Hi guys,
I respect what you do. It has to be hard to coordinate all of those athletes and do all of that technical stuff you guys do. And I think you do a good job. I know you’re often mired in controversy, but during the Olympics, I try to keep a closed eye to all of that. I like thinking the Olympics are all about overcoming adversity and the indomitable human spirit. I eat up all of those soft focused stories you produce about the athletes with the corny music in the background. I’m a cornball, and this all feeds right into that.
So I defend you, and I defend what you do. Well… I did. Until you crossed the line.
My guess is that before this whole controversy began to brew, you had probably never heard of Ravelry, the totally awesome social networking and pattern sharing knitting and crocheting group online. And you probably thought most knitters were little old ladies knitting and purling from the confines of their home while watching their shows and drinking tea. Quickly though, you realized your error.
And because of your ignorance of fabric artists and their craft, you disapproved of their tradition of hosting a Ravelympics for knitters to participate in while watching the sports on television. Well, not only did you disapprove, but you got snarky when you sent Ravelry a cease and desist order where you stated,
“We believe using the name ‘Ravelympics’ for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games,” the USOC wrote in the letter. “It is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work.”
Now don’t get me wrong. I get that perhaps knitting doesn’t involve the same level of dedication or skill as high diving or pole vaulting does. It doesn’t require us to pack up and move across the country to practice in a dedicated gym all day every day for the majority of our youth. And while yarn is expensive, I’m sure it doesn’t quite compare to what all of those years of training with the world’s best coaches does.
I get that. But still, USOC, where’s the love?
Knitting is a craft, but it is also a skill. We might not be required to spend all of our time perfecting our craft, but many of us do — to the detriment of our careers and our families and often our best interests. Often us knitters will sit diligently until the wee hours of the morning turning a heel or binding off a sweater. This requires hard work and dedication.
And while perhaps we don’t sacrifice as much as an Olympic athlete, we also don’t reap the glory. No one cheers us on as we complete row after row of monotonous garter stitch. We don’t have the whole world watching as we turn the corner on a sampler afghan.
We are all we have. Each other. And you tried to infringe on that, saying that our craft is not as good as your craft.
And I get it. You apologized. You rescinded your legal fight. And that was pretty cool of you. But I ask you. Was it enough? Was the damage to broken hearts fully mended?
I thought of a few more things you could do to make it up to us.
Perhaps you could propose to the powers that be that knitting become an Olympic sport. I have been advocating for this for years, but surely you all have more clout than I do.
And perhaps you could make it a priority to wear only hand knit items during any public appearances you make. I could whip you up an adorable hand knit sweater or perhaps a pair of fingerless gloves?
And don’t you think swimmers would look awfully cute wearing hand knit swim caps? I’m sure you have a list of reasons as to why that isn’t ideal and probably have some “physics” to back that up, but perhaps you could just overlook that.
I do appreciate you cancelling your cease and desist so that while I sit here in the comfort of my own home crocheting a blanket for my daughter, I can pretend that I am just as world class as all of these athletes. I’m just looking for a little more — show us the love, USOC.
And as long as I have your attention, could we talk about those female gymnasts for a moment? They are awesome — my favorite sport to watch. I like to close my eyes and pretend that it is me flying through the air. (Then I open my eyes and realize that I’m a 5 foot 6, 34 year old pregnant mother of two, and I realize that the chances of my earning a gold in gymnastics is becoming less and less likely by the day.)
But couldn’t you do something about their “smiles?” I get that it is a pressure filled situation and that they have been training their whole lives for this moment, and if they let it pass by without gold, it will all be in vain. But still — they are 16 year old kids. Why aren’t they jumping up and down and clapping? And those hugs they give each other? By the looks of them, you would think that they aren’t actually all best friends, waiting for the competition to be over so they can go back to their rooms and eat popcorn and watch television while trying to scope out Michael Phelps.
They train so much and so hard. Perhaps you could just put a little time into training them to be happy, young, and free. Just think about it.
Sincerely,
Amanda