Michael Phelps image from Flickr.

It’s that time again: No one can talk about or think about anything other than the Olympic Games. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about the Olympics that keeps so many people so completely fascinated, but it is true that once you start watching it’s hard to stop.

So, as a run-of-the-mill American citizen, I decided to learn more about the Olympics, even though I have never even considered getting a personal loan to actually go to the Olympics. Here are some of the tidbits I found out.

1. Olympics as old as dirt

Many people know that the Olympics originally started in Ancient Greece. The first recorded date for the Olympic games was 776 B.C. That means, as far as we know, the Olympics have been around for nearly 3000 years.

2. Religious element

The Ancient Olympic games were not just for sport. Even then, the games were held every four years, and a four-year period was known as an Olympiad. Also the ceremonies included ritual sacrifices honoring Zeus and Pelops, divine hero and mythical king of Olympia.

3. Taking a break

For hundreds of years the Greeks held the Olympic Games, but that was before the Romans took over. The date they stopped holding the Olympics is disputed. Some records say Theodosius I banned the Olympics in 393 AD, when he banned pagan practices. Others say the Olympics ended under Theodosius II when he ordered the destruction of all Greek temples in 426 AD. They weren’t held again for nearly more than 1,000 years. The modern Olympic games began in the late 18th century.

4. France gets extra credit

The idea of the Olympics popped up again in France in 1796. The “L’Olympiade de la Republique” featured many of the same events as the Ancient Olympics, and eventually (over the course of about 100 years) it evolved into the worldwide event it is today.

5. Spreading the joy

Summer and Winter Olympics were held during the same year until 1992. Since the 1994 Winter Olympics the competitions have been staggered. The first Winter Olympics was held in 1908.

6. Money in the Olympics

The Olympic Games and Olympic athletes did not accept corporate sponsorship until 1972. The rule only changed after the head International Olympic Committee died.

7. The small screen

The first time the Olympic Games were televised was 1936, when the Summer Olympics were held in Berlin. The Winter Olympics were not televised until 1956.

8. Back in the old days

Until the 1970s, only non-professional athletes, or those with amateur status, were allowed to compete in the Olympics. Today, professionals may compete in any sport except boxing.

9. The Gold War

During the Cold War, in 1980 and 1984, opponents boycotted each other’s games. The Moscow Olympics were held in 1980, and 65 nations refused to compete. The Soviet Union and 14 of its Eastern Bloc partners boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

10. Best of the Best

American swimmer Michael Phelps holds both the record for most gold medals won in a year, eight, and most career gold medals with 14.

The first son is a swimmer

It’s going to take a payday loan to get Tommy onto the swimming team. I bet you never knew just how expensive swimming can be. We had our first taste of this when our eldest son, Jason, decided that he wanted to take up serious swimming. Training 3 times a week means 3 entries to the pool every week, gas back and forth, swimsuits, plus a variety of extras that add up very quickly.

Jason soon became a strong and fast swimmer and was selected for his age-group team at the local club. Now he participates in swimming galas and tournaments regularly. Each entry costs between $10 and $50 depending on where it is and its competition level.

The second son is a swimmer

Second son Jeremy watched Jason’s progress with envy and finally couldn’t restrain himself. I met his request to join the swimming club with mixed feelings, pride at raising two swimmers and misgivings at the costs I could see looming on the horizon. Anyway, one way or another we managed the extra expenses and a few months later Jeremy too was on a team and racing every weekend. More entry fees and incidental costs and a lot of gas costs carpooling all over town.

The third son is a swimmer

Then came the Olympic Games and my family of swimmers sat glued to the TV screen watching Michael Phelps working his magic. “I wanna swim too!” yelled Tommy, aged 8, in great excitement. “I can be faster than Phelps!” I had no choice but to turn to payday loans for help with the initial costs.

The costs of educating the kids seem to be astronomical this year; have things gone up in price so much? The cost of gas certainly has spiraled and Ann is in the car every day taking or fetching from one swimming pool or another. Of course Murphy’s Law operates smoothly and efficiently so all 3 boys swim at different times and at different pools. We’ve cut down on other expenses in order to pay for all the swimming tabs, as we call them. This means very little eating out, no shows and only an occasional movie. I’ve used a payday loan a couple of times to help when there have been other expenses to deal with and that has worked out very well.

A Payday Loan to help

The Payday Loan system is great. I make the application on the internet and in no time the loan is approved and the money is in my account. So far I have always managed to pay it back in the following month. I am making other small savings as well which all help. The boys are old enough to be without a babysitter now, so we are saving those costs. The price of gas has finally leveled out and according to the papers it will start falling soon. That too will help.

This is what raising a family is about. Ann and I derive a great deal of pleasure watching our sons’ progress and triumphs. We have made a new circle of friends from among the parents of the swimming crowd. We enjoy our swimming weekends and swimming parties. Most of all, I am relaxed knowing that a payday loan will always be there to help me over a sticky patch.