Feature: Heavy Medals: The Olympics

They only happen for two weeks every two years. And it's in this global fortnight in which niche sports become mainstream. The footnotes become the lead story. Individuals can embody countries. Plus there's curling.

Those who aren't zealous sports nuts come out of the woodwork and embrace gymnastics or figure skating. Speed demons can become living gods in under 10 seconds. Swimmers swim without gills and skiers ski without fear. And don't even get me started on the gall it takes to compete in the skeleton.

For two weeks out of the year, music critics and political pundits become sports fans. This might represent the true collective spirit of Blogcritics. We're all a little jingoistic and biased, but the thousands of writers converge their attention into the activities occurring within one city; and when it's over, we all go back to our own little worlds. At least until the next Olympiad.

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• Winter Olympics Ceremony Was Majestic But Strange

  An astounding display of artistry, music and dancing.

  News by Bruce G. Smith — on Feb 13, 2010

• Lindsey Vonn's Shin Is The Center Of Attention

  Will she ski or will she sit?

  News by David Bowling — on Feb 13, 2010

• Why Did NBC Show Kumaritashvili's Crash?

  Yet alone three times, twice in slow motion.

  News by Matthew T. Sussman — on Feb 12, 2010

• U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team Skating for Gold in Vancouver

  A sneak Preview of Olympic women's ice hockey in Vancouver.

  News by Bruce G. Smith — on Feb 09, 2010

• Getzlaf Injured, Presumably Out For the Olympics

  The Canadian center injured his ankle and is doubtful for the Olympics in Vancouver.

  Opinion by Noel Trotsky — on Feb 09, 2010