A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever.

Fragile egos are put on the line every day.

I cant justify taking money away from hungry kids and needy schools to pay for the Games when corporations are willing to write the checks.

Even though it may seem counterintuitive, a comfort zone is a dangerous place to be.

There can be distractions, but if you're isolated from the heart of the Games, the Olympics become just another competition.

Former Olympians also get paid to make appearances. Many of them won their medals in an era when Olympic success didn't go hand-in-hand with financial success.

Getting to know athletes from all over the planet is a big part of the Olympic experience.