What do the Olympics symbolize? What all do they encapsulate? It depends on who you ask. For the athletes who have trained their whole lives for this opportunity, the Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of performance, membership into an exclusive club reserved only for the most accomplished of society. For most of us the Olympics represent a break from every day life, a chance to sit back and be amazed at the truly extraordinary feats of the human body, share in the stories of hard work and perseverance, and revel in a spirit of nationalism second only to the fourth of July. Once every two years, the world puts down its wars, its woes and financial ruin and we join together to celebrate the human spirit. Or at least that’s what this year’s motto, “With Glowing Hearts,” would suggest.
It cannot be denied that the games bring out some of the best in humans. Indeed, the first Olympics of ancient Greece held not only pride at stake, but also a religious significance. Between the games offered, sacrifices would be given to Zeus and the other gods as signs of devotion and praise. The victors of these games were immortalized forever, placed as gods before the people, carved as statues, and eternalized in stories. Could the same be said for the athletes of today? One must look no further than the Michael Phelps craze of two years ago for the answer. While he may not quite be etched in marble, the Wheaties box is a start.
In my mind, I can still vividly remember the 2006 Atlanta Games and the U.S. women’s gymnastic team. The story had all the makings of a fairy tale: a grandfather like coach, a come from behind victory at the hands of the injured damsel, and of course the glittery costumes to make it all the more glamorous. After watching those games, everything I did involved gymnastics. My friends and I must have replayed the final vault in our basements at least a dozen times. In one week I had found the new purpose of my life and the gods, the girls with the shining medals, to light my way.
We often get so caught up in the fervor of the games that we forget that the 16 year old Chinese gold figure skater is really deep down a 16 year old. We forget that these invincible models of strength and perfections do have flaws, even if they aren’t covered by the 24 hour NBC footage. So when our track goddess Marion Jones is accused of steroid usage, we are flabbergasted. When the golden boy, Michael Phelps, fesses up to using pot, we look the other way. We keep on living in the glow of the opening ceremonies, under the tossed bouquets and the national anthems, because admitting the fact that the images we have built up in our mind may be rose colored is just too disappointing.
This shortsightedness has the potential to be extremely harmful. While the Olympics have the potential to bring people together, to highlight the strength and beauty of the human nature, we must not overlook the other side it exposes. Throughout the years since its inception the Olympics has been a stage for the triumph as well as the shame of humanity, exposing bigotry, racism, exploitation, and selfishness alongside the camaraderie, grandeur, and finesse exhibited by the world’s finest. Take the example of Beijing. The city, in an attempt to put its best face to the world, displaced thousands of people and used unfair labor practices to feverishly build sparkly new facilities. Out of sight out of mind they thought. And by and large their plan worked. Amidst the enchanting melody of the Olympic tune and the excitement that filled the bird’s nest, the smog that choked the city was almost overlooked, the millions of orphaned girls forgotten, and the Chinese still suffering the ravages of a devastating earthquake placed on the back burner. After all, we had more important things to focus on.
As we begin a new Olympics, I propose we take this opportunity to examine all that the grand stage has to offer, both that which is sequined and spotlighted, showcased and headlined, as well as those things that may be pushed to the side, swept under the rug, and conveniently forgotten about for the time being. Human nature always has two sides. Yes, there is a little bit of those illusive gods in all of us, but let us be careful that we do not let this image taint our vision of the world as it actually is. Make sure that children see both the positive and negative aspects of their sporting heroes so that they are not crushed if (when?) these superhumans come tumbling down from their heavenly pedestals. Yes, our hearts should glow at the beauty and wonder of humanity displayed in these ceremonies, but not at the cost of our vision and thought.
Laura Cassel
Social Foundations of Coaching
ND 2010
