The Olympics

Like many, I have been watching the Olympics and am impressed by the courage, athletics. In my younger days, I was a middle-distance runner and was one of the top runners in my area. I was not the best but I was in the top ten and I worked very hard. To get to the level the Olympic Athletes have achieved takes dedication, hard, hard, work, commitment to the sport. Many of these young people have put their lives on hold for a chance to compete at the world level. If we don’t follow the sport, we only see the athletes on stage for a very short time. We empathize with them when they lose, and celebrate with them when they win.

All countries should celebrate these athletes and their coaches, their support teams (Physio, their friends and their family. Without the support of these people, the athletes would not be where they are today. I know there are sponsors, and organizations that provide financial support for the athletes and their support teams that help and their support should also be recognized.

I was watching an interview with a young woman, who had failed to qualify and the interviewer asked what had happened and if the athlete was disappointed. The young athlete, while explaining what she had done started to cry while she was answering the questions. The interviewer saw this but continued to ask questions. The athlete answered the questions politely and finally, the interviewer brought the interview to a close. I know that a crying athlete makes for good television and brings drama to an otherwise boring interview, but there were a number of opportunities to close the interview early but the interviewer appeared to want the drama.

We have to remember that these athletes are away from home, sleeping in a strange bed, adjusting to a time difference, faced with a continual barrage of media who want their attention. All the athletes want to do is get into their routine and perform their best. They all perform for themselves first and then their country and they want to do their very best in this arena. One of the broadcasters said.“They should be so proud that they made it to the Olympic stage and are able to compete with the best in the world”. I agree we should honour these athletes and should celebrate with them as they compete with the best in the world. If you have not been watching the Olympics I encourage you to do so and cheer on the athletes from your country.

Thanks to the Olympic Athletes

Over the last 15 days I have watched the Olympics in London with interest with high hopes for the Canadian athletes. The young men and women who competed for Canada should be very proud of their achievements. Many outdid themselves and although our medal count was not as high as we as a country had hoped, our athletes did themselves and our Country proud.  

In addition to the Canadian athletes, my thanks go out to all of the young men and women from every country who competed. These athletes should be proud of themselves and their countries should be proud of them. To compete at the highest level is an honour that each athlete will remember for the rest of their lives. The athletes have honoured themselves and their countries with their positive attitude and their dedication to the spirit of the games.

The coaches, managers, trainers, medical and equipment personnel that helped each team also should be thanked for their dedication to the team.

Finally, to the friends and the families of the athletes who have been there when no one else was and who were the difference makers, encouraging the athletes when they needed the support, thank you.