Why I Love the Olympic Games....and why we need them.

On most sunny Saturdays, the chances of me being glued to a tv to watch a rainy cycling time trial, preliminary heats of the 100m butterfly or synchronized diving are about as great as the chances of me buying a pair of capri pants. Just isn’t going to happen. It’s not that I don’t appreciate those sports – in fact, I am beyond impressed by anyone who can cycle 35km in less than an hour, do a dolphin kick without drowning themselves or coordinate even one flip off a diving board with another human being. It’s just that these events, in isolation, aren’t ones that would typically get me to drop whatever other commitments I have to see the outcomes.?Why then, was I so captivated by those sports yesterday morning, and why will I be waking up for the next two weeks wondering what happened in sports like canoe/kayak, judo and breakdancing while I slept?

For me, it’s because the Olympic Games represent one of the most important events in the human experience. The combining of so many sports and athletes into one mega-event and the competition among nations is exciting and dramatic, but it is about more than that. The Games are not just a sporting event but a grand showcase of global human accomplishment and acceptance. Sport, along with arts, culture and architecture, are the backdrop for the greatest gathering of humanity known to our world. I find it incredibly compelling.

What other avenue do we, as citizens of this planet, have to assemble representatives of over 200 nations in a celebration of achievement, without politics (or at least, striving to be without politics) and in promotion of peace, equality, health and friendship? The Games demonstrate the ability of humans to come together in an environment where our shared goals, passions and work ethic are evident and our different races, languages, religions and cultures need not be factors. On the field of play, athletes start as equals, and through competition, they can foster new appreciation and respect for their counterparts. Though some will finish on the podium and some won’t finish at all, they are all winners for getting to the world stage and showing all of us what can be achieved with dedication, perseverance and respect for the person next to you and opposite you.

We all know that the Games aren’t perfect. Nothing so ambitious could be. Over the years, we have witnessed doping scandals, bribery and tampering, gender inequities and now spying drones. All of these are issues of concern that continue to evolve and continue to deserve our attention. However, despite the flaws, the Olympic Games continue to deliver exceptional theatre, jaw-dropping excellence and heart-warming stories of perseverance, collaboration and togetherness. They are the catalyst to make our world just a little smaller and more connected every two years.? They ought to be cherished, celebrated and upheld as a beacon of what we can achieve when we respect and honour each other.

Sport has always provided people with exceptional training for life. Working in a team, never giving up, overcoming fears, winning with grace, losing with dignity and many other lessons applicable in life can best be learned on a playing field. The Olympic Games put those traits on a pedestal for the world to see, and inspire our youth to strive for new heights and exhibit those same behaviours. While sometimes we see athletes fail to live up to these expectations, most athletes at the Games are very worthy of having a light shined on them as a way of inspiring current and future generations.

Full disclosure, the Olympics have always held a special significance for me, even though my main competitive sport (football, the gridiron kind) wasn’t represented in the Games. As a child and into my teens, I would watch every hour of tv coverage, recording athlete performances and medals in a notebook because there was no internet, no social media and no app for that! As a young professional, I spent almost six years working with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee, devoting a large part of my life to helping deliver that special event for my city and country. Later in my career, I have been fortunate enough to work as a service provider to both the Canadian Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee. I have seen first-hand the power of the Games to excite, to inspire and to bring about important societal transformation.

The Games remain a world event with a power like no other. In these times of war, strife, conflict and division, it is more important than ever that we find reasons to set aside the differences we have and to recognize that we are more alike than different and more apt to accomplish our goals as a united world. The Games provide the opportunity for us to see and experience global respect and understanding, while they also entertain and inspire us. As I watch the magic and splendour of Paris 2024 these next couple of weeks, I will appreciate the individual and team performances and celebrate the efforts of all of the athletes, but I will also be thinking about the bigger picture of what the Olympic Games and Olympism mean to our world.? Citius, altius, fortius!