Just in case it ever happens (knowing K & O, it just might)– I am putting this down now to document that the following was specifically inspired by the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony~~
Last night we stayed up late enough for the main thing that K & O really wanted to see— to watch the Haitian Olympic Team march into the London stadium in the Opening Ceremony. We cheered as they entered and then promptly turned off the t.v. to get ready for bed. I was in the bathroom with the boys, all three of us brushing our teeth, when we HATCHED A PLAN!!! Inspired by the spirit of the 2012 Olympic Games, here it is: Kyle, Owen, and a whole bunch of their friends from the Haiti Reunion (FYI: they specifically named Lubens, Jean Marc, Stanley, Geoffrey), plus any other super athletically inclined Haitian Adoptees that they might be able to find, will form a Haitian Olympic Basketball Team. We are already talking fundraising, sponsorship, etc. to get them to whichever Olympics will strategically make the most sense when the time comes. We know one thing for sure: we have to raise enough money so that all of their family members will be able to go to wherever the Olympics is to cheer them on! 😉 Like I said, knowing K & O, I actually won’t be entirely surprised if this happens, so… just remember… you heard it here first!
Yes! Geoffrey is already practicing basketball everyday in preparation for the team. Love it!
Erin, great news! K & O will be happy to hear this. Keep an eye out for a good coach (maybe Michael?!), oh, and we will need a hefty corporate sponsor (maybe Nike?!?). 😉
This works out perfectly; Colin plans to be an Olympic swimmer. Keep me posted. I’ll start researching air fares and hotel rates.
Lol Candis! Too cute! And yes, keep me posted on the flight options. FYI: k & o always prefer hotels with pools and decent room service. 😉
J wants in on this. He’s 14 and likes basketball and wants to try out for the school team. I told him what Kyle and Owen said and he said, “I want to play wif dem. Is dat for real? Are dey really gonna have a team?” Keep us posted!
Amy
Tell J that yes, this is FOR REAL! Dream big all you Haitian-American boys!!!!
BTW, since J has only been home for not quite 3 years this is his first immersion in the Olympics too. He’s loving it.
Dude! Kembe in IN! He really does have some mad basketball skills.
Good! Kembe is IN! We need the mad bball skills!
OK, Deborah, Abraham and Macdalah are in, too, no doubt. Only, can we gather enough players for a soccer team, too? Abraham is a great striker but not so much into basketball. I have NO DOUBT we can see some of our children in the Olympics for Haiti someday!
Kristie,
I was thinking the same thing— can they do soccer too? Someone needs to check out the Olympic Rule Book— how many events can each Olympian compete in?! Can our Haitian team members compete in basketball AND soccer in the same Olympics (and swimming and track-and-field and 10 other events too)?!?! 😉
Update: This morning, in the car, on the way to Basketball Camp, Owen and Kyle were going on and on about their plans for the Haitian Olympic Basketball Team. We were discussing corporate sponsorship and the fact that if you are sponsored by — for example — Nike — you need to wear Nike stuff… like you are basically a walking advertisement for Nike… etc. We were specifically talking about Tiger Woods and how he is an example of someone sponsored by Nike– which is why every time we see a picture of Tiger Woods he is wearing Nike stuff. I was saying that we are going to have to get some big time corporate sponsorship for this plan to come to fruition. K & O decided that a sponsor like Nike might be a little limiting, so they think we should try to go for DICKS SPORTING GOODS so that we’ll have lots of shoe and attire options! LOL!
Way to go Kyle and Owen et al – dream big!! Love it!
– Kate