Olympic Spirit

That time has returned. The time when soccer moms, the elderly, and even small children become experts on subjects such as how many points are deducted for a hop step on a gymnastics landing and what makes Michael Phelps a superhuman swimmer. Yes, the time of the 2008 Summer Olympics have arrived.

The Olympic Games is one of those events that captivates minds the world over. Its reach is far and wide, crossing boundaries of culture, language, age, and gender. For a rare occasion in the summer heat, the best of the best from around the world congregate to compete and bond.

While there is an element of global brotherhood, there is also the inherent presence of competition. The Olympics is one of those occasions where people rally behind their nation for good old fashioned bragging rights. In the past, the Olympics have served as a peaceful parallel to the struggles and rivalries waged in the real world. Who could forget the race between the USA and the Soviet Union for the most medals? What about those unforgettable head to head clashes between the superpowers in sports such as basketball? Despite being a sporting competition on the surface, the Olympics have always served as a stage for making statements and for proudly representing one’s country.

Even though it may sound jingoistic and sentimental, I feel a stirring as I sit and listen to “The Star Spangled Banner” and see our champions softly singing the lyrics. It’s hard for me not to feel a great sense of pride in our country, in our team.

The decades have passed and many things have changed on the Olympic landscape. First of all, the rival has changed. Now instead of the Soviets, the Americans are vying with the emergent Chinese for medal supremacy. Also the statement at these 2008 Beijing games is very different than before. The overwhelming message of these Olympics is that China has arrived as a major world power. Things going forward in the next twenty years will be very different than to what we have grown accustomed.