Southside Sips: The Opening Ceremony

Can you believe it? This Sunday is the end of the 2024 Olympics. All in all, it’s been a pretty magical couple of weeks in Paris, marked by good sportsmanship and some nail-biting competition. And then there were the amazing highlights, like the triumphant return of American gymnast Simone Biles, the introduction of break dancing as a sport (be still our little ’80s hearts!), surfing competitions in French Polynesia’s Teahupo’o, Jamaica’s Roje Stona’s new Olympic record (breaking his dad’s set in 2004!) in the discus competition, American female cyclist and ringer Kristen Faulkner pulling a wild leave-’em-in-the-dust, thoroughly unexpected gold win in the 4-hour women’s cycling road race (not to mention the two female Afghan sisters in that competition who were the first cyclists ever to compete for that country), the exciting gold win of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in the women’s floor exercise — and that the three gold-silver-bronze winners were all women of color.

Then there were what might be our favorite part of the whole thing: the sweet moments of hugs and high-fives between competitors and countries. When things all around us can seem so split and divisive, there’s nothing like the Olympics to bring a little hope to your heart.

So let’s raise a glass to that, friends. Honest Man’s Nick & Toni’s, Rowdy Hall and Townline BBQ have been offering a special cocktail in honor of the Olympics since they began. Mix one up tonight and toast to working hard and striving to be the best we can be, good sportsmanship, and kindness and well-wishes between us. We can do it, with or without the medals.