear if he'll be allowed in. (Personally I wouldn't let him anywhere near Beijing, but that's me.) All of which gives rise to a creeping suspicion that the freeflowing celebration of sport that is the Olympics will be very carefully stage managed in 2008, China desperate to ensure that a perfect, Truman Show Olympics takes place.

That only piques my interest further, and in a fortnight's time, I'll settle in for Olympic hibernation. South African medals, a lack thereof for Australia (wishful thinking), and some heated competition between Poland and Bolivia in the women's judo, will do me nicely; and plenty of merchandise, carefully crafted by six-year-old fingers in a darkened Chinese factory, ready to join Sir Paul's collection. The Olympic spirit's infectious, and this year's Games burst with promise and intrigue at every level. Bring on Beijing.

  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za
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