Schuckman: Olympic fever is contagious, so be ready to root for Red, White and Blue

QUINCY — Sleep can wait when the Olympics are on, right?

That’s how I found myself thinking Thursday night despite the fact the opening ceremonies for the Paris Summer Games have yet to take place.

As with any Olympics, a few of the events get started before the ceremonial kickoff, which is why the U.S. men’s and women’s soccer teams have already played their first games. But what kept me awake and tuned in was the performance of the U.S. rugby team.

I couldn’t tell you where to find live coverage of rugby on television or a streaming service on a normal day, nor can I say I’ve watched much rugby of any kind outside of the Olympics. Truth be told, I’ve watched more Australian rules football than rugby in my lifetime.

Yet, there I was, unwilling to give in to my need for sleep, not worried about disturbing my wife in her slumber, and rooting for a U.S. team in which I couldn’t tell you the name of a single player or what exactly the rules of the game are.

That’s part of the beauty of the Olympics.

The world’s biggest stage makes you a fan of things you didn’t know you were a fan of.

It will be that way when the U.S. water polo team takes to the pool or the fencers descend on the Grand Palais or the canoe slalom participants hit the rapids. Did you know trampoline is an Olympic sport? Or what about breakdancing?

Let’s watch them all.

There are many nights while working in my home office I will put a ballgame or a crime show on television to serve as background noise, but it doesn’t distract me. I might look up and check the score once in a while or become slightly intrigued in a takedown or a shootout, but those breaks are momentary.

When I put the Olympics on TV, I can get lost in the action in a blink and forget about everything else going on around me. And as much as I want to watch U.S. athletes perform and excel, I won’t turn off the television if Australia is facing Zimbabwe in badminton or handball or boxing.

These are the Olympic Games featuring the best athletes in the world, so let’s celebrate it, let’s embrace it and let’s put our Red, White and Blue on display.

I’m looking forward to more rugby. I can’t wait for volleyball and swimming to start. I’m curious to watch the cycling and rowing. I’m just ready for it all.

Let the Games begin.