2008 Games

From the beginning, we’ve been skeptical about China hosting the 2008 Olympics. But now that the games are upon us — NBC will air the opening ceremonies by tape tonight — we have to admit one thing: They couldn’t have come at a better time.

We need a break.

Americans are tired of watching Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama perform all the gymnastics — while oil prices do something that looks like a high jump. We’re weary of seeing Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke walk the balance beam as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac perform the 10-meter platform dive.

It’s time to see the real athletes.

We’re not getting Pollyannish about all this. There will be plenty of serious news to cover as part of these Olympics, including China’s response to the inevitable protesters — will authorities show restraint? — the country’s troubling human rights record and its air quality problems. In addition, it’s only a matter of time before someone, somewhere tests positive for something, triggering more discussion about cheating in athletics.

But even a politically charged Olympics such as this one has the capacity to rise above all that with stories that inspire and help us forget our our troubles, for a while.

We don’t know what those stories will be. We hazard to guess, against the tide of jingoism that grips our television coverage every four years, that they won’t always be about Americans.

Certainly, there will be good story lines dressed in red, white and blue. One may begin Saturday when Santa Rosa’s own Levi Leipheimer begins his pursuit of a medal in the men’s road race. He will be competing on a showcase course for China, one that passes such landmarks as the Temple of Heaven, the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall.

The bad news for those on the West Coast who prefer to watch Olympics coverage in the evening, little, if anything, will be aired live at that time. With a 15-hour time difference, anything that starts at noon in Beijing will happen here at 3 a.m. But many events will still be shown live for those hearty enough to be up in the middle of the night. At the same time, NBC also plans to stream 2,200 hours of live Olympics coverage online.

So, let’s get this five-ring circus on the road.

Go Levi.