Capitol Fourth Recap

I took a look at Capitol Fourth's Olympic Tribute. Eric Kunzel conducted the National Symphony Orchestra playing John Williams' famous Olympic fanfare, which was first introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. They laid an Olympic montage over part of that, which included such famous summer Olympians as Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton.

Then host Jimmy Smits introduced Scott Hamilton (YAY), who said that although you focus on your own event while you're at the Olympics, when you get home you realize how everyone was pulling for you. Hamilton introduced nine members of this years Team USA: Khatuna Lorig (archery) Khan "Bob" Malaythong (badminton), Tim Morehouse (fencing), Eli Bremer (modern pentathlon), Nancy Rios (sailing), Dominic Grazioli (shooting), Kendrick Farris (weightlifting), Jake Deitchler (wrestling), Jessica Long (paralymic swimming).

Hamilton then talked about the power of inspirational music, and introduced a performance of "The Impossible Dream," from Man of La Mancha, sung by broadway star Brian Stokes MItchell. That included some more famous Olympic shots.