While the French always try to be the best dressed, I believe the African nations always take the prize in their decorative and brightly colored native dress. The Eastern Europeans often wear neckerchiefs or wave funny looking fedoras. The Saudis remain resplendent in their djellabas, their heads covered in the dashing kaffiyehs. Of course, my heart swelled when my fellow Americans filed in, dressed in red, white, and blue and carrying little flags. What makes me the most proud is the diversity of our athletes.
China marches in and everyone is Chinese.
Nigeria, and everyone is black. Some countries, like South Africa, have integrated delegations. But not like the United States which has virtually all nations represented in the blood of its athletes. We are every color, every creed, and every ethnic group, every body type, facial characteristic, hair texture and cultural identity. Behind the fluttering Stars and Stripes was a microcosm of the people of the world.