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Shirley Mitchell
NO - The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, is shining brighter than any other time in History! The innovative design of the Bird's Nest in Beijing lit up the whole world on 08/08/08, the Chinese luckiest day in 100 years, with glorious light displays, fireworks, and the march into the stadium of the most famous athletes in the world. On this auspicious day, the opening of the 29th Olympic games proved to be a huge success. China used to be behind the bamboo curtain. On this day they threw open the drapes. The joyful 2008 Olympic slogan, "One world, one dream," calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit and build a better future for humanity. More than 4 billion people viewed the games on high definition television giving the Chinese Government a chance to highlight China's emergence onto the world stage. The star of the magnificent, high tech, blue water cube is America's Michael Phelps, full of vim, vigor and vitality. After winning 8 Gold medals, he gave his philosophy, "I don't believe in limits and the more you dream the farther you get!"  The Olympic spirit lives on to remove limits and encourage dreaming big. As an advocate of living your life without allowing age to limit aging people, I focus on the American Olympic swimmer, Dara Torres, a 41-year-old mother of a two year old daughter. After winning 3 silver medals, the oldest Olympic Women Swimmer in history, Dara told the media, "So many middle-aged women look up to me.  I want them to feel proud, like they can do what they set out to do." Dara's plans are to go home and be a Gold Medal Mom to her daughter. I personally have watched many hours of the Olympic Games!  They are like fireworks in my mind. They inspire me to new heights of excellence. YES - THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES HAVE BECOME A BRIGHTER STAR IN THE UNIVERSE! 

About Shirley Mitchell
After 7 decades on this earth, Shirley has more energy than people half her age! She's the author of Fabulous after 50, Sensational after 60, and a number of other highly motivating reads. She's the host of radio's Aging Outside the Box. She is an internet tour de force, with a number of web sites of her own. She is a passionate member of Growing Bolder where her user name is Fabulous (be sure to send her a note!). Shirly is proof of the philosophy she spreads, that age is just a number, not a limit. 

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Ciji Ware
Between the stories of pollution in China, the crackdown on Tibet, and the drugging ouster of athletes, I'm curmudgeonly not interested much in spending hours in front of television watching the Olympics. In years past, I was a fanatic about track and swimming (was a junior diving type in high school). Maybe if I watch a few things, I'll get Olympic Fever, but for the moment, my brow is cool and I'm too busy.

About Ciji Ware

She's been a well-known tv/radio reporter and commentator in Los Angeles for more than twenty five years. She was the first female graduate of Harvard University to serve as president of the university's worldwide Alumni Association. Her numerous awards include an Emmy and a Dupont for her television work, a Silver Gavel for magazine journalism, and a Best Fictionalized Biography Award from Romantic Times magazine. She's written five historical novels in addition to her nonfiction works, Sharing Parenthood After Divorce and Rightsizing Your Life.

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Pat Paciello
For me, the Olympics have lost their luster. In the past, the "Miracle on Ice" - The USA defeating the Soviet Union, the overwhelming favorite in ice hockey, and then winning the gold medal ranks as one of my greatest sports moments. People like Billy Mills, Rafer Johnson, and Al Oerter were athletes of epic proportions. Today, I don't follow the Olympics with the same passion that I did in the past. I asked myself why not and came up with the following reasons: # 6. As we get older, we always think the old days were better than the present. Remember twenty years from today, these will be the good old days. #5 Globalization of sports and television - Most major sports have a host of international stars on their rosters. Network and sport cable stations allow you to watch global sporting events of all types of athletic endeavors. This makes the Olympics less unique than in the past. #4 Steroid and doping allegations clouds the legitimacy of today's athletes. #3 Growing up in the 60's, the Russians were our main rivals in politics as well as sport. Winning more gold medals at the Olympics was important to Americans. #2 Playing professional athletes in the Olympics is a turn off for me. I would rather lose with amateurs, than win with professionals. I don't care what the philosophy is of other countries. I think it violates the Olympic sprit. #1 I admit I never understood the Biathlon. Who skies down a mountain, whips out a riffle and starts shooting? But as the years go by, the sports that are added to the Olympics defy logic. Badminton - This is a game to be played at picnics, preferably after you have had several cold beers. Beach Volleyball - If you are at the beach, it's hot - the sand is hot, get a beer and go for a swim! But my favorite is Synchronized Swimming - Did an Olympic official watch a late-night Esther Williams movie, have an epiphany and say we have to make this into a competitive Olympic event?

About Pat Paciello

He is fifty-eight years old, has three grown children, and has been happily married for the past thirty-four years. (He says the first year wasn't so hot!) He has been retired from the workforce for eight years. During that time span Pat has been particularly adept at enjoying leisure pursuits, and earning the highest recommendation from his peers for his "I do nothing, but I do it well attitude." His book, Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses? offers a unique and fresh approach to the subject of Baby Boomer retirement. First, it's written by a Baby Boomer who is actually retired. Second, the book is long on humor and personal anecdotes, and short on statistical analysis.

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Christine Schwab
I don't think the Olympic Games could ever lose their luster. The dedication of the athletes and their pride makes that impossible to me. I have many memories of watching the games and certain events that stand out. I will watch parts of them now. I feel they will always be important, showing what the human spirit and body can accomplish and how we are all the same as people. I find the announcements of winners on all media takes away from the games for me. If you know who won it's not as exciting to watch. Because of the time difference and the speed of communication, we know too much too soon. I love the up close and personals, you feel like you get to know these athletes and you go for the ride right along with them.

About Christine Schwab

Turning forty, fifty, or sixty is not about getting older, it's about becoming ageless. Renowned style expert and television fashion reporter Christine Schwab sees aging as an opportunity to revitalize your style and enliven your attitude. In her frank, opinionated, and provocative style, she wrote "The Grownup Girl's Guide to Style", a book that defies many of the fashion and beauty industry philosophies. In this honest and empowering book, she offers the first open-minded approach to style, beauty, health, and well-being that will help every forty-plus woman achieve a classic look while maintaining her edge and personality.

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