The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi have wrapped up and on March 7, 2014 the Paralympics will begin. I’ve not had much of an opinion about these two great events until this year. Have I been caught up in the glamour, promotion and excitement of it all? I’ll have to wait and see.
However, I did have some thoughts that have never occured to me before this past few days. I saw intense focus, incredible joy, overwhelming heartbreak, amazing teamwork, sportsmanship, cultural spectacles and patriotism from each country. This all on the world stage in Russia between countries competing for the same prizes ~ gold, silver or bronze amid speculation about all manner of intrigue, doping and behind the scenes deals between judges.
Was a phenomenal amount of money spent? Definitely. Was there unfairness, to say the least, to citizens and families? Apparently. Have either of these occurred in this or any other Olympic year? Yes. The controversies seem the same for each year, for each event.
What did I see that may be different, and I suspect, may have already been seen by others? What did I see that may have a value that far outweighs individual sports and the men and women that play them?
Hope. Hope for today, tomorrow and the future. Hope amidst planning, politicing and playing. Our children, men and women are taught to focus, be joyful for themselves and others, share heartbreak and create well oiled teams as they learn about sportsmanship, fair play and pride in their own countries. These attributes translate themselves into the lives that our children will live as they grow and develop their own families and careers.
A bubble that may burst with the least little pressure? An answer to war and violence when it continues throughout the globe? Maybe on some grassroots level, on ski slopes or ice rinks. When the skates and skis, bobsleds and skateboards are put away what has been learned will be part of the fabric of lives to be lived.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.”
~ Nelson Mandela
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