[This is not the exact version that National Review published. Instead, it’s my final draft, so don’t blame NR for my lapses in proofreading. The published version was about 20% shorter than this.]
As the competitors in the Olympics grow ever more representative of the entire globe, the more obvious becomes the kaleidoscopic variety of the human race’s gene pool. Back in the Chariots of Fire days, when entry was largely restricted to genteel North Atlantic amateurs, the games chiefly showcased the most gifted white males. Today, though, by inviting pros from 197 countries, the Olympics spotlight differences not only among individuals, but among ethnic groups. The summer Games are now the world’s festival of genetic diversity.
In Atlanta, for example, Kenyan, Ethiopians,...