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OLYMPISM IS A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE, EXALTING AND COMBINING IN A BALANCED WHOLE THE QUALITIES OF BODY, WILL AND MIND. BLENDING SPORT WITH CULTURE AND EDUCATION, OLYMPISM SEEKS TO CREATE A WAY OF LIFE BASED ON THE JOY FOUND IN EFFORT, THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF GOOD EXAMPLE AND RESPECT FOR UNIVERSAL FUNDAMENTAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. –Olympics.org
The Tradition
From the inspiring torch relay to the closing ceremonies, to all of the practice and planning that runs years before athletes step into the international stage, the Olympics are a testament to the human spirit. Beginning in Greece in 776 BC, the Olympics (related to Olympia and Mount Olympus in Greece) tested the athletic ability of men in a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus. The Olympics existed until 393 AD, then vanished until the invention of the first modern Olympics in Athens, Greece, in 1896.
The Olympic flag that is a trademark to the games was designed by a Frenchman in 1914 and first flown in 1920. Baron Pierre de Coubertin created the interlocking rings that stood for the five continents from which athletes traveled to participate. The rings’ colors and the white background have at least one color of every nation’s flag in them (at least at that time.) This shows unity in all nations that are competing.
The Unity
The show of unity can also be seen in the competitions themselves and are reported within the athletes’ village as well. In this year’s Olympics in Rio, most American athletes represented our country well, being polite and complimentary of other athletes during interviews. Unfortunately, the athletes’ humility in the media made the lack of kindness from television commentators and social media trolls all the more apparent and appalling.
While there is some poor sportsmanship from the athletes themselves, it is worse to have vitriol come from those who are merely watching the events. You can’t even call it armchair quarterbacking. When network commentators are commenting more on appearances than performances, we are eroding the effort and passion of the Games.
The Spectacle
The rise of social media has not only increased the amount of Olympic exposure, it has exposed Olympic-sized shows of envy, jealousy and unkindness. Social media provides another element of pressure for athletes. As if there is not enough competition on the world’s greatest athletic stage, drop several million more verbal opponents into the ring. It’s the “Hunger Games” with a lot more competition.
Being an Olympic athlete is a true honor based on effort. Let’s hope next time, the media, network and social, can say the same thing.
By: Melissa Hardin Baysinger
