Olympic Reflections

While it may not reach the dramatic heights of Storage Wars, the games of the 30^th Olympiad have shown us the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat over the last two weeks.  Who will be the fastest man, the fastest woman in the world?  Who will win tonight?   Good thing the games are over this weekend – this could become addictive.

 I’m going on record: that was one bizarre opening celebration.  I couldn’t figure out why Abe Lincoln kept showing up, discovering later that it was actually British actor Kenneth Branagh portraying Isambard Kingdom Brunel , instrumental in the early days of the Industrial Revolution. 

I do have a pet peeve about the television coverage of the ceremony – I know that commercials are needed to broadcast the games, but couldn’t they suspend them for the athletes’ entrance to the stadium?  Family members and friends around the world tune in for one glimpse of their beloved athlete, only to go to commercial break when they’re next in line.  Reminds me of the year our son was in the Rose Bowl Parade.  

London 2012 was a far cry from the opening ceremonies at the London Olympics in 1948, which featured brass bands, the entrance of the royal family, and (probably) long-winded speeches.  It was Lord Burghley who set the tone for the XIV Olympiad, the first to be held after the end of World War II, believing that the 1948 Olympics would serve as a "warm flame of hope for a better understanding in the world which has burned so low.” 

How times have changed since 1948.  As highlighted in the recent Title IX series on the sports pages of the Times-Gazette, the doors for women in sports have gradually been pried open since 1948.  One favorite of the 1948 games was the Dutch sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen, nicknamed "The Flying Housewife."  This 30-year old mother of two children won four gold medals in athletics, and it’s likely she would have racked up gold in the long jump and high jump as well, but female athletes were limited to participation in 3 individual events in those days. 

In 1948, 3714 male athletes competed in the Olympics, with only 390 female athletes involved in the games.  Now, in 2012, 4862 female athletes joined the 6098 male participants, and nearly all the events have categories for both men and women – only rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming are female only.    

I’ve been awed by the performances of the athletes but not inspired to take up boxing or marathon swimming.   However, my 6 and 8 year old nephews caught the Olympic bug, perfecting their dives (jumps) into the pool and convincing their uncle to drag Grandpa’s ping pong table from the basement to the garage.  Both born in Korea, they plan to claim dual citizenship and beat China in 2024!  

As the athletes proudly marched into the London stadium two weeks ago, many had their eyes on the prize, the gold at the end of the rainbow, yet most will go home empty-handed.  All that training, all that sacrifice – all for naught.  That certainly is one way to look at it. 

But ask Sarah or Oscar about that.  Sarah Attar ran for Saudi Arabia wearing a hijab, finishing last in her 800 meter heat to an ovation from the crowd.  Oscar Pistorius, aka “the Blade Runner,” competed on artificial limbs in the 400 meter race, making it into the semi-final.  Sarah and Oscar may not be bringing medals home, but their courage will glow long into the future of the Olympic heritage.   

While their stories are in the headlines of the Olympic world, each athlete who enters the stadium for the closing ceremonies on Sunday has his or her own story of dreams and disappointments, of tears of frustration and tears of joy.  But in the festive gathering at the close of these Olympic games, they’ll pose for pictures with new-found friends, exchanging the challenge of competition for the camaraderie of the broader Olympic story.  For them, and for us, the Olympics have provided “a warm flame of hope for a better understanding in the world.”  Just think, only 4 years ‘til Rio!