So here they are—the great and the good. Sporting heroes and world leaders. Assorted stars and celebrities. There are athletes, officials, judges, referees, doctors, trainers and a whole baggage train of handlers that any modern Olympics needs to be successful.

I’m not one for flag waving or unnecessary displays of patriotism. In fact, I’m with George Bernard Shaw on this subject, who said, “Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it.”