I'm sure everyone's been caught up in the heat of the Olympics. Even if you're not the most avid fan of watching the games, I'm pretty sure you would at least have a gist of what the games are... We all know it happens once every four years and the cream of the crop comes to contest for the gold. And we all know Phelps and Usain Bolt's going to bag home some medals again...
But what exactly is the Olympics about?
Usain Bolt inching forward to create yet another world record.
The Olympic motto,
"Citius, Altius, Fortius", is a Latin expression that translates to
"Faster, Higher, Stronger". Most of us see the Olympics as a platform for glory. We know what it's like to strive for the best and have a taste of victory at some points in life (for example winning your school race or accomplishing something you've always wanted to do). We know these people are here to compete and put on a show, so on and so forth.
But what we (at times) do not realize is that the games represent something more... It is a contest for the strong-spirited who are willing to conquer endeavors, and congratulate one another despite the outcomes. On top of it all, it is a game that embodies
"Friendship, Respect and Excellence".
Oscar Pistorius of South Africa realized his dream and became the first Paralympian to qualify in the 400m race event. He finished second in his heat with an astonishing timing of 45.44s.
Oscar Pistorius of South Africa and Kirani James of Grenada exchanging bibs after the 400m finals race. Despite finishing last, Pistorius was only two seconds behind James who won Gold in the event.
More importantly, the games are one of the major events that brings the world together, it helps unite everyone in a certain harmony that we cannot quite comprehend. It is a shared language we all understand without even having to try, one of the only ones next to music. A lot of us find ourselves glued to the television or wanting to know what happens in the action or at least just be in the know.
We hate it, we love it, we don't know about it then we ask questions - it all leads us to talking about the games and making people unite for a shared interest.
Great Britain's women's soccer team made an OT goal to have a place at the gold medal match and spurred a roaring reaction from the crowds.
Sometimes it is inevitable (afterall, there is only one gold medal for every event) that we face disappointments watching the ones we support lose out (huge support for Malaysian shuttler, Lee Chong Wei who was up against Lin Dan of China), but it's OK, because we know these people have given it their best shot.
"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."
- Coubertin's ideals expressed in
The Olympic Creed
And I think this is something many people fail to see;
because it is not losing that is the real failure, it is the failure to be involved and to want to participate in something that makes you the real loser.
It's going to sound entirely cheesy but having experienced some of the Olympic magic during my short working stint at the Youth Olympic Games, my love for the games have been cast in stone. It was beyond awesome meeting new people and athletes from all over the world and on top of it all forging meaningful friendships in just 20 days (I get so emotional everytime I think about the amount of effort and fun they are going to put in and have throughout the games hahah). But if ever you have a chance to be a part of it, go for it!
Anyway, it has thus far been an amazing showdown between most of the athletes. Singapore's finally made new history by bagging
two bronzes this games, and still rooting for #TeamUSA in the basketball mens and women's quarterfinals!
My apologies for the extremely lengthy post on this one hahah, but have a
wonderful Tuesday!
