I need to cheer instead of despair, to witness dreams come true. I need the Olympics

‘The Olympics is nothing short of a miracle. All the nations on Earth, unfathomable sums of money, the focus of the world, all dedicated to passionate yet peaceful competition.’ Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

It feels a little embarrassing to be a grown adult excited for the Olympics. I am not sure why. Perhaps it’s the unequivocal joy. That feels childish. Why would I believe something good could happen? When was the last time something good happened?

Oh, it’s so easy to be cynical about things. I’m really good at it too. If I were to play to my strengths, I should go on about how devastating the Olympics is to the economy of the host nation, how commercial elements have hijacked every last corner of the games, and I could maybe even make some vague reference to the carbon emissions required to get all the athletes to Paris, but not in such a way that would necessitate me actually looking up statistics.