Olympics

[Powergirl]

This year the games had a tragic start and there is this bitter taste for me going through every performance I see.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." The words of the Olympic creed are dedicated to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

During this time, a truce was declared throughout the Greek world and all wars had to stop. No one was allowed to carry weapons into Olympia.

And we all know that long time ago these games passed the idealistic meaning they were started with. But it is good to remember it at least from time to time.

Today while playing on my computer and having the TV sound in the background I have heard the commentator expressing concern that the luggers have to compete on slower track because of Nodar Khokhobashvil's death. There was even something like "..it was his fault he died".

What made me really mad was the comment; "He never had a chance on the medal"...

WTF, since when the Olympics are about the medal? I would admire more the guy who skate on the pond on his back yard and maxed his credit card, but made his dream come true to play at the Olympics games than, the gold medalist who is almost professional and is backed by big business paying for everything.

Yes Nodar Khokhobashvili, has no chance at the medal now. But no one, not a single person, no matter how experienced commentator is or how much knowledge in sports he has, does not have the right to say Nodar did not have any chance for a medal...

I am no talking political correctness here, I am talking Olympic meanings...

[Vernon Windsor]

What you are talking about here requires a generous spirit and an open heart. Many Olympic athletes possess these things. Sadly, the pressure put on many of them by their own countries and people sometimes work against this ideal attitude. The problem is compounded by the media coverage—not the fact that the media covers the events, but HOW the media coverage is structured. With every Olympic games, individual friendships are forged across national and political boundaries. In this way, the true Olympic spirit continues to live, as it does in the hearts and minds of those who embrace its ideals.

[CWO3ROBBIE]

It is not only the Olympics. The absolute winner is the only position with any meaning, seems pervasive in our world. With the commentators always discussing how disapointing it is to be in second place, I'm surprised that they still have three positions on the podium. This now seems to be true in all our endeavours. From business to sports to church size to loosing the most weight. And often when someone points out that there might be more to life than winning first place they are derided as too wimpy, or celebrating under achievement.