2008 Beijing Olympics
Posted by stanley on August 26th, 2008
The Olympics (written on 6 August 2006)
The 29th Olympic Games will start in a little less than two days and on the eve of this great event I would like to share my great excitement about this coming attraction.
I still remember clearly when, as a 15 year old boy, I watched an Olympic opening ceremony for the first time in 1992. I remember most of all how I was emotionally and intelectually stirred by not only the visual effects, but also the spirit that symbolizes the Olympic ideal – I have always been inspired by the ideals that are represented by the Olympic movement.
I became aware of the Games for the first time in 1988. I mostly remember images from the opening ceremony in Seoul, Ben Johnson beating Carl Lewis to the line in the mens 100 meters final (and then later being disqualified) and that beautiful Olympic song “Hand in hand”. Even as an eleven year old boy I could already sense and experience the great spirit that encompasses this worldwide event.
Without a doubt an almost intense love and interrest in sport, and most things associated with it, made me an instant fan of the Olympics.
From a sporting perspective I really enjoy the Games – in two weeks one gets to watch some of the best athletes from around the world compete in from the most popular to the most uncommonly watched sports.
Sport alone is enough to get me going and keep me going, but the Olympic Games symbolizes a lot more than the sporting events that it comprises of.
The Olympics symbolize an ideal that I firmly believe in: to aim to be the best we can be as individual human beings and as humanity as a whole; to compete in sport as spectators and athletes in peace and harmony and not at war; to hold forth high ideals and to strive to live by them.
In the Games we see all the drama and emotion that is often experienced by individuals in everyday life: happiness and dissapointment, success and failure, victory and defeat. Some will celebrate gold medals, but most will celebrate having experienced the Olympic spirit.
So it also is with life – some will experience great rewards, but the greatest reward is undoubtly having been around to be part of the experience that is called life.
Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Games) summed it (the purpose of the Games) up very well when he said that it wasn’t the victory that mattered, but having had the opportunity to participate. Participation is a victory in itself.
I would like to go further by adding that as long as victory is your aim and persuit, then it has already been achieved where it matters, in your heart and your mind.