2016 Summer Olympics

Are you excited for the 2016 Summer Olympics games to kick off this weekend? I sure am. Rio 2016 is upon us! Though I like both the winter and summer games, I do think the summer games are my favorite. I enjoy basketball, diving, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, and more! And as a golfer, I’m excited to see how the game of golf translates to an Olympic competition.

In addition, I love the nobility of the Olympics. The games provide a forum for the world to come together peacefully. We have a chance to set aside differences and simply enjoy our shared love for sports. Especially given all the unrest in the world, we could use a dose of unity.

There has definitely been some chaos and controversy surrounding Rio hosting. Sadly, Brazil’s economy continues to struggle. Troubling tales of substandard and unfinished facilities abound. Plus, the threat of Zika continues to be high. The media has certainly focused on these issues. And they are certainly real issues. But I continue to hope that once the opening ceremonies happen, the spirit of optimism and positivity will prevail at the games.

Elena Ghisellini Olympics Capsule Collection

If you want to watch the Olympics in style or simply show your national pride, check out this Elena Ghisellini capsule collection. Available exclusively at Saks, these limited edition Selina bags will help you support your favorite team or home country in the most stylish way. Watching sporting events has never looked so fashionable!

For my fellow Americans, take note that there are two sizes available with the American flag. Both the Selina bag and the smaller Felina bag will help you show your American pride. Both are shown in the photos.

Finally, here’s a bit of Olympic trivia for you.. For this photo shoot, we used the Olympic rings as inspiration. Are you familiar with the meaning of the Olympic rings? Created in 1913, the rings represent the union of the five continents through the meeting of athletes from around the world. But what do the colors themselves represent? Interestingly, at the time of creation, the five colors of the Olympic rings (along with the white background) represented all the colors of all the nations’ flags, with no exceptions.

Do you plan to watch the Olympics? Do you prefer the summer or winter Olympics? What are your favorite competitions? How do you feel about Rio hosting? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Photos by Maritere Rice – and a special thanks to Maritere’s son Pablo for climbing on my lap for a few photos 😉

Creative concept styling by Meredith Staggers of Cake & Confetti