“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.”
So said Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
It’s not about medal counts! It’s not about national pride! It’s not about fawning sportscasters rushing in to interview the winners! It’s not about ignoring all but the top three finishers in every event! It’s not really about being faster, higher, stronger!
It’s about pushing oneself to be the very best one can be. It’s about growing, achieving, expanding one’s own horizons. Perhaps it’s even about recognizing one’s own limitations.
It’s about being human.
What a novel idea!
Thanks for coming to my blog. Your words are so true. I wrote a post about Pierre de Coubertin on July 13 – he was the one who re-started the Olympic Games and it is the reason why French is spoken first at the games. I think that this year some athletes realize that they are not games between countries but between athletes. Although I heard that Fox News was upset with the sweet petite gymnast Gabby Douglas for not being patriotic enough and not wearing some star and stripe outfit but a hot pink leotard. It is so sad to hear that type of rhetoric – her father is serving in the military right now. This type of language should not be on television.
ReplyDeleteSo true , Robert.It seems the Olympics brings out the best ... and worst in many of us.
ReplyDeleteCheers
i can't help but remember volleyball this olympics<<>it seems to be on all the time
ReplyDeletebut i do know snow brush is enjoying it
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vagabonde and Helsie, for commenting.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Putz, against my better judgment I'll bite. Why is Snowbrush enjoying it? And how do you know that?
you don't keep up with snow, he said that girl's vooleyball was great somewhere that i read, go find out yourself, and that comment about the bombs, i do regret saying what i said
ReplyDeleteI liked vicariously biking down London streets with the cyclists.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, which I watched because a friend had it on, I have watched zero Olympics. I don't watch television.